Consultancy to Develop a Comprehensive Early Childhood Developmental Monitoring Framework... Tender

UNITED NATIONS CHILDREN`S FUND has floated a tender for Consultancy to Develop a Comprehensive Early Childhood Developmental Monitoring Framework with Supporting Guidelines, Protocols and a Training Manual. The project location is Barbados and the tender is closing on 26 Jul 2019. The tender notice number is , while the TOT Ref Number is 34728497. Bidders can have further information about the Tender and can request the complete Tender document by Registering on the site.

Expired Tender

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

Other Information

Notice Type : Tender

TOT Ref.No.: 34728497

Document Ref. No. :

Competition : ICB

Financier : United Nations Secretariat

Purchaser Ownership : -

Tender Value : Refer Document

Purchaser's Detail

Purchaser : UNITED NATIONS CHILDREN`S FUND
Office for the Eastern Caribbean Area 1st Floor, UN House Marine Gardens Christ Church Tel: 246-467-6000 Fax: 246-436-2812
Barbados
Email :bridgetown@unicef.org

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

 Tender Notice