Short Term Technical Consultant for Strengthening Midwifery Practices

Job Description

I. Introduction/Background: A national study conducted in 2012 found that 696,000 women were treated for postabortion complications in health facilities throughout Pakistan (267,000 were treated in public facilities). Unsafe abortion is a serious public health issue of Pakistan. There are 2.2M induced abortions each year and more than 85% of these are handled by midwives and traditional birth attendants who are not trained in the use of safe abortion technologies. Many women with abortion complications go untreated due in part to the fact that the care provided falls short of desirable standards: staff are not adequately trained, methods used for uterine evacuation are often outdated and unsafe, female staff are in short supply, and appropriate equipment and technologies are lacking (Z.Sathar, et al., 2013). Additionally, majority of Pakistani population resides in rural areas with poor healthcare and very limited access to life-saving maternal health services ? majority of the women from these areas rely on untrained service providers for abortion care.These untrained service providers mostly rely on the use of dangerous methods and approaches- such as dilation and curettage (D&C)? resulting in almost 6-13% of all maternal deaths associated due to complications of unsafe abortion. Almost 35% of these women and girls approach public health facilities for treatment of these complications and rest could not manage to reach to the health facilities and prefer to stay at home given high abortion stigma and several other barriers in accessing the postabortion care. There are significant myths and misconceptions and biases of providers particularly doctors that hamper inclusion of midwives in training and skill development, resulting non-availability of trained midwives for safe abortion and postabortion care service provision. Global Research has proven that midwives can effectively respond to women and girls? needs through task sharing if they are equipped with essential skills and provided support at the public and private sector health facilities for abortion care service provision.ÿÿÿIpas Pakistan is working with the public sector in Pakistan to strengthen an enabling environment and support health systems in postabortion care service provision, and because of Ipas continuous advocacy with provincial and federal government, the federal government authorized midwives and approved first ever national guidelines on postabortion care in 2018, Punjab in 2015 and Sindh in 2020. Moreover, Pakistan Nursing Council?s updated 2015 midwifery curriculum also emphasizes on classroom and clinical training of students on safe postabortion care methods. Building upon our learnings, policy change on authorization to midwives would remain a challenge until they are included from the preservice and get continuous support during the service delivery at the health facilities where they are deployed. In order to address the misconceptions and myths that midwives will misuse this policy authorization, Ipas is launching providers? targeted advocacy with concrete local evidence created during its recent projects that midwives can be equally good as doctors in postabortion care service provision if trained and supported by the health systems. This project will focus on task shifting and sustainable change approach from the beginning that midwives are continuously trained and mentored by inhouse trainers.II. Period of Performance: 20th March 2023 ? 30th June 2023III. Place of Performance: Islamabad- Office BasedIV. Scope of Work: Ipas likes to engage the services of a senior midwifery consultant with at least 10-15 years comprehensive experience of work in public health management particularly in implementing projects focused on midwifery education/ practices including development of curriculum/ training materials/strategies. The consultant must have strong networking with nursing and midwifery associations/bodies/councils. Previous experience of work with renowned midwifery teaching institution/s will be preferred.ÿAny other task given by Supervisor/Country Director.V. Reporting: Policy and Communications AdvisorVI. Deliverables/Milestones: a). Development of Task Shifting Strategy and Pre-Service Training Manuals

• Work with Pakistan Nursing Council, Nursing Directorates in Punjab, Sindh and KP and key relevant stakeholders by leading the consultative process with stakeholders to develop and notify a strategy for task shifting of midwives on WHO recommended safe postabortion methods (WC-PAC training and service provision).
  • Deliverable: Task shifting strategy /work plan notified by the PNC/relevant nursing directorates and meeting reports = Timeline is 10th April, 2023.

b). Review/Update/Develop the available reference manual and training materials/manual on WC-PAC for midwifery teachers and students with input from relevant stakeholders and Ipas.

• Deliverable: Copy of Reference Manual

Deliverables: Copy of updated training materials/manual for TOT and preservice training = Timeline is 1st May, 2023.Deliverables: Copy of updated training materials/manual for TOT and preservice training = Timeline is 1st May, 2023.c) Coordination, Management and Execution

• Prepare training plans and implement activities in 5 intervention districts per Ipas work plan for pre-service component.
  • Deliverable: Copy of implementation plan for each intervention district
• Facilitate R&E team in development of all the assessments /evaluations tools and implementation related to preservice trainings.
• Lead coordination with relevant departments (PNC, Provincial PNC Departments, NEB etc) and partners for participant nominations for trainings/consultations/meeting participants to ensure their high-quality participation in activities as per Ipas work plan.
  • Deliverable: Copy of nomination lists and meeting/training approval letter/s from the departments ÿ= Daily Basis up to 4 months

d). Reporting, Tracking and Writing

• Tracks and monitors the project activities through available tools and reports to R&Eÿ
• Provide technical support in developing high quality training/meeting agenda, presentations, materials and reports, donor reports, concept notes, technical recourses related to workplan activities. ÿ

Deliverable: Copy of agendas, power point presentations, meeting/donor reports, concept notes = Daily basis up to 4 monthse) Monthly Progress Report and Time Sheet = By 28th of every month Qualifications/ Experience:

• Diploma or degree in Midwifery or Nursing/Lady health visitor/equivalent or any relevant field.
• At least 10-15 years comprehensive experience of work in public health management particularly implementing projects focused on midwifery education and practices including development of curriculum/ training materials and strategies.
• Previous Experience of leading and implementing a project and work with renowned midwifery teaching institution/s will be preferred.ÿ
• Strong networking with nursing and midwifery associations/bodies/councils.
• Excellent coordination, communication, data management and writing skills.
• Experience in program planning and coordination/management.
• Experience in workshop and meeting facilitation and planning.

Ipas is strongly committed to providing a work environment that is free from all forms of harassment, discrimination, and inequity.ÿ We recruit, employ, train, promote, and compensate our personnel without regard to race, age, sex, religion, national origin, color, creed, ancestry, citizenship, caste, ethnicity, regional identity, tribal identity, marital status, veteran status, disability, genetic information, gender identity, transgender status, sexual orientation, or any other personal characteristic protected by law or outlined by Ipas policy. Ipas acknowledges that these personal characteristics may differ in different contexts.

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