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Consultant, Web-based Orientation Modules on Communication for Development Aspects of Four Key Child Survival Interventions, New York, USA
1. Background
Every year, an estimated 9.2 million children under the age of five die from largely preventable causes. Many are caused by illness such as pneumonia, diarrhoea, malaria and HIV/AIDS, others by conflict or other violence. Malnutrition, poor hygiene and lack of access to safe water and adequate sanitation contribute to more than half of these deaths.
While low-cost, low-technology and high-impact preventive and curative interventions such as vaccines, antibiotics and micronutrient supplementation save lives, they are not enough for long-term, sustained impact. No matter how well commodities are distributed or how efficiently services are provided, children will continue to die from preventable diseases if their families and communities do not care for them more effectively in the home. Communication for Development strategies are required to help mothers, fathers, care givers and community members learn about essential care-seeking practices, adapt them to their culture and livelihood system and then sustain them over years.
In November 2006, the UNICEF All Africa Representatives Meeting (AARM) examined how to accelerate progress towards child-related MDGs. Taking stock of progress in Africa on the health-related MDGs (1, 4, 5, 6 and 7), and on UNICEF's role in achieving them, the AARM agreed that adjustments were required in the way UNICEF does business in Africa. The UNICEF Country Offices committed themselves to five strategies for accelerating child survival and development. This has become known as "Africa Child Survival and Development" effort, or ACSD.
The five commitments made by almost all 50 UNICEF Country Offices in Africa include:
1. Getting results for children by working at scale
2. Strengthening the evidence base for integrated community based approaches
3. Measuring results to improve accountability and tracking progress
4. Building partnerships and leveraging of resources
5. Programme Communication and Advocacy
In August 2007, an Eastern and Southern African Region (ESAR) Communication for Development network meeting was convened with the primary objective of aligning C4D priorities with the ACSD commitments. One outcome of the ESAR meeting was the identification of a few "high-impact interventions" for which behaviour and social change is critical and which will contribute to the ACSD commitments. Participants selected five interventions for C4D to focus on to achieve and sustain results "at-scale". These are:
. Exclusive Breastfeeding (EBF) for the first six months of a baby's life
. Use of Insecticide-Treated Nets (ITNs) to prevent malaria
. Hand Washing with Soap at critical times
. Use of Oral Rehydration Therapy (ORT) to prevent and treat diarrhoea
. Increase care-seeking behaviour by parents, especially for pneumonia, diarrhoea, HIV/AIDS and neonatal disorders
. A sixth area, improving C4D capacity in emergencies and crisis situations, was included in ESAR
The four key interventions cut across three sectors in UNICEF's Programme Division: Health (ITNs and ORT); WES (Hand Washing with Soap); and Nutrition (EBF). The C4D Unit, under the Gender, Rights and Civic Engagement Section (GRaCE) in the Division of Policy and Practice, is collaborating with the three PD sections in this undertaking, with funds provided by these sections.
In 2009, the C4D Unit in UNICEF Headquarters, in collaboration with the three sections, commissioned a consultancy for four months (15 December - 15 April 2009) to produce web-based orientation modules whose target audiences would be programme and C4D specialists in UNICEF Country Offices. The five modules, consisting of a short manual and a Powerpoint presentation to be delivered in an on-line, live session, are:
1. Orientation to C4D
2. EBF for the first six months of a baby's life (EBF)
3. Use of ITNs to prevent malaria (ITN)
4. Use of ORT to prevent and treat diarrhea (ORT)
5. Hand Washing with Soap (HWS)
The orientation module on Hand Washing with Soap, consisting of a reading material and a Webex power point presentation, has been developed by the WASH Section, PD-NYHQ. It serves as the model for the preparation of the four other orientation modules.
By 15 April 2009, the first draft manuscripts for (1) and (2) were completed and submitted to the C4D Unit for further vetting and validation with concerned parties. Since the Consultant was offered a new post in UNICEF by mid-April 2009, and funds were not available to continue the work, the project had to be suspended.
This Consultancy is therefore designed to:
1. Finalize the C4D and EBF reading manual and power point presentations
2. Draft and finalize the ORT and ITN reading manuals and power point presentations
2. Purpose of the Consultancy
The consultant will complete the orientation modules on C4D and EBF (already in second draft form) and prepare, finalize and complete the ITN and ORT modules.
The C4D module covers the concepts, core principles, process and methodologies of C4D.
The other orientation modules on the four key interventions must be evidence-based, including the latest research with references. As noted, each module (C4D, EBF, ITN, ORT) will consist of:
1. A manual for reading by participants prior to the orientation session, of no more than 25 pages and
2. A power point presentation with notes pages for use during a 60 - 90 minute interactive online session, with time allocated for discussion, questions and answers.
The first module (orientation to C4D) should be designed to last approximately 1.5 hours and each of the other three key behavioural interventions should also be for approximately 1.5 hours. The combined course will be facilitated by technical specialists on the topic or a trainer through a web-based platform such as WebEx. If a Country Office wishes to offer all 5 sessions - the C4D orientation plus EBF, ITNs, HWS and ORT, the total of 5 hours could be spread over 2 days, for example.
