Organization and facilitation of a study visit to observe pre-and in-service clinical training approaches in Nepal

Organization and facilitation of a study visit to observe pre-and in-service clinical training approaches in Nepal

JSI Research & Training Institute, Inc./World Education seeks applications for a consultant to support organization and facilitation of a study visit for a team of stakeholders from Laos to observe pre-and in-service clinical training approaches in Nepal.

Background:

USAID awarded the five-year Cooperative Agreement (Cooperative Agreement No. 72043921CA00001) from 2021 – 2026 for the Laos Maternal Child Health Nutrition Activity (LMCHN) to JSI Research & Training Institute, Inc. (JSI). The goal of the LMCHN project is improved health and nutrition outcomes among pregnant and postpartum women, newborns, children, and adolescents and has four intermediate results areas:

• IR1 Improved Ministry of Health National capacity to plan, monitor, prioritize and guide the reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health and nutrition programs. 
• IR2 Improved Provincial Health Office capacity to sustainably plan, budget and manage reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health and nutrition services. 
• IR3 Improved equitable access, utilization and quality of reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health and nutrition services at district hospital and health centers.
• IR4 Improved community engagement and responses for reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health and nutrition.

The project is guided by the Laos Ministry of Health’s policies and strategies in particular, its National Strategy and Action Plan on Integrated Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, and Adolescent Health (RMNCAH) 2016–2025 whose goal is to “improve the reproductive health status and reduce maternal, neonatal, and child mortality and morbidity including malnutrition in Lao PDR.”

Purpose and objectives of the consultancy / Technical Assistance provision

• Improving clinical skills and practice of frontline primary health care workers is a key objective of the Laos MCHN (LMCHN) project. There are several strategies that the LMCHN project will put in place to improve the clinical quality and effectiveness of care at the district and health centre (HC) level. These strategies include: (i) ensuring that district and HC staff have received training on the essential skills they need to provide quality maternal newborn, child health and nutrition (MNCHN) care through the roll-out of IMNCI and integrated maternal child health and nutrition (M3) training and (ii) continuing to strengthen skills of district and HC staff by quarterly clinical supportive supervision visits between the district hospital/health office and the HC. 
• To further improve clinical care that is evidence-based and effective, the LMCHN project would like to support a small number of provincial hospitals to become Learning Labs (or centres of excellence – COE). The Learning Lab (LL) will be a training centre providing competency-based, low-dose high frequency training and clinical and non-clinical skills development, for health care providers working in Provincial and District Hospitals. The LL approach is built upon and supports operationalization of the Ministry of Health’s 5G1S policy to improve quality by developing the capacity of Provincial LLs to provide clinical skills training and mentor district level facilities to implement high-quality clinical care and create strong supportive linkages between the health facilities. 
• There is very little experience of competency-based training in Laos using low-dose high frequency approach and LMCHN will support a study visit of key Lao stakeholders to Nepal to learn from the Nepal experience in implementing these approaches as part of pre- and in-service training, continuous professional development and medical licensure.
• The objective of the consultancy is  to work with the Nepal Simulation Society and key stakeholders such as the Ministry and Department of Health, Medical Universities and Professional Associations to take lead responsibility in preparing all technical components of the study visit and provide a facilitation role during the study visit. Administrative and logistical support will be provided by the World Education team at the JSI Research & Training Institute Inc./World Education Office in Nepal.  

Activity Plan:

1.)     Prior to study visit by Lao stakeholders:

• Conduct meetings with the Simulation Society and Ministry of Health to develop the agenda for the study visit 
• Conduct meetings with key stakeholders at the study sites (including traveling to sites outside of the Kathmandu valley) to agree the content of the visits and provide support to the development of any presentations and interviews
• Ensure that key permissions are obtained for any visit
• Work with World Education team to ensure all logistical / travel arrangements are in place

2.)     During study visit (Proposed study visit date is 10 days during January or February 2024.)

• Join the study visit and provide pre-briefings before visiting each study site
• Trouble shoot any issues that arise during the study visit

3.)     After the study visit:

• Ensure that all expenses are submitted to the World Education team at the JSI Research & Training Institute, Inc/World Education Office in  Nepal
• Brief trip report of the key issues discussed during each study site
• Invoices

Expected Outcomes:

1.)     Successful preparation for the study visit including:

• Pre-visits to study sites
• First draft of an annotated agenda for comments from JSI Laos LMCHN team, World Education Nepal team and the Simulation Society 
• The annotated agenda should include but not limited to: schedule, short introductory background of study sites and of the activity, key objectives to be met during each study sites, names / positions of people to be met, accommodation, lunch and dinner venues
• Final version of annotated agenda to be submitted for translation to Lao at least one month prior to the study visit
• Support to the preparation and review of powerpoint presentations to be made at study sites and submitted for translation to Lao at least one month prior to the study visit

2.)     Successful facilitation of the study visit including:

• Provide a pre-briefing to participants before each study site visit
• Accompany participants to all study site visits
• Assist in any trouble shooting for any problems that may arise

3.)     Successful finalization of the study visit including:

• Submission of draft study visit report (format to be provided) for comments by JSI
• Submission of final study visit report
• Submission of any invoices, receipts and vouchers for payment

Required qualifications

• Bachelor Degree in health-related area
• Public Health professional with experience of clinical pre- and in-service training for health workers
• Familiar with the work of the Simulation Society in Nepal
• Has key contacts in the Ministry and Department of Health, Central Hospitals, Professional Associations, Medical Council in Nepal

Application details

Due date for questions: Friday, September 20

Due date for applications: Wednesday, September 25

“JSI Research & Training Institute, Inc. / World Education is a child-safe organization, and the safety and well-being of children is a priority of our organization. We have robust recruitment procedures to ensure that all staff are suited to work with the children served by our programs.”

Qualified and interested candidates are requested to submit CV (maximum 3 pages) with two referees (current and immediate past line manager) along with covering letter and passport size photo to maggie_burkhardt@jsi.com to reach latest by September 25, 2024. All attachments should be Word documents.

Only short-listed applicants will be contacted. The organization reserves the right to cancel or reject the application. Phone calls or any other enquiries will NOT be entertained and any type of solicitation will automatically disqualify the application.

(Persons with disabilities, women and candidates from disadvantaged/marginalized communities are encouraged to apply)