Health Care, Community Service

ABH Partners PLC

Introduction

Founded in 2007, ABH Partners PLC is a leading consultancy and human resources sourcing management firm in Ethiopia with over eleven years of experience in supporting the implementation of development programs and projects. ABH exists to fuel synergistic societal growth by harnessing local knowledge and international standard. Dedicated to the betterment of societal development, technical assistance and knowledge management, ABH has gained credibility and industry experience in the development sector in general and the public health sphere of Ethiopia in particular. ABH focuses on knowledge management as the enabler and cross-cutting theme across its four major service lines or core competencies: Consultancy, Survey Management, Training and Implementation of projects and programs.

Purpose:To provide technical assistance to the regional health bureau/zones/woredas/health facilities and UNICEF field office for the restoration of MNCH service (coordination, planning, implementation, training/mentorship, rehabilitation, distribution of Supplies and equipment) in Amhara region, focusing on north Wollo zone

Location Amhara region-Bahir Dar town

Duration: Eighteen months (starting from 01 March 2023 to 31 August 2024) with possibility of further extension based on performance and fund’s availability.

No. of consultants     One

Start date:1 March, 2023

Reporting to Health Specialist/ Health officer UNICEF Amhara Field Office

 1.      Background

 The conflict in Northern Ethiopia and other part of the country resulted in damage and vandalization of health facilities and equipment. Following expansion of the Tigray conflict to Amhara region, a total of 453 health centers; 1850 health posts, and 40 hospitals damaged in Amhara based on initial assessment conducted in November/December 2021 by respective RHB. Most of the damaged health facilities are non-functional and not providing health services and restoring the basic health service will be a priority. Maternal Newborn and child health services are most critical ones for restoration of essential health services.

The restoration of health services has been implemented in partnership with the respective regional health bureaus (RHBs), Zonal health department, woreda health office and health facilities

The interventions include capacity building, provision of essential medicines, equipment, commodities and supplies including emergency health kits, strengthening community-health work, and improving the infrastructure of damaged health facilities.

Given the large geographic coverage and large population (about 23 million) and large-scale damage and looting of 52 percent of the health facilities in the region (40 hospitals, 485 health centers, and 1, 850 health posts), health services restoration is challenging and difficult to deal with the existing human resource only. Hence, there is a critical need for a dedicated MNCH technical assistant.

The consultant will support the overall restoration of health services and the restoration of MNCH services in particular, through providing support in the coordination, planning, implementation, training/mentorship, rehabilitation, and ensuring distribution of supplies and equipment to targeted health facilities.

 1.      Justification

 As the impact of the armed conflict on the health services in the region is very huge, an additional human resource is highly demanded in the area of health emergency and MNCH program response to ensure the continuity of the provision of quality primary health care services to the affected communities and the restoration of health service in the conflict-affected zones of Amhara region with main focus on north Wollo zone

To ensure quality implementation of the health service restoration in general and MNCH service restoration and achievement and reporting of results, there is a critical need for an additional human resource.  Hence, deploying one TA, to be placed in the Amhara field office and work with the RHB, zonal health offices, and woreda health offices staff and facilitate and conduct close follow-up on training/mentorship, rehabilitation, distribution of supplies and equipment – ensuring the consistent, high-quality provision of services is part of the donor agreed proposal. The TA will also provide support to the UNICEF field office in Amhara in the implementation of the project in conflict-affected Waghmare zones.

 2.      Specific Tasks

 To coordinate, lead and provide guidance on the health system activities to implement restoration of health service at all levels in priority conflict-affected zones in the Amhara region with a focus on the north Wollo zone

  Summary of key tasks

• To coordinate and plan all health service restoration activities including ensuring quality Maternal newborn care and psychosocial support training to the health workers and HEWs
• To ensure timely implementation of project activities including ensuring timely budget requests, utilization, and reporting (both for physical and financial)
•   To support RHB to provide appropriate health worker and HEWs mentoring and coaching in clinical practice of maternal newborn health care service and psychosocial support
•   To ensure timely distribution and availability of medicine, equipment and supply, at end-user health facilities 

Main duties and responsibilities.

In Coordination with Amhara regional Health Bureau, zonal health departments and UNICEF Amhara field office the post holder will:

• Coordinate overall project activities.

• Coordinate the provision of training for health workers on BEmONC, EENC and NICU including counseling and psychosocial support

•  Coordinate the provision of refresher training to health workers and HEWs,

• Ensure timely budget requests, utilization, and reporting (both for physical and financial)

•   Support the strengthening of referral linkages among the hospitals, the health centers and the health posts through regular supportive supervision and identification of bottlenecks

• Support RHB to provide appropriate health worker and HEWs mentoring and coaching in MNCH service. Collect and provide monthly based progress reports on progress made, challenges, and opportunities to monitor progress for UNICEF Field Office and Ethiopia Country Office

• Support responsible and appropriate distribution and use of medicine, supplies, and equipment procured by UNICEF for health facilities

•  Support health facilities’ repair/rehabilitation activities with a focus on MNCH, emergency, and HSS.

