Request for Proposal (RFP) on Review of In-service Training

Title of Assignment: Review of In-service Training

Introduction:

Pathfinder International, in partnership with IntraHealth International, and with strategic support from the Obstetrics-Gynecology Society of Bangladesh (OGSB), the World Health Organization and University of Dhaka is implementing the AUAFP Project (USAID funded Accelerating Universal Access to Family Planning) in Bangladesh, which is also known as Shukhi Jibon. The goal of the project is to contribute to the improved health and human capital in Bangladesh. The objective is to increase utilization of family planning services through universal health coverage. The project will pursue two intermediate results; 1) Increased qualified family planning workforce and 2) Increased availability of public sector family planning outreach contacts and services, particularly for adolescents and youth.
 The project is supporting the strengthening and expansion of access to quality Family Planning (FP) services through a collaborative health system capacity building partnership with the Government of Bangladesh (GoB). The project is using a flexible implementation model led in partnership with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), including the National Institute of Population Research and Training (NIPORT), the Directorate General of Family Planning (DGFP), and the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). The project is operating in the divisions of Dhaka, Mymensingh, Sylhet, and Chattogram through a phased approach, beginning with six pilot districts, providing adaptive, needs-driven technical assistance (TA) and systems strengthening, and it will expand to all districts of the 4 divisions during the fourth and fifth project years.

Background:

Bangladesh has made remarkable strides in improving its citizens’ health over the past two decades. The country has also seen reductions in the total fertility rate (TFR; from 3.4 to 2.3) and increases in the modern contraceptive prevalence rate (mCPR; from 36.6% to 54.1%) during this period (BDHS, 2014). These gains are due in great part to commitment from the Government of Bangladesh in advancing to universal health coverage as outlined in the 2011 National Health Policy and the 4th Health, Nutrition, and Population Strategic Investment Plan (HNPSIP), 2017-2022.  The 4th Sector plan set the targets to decrease the TFR from 2.3 to 2.0, increase CPR from 62% to 75%, increase LAPM share of method mix from 8% to 20%, reduce discontinuation rate of FP method from 30% to 20% and reduce unmet need from 12% to 10%. The FP2020 targets are also aligned with the 4th HPNSP targets.

However, there are key challenges in achieving these targets; including inequities across geographic areas and among age cohorts. For example, while mCPR nationally among married women is at 54.1%, it is much lower in the Shukhi Jibon focus divisions of Chattogram, Dhaka, Mymensingh, and Sylhet. To overcome the current mCPR plateau, the project needs to address the range of social, cultural, and structural factors that underpin these inequities. The public sector is the main provider of modern methods and faces many structural challenges related to its health workforce and facilities. Health facilities at all levels need be prepared to provide FP services yet only 57.4% of clinics have staff who had ever been trained on FP (BHFS, 2014) services. There is limited in-service training and no formal continuing medical education (CME) requirements for FP and health professionals. Furthermore, the FP training mandate is held by three entities: NIPORT, DGFP and DGHS, which results in the need for better coordination of training programs.
To overcome these challenges, both the Bangladesh Health Workforce Strategy 2015 and the 4th HPNSP and its relevant Operational Plans have delineated the importance of imparting need-based training for developing high quality health service providers for public sector. There is need for a follow-up mechanism for strengthening supervision and on the job support for different cadres of service providers to post-training to ensure providers are applying their FP knowledge and skills. Accordingly, the Operational plans mentioned need for updating training curriculum, instruction manuals, guidelines and developing e-learning tools/courses for competency based and in-service training integrated with mentoring and supportive supervision for service providers for quality Family Planning information and services for adolescents, newlyweds, first-time parents, postpartum, post-abortion care clients, and those who do not wish to have any more children.

Roles and Responsibilities:

As a part of the preparatory activity the project is planning to conduct a desk review on In-service training (IST).

