Title: Individual Consultant (National) for the Development of Key Messages and Job Aids to Strengthen Social and Behavior Change

Hiring Office: Americares Liberia Country Office

Background

Americares Liberia has been strengthening its social and behavioral change (SBC) activities within its maternal and newborn health projects. A key focus has been on Trained Traditional Midwives (TTMs) at monthly meetings. Key messages and job aids are shared at these meetings. However, there is a need to look at the whole package of job aids for TTMs and strengthen the job aids and the delivery methods for these key messages. A second SBC focus has been through the pilot of the Facility Based Delivery solution set developed by Breakthrough Action Liberia. Americares initially piloted this at 2 facilities and added 4 additional pilot facilities. Monitoring of the solution sets at the community level is limited.

It is against this background, that Americares is therefore seeking a skilled SBC consultant to review and strengthen the TTM job aid package and provide support to monitor the SBC activities from the FBD solution set at the community level.

Purpose of the consultancy

The objective of the consultancy is to support the Liberia Program Team to review and strengthen the TTM job aid package and provide support to monitor the SBC activities from the FBD solution set at the community level by 29th July 2024. The consultant will be responsible for coordinating the process and collecting the needed documents to complete this task in close collaboration with the Americares program team, the FHP/MoH, and other stakeholders.

Scope of work: (Description of services, activities,)

Under the direction of the Program Director and relevant program staff, the SBC consultant will:

1. Development of the Inception report outlining the proposed methodology and work plan to achieve the objectives of the Assessment. Submission of draft inception report to Americares Liberia Office.
2. Develop a work plan and timeline with the Program Director
3. Liaise with the Ministry of Health to review the current TTM job aid package and teaching materials through desk review and site visits to TTM meetings.
4. Coordinate with relevant Ministry of Health divisions and partners, develop recommendations to improve the job aid package (materials and delivery systems), and implement feasible recommendations as agreed upon with the program staff. This could involve utilizing and packaging existing materials for community health workers or the development of new materials if relevant materials are not available.
5. Review of the facility-based delivery solution set through a desk review of training reports, staff interviews, and site visits.
6. Support to monitor the implementation of the facility-based delivery solution set at the community level with a focus on the Community Transportation Plans and TTM community activities.
7. Develop a plan for new job aid creation to fill any gaps and follow through with the process for new job aid development.
8. Provide a comprehensive set of TTM materials in soft copy to the Program Director for review and feedback, incorporate feedback for a final deliverable.
9. Work closely with the Program Director and M/E Officer to develop a plan to monitor and gather information on the status of the solution sets in the community.
10. Responsible for implementing the monitoring plan and providing a report with recommendations to the Program Director on implementation of the activities at the community level.
11. Support the M/E Officer in collecting community-level data and feedback.
12. Draft report including recommendations for ongoing monitoring of the solution set.
13. Document successes and share lessons learned.

Consultancy Duration:

The consultancy will run from 15th February – 29th July 2024. A total of four to five months.

Work Location:

The consultant’s working location will be in Grand Bassa County with meetings in Monrovia at times.

Expected outputs/deliverables.

1. An inception report detailing the methodology, work plan, and prioritization list.
2. Revised and updated TTM job aid package (including the job aids for the TTMs and the teaching materials for the health facility and district staff to support the TTMs)
3. Analysis of available data and report on the status of FBD solution set usage and recommendations with a focus on Community Transportation Plan and TTM activities.
4. Action Plan and follow-up plan for actions

Summary report on the process, feedback, and any challenges and recommendations for future use. All deliverables will be submitted in electronic copies and hard copies if appropriate.

Monitoring and progress control, including reporting requirements, and deadlines:

1. The Program Director leadership support will ensure regular engagement with the consultant through emails and phone calls to not only support but also ensure timelines are met.
2. The consultant will provide weekly debriefs to the Senior Management and program staff during the joint Program and Operation Meetings as well as during special meetings as deemed necessary.

The final deliverables shall be submitted 10 working days before the consultancy contract end date.

Supervisory arrangements:

The consultant will work under the direct supervision of the Americares Program Director and the overall guidance of the Country Director. The consultant will be expected to work in close collaboration with the Americares field staff, Ministry of Health, CHT, and other stakeholders.

Expected travel:

Travels to Monrovia when necessary

Required expertise, qualifications, and competencies, including language requirements:

The consultant will have:

1. BA/BSc degree holders in community/development studies, social sciences, or public health with at least 7 years of work experience in SBC experience in designing, developing, implementing, and monitoring strategies, activities, and materials will be preferred.
2. Master’s degree in community/development studies, and social sciences with at least an added advantage.
3. Experiences in projects focusing on community engagement, SBCC, or community engagement approaches for RMNCAH services.
4. Excellent English-language writing skills
5. Experiences in engaging and working harmoniously with various partners including the Ministry of Health and County Health Teams
6. The ability to present project progress at various levels of stakeholders’ meetings is preferred.
7. Ability to think critically and strategically with experience in pre-testing and testing materials, approaches, and strategies.
8. Excellent interpersonal skills and strong communications skills; ability to develop partnerships across sectors and cultures.
9. Strong organizational skills, capacity to think strategically, and attention to detail.
10. Proficiency in Office 365 including Word, Excel, Teams, PowerPoint, and SharePoint
11. Excellent and proven coordination and facilitation skills

Services to be provided by Americares (e.g., workspace, equipment), if applicable:

1. Americares will provide relevant support and guidance to ensure the successful undertaking of this consultancy.
2. Americares shall provide a workspace with access to the Internet for the Consultant
3. Americares shall provide transportation for the consultant within Bassa and to Monrovia

Other relevant information or special conditions, if any:

All interested applicants should submit the following.

1.Letter of expression of interest

2.CV with evidence of qualifications and experience

3.Samples of jobs from previous similar assignments undertaken by the consultant

Interested individuals and/or firms are encouraged to send their proposals, containing detailed scope of work and financials to the below emails: Etweah@americares.org with copy to HMondaye@americares.org by close of business on January 12,2024.

Terms and Conditions:

Delivery Instructions:

If successful, please note the following:

– Location for Delivery: Americares Liberia, 5th Street Tubman Boulevard, Sinkor, Monrovia, Liberia

– Timeline for delivery: To be arranged.

Payment Terms: – To be negotiated.

Quotation must include the following:

• Proposal shall be marked with PR# above.
• Copy of valid Company Trade license, Tax certificate (VAT), certified copy of representation if a representative of a firm.
• Quotation in US Dollars inclusive of tax, excise and other duties or taxes.
• Information on the validity of the proposal.
• Statement that vendor will adhere to Americares terms and conditions.
• Local Registration.

Evaluation criteria:

Offers will be evaluated based on their responsiveness to the specification, qualifications and experience of the consultant price, delivery time.

Application:

All interested applicants should submit the following.

1.Letter of expression of interest

2.CV with evidence of qualifications and experience

3.Samples of jobs from previous similar assignments undertaken by the consultant

Interested individuals and/or firms are encouraged to send their proposals, containing detailed scope of work and financials to the below emails: Etweah@americares.org with copy to HMondaye@americares.org by close of business on January 12,2024.

Submission Method:

Offer should be submitted electronically Please, note that before sending your proposal by e-mail you must sign, scan and

The deadline for submission of the application shall be January 15, 2024