Consultancy to Develop a Comprehensive Early Tender - 34728497

Procurement Summary

Country: Barbados

Summary: Consultancy to Develop a Comprehensive Early Childhood Developmental Monitoring Framework with Supporting Guidelines, Protocols and a Training Manual

Deadline: 26 Jul 2019

Posting Date: 17 Jul 2019

Other Information

Notice Type: Tender

TOT Ref.No.: 34728497

Document Ref. No.:

Competition: ICB

Financier: United Nations Secretariat

Purchaser Ownership: -

Tender Value: Refer Document

CPV Classification

79311200 - Survey conduction services

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Tender Details

Tenders are invited for Consultancy to Develop a Comprehensive Early Childhood Developmental Monitoring Framework with Supporting Guidelines, Protocols and a Training Manual
Consultancy to Develop a Comprehensive Early Childhood Developmental

Monitoring Framework with Supporting Guidelines, Protocols and a Training

Manual

Apply now Job no: 523875

Work type: Consultancy

Location: Eastern Caribbean

Categories: Early Childhood Development, Consultancy

UNICEF works in some of the world-s toughest places, to reach the world-s most disadvantaged children. To

save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for

everyone.

And we never give up.

Country Office: UNICEF Eastern Caribbean Area Office

Workplace of consultancy: Home-based with travel to at least three (3) countries

Duration of Contract: Six (6) months

Anticipated Start date: 1 September 2019

Anticipated End date: 29 February 2020

Supervisor: Early Childhood Development Specialist

How can you make a difference?

BACKGROUND:

Research has well documented, that the early years, particularly the first three years, set the foundation for the

developing capacities, competence and coping skills that will affect learning, behaviour and health throughout life.

It stands to reason, that children who may need additional services and support to ensure their optimal

development must be identified during the formative years, in order to access appropriate programmes and

services for early intervention. There is realization that to support children in reaching their developmental

potential child development should be understood as a dynamic process which acknowledges the multiple

strengths and vulnerabilities in the child, the caregiving environment and the community that contribute to positive

child development.

Increasingly, OECS member states and countries in the wider Eastern Caribbean are recognizing the importance

of monitoring child development which includes informed surveillance, sensitive screening and the need for

strategic assessments of development and timely intervention from an early age. Developmental Monitoring is

critical because it emphasizes that caregivers will watch, check and keep track of a child-s progress over time .

There is substantial evidence across the Caribbean region to show the achievement gap between boys and girls

in the formal education systems of the region, and this is particularly worrying since there is yet to be a solution to

this problem. One approach to address this situation is the early identification of children with developmental or

learning difficulties whilst supporting the families to enhance the strengths of the child, address risk factors and

provide additional support and specialized services where needed. Research from Middle to High Income

Countries has shown that developmental monitoring benefits all children - those at risk of developmental

difficulties can be identified at an early stage and interventions made, while those who are developing on track

benefit as the monitoring reassures their caregivers and provides them with advice where needed on helping

their children to fulfil their potential (Dworkin, 1989; Blair and Hall, 2006; Committee on Practice and Ambulatory

Medicine and Bright Futures Periodicity Schedule Workgroup, 2016).

In 2001, the OECS Commission, through its Education Development Management Unit (EDMU) formerly the

OECS Education Reform Unit (OERU) and UNICEF ECA undertook an Early Identification/Early Intervention

workshop. This workshop was the first step in a process towards building the region-s capacity in early

identification as a component in developmental monitoring. Coming out of this workshop were several key

recommendations for addressing early identification and intervention in the region; one of which is the

"development of appropriate assessment tools and techniques."

To date, a number of territories have put systems in place and have adopted/adapted several tools for

surveillance, screening, developmental assessments and early identification of children, namely St. Lucia,

Dominica, St. Kitts and Nevis, Grenada, and Turks and Caicos Islands. However, it must be noted that countries

are at varying stages regarding developmental monitoring and intervention. In seeking to build upon this work

which has started, the EDMU/UNICEF ECA are aiming to develop an OECS Developmental Monitoring

Framework for early childhood with Protocols, Guidelines, Training Manual and Resources to support the

comprehensive and systematic monitoring of the developmental progress of boys and girls in the OECS and

wider Eastern Caribbean Region.

