Posted on: Sat 17-06-2023

The National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) (formerly National Action Committee on AIDS) was established in February 2000 to coordinate the various activities of HIV/AIDS in the country.

Applications are invited for:

Job Titles: Engagement of National and Subnational Consultant for Research on the Scope of Practice of Non-Formal Health Care Providers in Nigeria

Location: Nigeria

Overview

• Mother-to-child transmission of HIV remains an important public health issue in Nigeria. In 2019, Nigeria accounted for the largest number of new infections among children, with an estimated 22,000 new HIV infections (UNAIDS, 2020a). According to the UNAIDS estimates, only 37% of pregnant women were tested for HIV in 2019, and of those that tested positive, only 43% received ART (UNAIDS, 2020a).
• The low uptake of maternal services is one of the factors responsible for the inadequate coverage of PMTCT service in Nigeria. Recent estimates indicate that about 67% of pregnant women receive antenatal care from a skilled provider at least once and 39% deliver in a health facility (NPC & ICF, 2019). Approximately 20% of deliveries are assisted by non-formal providers such as Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs), with wide variations across the states.
• Non-formal health care providers such as TBAs are an important but currently underused resource for PMTCT scale-up in Nigeria. The TBAs play considerable roles in the provision of care for pregnant women in Nigeria, particularly in the rural areas (where two-third of the population lives).
• TBAs have filled an unmet public health need by providing for pregnant women who cannot or will not access formal health facilities for care. In some countries where TBAs have become well integrated into the healthcare system, they are increasingly involved in providing preventive health services to pregnant women (Chi and Urdal 2018; Saremnto, 2014; Wilunda et al., 2017).  
• TBAs in Nigeria have fully been involved and participated in training on infection control, modern obstetrics, family planning, the use of cell phones to report maternal and child health events which have significantly impacted the quality of services they provide. However, they have been poorly integrated into the formal health care system.  
• A review by Amutah-Onukagha et al of studies done in Nigeria suggest that improving the policy environment would help in harnessing the potential of this underutilized resource in addressing some challenges of maternal and child health
• While the need to strengthen the health system to ensure skilled birth attendant for all deliveries is imperative in the long term, the present reality in Nigeria requires intermediate and urgent action.  
• If effectively engaged, TBAs and other non-formal health care providers could bridge the gap between communities and the formal health sector, contributing to the uptake and coverage of PMTCT services.  
• To this end, NACA in collaboration with relevant partners (Department of Family Health and National AIDS and STI Control Program of the Federal Ministry of Health) began the development of a framework for the engagement of non-formal health care actors to improve PMTCT services towards achieving elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV.

Justification for Technical Consultants

• The finalization of the framework started by NACA and other stakeholders will require the services of competent consultants to carry out the research component of the pending activities.
• Consultants with the requisite skills and capacity are needed to conduct quality research that will inform the development of a robust and evidence-based framework that will be acceptable to all stakeholders and can guide the effective engagement of non-formal healthcare providers for PMTCT service delivery.

Objective

• To gather quality data on the current scope of practice of non-formal health care providers, including the size, utilization and quality of care delivery and how well they engage in the provision of PMTCT services (referral and linkage) in six states across the six geopolitical zones in Nigeria.

Scope of Work:

The national and subnational consultants will work closely with stakeholders, including NACA, the Department of Family Health and the National AIDS and STI Control Program of the Federal Ministry of Health in conducting the research. The specific tasks will include:

National Consultant:

• Develop a protocol for the research
• Develop interview guides and questionnaire for the research
• Facilitate the finalization of interview guides and questionnaire with stakeholders
• Conduct training for the field workers/data collectors
• Participate and oversee the data collection
• Analyze the data and interpret the results
• Make recommendations based on the findings
• Present the findings to stakeholders.

