The Position:
Ensure quality midwifery education and services is the priority area in the country to address the maternal, neonatal, and adolescent health. UNFPA supports Bangladesh to ensure the continued need for professional midwives as its flagship to improve maternal and new-born health outcomes. Strengthening the national midwifery programme (SNMP) is being implementing by the Directorate General of Nursing and Midwifery (DGNM), highest level administrative govt. body with the objective to increase number of midwives who are well educated and trained to international standards and work towards creating an enabling environment for midwifery-led continuum of care through effective deployment. The project focus is to improve the capacity of midwifery faculty including teaching-learning aids, establish supportive laws, regulation and administration through policy guidelines and standards, effective utilization of midwives, policy advocacy, and establishing a monitoring mentoring and supportive supervision mechanism including collaboration among the Government, Donors, IPs. Extensive technical support to the Government is needed towards quality midwifery education and creating an enabling environment for midwifery-led continuum of care.
The National Midwifery Consultant, under the overall guidance and supervision of International Midwifery Specialist, UNFPA Bangladesh, will support the Bangladesh Nursing and Midwifery Council and DGNM in responds to the needs of the production of the ICM standards competent midwives and will provide technical support as per ToR for further strengthening the quality midwifery education in Bangladesh.
You would be responsible for:
Under the overall supervision of the Chief of Health, the Consultant will directly report to the international midwifery specialist, UNFPA Bangladesh the incumbent is responsible for supporting the SNMP through DGNM project in implementing the midwifery education and attached clinical practice sites and coordinate with other relevant midwifery implementing partners and donors. The consultant is expected to complete the following activities:
Support to policy Advisory and Programme Implementation:
• Coordinate closely with the MoHFW, DGNM, DGHS, DGFP, BNMC, BMS and provide technical support for the effective and efficient implementation National Midwifery Action Plan and Standard Operating Procedure focusing on midwifery education, regulation and services.
• Assist in organizing advocacy events to promote the midwifery profession.
• Provide support to review and regular tailor-made inputs into the midwifery education programme to effectively implement it in project intervention areas.
• Provide support to follow up of the midwifery act and professional rules and regulations including accreditation and quality of midwifery education.
• Provide support for finalizing the operation plan for midwifery and nursing education and services and its implementation.
Technical support and capacity building:
• Provide technical support to DGNM on strengthening the midwifery programme, ensuring quality education, training and services at the national, divisional, and district levels.
• Provide technical support and facilitate planning and implement all training and workshops.
• Regularly monitor the midwifery students and midwifery faculty, assess their competency level, identify areas that need improvement and develop an action plan accordingly.
• Support the midwifery pre-service and in-service educational programme including strengthening the accreditation process in line with quality midwifery education.
• Coordinate, participate, and provide technical input to develop and implement a plan on how to minimize the theory-practice gap and improve the student’s clinical experience.
• Support the licensing and re licensing processes and provide support for continuing education.
• Purposeful visits for monitoring and supervision on midwifery practices and educational sites.
• Maintain official information data sheets on midwifery education and services.
• Coordinate with and support the BNMC, BMS and other relevant stakeholders for the purpose of strengthening quality midwifery issues.
• Represent, participate, and provide technical input in relevant stakeholders meeting and workshops.
• Carry out any other assigned work given by the supervisor or higher authority.
Knowledge Management
• Prepare and ensure good quality of reports for the Country Office/Regional Office/ Head Quarter
• Prepare and maintain a set of briefing notes, project summary, fact sheets and other documents about her/his portfolio.
• Facilitate exchange of information, good practices and lessons within/outside UNFPA
• Participate in knowledge gathering regarding midwifery education and services.
The National midwifery consultant will be part of the UNFPA SRH Team under the direct supervision of the International Midwifery Specialist and overall direction guidance by the Chief of Health, UNFPA Bangladesh.
Please apply and find more information on the vacancy here.
The deadline for the application is 26 August 2023.
Note: Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for further consideration. Female candidates are encouraged to apply.