Consultant

1. BACKGROUND

Kenya has made noteworthy progress in improving FP uptake and is among eleven countries that achieved the mCPR goals they established in their FP2030 commitments (FP 2030 report). The Contraceptive Prevalence Rate (CPR) has increased from 39.3% in 2003 to 45.5% in 2008-09, 58% (KDHS 2014) and 63% (KDHS 2022). The unmet need for FP in Kenya has equally declined from 28% in 1998 to 26% in 2008-09, 18% in 2014 (KDHS, 2014), and subsequently 14%, in 2022 (KDHS, 2022). Improvement in CPR has been driven, in part, by the enabling policy environment, advocacy, community education, FP commodity security, and as increased availability of a wide range of contraceptive methods particularly long-acting reversible contraceptives. Although there has been improvement in FP uptake, there are several challenges facing FP services in Kenya. Many women are not able to access FP at postnatal care (PNC) up to 81%. In addition, gender inequalities and discriminatory practices driven by socio-cultural norms contribute to further limit access to PPFP/PAFP services. Frequent family planning commodities stock outs and lack of essential equipment also limit uptake of PPFP services.

To have a better national context-specific understanding of factors that may help or hinder scale-up and to sustain these interventions, the Ministry of Health (MOH) intends to undertake a Rapid Assessment of Bottlenecks Inhibiting Scale-Up of Social & Behavioural Changes for Family Planning Evidence-Based Practices (EBPs) in Kenya using an adaptation of the WHO-FP Bottleneck Analysis (BNA) Toolkit. The BNA will focus on: (i) conducting a landscape analysis to provide a technical synthesis of what is currently known about scaling up social and behaviour change for family planning interventions in terms of implementation status, reasons for success or lack thereof, alignment of guidance with national and international standards, and the lessons learned from successful implementation (including approaches that aim to address gender norms and inequalities), by analysing the local context, policy landscape to help position and/or characterize the SBC for FP programming in Kenya; (ii) reviewing current technical strategies and implementation approaches used to scale up the evidence-based practices (EBPs) (including those that aim to address gender norms and inequalities) and the reasons for their success or failure by interviewing policymakers, program managers, service providers, and civil society; (iii) undertaking root cause analysis using the bottleneck analysis methodology (BAM) to identify the bottlenecks, their causes – including environmental/contextual factors such as ownership, commitment, and leadership – and to identify priorities within the building blocks (domains) for health system strengthening action with potential to lead to increased good quality coverage of SBC for FP interventions; (iv) understanding the perspectives of key stakeholders (policy makers, programme managers, healthcare managers, service providers and civil society) on the various health systems factors inhibiting scale-up of the SBC for FP EBPs; and (v) building consensus among key stakeholders on the most important bottlenecks to SBC EBP scale-up, and on the solutions that address the root causes inhibiting scale-up.

To support the MOH/Div. RMNCAH request, WHO Kenya Country Office proposes to engage a consultant in the area SRMNCAH to participate and facilitate in the related activities in Kenya for 35-man-days.

2. DELIVERABLES

Reporting to the Senior Advisor- Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR), under the overall guidance of the WHO Country Office Representative, and in close collaboration with the Team Lead, Universal Health Coverage- Life Course Programme Cluster and the respective SRMNCAH technical officers in the Kenya Country, and in consultation with WHO-AFRO Regional Office and HQ, the Consultant will be responsible for:
⦁ Preparing a technical inception report with a detailed methodology,
⦁ Conducting a detailed desk/literature review on Social & Behavioral Changes for Family Planning including driving factors, bottlenecks and key interventions that have been evaluated, a work plan with timelines and a budget.
⦁ Liaising and coordinating with MoH, WHO and UNFPA to conduct rapid assessment of bottlenecks inhibiting scaling up of SBC for Family Planning evidence-based practices (EBPs)
⦁ Review and adaptation of the data collection tools to national context and priorities in consultation with MOH and WHO/UNFPA
⦁ Coordinate the pre-testing of the key informant questionnaire and adapt to local understanding to ensure ease of use and understanding local context.
⦁ Data collection- comprising of desk reviews with national data, guidance/policy review, case study and key informant interviews.
⦁ Data analysis and summary of data using the standardized WHO-FP BNA toolkit.
⦁ Ensure that bottlenecks raised by participants during KIIs are covered in the framework and workshop tools.
⦁ Facilitate the consensus building workshops ensuring participation of all key/concerned stakeholders.
⦁ Facilitate / lead discussions of the draft report in stakeholders’ forums with guidance of MOH and WHO/UNFPA
⦁ Lead the technical review, revision, and validation of the assessment report.
⦁ Prepare and submit a final report of the study with a power point presentation that captures the main findings and recommendations.
⦁ Support dissemination of the top-line bottleneck analysis (BNA) findings.

3. QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE, SKILLS, AND LANGUAGES

FUNCTIONAL SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE:
⦁ Knowledge and experience in the implementation of Sexual, Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health (SRMNCAH) in the Context of Primary Health Care
⦁ Knowledge/ familiarity with Social Behaviour change communication research and their links to SRMNCAH programming
⦁ Demonstrated ability to understand and work on complex policy and programme issues related to SRMNCAH
⦁ Demonstrated ability to provide sound methodological and technical advice and guidance to multiple stakeholders and partners in country.
⦁ Ability to conduct research and analyze results, identify issues, formulate opinions, make conclusions and recommendations for strengthening health care systems.
⦁ Ability to interpret performance results of health programs and analyze the implications of such results in the country context.
⦁ Understanding of the dimensions of health service quality and familiarity with reviewing and interpreting national service delivery guidelines.
⦁ Ability to engage, build consensus, communicate effectively, and commit to collaborating effectively with other key partners in the SRMNCAH programming landscape.

4. COMPETENCIES

⦁ Producing results.
⦁ Fostering integration and teamwork
⦁ Moving forward in a changing environment.

5. EDUCATION

Essential:
⦁ Advanced degree in relevant academic areas: Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Demography and Population Health, Public Health, Managerial Epidemiology, Global Health, Medical Anthropology, Medical Sociology

Desirable:
⦁ Specialized advanced training in Medicine (MBChB, MD Obstetrics and Gynecology) or MSc/MA, Ph.D. in Demography, Population Studies, Population Health, Population Medicine, Public Health, Medical Demography, Medical Sociology, Development Studies would be an asset.
⦁ Training/certification in SRHR monitoring and Complexity-AWARE M&E approaches and tools will be a huge plus.

6. EXPERIENCE

Essential:
⦁ A minimum of 15 years of relevant professional progressive experience, with at least 10 years of proven track record in the development, planning, management and implementation of Sexual, Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health (SRMNCAH) in the Context of Primary Health Care of SRMNCAH programs, with practical experience in reproductive health at the County or National level, including in the design and implementation of monitoring and evaluation strategies, methodologies, and tools, including experience in mainstreaming continuity of access to essential integrated SRH&R package of services in humanitarian situations/contexts
⦁ Extensive experience working in monitoring and evaluation or research, including as lead investigator of an evaluation or research on Social Behaviour Change communications for SRHR.
⦁ Proven track record of engaging National Governments and conducting high-level advocacy and strengthening partnerships through engaging, convening, and coordinating of key partners and stakeholders.

Desirable:
⦁ Experience in strategy development, stakeholder engagement, results-based planning, management and reporting, and established skills in coordinating with senior leaders.
⦁ Experience in policy development and demonstrated skills in providing in-country technical support and building national capacity.
⦁ Extensive knowledge and skills in problem solving, strategic planning and management, monitoring and evaluation, reporting, documentation, negotiation, and resource mobilization.
⦁ Proven ability to effectively collaborate across multiple teams and deliver results, while supporting coherent and integrated programming.
⦁ Proven knowledge, skills, and experience in quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis.

7. LANGUAGE

Essential: Excellent knowledge of the English language.

Desirable: Working knowledge of Local Language (e.g. Swahili) or knowledge of French or other UN language.

8. OTHER SKILLS (e.g. IT)

Desirable:
⦁ Computer literacy and ability to use relevant software and applications for processing, presentations, scheduling, virtual meetings, data analysis, data analytics, etc.
⦁ Expert knowledge of MS Excel and other relevant data analysis and analytic software

9. TECHNICAL SUPERVISION

Technical Supervision will be done by: –

Senior Technical Advisor, Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR)
WHO Kenya Country Office
UN Gigiri Complex, Block P, Level 1

10. LOCATION

The Consultant will be working primarily with the Ministry of Health, Division of RMNCAH located at the Kenyatta National Hospital Grounds, with field visits to the select BNA priority counties with close collaboration and guidance of WHO and UNFPA technical focal points.

11. TRAVEL

The Consultant will be accompanied by the MOH/WHO/UNFPA core technical teams for the technical field data collection activities in identified priority BNA counties

12. REMUNERATION AND BUDGET (TRAVEL COSTS EXCLUDED)

Consultancy Contract for a period of 35 contracted days (LOE) from the first week of July 2024 at Grade NOC.

Additional Information

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