Purpose of the Consultancy
The purpose of this consultancy is to begin the development of a suite of materials (e.g. implementation guidance, protocols, training modules, job aids, and other implementation tools) that would help clinicians and community health workers in supporting mothers in the feeding of small and sick newborns or infants less than 6 months with feeding difficulties. The expected audience for these materials would include those providing care in neonatal care units, in-patient postnatal wards, out-patient departments/facilities and community services (home visits and health posts). Although the materials would focus on establishing or restoring exclusive breastfeeding, they will also provide guidance on when supplementation or alternative feeding methods are needed.
Background
WHO has recommended that all infants less than six months, including those who are small or sick, be exclusively breastfed. Guidelines on prevention and management of wasting and nutritional oedema emphasize the importance of addressing feeding difficulties in infants less than 6 months of age at risk of poor growth and development. However, these recommendations are not accompanied by concise, high-quality, low-resource appropriate, operational guidance, practical instruction and supporting materials to facilitate operationalization. Materials that do exist have largely focused on care within maternity facilities (i.e. in-patient hospital or facility settings), but provide little guidance for continued follow-up in the community. The materials provide little guidance on screening for feeding difficulties or how to manage them when they occur.
Several civil society organizations have created tools that attempt to address these gaps in implementation tools for those tasked with the care of these infants (e.g. Emergency Nutrition Network, PATH, International Network in Kangaroo Mother Care, International Lactation Consultants Association). Additionally, research activities underway may contribute toward providing better clinical guidance.
Work to be performed
Output 1: Conduct document reviews, key informant interviews and expert consultations, to identify and evaluate strengths and gaps in existing guidance, protocols, training modules, job aids, and other implementation tools (from WHO and other organizations) regarding how to feed small and sick newborns or infants less than 6 months with feeding difficulties.
Deliverable 1.1: Annotated bibliography of existing implementation tools on feeding of small and vulnerable infants
Output 2: Based on the inputs above, identify opportunities and priorities for adapting existing materials and/or creating new materials to fill gaps in the suite of tools on the feeding of small and vulnerable infants.
Deliverable 2.1: Plan of action for developing a set of tools for implementation of recommendations on the feeding of small and vulnerable infants.
Output 3: Facilitate networking and communications among researchers, practitioners, programme managers, mothers groups, and civil society organizations working in the area of feeding small and vulnerable infants and use this group to build consensus on the suite of materials that would be developed.
Deliverable 3.1: Face-to-face meeting of key stakeholders in the area of feeding small and vulnerable infants.
Specific requirements on qualification, experience, skills and languages
Educational Qualifications:
Essential: Minimum an advanced university degree in maternal and child health or nutrition or related discipline
Desirable: Nationally or internationally recognized qualifications in breastfeeding support or lactation management
Experience:
Essential:
- Over 10 years’ experience in breastfeeding support and counselling
- Over 5 years’ experience in developing educational materials on infant and young child feeding for community health workers
Desirable:
- Over 5 years’ experience in network management and coordination
- Over 10 years’ experience in programme design for infant and young child feeding
Skills/Knowledge:
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Independent project management skills
Languages and level required (Basic/Intermediate/Expert):
Essential: Expert knowledge of English.
Desirable: Knowledge of a second UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, Spanish
Location
Home-based, off-site. No travel expected
Remuneration
The remuneration of the contractor is based on experience according to the WHO pay scale.
Payband level C - (USD 10,000 – 12,500 per month)
Planned timelines
Expected duration of contract: 11 months (full-time)
How to apply
- Kindly send your CV and cover letter to the following e-mail address nfs@who.int before 28 July 2023
- Please include “Consultant- Feeding of small and sick newborns” in the subject matter of your email application.
- Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.