Background
In many settings, young parents ages 15-24 are less likely to use reproductive, maternal, newborn, and child health (RMNCH) services and more vulnerable to poor health outcomes.
Led by Save the Children in partnership with the George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health, the Connect project (2019-2025) uses a phased approach to develop, scale-up, and evaluate scalable approaches for young parents. In 2021, Connect introduced light-touch facility- and community-level approaches to address key barriers to increase young parents’ use of postpartum family planning (PPFP) in Bangladesh and Tanzania, and postnatal care (PNC) in Bangladesh. Since 2022, Connect has implemented a refined package of interventions in scale-up sites.
Throughout the testing and scale-up phases, Connect used an adaptive learning approach to gather information about what worked well, challenges, and needed responses to challenges. We also pursued a rigorous learning agenda, with randomized controlled trials assessing the effectiveness, and qualitative evaluations exploring implementation challenges and factors influencing scalability and sustainability.
As the project plans for final phase-out, we are finalizing “how-to” implementation guides for both Bangladesh and Tanzania. These guides use a modular format to document how to implement the facility- and community-level approaches. For example, one module will document guidance on how to conduct home visits to young mothers; another will guide on use of a facility-based tool introduced by the project. Our current draft envisions eight modules, with each approximately 4 pages. Tools such as written guidelines and checklists will be provided as annexes. Each module will describe implementation steps and will include key learning (e.g., challenges, insights into what works) in text boxes or narrative. The primary audiences are government and local implementation partners in each country, and they will also be distributed globally. The guide must be written in simple, straightforward language.
In Tanzania, the guide is being developed internally and will serve as a model for the Bangladesh how-to guide. Connect colleagues in Bangladesh have written early drafts of each module, and plan a stakeholder workshop to gather feedback as well as document lessons and guidance to be written into the final guide.
Scope of Work
Save the Children seeks a consultant to lead the process of finalizing the how-to guide for Bangladesh. The consultant must have demonstrated writing skills, including the ability to distill complex information into simple and streamlined English. The consultant will review the draft modules developed by Save the Children, notes from the stakeholder workshop, and documentation of key programmatic learning. The consultant may recommend adjustments to the planned modules as they see fit (e.g., they may suggest combining two modules to streamline, or may suggest an additional module). The consultant will draw from the sample guide from Tanzania. However, the content of the Bangladesh guide will be different.
Save the Children US and Country office staff will provide support for the consultant in terms of technical guidance and any needed administrative support. Save the Children will also provide a light copyedit and graphic design of the final content. Save the Children will translate and format tools for inclusion as annexes. The focal point for the consultancy will be Melanie Yahner, ASRH advisor and Connect Project director. This work will be fully remote, with no domestic or international travel planned.
Deliverable Schedule
Please note that estimated numbers of days are provided for budgeting and planning purposes. Payment will be provided based on receipt of satisfactory deliverables.
Estimated period of engagement: November 2024 – January 2025
Task 1:
Kick-off call with project team.
Review project documents and program implementation learning, including guide outline, draft modules and workshop notes.
Suggest adjustments to planned outline, if needed.
Develop background section and one sample module for review and green-light before proceeding to additional modules.
Suggest adjustments to planned outline, if needed.
Deliverable(s) for this task: Draft background section and completed first module, with feedback from Save the Children addressed; Final outline, if different from Save the Children outline.
Estimated # of days: 4
Timeline: 1 week after signature of contract
Task 2:
Draft remaining modules and attach annexes as agreed in outline.
Provide weekly status updates by email.
Join at least one call as requested to discuss progress and challenges.
Deliverable(s) for this task: Full draft of guide for review
Estimated # of days: 8
Timeline: 2 weeks following final green-lit sample module
Task 3:
Finalize guide based on feedback from Save the Children. Multiple rounds of review may be needed.
Participate in at least one call to discuss final revisions to guide.
Deliverable(s) for this task: Full and final how-to guide for graphic design.
Estimated # of days: 4
Timeline: 3 weeks following submitted full draft
TOTAL # of days: 16
Required Skills and Experience
The consultant should have significant experience with developing practical tools and job aids for use in adolescent and youth health interventions in low- and middle-income country settings. They should have excellent writing and analytical skills and a flexible and adaptable mindset.
- Master’s degree in public health, social science, or other related field.
- Experience developing implementation guides, job aids, or other relevant programmatic tools and documents
- Technical knowledge of adolescent health, family planning, RMNCH field
- Full professional fluency in English, including excellent written communication skills. Ability to distill complex information into simple and streamlined written language.
- Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
Desirable Skills and Experience
- Experience working with health system and/or adolescent health projects in Bangladesh
How to apply
The interested consultant should develop and submit a quote for the above-mentioned specific tasks and deliverables. The proposal should include:
- A specified budget breakdown including daily rate and other expected expenses.
- Letter of interest with confirmation of the availability for the proposed dates and work dynamics.
- Resume or Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Writing sample of relevant work
- References from similar projects
Please send these proposal materials to Rachel Dean, administrator for the Connect project, at rdean@savechildren.org by end of day Friday, November 1, 2024.