Reporting to the Sr. Technical Advisor, HRH & CB, Shukhi Jibon project the consultant will be responsible for the following tasks: 

  • Conduct a desk review of in-service training (IST) systems implemented by other projects, including IST program review, modalities and evaluation reports.
  • Review of existing formal and informal IST training for FP workers
  • Compile to review of circulars relevant to adding/change or updates of JD/ responsibilities of FP providers (since 2012) for recommending IST for FP workers
  • Identify modalities and time windows for providing IST for service providers (e.g. monthly meeting, trainee follow up, supervisory visit etc.) with standard follow-up plans and mechanisms
  • Develop guidelines for capacity/competency development of FP providers through IST with recommendation of sites where IST can be conducted
  • Development of Training documentation and reporting templates.
  • Review & prepare skill assessment check lists based on local contexts / Develop checklists for clinical training on local contexts

Timeline:

The consultant under the overall guidance of the Sr. Technical Advisor, HRH & CB, AUAFP project will conduct the tasks listed below.  It is estimated that the consultant will require the following LOE.  

Task Level of Efforts (LOE) in Days
Hold preliminary meetings with AUAFP project team and NIPORT, DGFP, DGHS and stakeholders for detail discussions 05 days 
Conduct a desk review of in-service training (IST) systems implemented by other projects (national and international), including modalities and evaluation reports 10 days
Compile IST manual/curricula based on JDs and relevant circulars for respective FP providers
IST on FP is for the following FP provider cadres:
  • FWA
  • FWV
  • SACMOs
  • MOs
To compile these curricula, identify gaps in terms of whether the curricula contain guidelines on:
  • Trainee selection
  • Training team profile and selection
  • Objectives related to the expected job functions according to the JD of the cadre and purpose of the training whether this is for update refresher, adding new job tasks etc.
  • Guidelines for practicum training – practicum objectives, skills assessment checklists, selection of practicum training sites, skills for onsite coaching.
  • Tools for Knowledge assessment.
  • Guidelines for Training Follow-Up
10 days 
Prepare necessary guidelines and tools as mentioned in clause C 05 days
Draft report preparation 10 days
Final Report preparation 5 days
Total estimated days 45 days  

Consultant Qualifications:

AUAFP project is seeking applications for a consultant team to carry out this assessment. The Team Lead Consultant will have a combination of the following skills:
Required:

  • Advance degree in Public Health/Health systems/Capacity Development/ Health Education/Sociology etc. or any relevant field, PhD strongly preferred. 
  • Strong skills in desk reviews on Family planning/reproductive health etc.
  • Relevant experiences in training, capacity building, in-service training, mentoring & supportive supervision, monitoring & evaluation
  • Working/Consultative experience in participatory research, advocacy, policy/strategy making with MoHFW, NIPORT, DGFP, DGHS is highly essential.  
  • Superior writing skills, ability to produce quality strategic/technical guideline/manual, operational plan on Human Resource Development, technical report on health systems/services/education including Certification.

Key deliverables of the Consultant:

The consultant will provide the following deliverables:

  • Desk review report on in-service training (IST) systems implemented by other projects, including IST program review, modalities and evaluation reports.
  • Review report of existing formal and informal IST training for FP workers
  • Compiled circulars of relevant to adding/change or updates of JD/ responsibilities of FP providers (since 2012) for recommending IST for FP workers
  • Modalities and time windows for providing IST for service providers (e.g. monthly meeting, trainee follow up, supervisory visit etc.) with standard follow-up plans and mechanisms
  • Guidelines for capacity/competency development of FP providers through IST with recommendation of sites where IST can be conducted
  • Training documentation and reporting templates.
  • Review & prepare skill assessment check lists based on local contexts / Develop checklists for clinical training on local contexts
  • Proposals and cost bids should include the following:
  • Maximum 5 pages proposal reflecting understanding of the assignment, review methodology, analysis plan, timeframe along with narratives that outlines how the assessment will be carried out
  • Detailed budget that includes for the entire assignment, as well as, the cost of desk review, meetings and report writing
  • Budget ancillary costs with a budget narrative to justify the expenditures
  • CV of Consultant
  • Previous experiences carrying out similar assignments
  • Three traceable references for similar work carried out
  • Sample report from previous relevant work

Payment Schedule:

Payment of the total amount of fees will be made in intervals: (i) 25% at signing of contract, (ii) 30% first draft of final report; (ii) 45% to be paid upon completion of the entire SOW – which may/ may not include attending forums and making presentations of key results.

Please apply to bangladeshconsultant@intrahealth.org along with documents mentioned in clause F within 16 July 2019