The module should be written in clear, easy-to-read English. Translation to other languages is assumed to be necessary at a later date but this is not part of the consultancy.
3. Methodology
For each of the four flagship interventions, dozens of manuals, books, videos and IEC materials have been developed and utilized over the past 60 years. Selecting successful documentation, including current evidence for each of the four interventions -- will be facilitated by UNICEF Specialists (see p. 5) for each intervention.
The consultant will work under the supervision of the C4D Unit, in close collaboration with the Nutrition Section (for EBF), Health Section, MNCH Unit (for ITN and ORT) and WES Section for (HWS). For the completed HWS orientation module, the Consultant will review and recommend ways to align the flow of C4D aspects of the module.
Specialists in the health and nutrition areas will identify quantitative and qualitative information, supporting a literature review and suggest individuals for interviews and validation. A literature review of national, UN agency, NGO and donor strategies for achieving the commonly agreed targets in each of the four key interventions, and of progress reports, annual reports and evaluations should be undertaken by the consultant. It is assumed that the research may go back to the 1980s, though this is open for discussion.
i. A preliminary list of documents will be made available to the consultant. The same list will be sent to colleagues in Country and Regional Offices with the request to supplement them with other documents they believe contain useful information.
ii. C4D materials specific to EBF, ORT, ITNs and HWS, will be made available to the consultant.
For content validation, a limited number of interviews with a defined protocol will be made with key informants, including UNICEF staff, government officials, NGO partners, other UN agency staff and bilateral aid agency staff, as appropriate.
The orientation module should ensure that the following values or principles are integrated:
. cross-cutting issues of rights, disability and child/adolescent participation
. ensuring that gender issues are adequately and clearly integrated
. giving a voice to everyone involved in the change process, especially women and people from marginalized groups
. participation by children and adolescents
. basing communication on two-way dialogue and the exchange of information, rather than on one-way, "top-down" messages
. appreciating local culture and ensuring that proposed behaviour and social changes are consistent with traditional values
. recognizing that individual behaviour is sometimes determined by social norms, which may focus communication methodologies to facilitate a collective change in norms rather than the behaviour of each individual
4. Deliverables
a. Presentation of work plan within time frame. Review and completion of second draft of C4D and EBF modules should be done first, and the other two modules (ITN and ORT) may be produced simultaneously.
b. Collation and sharing of documents and results of literature review and interviews, in electronic form.
c. Final draft orientation modules, including final draft of power point presentation for C4D, EBF,
d. 1st draft orientation modules on ITN and ORT
e. Second draft orientation modules, including draft power point presentation for ITN and ORT
f. Test of the four modules with five audience groups.
g. Final, approved orientation modules with power point presentations for C4D, EBF, ITN and ORT
Payment will be computed at a daily rate based on UN standard rates by latest professional level as reflected in P-11 and CV. This SSA is for a maximum of 84 working days spread over five months. Three payments will be made against the above deliverables, to be negotiated.
5. Duration
The SSA will be for a total of 84 working days spread over the period between 1 March - 31 July 2010.
Please note that early delivery and acceptance of the final module will be appreciated. The contract will not be extended beyond 31 July 2010.
6. Qualifications and specialized knowledge/experience required
- At least 8 years of proven experience in the field of communication for development or training in the social sector, including the development of training modules or courses and technical guidelines
- Ideally, experience working with UNICEF in C4D/programme communication, especially at field level
- Advanced degree in communication and development studies, social sciences, behavioural psychology and/or training or facilitation
- Proven background and subject matter expertise in a key area related to C4D
- Strong understanding of UN and UNICEF approaches and experience in C4D
- Proven experience in the creation and design of learning content
- Experience with delivery of learning content including training and online capacity development an asset
- Excellent writing skills
- Ability to work with minimal supervision
- Advanced computer skills with proven ability to develop power point presentations for delivery on line via WebEx or other platform
7. Documents required from applicants
- Cover letter, including work plan for the deliverables by week number, and fee. The fee may be a daily fee, with an estimated number of workdays between the 1 March and 30 June 2010 or a monthly fee. The selected consultant and UNICEF will agree on the payment schedule.
- Current UN P.11, including references with contact details
- Current CV
8. Duty station
Consultant may be based in his/her own work station with constant communication and coordination with UNICEF HQ. If New York based, no travel is foreseen. If from outside New York, at least one travel to New York HQ.
9. Supervisor
Teresa Stuart, C4D Unit, UNICEF NYHQ, in collaboration with Christiane Rudert (for EBF) Nutrition Section; Renee van Der Weerdt (for ORT) and Ngashi Ngongo (for ITN), Health Section; and Therese Dooley (for HWS), WASH Section.
Please note that only short listed applications will be contacted for an interview. If you are interested in applying, please e-mail your papers to Teresa Stuart at tstuart@unicef.org no later than 9 February 2010.
