UNICEF Myanmar Terms Of Reference (TOR) for Individual Consultant
Heading: International Communication for Development (C4D) ConsultantDevelop a National Communication Strategy and Plan of Action and Support Monitoring of Measles Rubella (MR) Immunization Campaign
Section in Charge: YCSD
How does the consultancy relate to work plan: Improved Young Child Survival and Development (YCSD) with focus on the most vulnerable age groups -new-born by 2015 through increased coverage and quality of more evidence-based preventive and curative services for under-five children and new-born.
Outcome reference: 102.003 - More mothers and/or caregivers adopt appropriate new-born and child health practices and child health services.
Output reference: 102.003.003- Develop tailored interventions to create community demand for immunization, especially among hard to reach populations during campaigns and outbreaks.
1. Background:
Given the prevalence and the severity of diseases caused by Rubella infections in Myanmar and the WHO recommendation which encourages all national EPI programs in all regions to introduce the rubella vaccine, the Government of Republic of the Union of Myanmar has decided, one more time, to take the opportunity of the availability of this effective vaccine and introduce it in its routine immunization program to protect the serious consequence of rubella infections which need to be controlled at the age when it attacks in early childhood.
In this context, Government of Republic of the Union of Myanmar, submitted a proposal to the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI Alliance) for a MR catch up campaign before the introduction of this vaccine into the routine immunization schedule. The proposal was approved in February 2014 with the anticipation that the campaign will be implemented in the fourth quarter of 2014 (October – December). The tentative dates have not been decided yet but initial discussions have started and if the campaign will be implemented in the mentioned period that means only three months are remaining for effective planning and organizing all the needed logistics.
To ensure quality MR campaign, the Ministry of Health needs technical support in planning, implementation, monitoring of the planned activities which will result in to reaching more children during the campaign and at the same time to ensure the MR vaccine is introduced into the routine EPI program successfully. The current existing capacity in the Ministry of Health is not sufficient and as a result UNICEF and WHO are expected to provide most of the needed technical support. In particular, UNICEF will focus on social mobilization and demand creation to increase uptake of services during the campaign. At the same increase awareness of caregivers on the importance of introducing measles rubella vaccines in to routine immunization program this will include as well designing best strategies for reaching children in hard to reach and conflict affected areas.
The overall goal of the UNICEF support to the Ministry of Health is to provide the needed technical support and guidance for effective implementation of the MR campaign and introduction of the MR vaccine in to routine immunization.
In view of the above, UNICEF is therefore looking for the consultant with experience in planning, implementation and monitoring of communication activities for immunization campaigns.
Objectives of the consultancy:
The purpose of the consultancy is to develop a social mobilization communication plan for the national measles rubella (MR) immunization campaign targeting children 9 months to 15 years of age with a focus on how various target groups and geographical locations will be reached with key communication messages about the campaign. This will also include monitoring the implementation and documentation of the lessons learned and best practices emerging from the post-campaign evaluation of the campaign. The main focus will be on ensuring that all developed materials meets the international standards and establishment of the quality control measure through an effective and post campaign monitoring of the campaign.
2. Geographic Area: Nation-wideDuration (including potential extension): The assignment will be for 7 month starting from 15th July 2014 until 15th February 2015
3. Supervisor:
Closely working with the C4D Team, the Consultant will be reporting to the UNICEF C4D Specialist (YCSD) and Immunization Specialist, with technical guidance from the Chief of C4D, MNCH Specialist and the Chief of YCSD in coordination with the Central Expanded Program on Immunization (CEPI) and the Central Health Education Bureau (CHEB) in the Ministry of Health, relevant department of the Ministry of Education, WHO and other health partners support immunization service delivery in Myanmar.
