Pre-service training – Midwifery – Health – Liberia (M/W)

Mission description

Project description

Between 2020 and 2022, Action Against Hunger (ACF) implemented an AFD-funded project in Liberia as part of the “Health in Common” (SEC) initiative which aimed to strengthen health systems across the counties of Montserrado, Margibi and Nimba. Based on this experience and the positive feedback from the MOH and CHOs, AFD will fund a new program implemented by ACF and Expertise France.
Expertise France has developed the project named « Harnessing Effective Approaches on Leadership, coordination and Training – H.E.A.L.T.H. », aiming to strengthen the Ministry of Health coordination and oversight role at national level, the Leadership, Management, and Governance skills at sub-national levels and improve quality of training offered in midwives’ schools in the three counties of Montserrado, Margibi, and Nimba. The project will complement the interventions package proposed by ACF Liberia and both EF and ACF will coordinate the implementation of their activities.
The following specific objectives will contribute to the achievement of the project goal:
– SO1: Strengthen the leadership, management, and governance (LMG) skills in health administration of 25 facility managers, six district managers and three CHO of Montserrado, Nimba and Margibi counties.
– SO2: Strengthen MOH national coordination and oversight role.
– SO3: Improve the quality of training in five midwives schools in the three counties.

Description of the mission

Objectives and tasks

The mission of the short term expertise is part of the implementation of specific objective 3: Improve the quality of training in five midwives’ schools.

General objectives of the mission are to:
– adapt/revise the training curriculum for midwives (last revised in 2019).
– pilot a capacity enhancement package of interventions in five midwives training institutions to improve the quality of pre-service training.

The Expert will have to implement the following tasks:

– Consultation and assessment:
o Conduct a training needs assessment (TNA) in the 5 selected training institutions (HR, curriculum, infrastructures, equipment, anatomical models, data availability, etc.)
o Identify gaps and areas for improvement in the existing training programs and facilities.

– Update/revision of policy papers:
o Adapt/revise the 2019 training curriculum for midwives in close collaboration with the Liberian Board for Nursing and Midwifery (LBNM).
o Incorporate feedback from the Training Needs Assessment to address identified gaps and enhance the curriculum’s effectiveness.

– Training:
o Train faculty of midwives’ schools on the new curriculum and assessment tools to ensure that faculty understand the changes and can effectively deliver the updated content.
o as well as maintenance of simulation equipment to ensure its optimal use in teaching practical skills.
o Train administrators on effective management of training institutions and teaching labs focusing on leadership and management, resource management and quality assurance.

Methodology

The expert will propose the methodology he/she considers most appropriate for designing and delivering the desired results.
The proposed approach will include:
1. Phases in which the assignment will be carried out, in accordance with the framework contract with Expertise France.
2. The detailed schedule of activities to be carried out.
3. Mobilization of key stakeholders to be involved in the mission.
In a participatory approach, the mission will organize:
– A meeting on the expert’s methodology for delivering the desired results.
– Working sessions with the project team and any stakeholders Expertise France deems relevant to consult, in order to:
• Validate the expert’s proposed methodology
• Ensure that the deliverables are consistent with the expected results of the expertise mission.
The expert will work in consultation with all project stakeholders. In general, the expert will use a working method that allows:
– Co-construction of the approach;
– Autonomous use of deliverables by the beneficiary country and LBNM;
– Support for the desired change and its sustainability.

Expected deliverables

1. Scoping note including the assessment methodology
2. Needs assessment and analysis for improvement in the existing curriculum and training practices, faculty capabilities, infrastructure, and resources.
3. Revised/updated training curriculum
4. Workshop(s) reports
5. Training needs assessment report
6. Capacity building and training plan and material for faculty and administrators
The total estimated days for this mission including the production and revision of the deliverables is 90 days with an estimated 4 missions in Liberia. Payment will be done based on the submission and validation of the deliverables.

Coordination arrangements

The expert will work under the direct supervision of the project manager based in Monrovia for the entire mission. He/she will also be in regular contact with Expertise France headquarters in Paris and with the Expertise France field team and AFD agencies and headquarters teams.

Additionally, the expert will:

o Liaise with national stakeholders to contribute to project ownership
o Liaise closely with the Liberian Board for Nursing and Midwifery
o Liaise with ACF team to ensure the complementarity of activities
o Produce expected deliverables on time.

Project or context description

Expertise France

Expertise France (EF) is a public interministerial agency responsible for technical cooperation which provides project engineering and technical assistance worldwide. EF operates in various fields of development and institutional cooperation including safety and security reform, post-crisis/ stability, public health, human rights, strengthening of institutions and NGOs and governance. Carrying out large-scale, multi-stakeholder programs, EF supports cooperation between individuals, teams and institutions with very different statuses, cultures and specialties. EF has acquired a sound experience in administrative and financial management of large-scale international programs.

Context of the project

The Liberian healthcare system encounters various systemic challenges as a result of three major crises: the civil war, the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) Epidemic, and the recent Covid-19 Pandemic. Among these challenges, the healthcare sector faces issues such as insufficient infrastructure, a shortage of staff, advanced medical instruments, data process technology, sufficient financial and insurance resources, and limited oversight at various levels of the health system. These challenges have affected the quality of healthcare services provided to communities. Building a resilient health system has become a top priority for the government, donors and implementing partners.

Required profile

Qualifications and competences

• University degree desired: Midwifery diploma;
• A degree in Midwifery & Nursing, health sciences or political science with a specialization in health policy is an added value;
• In-depth knowledge of public health policies with emphasis in maternal & child health in the sub-region and/or the Liberia health system;
• Ability to design public health studies;
• Ability to solve complex problems;
• Ability to build trusting relationships with national and international partners;
• Excellent written and oral communication skills (drafting technical, strategic or project implementation activities, drafting briefing notes or articles), formulating positions and defending them before authorities;
• Very good level of office tools, including Excel and Word;
• Excellent written and oral English.

Professional experience

• Proven experience in Midwifery didactic and clinical education from an accredited school is desirable;
• Proven experience conducting similar tasks such as adapting and revising training curricula, conducting training needs assessments, and implementing capacity enhancement interventions is required;
• Knowledge of national and international standards for midwifery education and accreditation processes;
• Proven experience in facilitating meetings and discussions with relevant stakeholders including healthcare and education professionals, boards and partners involved in nursing and midwifery;
• Representation and institutional dialogue with authorities.

Additional information

Selection criteria for applications

The selection process will be based on the following criteria:
– Candidate’s skills related to the expertise mission.
– Candidate’s experiences related to the expertise mission.
– Training / diplomas of the candidate in connection with the expertise mission.