TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR CAPACITY BUILDING OF MIDWIVES EDUCATION AND PRACTICE IN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF SOMALIA

Supporting Agency: United Population Fund(UNFPA)

Program Title: Strengthening the Capacity of Midwifery Education and Practice Offered at 4 midwifery schools supported by UNFPA in south central Somalia

Assignment Location: Mogadishu, Somalia

Reporting to: Health and Nutrition Coordinator

Period of Task: 15th June 2020 to 31^st December 2020

Possible start date: 15th June 2020

Possible end date: 31st December 2020

Background

The United Population Fund Somalia has been committed to the maternal, neonatal and sexual reproductive health of the general population. The key mandates for UNFPA –Somalia is to ensure girls, women and their families’ access the highest attainable standards of maternal and reproductive health. It endeavours to ensure that all pregnancies are safe and every pregnancy is wanted. To realize this goals in the country, UNFPA has anchored its specific area of operations with midwives in education, regulation, practice and associations. There is a high need now than ever to have more skilled birth attendants for the key populations. All these four key areas require an individual committed to strengthen the capacity of midwives in Somalia

Overview:

Senior Midwifery Officer will provide leadership, oversight and technical guidance to FGS midwifery education program in south central Somalia, funded by UNFPA. In consultation with various midwifery stakeholders including the Ministry of Health & Somali Midwifery association, UNFPA, and others, the Senior Midwifery officer will coordinate 4 midwifery schools in South-central Somalia. He/she will take the lead in adapting and finalising a framework/ guidelines for scale-up of a midwifery-led care (MLC) model and establishing them as clinical practice sites for midwifery education. The overall goal of the midwifery-led care model is to provide an environment conducive to midwifery care, model respectful maternity care (RMC), support clinical preceptor-ship experiences of students, increase the visibility of midwives, enhance linkages to the community, and promote greater empowerment of women and families.

Responsibilities:

Under the overall guidance and supervision of PAC country director, and the direct supervision of the Program coordinator, the senior midwifery officer supports initiatives and provides technical support in key areas of Midwifery Workforce Training and development for maternal health Facilities for Student Clinical Practice, including the following:

I. Planning and Management

Responsible for managing closely the Midwifery training Program teaching staff and following up the progress of their monthly Academic work-plan and achievement against the quarterly schools master work plan to ensure timely completion of planned Midwifery training program activities

• Planning and Implementation Coordinate with midwifery school principals for effective implementation of the Midwifery training program activities as per the work plan and project objectives; prepares quarterly work plans and prepare monthly work plans based on quarterly work-plans as midwifery Education Program Coordinator, work with schools and MOH and SOMA on the selection of and verification of Students during enrolment process
• Follow up with the Principals at school to ensure that training program is taking place and the proper implementation of the internationally recognised National Midwifery curriculum supported by UNFPA Somalia.

II. Coordination and Communication

• In close collaboration with head of the schools roll out the school’s activities. Develop, maintain and improve mutual and beneficial relationships with key stakeholders and provide capacity building through advocacy (including government officials, school Principals and Somali midwifery association to ensure successful implementation of the Midwifery training programs supported by UNFPA at these 4 schools)
• Coordinate a team of midwifery association and program and M&E staff to conduct assessments, site strengthening, follow-up mentorship and coaching, advocacy, demand creation, and policy support

v. Assessment and Reporting

Assess and map resources, needs and gaps, in midwifery schools as appropriate, including assessing the skills of Skilled Birth Attendants: Human resource planning and management of the midwifery workforce; Education and training including assessment of midwifery training institutions and trainers; professional association development and strengthening of standards and regulations;

• Develop new and/or review evidence-based clinical teaching materials, job aids, curricula, supervisory systems and other midwifery education practices/procedures needed to strengthen adherence to ICM standards
• Provide capacity building and mentorship to a team of Somali midwifery association, with focus on clinical skills building and effective teaching and clinical and professional capacity building skills
• Prepare mentors to introduce low dose, high frequency capacity building sessions, site strengthening, in-service and/or pre-service education, follow-up and supportive supervision at project sites
• Prepare detail operational activity plan in collaboration with the program Coordinator
• Prepare detail plan for each training activity in each of the 4 schools.

Required Qualifications:

a) Midwifery degree required; additional advanced degree in public health or related field preferred 12+ years’ mid to senior-level experience in midwifery education and clinical
b) Technical expertise in working midwifery training institution and maternal health clinical Practice on promoting best practices in quality improvement, training, coaching/mentoring and supportive supervision
c) Field experience in implementation of International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) standards for midwifery services
d) Technical experience in the implementation of Somali midwifery curriculum supported by UNFPA is added value.
e) Experience in successful field design, implementation and management of Health training institutions and maternal health facilities
f) Ability to communicate effectively and provide technical leadership and guidance
g) Excellent verbal, written and presentation skills
h) Ability to work in a complex environment with multiple tasks, short deadlines and intense pressure to perform
i) Proficiency in Microsoft Office software applications

Deliverables:

In view of the UNFPA strategy to scale up the midwifery led care. the senior midwife will be required to integrate all ICM standards of midwifery care models and approaches in the schools. Major deliverables expected are;

1. Plan and organize in coordination with Midwifery Schools, Ministry of Health, and SOMA ICM Pre service Assessment tool
2. Plan and organize in coordination with Midwifery Schools, Ministry of Health and SOMA standardizations of Job descriptions for all cadre of midwives.
3. Plan and organize national midwifery seminar for midwifery tutor handbook, clinical procedure manual for midwifery schools
4. Develop the clinical mentorship program for midwifery teachers and instructors
5. Plan and organize Master Trainers for the low dose high frequency capacity building
6. Plan and coordinate the curriculum review of midwifery education in view of ICM standards.
7. Compile and draft the final narrative report for the project cycle
8. Communicate major project outputs and activities to Midwifery stakeholders.