TERMS OF REFERENCE CAM Association Strengthening Consultants Strengthening Midwifery Services (SMS) Project, South Sudan TECHNICAL ACTIVITY: The Canadian Association of Midwives (CAM) wishes to recruit Association Strengthening Consultants to provide technical assistance to the Obstetric and Gynecological Society of South Sudan (OGSSS) through onsite training and remote mentoring as part of the Strengthening Midwifery Services (SMS) project in South Sudan. These consultancies will focus on: 1) Association Strengthening 2) Advocacy, Leadership, and Governance The main activities of the consultancy will be: 1) Conducting an organizational assessment 2) Supporting strategic planning Location: This position will require remote work from your location/home office, as well as travel to South Sudan, and possibly to other locations (to accompany OGSSS members to conferences). Candidates should be able to travel to South Sudan (between 1-2 trips during the life of the contract, for a total of 10-20 travel days). Candidates should indicate their availability to travel in their letter of intent. Time frame: April-September 2018 (with possibility of extension) Prospective applicants are encouraged to attend our SMSII Webinar on March 6, 2018 at 12 noon EST. You must register in advance for the Webinar online at: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/e00e5daa9a5d952a7c24e00bf0acd2b8 Please address your questions to jrobinson@canadianmidwives.org. A. INTRODUCTION: SMS PROJECT SUMMARY South Sudan has among the world s highest maternal, newborn and child mortality rates, due in part to the critical shortage of skilled health care providers. Through the provision of capacity building initiatives for midwives and other health care providers, CAM and its partners hope to reduce the number of mothers and newborn babies who die in South Sudan. 1 P a g e
The 5-year Strengthening Midwifery Services in South Sudan (SMS) project (phase 2), supported by Global Affairs Canada, is led by the UNFPA in partnership with South Sudan s Ministry of Health and Canadian Association of Midwives (CAM). CAM will provide direct peer-to-peer mentoring support and technical expertise from practicing Canadian midwives, as well as other Canadian MNCH professionals. The project consists primarily of training health workers at National Health Training Institutes across the country. While there are currently four of such training institutes, the number is currently being expanded to six. The project also works to improve the ability of the Ministry of Health to manage and regulate the education and work of health professionals. One important goal for the project is to improve the enabling environment for midwifery practices in South Sudan. CAM is supporting the work of the Obstetrics and Gynecological Society of South Sudan (OGSSS) to ensure its professional development and for the association to be recognized voice in the country. Through capacity building activities, OGSSS will become better suited to promote high standards of practice, advocate for the needs of doctors and their clients, and influence national health policy. B. SOUTH SUDAN BACKGROUND AND RATIONALE FOR ASSIGNMENT South Sudan gained its independence from Sudan in July 2011, following a 2005 peace agreement that ended one of Africa s longest-running civil wars. The country is made up of 10 states and over 60 different major ethnic groups, making it one of the most diverse countries on the continent. While it was hoped that independence would usher in a new period of peace to the region and to the world s newest country, internal tensions led to the 2013-2015 civil war, which displaced 2.2 million people. Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health Context South Sudan is one of the most fragile and underdeveloped countries in the world, with extremely high rates of maternal and infant mortality. According to the State of the World s Midwifery Report, 2014, to achieve universal access to sexual, reproductive, maternal and newborn care, services must respond to 0.7 million pregnancies per annum by 2030. The health system implications include how best to configure and equitably deploy the SRMNH workforce to cover at least 49.5 million antenatal visits, 9 million births and 35.9 million postpartum/postnatal visits between 2012 and 2030. The crisis of 2013 has exacerbated already difficult conditions, further threatening the health system and any potential strides in the improvement of MNCH outcomes. C. GOALS AND OBJECTIVES Goal: In providing association strengthening workshops and ongoing technical support, the SMS project aims to increase the capacities of the Obstetric and Gynecological Society of South Sudan to promote high standards of practice and 2 P a g e
