Background
Malnutrition continues to be a key contributor to the poor health status of children under five years. The Country continues to face overlapping crises including floods, conflict, and food insecurity – all contributing to the persisting high level of acute malnutrition that has remained at 16.0% which is above the WHO emergency threshold of 15% since 2019 (FSNMS Rond 26). High food insecurity, elevated prevalence of diseases, and poor hygiene, health, and environmental sanitation services, along with inadequate maternal and childcare are the main drivers of acute malnutrition in South Sudan. The ongoing conflicts and political crisis in the country are worsening an already fragile situation. In 2023 an estimated total of 2,175,546 children and women (1,469,919 in the host community, 315,503 returnees, and 390,125 internally displaced people -IDPs) will require lifesaving nutrition care and treatment. These include 480,000 children for severe acute malnutrition (SAM), 1, 170,000 moderate acute malnutrition (MAM), and 870,000 pregnant and breastfeeding women (PBW). (IPC report Nov 2023).
Children with severe acute wasting are nine time more likely to die as compared to healthy children Nearly 10-20% of children with severe acute wasting are also expected to develop medical complications associated with wasting representing a life-threatening condition for children under five years of age. However, it is possible to substantially reduce the mortality rates by modifying treatment to consider the physiological and metabolic changes that occur in cases of severe acute malnutrition.
Justification
In March 2022, WHO updated the training course on hospital-based management of children with severe acute malnutrition, it provides guidance on the current evidence and best practices in the inpatient management of wasting for 0-59 months admitted in stabilization centers as well the updated guideline/recommendations on prevention and management of wasting and nutritional edema in children 6-59 months in July 2023. The new training package includes some updates, ranging from admission criteria for inpatient care; to criteria for transfer to outpatient care and criteria for discharge from all care for children aged six months and above; doses for routine antibiotics; vitamin A and atropine, transition to RUTF, transition for children with edema, rehabilitation phase for children on F-100, admission criteria for infants aged 0-6 months, feeding for infants aged 0-6 months, criteria for transfer to outpatient care and criteria for discharge from all care for infants aged 0-6 months.
Therefore, one of the critical strategies to reduce the mortality rate attributed to wasting is to review the protocol and develop the health workforce’s capacity to manage severe acute malnutrition based on the latest updated WHO guidance and ensure quality of care. Case fatality rates have decreased to below 5% in treatment centers applying appropriate management schemes recommended by WHO guidelines.
Overall goal
To review and update the national guideline for inpatient management of severe acute malnutrition and tools (Job aids, training package).
Specific objectives
1. Revise and consolidate the current guidelines for severe acute malnutrition based on updated global evidence recommendations and field experiences in the context of South Sudan.
2. Update the training package and job aids based on the finalized guideline for inpatient management of severe acute malnutrition
Main Assignment
The Consultant will work closely with the Technical Working Group including technical experts from the Ministry of Health, UNICEF, WHO, and UN agencies to support the finalization of the guideline review process by reviewing and updating the component of the inpatient care for the management of SAM with medical complications (Inpatient Therapeutic Programme) and to produced related documents.
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TASKS
1. Preparatory tasks:
The consultant has to collect and gather the necessary information to be considered for the reviewing end updating of the Stabihtatian Centre {SC) guideline and the training package/job aids. These may include but are not limited to;
· Desk review of the existing national, regional, and global CLIAM guidelines and training materials for SC.
· Gather information from the users to beef up the review process,
· Deveiap inception on the consultancy and a 4 months’ work plan for the development of the Stabilization center guidelines and related materials such as annexes.
· Present the inception report and work plan to CMAM TWG for input,
· Olganiza and prepare the workshops for the review and validation of the documents in collaboration with the TWG
ü Guide identaücation of the participants,
ü Deveicp the agenda
ü Prepare handouts and supporting documents,
ü prepare the presentations.
ü Facilitate the workshops.
3. Reporting
The consultant has to make sure that the final report has all the necessary information and is of good quality. This may include but not limited to;
· Record all the meetings
· Edit the final approved documents
· Submit the final report alongside the final products
Specific Tasks
Under the overarching guidance of the MoH Department of Nutrition and in close consultation
With the CMAM-TWG the consultant shall undertake the following responsibility:
Expected Deliverables
Expected Outputs
· An inception report on the consultancy with an accompanying four-month work plan to be developed and submitted in the 1st month.
· Summary report on contextual analysis or findings of the current guidelines in Southern Sudan by 1st Month.
· Reports on national and state-level engagement events/meetings shared by 2rd month.
· First draft report on guidelines updated framework by 3rd month.
· National guidelines for the management of IMAM in Southern Sudan including implementation tools (job aids, training manuals, and training package) at the end of the contract.
· National Rollout strategy for the guidelines.
Expected background (Qualifications & Experience)
Required Qualifications
Education
Essential: University Degree in one of the disciplines relevant to the following areas: Bachalor Degree in Medicine and Surgery, Public Health & Nutrition, Health Sciences, International Health & Nutrition, Family Health & Nutrition, Health & Nutrition Education or other relevant discipline.
Desirable: Post graduate degree in Paediatrics or Specialization in Nutrition.
Work Experience
Essential: At least five years’ experience in planning and management of inpatient therapeutic program (ITP) in South Sudan, knowledge on inpatient management of severe acute malnutrition with medical complications based on National Guidelines 2018, development of IM-SAM guidelines and proven experience in training and facilitation skills.
Desirable: Experience in working with UN Agencies, INGOs or Nutrition Program in South Sudan.
Critical Skills
· Good analytical skills: resourcefulness, initiative, maturity of judgments, tact. negotiating skills.
· Ability to communicate clearly both oral and in writing:
· Ability to work in a team and establish effective working relations with persons or different nationalities and cultural backgrounds.
· Ability to deal patiently and tactfully with people of different nationalities and backgrounds:
· Willingness to work extra hours and to travel extensively:
· Demonstrate evidence to work under complex crises and challenging situations
· Fluency in both oral and written English is required, Arabic will be an added advantage
Additional Information (For HR use only):
· This vacancy notice may be used to identify candidates for other similar consultancies at the same level.
· The WHO is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The WHO recruits workforce regardless of disability status, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, language, race, marital status, religious, cultural, ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds, or any other personal characteristics.
The WHO is committed to achieving gender parity and geographical diversity in its workforce. Women, persons with disabilities, and nationals of unrepresented and underrepresented Member States (https://www.who.int/careers/diversity-equity-and-inclusion) are strongly encouraged to apply for WHO jobs.
Persons with disabilities can request reasonable accommodations to enable participation in the recruitment process. Requests for reasonable accommodation should be sent through an email to reasonableaccommodation@who.int
· An impeccable record for integrity and professional ethical standards is essential. WHO prides itself on a workforce that adheres to the highest ethical and professional standards and that is committed to put the WHO Values Charter (https://www.who.int/about/who-we-are/our-values) into practice.