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.