4. Type of Supervision/support required from UNICEF:
5. Description of assignment:
Tasks / End Product/deliverables / Deadline
1. Review all relevant documents (the recent KAP surveys and report from last measles campaigns) related to the rational for conducting measles rubella immunization campaign. / 1. Detailed inception report highlighting documents reviewed and proposed process for development of MR campaign communication plan / 20th July 2014
2. Conduct field visits to gain a deeper understanding of local context and experiences with implementation prior immunization campaigns, especially in hard to reach populations. / 2. Based on the trip findings, prepare and share a detailed report on mapping of CSO (with focus and potential in behaviour change programming) partners presence and support, interests and opportunities and also interact with communities to solicit their views. Also analyse reach and effectiveness of the sources of communication including mass media, local media and community influentials. The findings will also guide drafting of communication strategy and action plan / 5th August 2014
3. Develop a communication strategy and costed communication action plan, with SMART communication objectives for each targeted population and national/state and township specific activities for each round, and present it in order to get comments and feedback from the MR Campaign coordination committee and Ministry of Health. / 3. The final MR campaign communication strategy with costed action plan for each level and audience (in Microsoft Word file in English); a summative one pager of the plan and its Power Point Presentation (both in Myanmar language and English) / 15th August 2014
4. Draft an IPC training plan for BHS/Volunteers, develop communication package and work with the relevant partners for efficient implementation. / 4. IPC Training Plan and Package / 15th September 2014
5. As part of the communication action plan for each level and audience, develop a robust monitoring mechanism and indicators to monitor progress. Develop tools for pre and post MR campaign monitoring and evaluation as well as training materials for independent monitors. / 5. Monitoring and Evaluation framework for communication plan of MR campaign including the monitoring tools for pre and post campaign evaluation of the campaign / 1st October 2014
6. Take lead in implementation of the communication activities for populations living in difficult to access areas such as seasonal migrant populations; populations with daily work outside their home villages; remote communities, communities living in or near IDP camps, urban poor settings, populations affected by conflict etc. / 6. Report on completion of communication activities for hard to reach population particularly in Kachin, and Rakhine / 15 October 2014
7. Along with C4D team, Collate reports from supervision and monitoring team throughout the first and second round of MR campaign to assess the progress, constraints and challenges of the implementation of the campaign and propose corrective actions if any, with a special attention on marginalized populations living in hard to reach and high risk communities. / 7. Detailed Campaign Progress Report with key recommendations on how to improve each of the subsequent rounds (2nd and 3rd round) of campaign targeting different age group. / 15th November and 20th December 2014
8. Facilitate the process of documenting the lessons learnt, best practices and challenges in planning, implementation and monitoring of MR campaign based on post campaign evaluation process focusing on key communication indicators. / 8. Provide Final Report documenting progress, lessons learned and recommendations for future similar communication efforts for immunization campaigns. / By 15th February 2015
6. Advertisement / Invitation / Request for Expression of Interest
How/where will the consultancy be published? Website (intranet, Reliefweb), circulation through UNICEF email and health partner networks, soliciting from the existing database of communication consultant at Regional Office and Headquarters including head hunting of potential candidates.
7. Selection process (EOI to be attached to TOR)
Interested candidates are required to complete the Expression of Interest Form circulated with the call for proposals, answering the technical questions included.
The consultant will be identified by UNICEF based on a competitive selection process, taking into account the candidate’s experience, the quality of the answers produced, and of the lump-sum requested.
If deemed opportune, UNICEF will require a telephone interview with shortlisted candidates.
8. Qualification and specialized knowledge/experience required for the assignment:
The Consultant should have as a minimum:
a) Advanced educational degree in social science, public health or communication for development.
b) Minimum 8 years of progressively responsible professional work experience at international level in designing communication strategies and plan of actions for advocacy, social mobilization, behaviour change and monitoring with main focus on immunization and MR campaigns.
c) Experience from emergencies desired with an understanding of implementing C4D with both a conflict sensitive and development lens.
d) Strong technical knowledge of IPC training and approaches for the purpose of action-oriented interventions
e) Excellent communication skills with fluent English language skills; proven ability to work effectively with government and multi-stakeholders.
9. Other conditions:
The consultant will be based in Yangon.
Consultancy involves in country travel.
Life and health insurance
UNICEF does not provide or arrange life or health insurance coverage for consultants and individual contractors, and consultants and individual contractors are not eligible to participate in the life or health insurance schemes available to United Nations staff members. Consultants and individual contractors are fully responsible for arranging, at their own expense, such life, health and other forms of insurance covering the period of their services as they consider appropriate. The responsibility of UNICEF is limited solely to the payment of compensation for service-incurred death, injury or illness as per the provisions detailed below.
Insurance for service-incurred death, injury or illness
Consultants and individual contractors who are authorized to travel at UNICEF expense or who are required under their contract to perform services in a UNICEF or United Nations office shall be provided with insurance coverage, through a UNICEF-retained third party insurance provider, covering death, injury and illness attributable to the performance of official UNICEF duties. Compensation in the event of service-incurred death, injury or illness shall be equivalent to amounts stipulated in the agreement between UNICEF and the insurance provider.
Payment
Payment will be released upon satisfactory completion of written end-products as outlined in the table below:
Sr. No / Description of deliverables / Payment
1. / Detailed inception report highlighting documents reviewed and proposed process for development of MR campaign communication plan / 20% of the total contract payment
2. / Detailed report on mapping of CSO (with focus and potential in behaviour change programming) / 10% of the total contract payment
3. / The final MR campaign communication strategy with costed action plan for each level and audience / 20% of the total contract payment
4. / IPC Training Plan and Package and Monitoring and Evaluation framework for communication plan of MR campaign including the monitoring tools for pre and post campaign evaluation of the campaign / 10% of the total contract payment
5. / Report on completion of communication activities for hard to reach population particularly in Kachin, and Rakhine / 10% of the total contract payment
6. / Detailed Campaign Progress Report with key recommendations on how to improve each of the subsequent rounds (2nd and 3rd round) of campaign targeting different age group. / 10% of the total contract payment
7. / Provide Final Report documenting progress, lessons learned and recommendations for future similar communication efforts for immunization campaigns / 20% of the total contract payment
Confidentiality:
The documents produced during the period of this consultancy will be treated as strictly confidential, and the rights of distribution and/ or publication will reside solely with UNICEF.
The contract signed with the consultant will include the other general terms defined by UNICEF.
10. Nature of Penalty Clause to be stipulated in the contract:
UNICEF Myanmar reserves the right not to pay the Contractor or withhold part of the payable amount if one or more requirements established for this assignment is not met or deadline set for the accomplishment of the tasks is missed.
TOR Consultancy for C4D (for MR Campaign) Page 1