Consultancy Opportunity

 Terms of Reference for Development of Preconception Care Guidelines

 Background

 The USAID Ingobyi Activity is a five-year cooperative agreement to improve the quality of reproductive, maternal, newborn, and child health (RMNCH) and malaria services, in a sustainable manner with the goal of reducing infant and maternal mortality in Rwanda. The USAID Ingobyi Activity builds upon the tremendous gains Rwanda has made as well as previous USAID investments in the health sector. USAID Ingobyi Activity aims to contribute to the reduction of infant and maternal mortality and incidence of malaria in Rwanda. The Activity partners with the Government of Rwanda to build on the country’s considerable achievements, guided by national health strategies, goals, objectives, and data. The Activity is not just building capacity and capability but aims to achieve a shared understanding of the patterns and systemic structures that underlie the health system and where and how to bring about measurable, sustainable improvements. It is expected that efforts will generate a virtuous cycle that produces a stronger health system through increased access, skills, standards, and institutions.

As a key member of the RMNCH technical and associated sub-technical working groups, Ingobyi Activity works in close collaboration with the MOH/RBC and other partners to ensure innovative interventions to improve RMNCH activities are introduced. Recently, preconception care was approved by the RMCNH Technical Working Group to be integrated within the RMNCH package to accelerate the reduction of maternal and newborn mortality.

Rationale for incorporating preconception care into RMCNH package

 Preconception care is the provision of biomedical, behavioral, and social health interventions to women and couples before conception occurs. It is aimed at improving their health status and reducing behaviors and individual and environmental factors that could contribute to poor maternal and child health outcomes. Effective preconception care programs can only be realized by establishing a systematic strategy that reflects national and local dimensions, including social and legal issues. Such programs must be evidence based, to advocate for resources and assure sustainability, and flexible enough to be adaptable to accommodate local priorities. Over the past five years, there has been slight

improvements in maternal and neonatal mortality rates from 213 to 203 per 100,000 live births and 20 to 19 per 1000 live birth, respectively between 2015 to 2020. Unfortunately, these deaths have been attributed to preventable causes in both mothers or newborns, such as anemia during pregnancy, chronic medical conditions, delayed health seeking behavior, and unspaced pregnancies, among others. Thus, preconception care offers health care providers and their clients an opportunity to discuss these risk factors, so they can be minimized or prevented.

Therefore, the incorporation of preconception consultation care as part of RMNCH services in Rwanda is expected to improve RMNCH outcomes and accelerate the reduction of maternal and neonatal deaths and the push to attain the SDGs. Based on this need, Intrahealth International, through USAID Ingobyi Activity, in collaboration with RBC/MCCH Division is seeking a consultant to support the development of the preconception guidelines.

Purpose of the consultancy

The purpose of this consultancy is to develop the preconception guidelines and related tools, with an implementation plan and costing, to be used across health facilities in Rwanda.

Scope of Work

• Conduct desk review of available and new evidence on preconception care interventions including global advances and practices, to inform formulation of guidelines for
• Develop content and the first draft of preconception care guideline and submit to Ingobyi and RBC/MCCH team for review;
• Present the draft and build consensus on the need and content of preconception care guidelines during the Safe Motherhood (SMH) sub-Technical Working Group meeting.
• Incorporate the inputs from Safe Motherhood sub-Technical Working Group and prepare a 2^nd draft of the preconception care guideline – to be submitted to Ingobyi Activity and MCCH team for further input.
• Present the revised draft guideline to the RMNCAH Technical Working Group for approval; and
• Incorporate inputs from the RMNCAH Technical Working Group and submit a final draft of the preconception care
• Complied revised feedback and submit the final version for approval

Qualifications

• Must be a Medical Doctor or a Midwife A0 plus a master’s degree in Public Health, Global Health, or maternal health.
• Familiar with health systems in Rwanda from decentralized to National level is a must
• Prior proven experience in working with institutions (Government or partners) as a consultant in maternal, newborn, and child health (MCH)
• Familiar with the Rwanda health care system from decentralized (Primary health care level) to National level.
• Prior similar experience in development of national Maternal, Newborn and Child Health
• Ability to develop and deliver both oral and written presentations in English and in a simple writing style.
• Computer literacy and ability to use Word, Excel, and
• Ability to work independently and to take initiative; and
• Excellent interpersonal skills and a highly professional attitude

Deliverables

• Desk review on preconception care, including global advances and practices to inform formulation of guidelines for Rwanda;
• First draft of the preconception care guideline;
• Second draft of preconception care guideline; and
• Final draft of the national preconception care guideline version

Supervision: The consultant will work closely with Ingobyi Activity’s and RBC/MCCH technical teams under the direct supervision of the Maternal, Neonatal, and Child Health Technical Advisor.

Timeframe: This consultancy is expected to be implemented within a timeframe of 45 working days starting from the date the contract is signed and must be completed by November 15^th, 2021.

Selection criteria: Applications will be assessed on cost reasonableness (30%) and technical competence (70%).

Interested applicants are requested to submit electronic copies of their technical and financial proposals (in English), by September 9,2021 at 23:45 to ingobyiprocurement@intrahealth.org. with the subject ‘Preconception care guideline development consultancy’

In the proposal, the applicant should explain how s/he intends to carry out the work and should include the following:

• Updated CV, highlighting relevant qualifications and experience.
• Description of consultant’s experience in conducting similar
• Details of three former clients/referees who can be contacted for
• Proposed schedule for the
• Proposed budget with applicable unit cost (daily consultancy fees in Rwandan francs) tax
• If you are a registered consultant, please provide certificate of

Note:

• As this a re-advertisement, if you have applied before you are not required  to  re-apply.
• Assessment of the application will be assessed on a rolling basis (as they are received without not waiting the submission deadline).
• Only applicants fulfilling the above requirements will be contacted. If you don’t hear from us within one week from the submission deadline, consider your application unsuccessful