Somalia: Consultancy for Somali Frontline Health Workers Training Needs Assessment in Sahil/Somaliland, Qardo/Puntland and Gedo/Jubaland State of Somalia

1.PURPOSE , SCOPE and METHODOLOGY

a.PURPOSE

The Overall assessment purpose is to carry out a comprehensive Training Needs Assessment and perform an in-depth analysis on the current capacity status of frontline health workers in Sahil Region in Somaliland, Qardho Region in Puntland and Gedo Region in Jubbaland State South Central Somalia.

The purpose of the TNA is to provide THET and Key Consortium members an opportunity to reflect on skills, knowledge, practice and attitudes of frontline health workers in delivering EPHS embedded programme. The aim is to generate an understanding of the existing critical capacity gaps and training needs for them in order to support the implementation of EPHS Programme.

b.OBJECTIVES

· To identify the existing critical capacity gaps and training needs of frontline health workers to deliver the required EPHS health services in line with Somali standard treatment guidelines with integration of nutrition and birth spacing services in the three EPHS regions

· To provide relevant recommendations on in-service capacity strengthening harmonization and standardization strategies

· To develop comprehensive frontline health workers training plan.

c.METHODOLOGY

In line with the scope of work, and at the beginning of the assessment, the consultant shall propose specific methods for collecting data from sources as outlined above. The consultant will work with THET, health authorities in the 3 EPHS regions and EPHS implementing partners to agree on the method, sample size and key respondents for the assessment. He/she will take the lead in collaboration with the Ministry of Health / RHO focal points in development of the assessment tools, pre-testing, data collection, analysis and report writing. In addition, health facility managers, regional/district Primary Health Coordinators, regional/district supportive supervisory team focus group discussions will be conducted where appropriate.

The consultant is expected to design an appropriate methodology which effectively assess the required skills, knowledge, attitudes, practice and professional ethics to adhere to standard treatment guidelines with integration of Nutrition and birth spacing for the implementation of EPHS in these regions and identifies gaps existing for a resource constrained, post conflict, culturally sensitive setting. The assessment methodology will also involve physical observation of health workers while delivering services to the patients at the health facilities to understand the behavioral and knowledge performances. It should also draw on patient feedback on satisfaction of the services offered.

This methodology will have to be reviewed by THET as part of the consultant’s proposal and pre-approval process. The assessment will involve all concerned stakeholders especially, Health Authorities, health workers, EPHS implementing partners.

The consultant(s) will undertake a comprehensive training needs assessment utilizing relevant research methodologies focusing on but not limited:

· Identify existing knowledge and skills levels and gaps of the targeted health workers involved in the delivery of EPHS services

· Assess lifesaving skills of frontline health workers in Health Care Facilities (These include but not limited to: ANC, PNC, BEmONC, CEmONC)

· Identify Skills and knowledge gaps in integration of Nutrition into EPHS package

· Assess Skills and knowledge gaps existing in HCFs for integration of Birth Spacing into EPHS package

· Identify Clinical Leadership skills gaps existing in Health Care Facilities in the three regions

· Assess skills and knowledge gaps in the Integration of Sexual Gender Based Violence (SGBV) services into primary health care

· Assess objectively the existing gaps in adherence and fully appliance of the Somali standard treatment guidelines (STGs)

· Produce a comprehensive TNA report with objectively identified gaps in STGs, Integration of nutrition and birth spacing into EPHS

· Lead the development of relevant in-service training plan, combining key findings from the 3 regions with involvement of all key stakeholders (Health authorities, Regional/District health teams, EPHS implementing partners and THET).

1. SPECIFIC TASKS AND DELIVERABLES

Tasks under this assessment will include the following:

All tasks will include feedback mechanisms from the core reference group, whose input shall be considered at all stages

• Carry out a desk review of relevant documents of which will be agreed upon and made available prior to the implementation of the assessment.

• Produce an inception report detailing the methodology including the sampling framework that will be used.