In that regard, the EDMU/UNICEF ECA is seeking technical assistance to develop a comprehensive

developmental monitoring framework for early childhood with supporting guidelines, protocols a training manual

and associated resources to train a cadre of experts from the OECS member states and wider Eastern

Caribbean for the implementation of the framework at National levels. The framework should consider good

practices in tools, processes and systems already being utilized in the Caribbean Region as well as appropriately

tested and validated tools currently in use in global communities.

PURPOSE/SCOPE OF ASSIGNMENT:

Under the guidance of the EDMU, the Technical Working Group (TWG) and UNICEF ECA, the Consultant will:

? Analyze the systems for developmental monitoring, inclusive of surveillance, screening, early identification,

referrals, assessment and early intervention in Developmental Delays and Disability in OECS countries and

wider Eastern Caribbean - Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, St. Kitts and Nevis, Montserrat, Virgin

Islands UK.

- The analysis should address but is not limited to past developments in the early childhood development,

education and health care systems;

- Current implementation through the review of existing processes and procedures;

- The influence and role of local and international actors in responding to the needs of children (0-5 years)

exhibiting signs of developmental delay or a disability and their families and

- Facilitating individual and collective overall achievement (consider policies, procedures, legislation, curricula,

etc.)

? Provide a mapping of the diagnostic and intervention services; validated screening and assessment tools

currently in use at national level available to children 0-5 years.

? Determine the human and physical resources necessary to provide effective and efficient Primary level

screening services and Secondary /Tertiary level diagnostic and intervention services at national level;

? Review and strengthen the draft outline of the proposed OECS Developmental Monitoring Framework for

Surveillance, Screening, Assessment, identification and Intervention in Early Childhood Development

incorporating the findings from the analysis of systems;

? Finalize the OECS Developmental Monitoring Framework with supporting guidelines, protocols and a

training manual to:

- Support developmental screening, developmental surveillance, developmental assessment and intervention in

early childhood

- Systematically monitor the developmental progress of boys and girls in the OECS/Eastern Caribbean region to

promote their optimal development.

? Undertake consultations with National Stakeholders on the proposed Developmental Monitoring Framework

for Surveillance, Screening, Assessment, Identification and Intervention in Early Childhood Development for

children in the 0-5 age group.

? Develop, review and finalize the Guidelines for the implementation of the Developmental Monitoring

Framework including procedures /processes for the utilization of tools/instruments, protocols and training

resources.

? Support the planning and implementation of a national sensitization and training programme on the

proposed OECS Developmental Monitoring Framework for children in the 0-5 age group.

? Recommend one (1) financing model to support systematic early identification and intervention at the

national level.

KEY EXPECTED RESULTS:

The consultant is expected to produce the following key outputs and deliverables:

(a) A comprehensive mapping of services and programmes available through the Health, Education or Social

development Sectors for Surveillance, Screening, Referrals, Assessment, Identification and Intervention in Early

Childhood Development for children in the 0-5 age group.

(b) A needs assessment report based on the findings of the analysis of available services and systems

Surveillance, Screening, Referrals, Assessment, Identification and Intervention in Early Childhood Development

for children in the 0-5 age group.

(c) A finalized Developmental Monitoring Framework which includes a set of recommended guidelines,

tools/instruments, protocols, implementation plan and training resources.

(d) A set of country specific guidelines and protocols.

(e) A training manual to guide training in the implementation of the Developmental Monitoring Framework.

(f) A cadre of trainers to support implementation of the use of the Developmental Monitoring Framework.

WORK ASSIGNMENT OVERVIEW:

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS:

This assignment will require travel to OECS Countries: Dominica, Virgin Islands UK, Antigua and Barbuda

The consultant is responsible for arranging his/her own travel, including bearing the costs visas and travel

insurance. Accommodation, meals and incidentals costs must not exceed the UN daily subsistence allowance

rates. The costs for approved travels will be reimbursed by the UNICEF ECA upon submission of receipts and

based on applicable UN DSA rates. All approved travels to be conducted in accordance with UNICEF travel rules

and regulations.

EXPERIENCE/QUALIFICATIONS:

The Consultant should have

Documents

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