Subnational Consultant:

• Support the states in the recruitment of the field workers/data collectors
• Conduct training for the field workers/data collectors
• Participate in and oversee the data collection in their respective states
• Support data analysis and interpretation of the results

Time Frame

• National Consultant: The engagement will be for 32 days.
• Development of protocol, questionnaires, and tools: 5days
• Training of subnational consultants on protocol, interview guides and questionnaires: 2 days
• Data cleaning, collation and analysis: 20 days
• Report writing: 5 days
• (ii) Subnational Consultants: The engagement will be for a period of 20 days.
• State Entry and training of data collectors – 4days (2 days per state)
• Fieldwork (data collection): 14 days (7 days per LGA)
• Report writing: 2 days.

Deliverables:

The final deliverables of the consultants will be a detailed report of the research, that will include the executive summary, background, methods, results, and recommendations. The report is to be made available in both soft and hard copies.

Competencies Required

National Consultant:

• Advanced Degree in Medicine, Public Health, Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, Health Planning, Health Economic, Social Sciences or other related fields
• A minimum of 10 years’ research experience in maternal and child health, prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV or other related fields
• Proficiency in quantitative and qualitative data analysis
• Good communication and writing skills.

Subnational Consultants:

• Degree in Medicine, Public Health, Health Planning, Health Economic, Social Sciences or other related fields
• A minimum of 5 years’ research experience in maternal and child health, prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV or other related fields
• Good communication and writing skills
• Familiarity with the study site.

Position Available:

One National Consultant

Six Sub National Consultants.

Documents

While submitting the Technical Proposal, the Applicant shall, in particular, ensure to attach the following:

• Profile of the consultant (max 1 page) explaining why they are the most suitable for the Copies of all certificates for all qualifications indicated in the CV.
• Relevant Experience (max 2 page) and relevant supporting document.
• Detailed methodology and conceptual framework with expected deliverables and timelines, man-days required (3-5 pages).
• Recent CV
• The financial proposal shall specify a total lump sum amount (including a breakdown of costs for fee, travel and number of working days). Payments will be made in installments based upon key outputs/deliveries (mentioned under payment schedule above).
• The submission(s) received will be opened immediately after closing at NACA Conference Room in the presence of consultants that choose to attend.

Application Closing Date

23rd June, 2023; 12:00 PM

How to Apply

Interested and qualified candidates should send their detailed Proposals with the requested documents to the address below:

Attention: Head Procurement,

National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA),

Ground Floor Room 1.08,

No. 3 Zinguinchor Street, Beside AEDC Office,

Wuse Zone 4 - Abuja.

Click here to download the RFP (PDF)

Guideline for Submission and Opening of Documents

• The detailed Proposal must be in English Language and submitted in two (2) hard copies each (one original & One copy) of the requested documents and proposal.
• The documents shall then be enclosed and sealed in one (1) single outer envelope, and clearly marked at the topmost right corner “Engagement of Consultant National/Sub National” and the Name, Address, Email and Phone Number of the Consultant boldly written at the back of the envelope, with acknowledgment to NACA office at the address below.

Global Fund Code of Conduct

You shall get acquainted with the global fund code of conduct for suppliers using this link below: https://www.theglobalfund.org/media/3275/corporate_codeofconductforsuppliers_policy_en.pdf

Accepting this invitation shall serve as an acknowledgement and agreement to abide by the Global Fund Code of Conduct for Suppliers.

Notes / Disclaimer

• Late submissions will not be accepted.
• NACA shall verify any or all documents and claims made by applicants and will disqualify consultants with falsified documents and claims.
• If it is determined that submitted documents and claims have been falsified, the consultant may face prosecution in a court of Law.
• NACA shall not be held responsible for any disqualified proposal as a result of any omission or deletion relating to the submission guidelines.
• This advertisement shall not be construe a contract to any Consultant, nor shall it entitle any Consultant submitting documents to claim any indemnity from NACA.
• NACA is not bound to shortlist any Consultant, and reserves the right to annul the bidding process at any time without incurring any liabilities or providing reason.

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