TERMS OF REFERENCE TO HIRE A PROGRAM TECHNICAL ASSISTANT FOR WINSINGA NDUMVA 

1. UPHLS

The Umbrella of Organizations of Persons with Disabilities in the fight against HIV&AIDS and for Health Promotion (UPHLS) is a non-governmental entity operating in Rwanda, created in 2006 as an Umbrella Organization of Disability Organizations and grassroots’ self-help groups of persons with disabilities. UPHLS operates in thematic areas of HIV&AIDS to improve the health and employability of Persons with Disabilities, create and advocate for inclusive health policies, and budgetary allocation.

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Member Organizations include:

1. Rwanda National Union of the Deaf (RNUD);
2. Association Générale des Personnes Handicapées au Rwanda (AGHR);
3. Rwanda Union of the Blind (RUB);
4. UWEZO (Union of Youth with disabilities) ;
5. Collectif Tubakunde ;
6. Abadahigwa Blind Veterans
7. Organization of Landmine Survivors of Rwanda (OLSAR) ;
8. Troupes des Personnes Handicapées Twuzazanye (THT) ;
9. Rwanda Union of little People (RULP) ;
10. Rwanda National Association of Deaf women (RNADW) ;
11. Stroke Survivors Action (SSA) ;
12. Hope for Single mother with Disabilities (HSMD)
13. Organization of women with Disabilities on Health and Development (OWDHD).

UPHLS vision is building an inclusive society where persons with disabilities are empowered, dignified, and enjoy wellbeing with the mission of strengthening the capacities of member organizations, support, guide and coordinate programs to promote the rights of PWDs for inclusive services in HIV&AIDS, health and employability.

2. BACKGROUND

Hearing loss refers to hearing loss greater than 35 decibels (dB) in the better-hearing ear. Nearly 80 percent of people with disabling hearing loss live in low- and middle-income countries. The prevalence of hearing loss increases with age; among those older than 60 years, over 25 percent are affected by disabling hearing loss.

World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that hearing loss is increasingly becoming the most common sensory deficit in humans, with some 5.3 percent of the population worldwide affected, mainly children.

Early identification, referral and management of impairments in children has been emphasized by the National Policy of Persons with Disabilities and its four years’ strategic plan (2021-2024) especially the strategic objective related to the strengthening of early identification, diagnostic assessment, and intervention, prioritizing children with disabilities.[1] In response to this, different interventions are being carried out within the health sector. However, lack of evidence on disability determinants and factors contributing to the impairment in children constitute a hindrance to the good performance of the above mentioned interventions.

To overcome this, the Government of Rwanda has prioritized and included strategies for inclusive health within the health sector and is supporting some of the initiatives introduced by different partners. This includes priorities reflected in the 2018-2024 National Ear and Hearing Care Plan (NEHCP) which will constitute a baseline of interventions. The NEHCP aims at finding lasting solutions to existing challenges for ear and hearing care in Rwanda. It provides orientation on how to address identified ear and hearing care challenges that include infrastructure, equipment, staff, prevention, care, and rehabilitation (service delivery). It also proposes approaches for enhanced stakeholder coordination in terms of implementation and resource mobilization. The NEHCP priorities include the following:

• Preventing all avoidable causes of hearing loss and deafness, disease, and injury (trauma, noise pollution).
• Scaling up, strengthening, decentralizing, and integrating ear and hearing care services across the Rwanda healthcare system.
• Ensuring universal coverage of rehabilitation services and packages for all persons suffering from hearing loss and deafness.
• Raising public awareness on causes and issues of ear and hearing care and outlining interventions and actions to be undertaken by various stakeholders, including public institutions and agencies, development partners, and non-government organizations.

Since 2021, UNICEF successfully supported MoH/RBC to ensure early identification, referral and management of reversible impairments in children through the capacity strengthening of health care providers from all public hospitals of Rwanda and development of national clinical guidelines on the management of reversible impairments and deformities in children including strengthening the referral pathways, Rwanda Integrated Rehabilitation Model. To the same end, a program on ear and hearing care including pre-screening, screening, and assessment of children with hearing impairment and distribution of hearing aids, has been piloted in four districts namely Nyagatare, Nyarugenge, Huye, and Nyabihu. During this period, 691 children were assessed by ENT specialists, 115 children were found with treatable hearing issues including ear infections and perforations and 295 children were subsequently fitted with hearing aids. RBC and its partners plan to scaling up the ear and hearing care in 8 districts through Winsiga Ndumva program including Nyagatare, Huye, Nyarugenge, Nyabihu, Muhanga, Rusizi, Rwamagana, and Musanze. 

The program will run for three years (2023-2024; 2024-2025; and 2025-2026) to allow maximum time for strengthening the implementation of ear and hearing care services in the four pilot districts, as well as for the establishment and scale up in four new districts. This will include training of staff, provision of assistive technologies/equipment, monitoring and evaluation of program activities, social and behaviour change (SBC), training of school teachers on ear and hearing conditions, disability-inclusive education and documentation of best practices.

It is within the above mentioned background that UPHLS in partnership RBC seeks to recruit a highly qualified, dedicated and experienced personnel to serve as Program Technical Assistant for WINSIGA NDUMVA Program 

The objective of this assignment is as follows:

The Program Technical Assistant will work 100% ensuring technical quality in all areas of Ear and Hearing health work in Rwanda. The successful candidate will provide expertise to the staff and implementing partners to ensure that the work is carried out in the most professional, efficient and results-based manner.