foster an enabling environment for Obstetrics and Gynecology in South Sudan, thereby contributing to reduction of South Sudan s maternal, newborn and child mortality rates. Objectives: The consultancy s objectives are as follows: 1. Foster a peer to peer relationship with the Obstetrics and Gynecological Society of South Sudan; 2. Conduct an organizational assessment; 3. Lead a strategic planning process; 4. Complete and submit reports; 5. Provide remote ongoing mentoring and collaboration with OGSS to support and guide their initiatives, including Board related activities, advocacy, and strategic planning implementation. D. METHODOLOGY / APPROACH 1. Parties involved: During the assignment, work and collaboration will occur between the following actors: a. Consultants: Association Strengthening Consultants (2) b. Stakeholders and participants: - Obstetrics and Gynecological Society of South Sudan (OGSSS) - Canadian Association of Midwives (CAM) - South Sudan s Ministry of Health - UNFPA 2. Methods: Interviews and meetings with relevant stakeholders; conduct needs/gap/organizational assessments, review organizational documents, and other relevant documentation; conduct a literature review (existing training modules, international guidelines and standards, etc.), 3. Resources available: During the assignment (on location in Juba), the CAM Consultants will have access to the following resources: a. Access to UNFPA staff and other stakeholders; b. Office space at the UNFPA compound; c. Accommodation and transportation will be provided (all CAM Consultants will be accommodated in UN provided accommodations); d. CAM pre-departure training e. UN security training (note: Canadians travelling to South Sudan in the context of this project will be going as Technical Experts to the UN and will therefore be covered by UN security) CAM will support the Consultants with respect to assignment planning and coordination, any activities undertaken in Canada, as well as logistical planning including travel, reimbursement of approved expenses and payment of consultant fees. While in Juba, UNFPA will provide support to the Consultants 3 P a g e
who will travel under UN security and receive on-site security training upon arrival. E. DELIVERABLES 1. Work Plan (to be determined amongst partners) 2. Organizational Assessment 3. Strategic Plan 4. Mission report(s) developed summarizing the adopted methods and processes for the assignment, as well as held meetings, outputs, and challenges 5. Ongoing mentoring and support to OGSSS captured in the form of quarterly reports ACTIVITIES AND TIMELINE TO BE DETERMINED IN CONSULTATION WITH THE ASSOCIATION STRENGTHENING TEAM, OGSSS, CAM, AND OTHER PARTNERS. G. REMUNERATION The total value of this contract is approximately $15-20,000. This includes travel days, as well as remote work. It is estimated that is position will require 10-15 days in the field (schedule to be negotiated). The schedule of work and remuneration will be decided with the candidate selected. The cost associated with producing the deliverables (including equipment, formatting, printing, the fees of other contributing consultants hired by CAM) will be paid by the project. Some travel costs are provided for within the program, these include travel costs to Juba (airfare, visa and processing fees, vaccination costs and anti-malarials, accommodation, per diems in transport, and comprehensive insurance), as well as any pre-approved costs incurred in Canada (i.e. travel to pre-departure training). H. SKILLS / ABILITIES The selected Association Strengthening Consultants must have the following educational and professional experience: The ideal candidate is a Registered Obstetrician and/or Gynecologist at least five (5) years of practice experience and member of the SOGC; Experience in association strengthening, including any of the following activities: health policy, advocacy, governance and strategic planning; Experiencing in innovative problem solving and relationship building across distances; Experience participating on a Board of Directors of an association or a not-for-profit organization; Experience working in international and/or humanitarian settings; 4 P a g e
Excellent cross-cultural communication and facilitation skills in English; Excellent analytical and writing skills; Experience working in post conflict environment is an asset, applicants must be willing to travel to South Sudan; Knowledge and experience working with UN agencies is an asset; and, Post-graduate Degree in Health or Social Sciences is an asset. Proven experience of good collaboration. I. APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS Please follow these instructions: Send your CV and a cover letter with your availabilities in one PDF document and ensure that your name and the title SMS Association Strengthening OGSSS are included in the file name. Send your PDF by email with the subject SMS Association Strengthening OGSSS to Jamie Robinson, CAM Global Program South Sudan at jrobinson@canadianmidwives.org Deadline for applications is March 20, 2018 We look forward to receiving your applications! 5 P a g e