• Suggest and Design the capacity assessment tools for data collection involving inputs from THET, the implementing partners and key national stakeholders - share with THET for approval.

• Train THET team, MOH and implementing partners staff where required to support and oversee data collection and data analysis process.

• Undertake field-based consultations and interviews with selected health workers at health care facilities in the regions and districts

• Analyze the data collected during the desk review from the relevant documents as well as from the field consultations, health facility service provision observation and interviews and prepare an informed report on the key capacity gaps and priorities.

• Prepare and submit comprehensive report of the capacity assessment including a
summary of the current situation (which will serve the basis of evaluation of the achievements) on all the key areas assessed in soft and hard copies to THET

• Debrief all involved key stakeholders (THET, Health Authorities, Regional/District teams and implementing partners) on the process and preliminary findings of the assessment.

• Develop a Comprehensive Training Plan in consultation with THET, health authorities and the implementing partners and suggest an implementation work plan to address the gaps.

• Develop performance and impact indicators for the training plan.

a.KEY DELIVERABLES

The consultant is expected to produce the following deliverables:

· Inception Report

· Data collection tools and methodology

· Data collection tools training

· Comprehensive Assessment Reports

· Frontline health workers training plan for the 3 EPHS Zones

· Training performance and impact indicators

3.DURATION

The exercise is estimated to be conducted in 44 paid days across the three zones of Somalia. The consultant will need to plan out how he/she would ensure the work required from data collection tools design to production of training plan for all the three zones is completed within this time frame.

a.LOCATIONS

The assessment would be conducted physically in health facilities (PHUs, HCs, RHCs and regional/district hospitals) within EPHS regions and districts all the three zones of Somalia. These regions are Sahil, Karkaar and Gedo.

4.QUALIFICATION, SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE OF THE CONSULTANT

This is a participatory assessment process where the assessment team will consist of one lead consultant with demonstrated strong clinical background and one supporting consultant with health research with proven experience and knowledge of human resource for health with in fragile and post conflict settings

The consultants should possess the following skills and competencies:

· Bachelor Degree in Medicine; preferably Master degree in human resource for health;

· Proven practical experience in clinical service delivery with focus in Primary Health care and services integration;

· At least five years’ experience in health-related research and/or field assessment;

· Previous experience of similar work in Somalia or fragile states in Africa. Should have done similar work over the last 3-5 years.

· Consultants with extensive experience in conducting assessment, particularly for capacity development, leadership and governance in government health sector/ private and NGO sector.

· Good knowledge of global health workforce challenges and Experience of health sector operation in a fragile state.

· Excellent conceptual and analytical skills: must be able to analyze, interpret and synthesize information/data from different sources

· Good leadership, communication and negotiation and diplomatic skills in working insecure environment

· Knowledge of the socio-economic and health development issues in relation to Somalia is desired.

· Knowledge of public sector work place policy, procedures and practices, including both formal and informal practices

· Willingness to travel and operate independently with the Somalia context considering the eminent security threats.

5.BACKGROUND READING

a. Essential Package of Health Service, Somalia/Somaliland (2009)

b. Somali Standard Treatment guidelines (MOH/WHO 2016)

c. CPD manuals:

a. (BEmONC/CEmNOC)

b. National Medical Laboratory Training manuals (I,II,III)

d. In-Service Training Policy and Strategy (MOH Somaliland,2016)

e. Strengthening nutrition within the Essential Package of Health Services in Somalia: summary of partner workshop and resulting recommendations (DFID February 2016)

f. EPHS Compass (2016)

g. Birth spacing guidelines

h. Health Care Waste Management Policy (MoH Somaliland, 2016)

Interested individual consultants/institutions should submit a Cover letter, CVs of involved staffs/consultants, detailed work schedule and financial proposal detailing professional fees and logistic budget in USD (US$) recruitment-som@thet.org (copied to Emilien@thet.org) not later than 10^th October 2016 at 5.00pm EAT