The purpose of this program is to scale up ear and hearing care in Rwanda putting more emphasis on specific UNICEF-Supported 8 districts of Rwanda. This will include a review and update of health policies/strategies with components of ear and hearing care, capacity building of health providers and health institutions, and strengthening institutionalization of existing government efforts among children 0 to 18 years of age, with a focus on primary healthcare settings in catchment districts according to Rwanda 2018-2024 NEHCP.

1. Standards and Ethics

The consultant shall undertake this engagement in accordance with integrated professional and ethical standards. The Contracting Authority requires that the consultant demonstrates objectivity in his/her role and complies with the independence requirements of professional Ethics for health professionals in Rwanda.

2. Qualifications of the Consultant

The consultant must meet the following requirements:

• Having a master’s Degree in Public health with extensive clinical and managerial experience both in public and private institutions with 5 years of experience or,
• Having a Medical Doctors (GP) Degree with 3 years of experience with clinical and managerial experience both in public and private institutions,
• Having A0 degree in Audiology, Rehabilitation/or other related fields with 5 year working experience in health system in Rwanda.
• Having extensive knowledge and experience on ear and hearing care particularly screening, assessment and distribution of hearing aids would be an asset,
• Having at least 3+ years of experience designing, implementing, or supporting rehabilitation and community-based rehabilitation programming, is highly desired;
• Having strategic and analytical skills including but not limited to quality report writing,
• Having a good understanding of health systems and universal health coverage initiatives in Rwanda.
• Having knowledge or proven experience in disability & inclusive health is an added advantage
• Having skills and experience in designing and implementing health related projects;
• Having strong technical skills around policy development and quality control for training curricula/tool development/revision and support for the physical rehabilitation is required,
• Having good interpersonal and communication skills verbally and in writing.
• Being familiar with Microsoft Office Package (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, SharePoint e.t.c)

3. Roles and Responsabilities

1. Strategy Development and Implementation

Key assignment include but not limited to :

• Provide technical advice and input into all existing and new inclusive ear and hearing health concept notes, proposals, tools, budgets, guidelines e.t.c; ensuring that program design and implementation is in line with good practices, set standards, aligned with relevant strategic plans, frameworks and technical guidelines.
• Support the NCDs/Injury and Disability Unity and WINSIGA NDUMVA program staff in identifying suitable partners, actively participating in technical partner assessments and take lead in technical capacity strengthening.
• The NEHCP priorities include the following:
• Preventing all avoidable causes of hearing loss and deafness, disease, and injury (trauma, noise pollution).
• Scaling up, strengthening, decentralizing, and integrating ear and hearing care services across the Rwanda healthcare system.
• Ensuring universal coverage of rehabilitation services and packages for all persons suffering from hearing loss and deafness.
• Raising public awareness on causes and issues of ear and hearing care and outlining interventions and actions to be undertaken by various stakeholders, including public institutions and agencies, development partners, and non-government organizations

2. Strategic Partnership Development and Networking

• Monitor and advise on trends and new development in ear and hearing care
• Strengthen partnership opportunities with international, national and local stakeholders to ensure programme delivery is harmonized and effectively coordinated at all levels.
• Represent RBC and UPHLS in Ear and Hearing Health Professional bodies, Networks and conferences, workshops and meetings.
• Take lead in technical quality assurance activities in close collaboration with line Ministry focal staff, project teams and implementing partners.

3. Staff Development

• Promote cross learning and collaboration among implementing partners
• Provide capacity building to the programme staff both at Country Office and implementing partner level on ear and hearing Framework including coaching mentorship.
• Working closely with the senior consultant in the capacity strengthening of the stakeholders in ear and hearing care
• Support in the design and conducting operations research, Rapid Assessment for Avoidable ear and hearing conditions, Impact Surveys, feasibility studies, project end term evaluations, and development of different tools.

4. Main work package with regard to implementing ear and hearing program

• Coordinate all program activities implementation
• Develop minimum and contextualized standards for ear and Hearing programs and integration into existing health care system in Rwanda.
• Ensure that partner’s staff have a good understanding of the ear and Hearing standards and reporting requirements.
• Conduct technical quality assurance activities including assessments for specific ear and hearing projects.
• Track and document implementation of technical recommendations.
• Conduct physical & virtual visits as may be needed with focus on specific priority issues.
• Provide capacity development to partners to ensure quality of work.
• Ensure sharing of lessons learned and promote best practices with UNICEF and partner’s organizations (AT Scale);
• Review ear and hearing program reports to ensure quality reports and timely submission to UNICEF and AT Scale.
• Advocacy and support for the integration of Ear and hearing care services in health system, supply chain and health information systems
• Build capacities for partner staff on Quality Management Framework; ensure partners conduct bi-annual Quality Management Assessment including collecting data

Ensure the development of organisational capabilities in terms of early detection of disabilities, rehabilitation and assistive technologies, with a particular focus on hearing and ear care.

Application process

• Duty Station:
  • The Program Coordinator will be based at RBC head office 

• Time frame: a three year program contract will be signed upon successful recruitment process

Documents will be submitted to the head office of the UPHLS KG 625 St 7, Kimihurura, Kigali, Rwanda or on infos@uphls.org  not later than October 27 2023 at 3:00 pm Kigali local time. 

Note: UPHLS promotes equal opportunities and values a diverse workforce. Persons with disabilities and Female candidates are encouraged to apply. 

Done at Kigali, 28^th September 2023 

KARANGWA Francois Xavier

Executive Director

UPHLS