•   Conduct documentation of best practices including conducting human interest story and documenting challenges and lessons learned in the restoration of health service activities

•  Provide support as needed and appropriate to RHB and Amhara Field office staff in planning, implementation, monitoring and reporting of, Maternal, Neonatal, and Child Health (MNCH) to ensure project integration and sustainability.

•  Conduct any additional assignment given by his/her immediate supervisor, UNICEF Amhara Field office health program officer and deliver it in a timely manner.

•   Coordinate activities with UNFPA Amhara field office staff and their implementing partners to ensure synergy, particularly in priority activities, and geographic areas.

•   Conduct regular supportive supervision and mentorship field visits to woredas and health facilities to ensure quality of implementation of health service restoration activities. 

Methodology

• The TA will be seated in the Amhara field office in Bahir Dar town with frequent travel to zones, woredas, and health facilities. The TA will work very closely with the RHB, and zonal health departments and liaise with other relevant partners working on the northern conflict humanitarian response.

• The award will be made to the TA based on the evaluation of the application that best meets the requirement stipulated, considering the experience and quality of the content of the application

 Reporting 

•  The TA will report to the UNICEF Amhara Field office Health officer/Health Specialist, Amhara RHB, and their respective zonal health departments and the report will be shared on a monthly base to the UNICEF health section, Addis Ababa.

•   The TA will prepare and submit, a comprehensive trip report detailing the following activities: major development, critical gaps, action taken, and recommendations, to UNICEF.

 Expected Deliverables

•  Micro plan and action plan for overall project prepared with RHB and UNICEF field office support

•  Inputs and preparation of quality and timely monthly reports including human interest story provided Monthly, and work/ travel plan submitted 3-5 days before new month begins.
• Monthly/ weekly progress reports, to Amhara UNICEF field office and RHB submitted

• High-quality training on BEmONC, EENBC, NICU, psychosocial support training, and refresher training for HEWs provided to health workers and HEWs,

•  Mentoring and supportive supervision for trained health facilities conducted

Time Frame and Mode

•  The TA will be hired for eighteen months starting from 1 March 2023

Payment terms

• The fees for this contract shall be paid on monthly basis based on the submission of monthly reports against the deliverables indicated stated above

Expected background and experience

The technical assistant must meet the following criteria

Education level: University degree Doctor of Medicine (MD) or 2nd Degree or MSc in Public health or higher in a Health-related field and with public health background.

• Experience in program/project management, training, supportive supervision, mentoring, and coaching, preferably experience in the area of health emergency response and maternal health intervention
• Knowledge and experience in women’s empowerment and gender equality are beneficial.
• Skills in critical thinking and report writing, data compilation, and analysis.
• Being computer literate (Microsoft office application)
• Being knowledgeable about the region, zones, and districts is of great asset

•     Can speak and read English and Amharic.

•   Should have experience of conducting human interest stories (HISs), and assessments/surveys.

•    Have the following characteristics verified by a recommendation by the agency releasing this to do the monitoring activity

• Be committed to the work and honest

•  Willing to work in different areas – including walking long distances when local transport is not available

• Ability to work under pressure well

General conditions

A.    The consultant should work based in Bahir Dar and with frequent field visits to zones, woredas and facilities as required and work closely and will use a rented vehicle to conduct any work-related visit

B.     The consultant will be managed under the direct formal supervision of the UNICEF Amhara filed level health officer/Health specialist

C.     ABH Partners Plc will pay monthly allowance/payment upon delivery of monthly expected deliverables report approved by supervisor on monthly basis.

D.    The consultant will not be provided lodging and/or meals. DSA will be provided when traveling outside the base through ABH

E.     The consultant should use his/her own materials, i.e. computer, etc.

Policy both parties should be aware of:

•   Under the consultancy agreements, a month is defined as 21 working days, and fees are paid accordingly.  Consultants are paid for weekends or public holidays.

• Consultants are not entitled to payment of overtime.  All remuneration must be within the contract agreement.

•   No contract may commence unless the contract is signed by both ABH Partners PLc and contractor/ UNICEF.

• Consultants will not have supervisory responsibilities or authority on the UNICEF budget.

•  Consultants will be required to sign the health statement for consultants/Individual contractors prior to taking up the assignment, and to document that they have appropriate health insurance, including Medical Evacuation.

Lien