Introduction and background
THET is a global health organisation that has been managing programmes to strengthen health systems and Human Resources for Health (HRH) for 30 years and it has been working with Somaliland partners for the last 20 years. THET’s work focuses on capacity development at the institutional, organisational and individual levels. This includes working with Ministry of Health Development (MoHD), Health Regulatory Bodies, Health Professional Associations, Health Training Institutions, Hospitals, Community Structures and other health facilities to strengthen the capacity of health service managers, health workers and the health systems within which they operate.
THET runs health system and health workforce strengthening programmes in Ethiopia, Myanmar, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Somalia/Somaliland and under the Health Partnership Scheme (HPS), has provided training, advice and support to more than 200 partnerships between UK and Lower- and Middle-Income Health institutions across over 30 countries in Africa, Asia and the Middle East. THET’s approach supports locally developed and owned solutions to healthcare challenges.
With support from DFID, THET was a member of HCS program and has been working with Health Professional Associations (HPAs) in Somaliland. THET has increased the institutional capacity by creating a pool of local ToTs, as well as training manuals and protocols. From 2013-2015 SMA and SLNMA trained more junior doctors, nurses and midwives from all regions. The training was hands on and included training in conducting emergency caesarean sections and anaesthesia.
The project aims to address the issue of high maternal mortality rates in Somaliland by building the capacity of health workers who provide emergency obstetric care. The project will focus on Hargeisa Group Hospital and two other District hospitals as a pilot initiative to test the efficacy and potential of a multi-organisation training offer for emergency obstetric teams working at the first levels of emergency obstetric service provision.
Partners to the project have a wealth of experience delivering health worker training and health system strengthening programmes in Lower- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs). They include:
The Tropical Health and Education Trust (THET)
The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
(RCOG) The World Federation of Societies of
Anaesthesiologists (WFSA) Lifebox Foundation
Project overview
The vision of this project is that public health facilities in Somaliland are safer places for mothers to undergo emergency procedures related to delivery, and that mortality and morbidity arising from these procedures are minimised. Ultimately, this will contribute to the continuing decline in maternal mortality in Somaliland.
This will be achieved through a combination of factors:
- Emergency Obstetric teams are skilled in managing emergency complications that most often result in maternal mortality or morbidity, e.g. postpartum haemorrhage, or sepsis.
- Operating rooms are well managed to ensure safety, and the capacity of surgical teams is improved to ensure high levels of teamwork, and responsive and adaptive leadership.
- Adequate assessment and referral of patients within facilities minimises the late presentation of complications to the emergency obstetric teams.
- A greater amount of ongoing support and continuing training through inter-professional skill sharing and mentorship. Professionals based in tertiary hospitals are empowered to take ownership of continued training at the district level.
The project will pilot a training programme delivered by three technical partners with the help of the Ministry of Health Development to provide multi-professional team-based training at National and District Hospital level.
The assignment
The purpose of this assignment is to lead the process of data collection tool review, gathering and analyzing data for the compilation of a baseline report. A comprehensive report is expected in early September for informing the design of a suitable training program.
Objectives of the Baseline Assessment
The objective of this baseline assessment is to measure the current status of defined project indicators and to gather data, where relevant, on the need for improvement of service quality for emergency obstetric services and patient impact. This will be achieved through key informant interviews on critical questions, as well as a period of observation of practice at the training site(s).
The data gathered will focus on the following three areas;
- The capacity and size of obstetric teams and training needs;
- Facility assessment, including equipment, consumables, physical space; and
- Current systems, processes, and practice.
The information gathered will inform the training design and contents and form the basis for impact measurement at the end of the project.
Deliverables
Key Deliverables Expected:
Ø Review of data collection tool developed by THET and partners
Ø Needs assessment report outlining training needs, and facility assessment including equipment, consumables, and physical space.
Ø Recommendations based on which training package should be designed for the master trainers and other trainees in the district hospitals.
Ø Selection criteria for the master trainers
The consultant
Required Education Skills and Experience
- At least 10 years’ experience in conducting baseline assessments, collecting data, interpreting and reporting.
- A minimum of 5 years in-depth knowledge and experience of the Somalia health sector or similar country setting.
- Proven knowledge of broader health service delivery of Somaliland
- Sound understanding and application of relevant training and mentorship concepts, methodologies, and tools.
- Ability to travel to health facilities in target project locations.
- Excellent spoken, written and communication English and Arabic/local language skills.
- Good leadership, communication and facilitation skills.
Consultancy Timeline
The work is to begin in July and will be completed early August 2021. Total level of effort anticipated to be between 10-15 days.
How to apply
Interested individual consultants or a team of consultants should submit a cover letter, CV/s and detailed work plan to recruitment-som@thet.org, no later than 15th July 2021. Submissions will be assessed on a rolling basis. If a suitable candidate has been identified prior to the closing date THET may close the application process early.
Terms
THET will cover local travel cost for project purposes. Consultant is responsible for own insurance and relevant government taxes.
The selected experts/consultants must be available to provide appropriate levels of input at various stages throughout the assignment delivery.
The consultant must comply with the THET and J&J rules and procedures related to security. THET is fully committed to the safeguarding of all children and at-risk adults from all forms of violence. The successful candidate is expected to commit to THET Safeguarding Policy and guidelines for the duration of employment.
