Terms of Reference for the Development of Training Manual for Journalists on Antimicrobial Resistance

Management Sciences for Health:

Management Sciences for Health (MSH), a global health nonprofit organization, uses proven approaches developed over 40 years to help leaders, health managers, and communities in developing nations build stronger health systems for greater health impact. We work to save lives by closing the gap between knowledge and action in public health. Since its founding in 1971, MSH has worked in over 150 countries with policy makers, health professionals, and health care consumers to improve the quality, availability and affordability of health services.

Project Description:

Funded by the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and led by MSH, the goal of the five-year USAID MTaPS program is to help low- and middle-income countries strengthen their pharmaceutical systems to ensure sustainable universal access to best treatments and pharmaceutical services.

In Ethiopia, MTaPS work focuses on the Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA) to support containment and prevention of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) in the country; this will be accomplished by helping to build capacity of in-country stakeholders to implement a national Action Plan on AMR (NAP). MTaPS collaborates with Ministry of Health to support implementation of strategic objective (SO.1) “Raise awareness and understanding and improve education on antimicrobial use, resistance prevention, and containment through effective communication, education, and training” of the NAP. Increasing the availability of accurate information regarding AMR and appropriate use of antimicrobial products is expected to promote awareness and encourage appropriate behavior among health practitioners and patients, thereby supporting successful implementation of Antimicrobial Stewardship programs (ASP).

Assignment:

MTaPS plans to develop a training manual for the training of journalist from established public and private media organizations to enhance their understanding on the emerging threat of AMR both at the global and national level and capacitate journalist to contribute towards combating the spread of AMR. The manual will be developed based on behavioral change communication (BCC) model and should address measures that improve the inappropriate use of antimicrobials by the public. 

MTaPS is looking for national Consultant(s)/ teams/firms/academics for developing a training manual on the subject “Antimicrobial Resistance and Health Communication training manual for Journalists”. The intended duration of the training is 2-3 days.

Scope of work, roles and responsibilities of Consultant(s):

The scope of consultancy is as follows: 

• The training manual should address current global and national status with emphasis on health & economic impacts of AMR tailored to non-health professionals
• Utilizes basic concepts of behavioral change communication
• Identify roles and responsibilities of media professionals in combating AMR
• Framing key AMR messages for behavioral change for different media platforms 
• The manual will be produced in English
• The manual needs to be produced in easy language comprehensible to wider audience working in multiple backgrounds
• The responsibility of the consultant includes designing illustrations for the manual 

The brief roles and responsibilities of Consultant(s)/firm are:

Sharing contents of training manual for approval:

• Share brief description of contents of the training manuals with logical sequence before its development for approval by MTaPS
• After approval of the contents the consultant will develop the manual 

Development of Training Manual:

• The manual will be developed in connection with the existing national and global BCC materials as reference
• Utilize latest knowledge on the subject and  keep proper references of the all material cited
• The consultant will undertake the responsibility of designing the manual with illustrations where necessary. Consultations with the MTaPS team during designing of the course is mandatory 

Deliverables:

• Contents of manual for approval by MTaPS
• Draft consolidated training manual for review by MTaPS
• Final, edited and print-ready version  of training manual after final review and approval  

Duration of Assignment:

• The consultant/firm shall submit the final training manual within 21 days from the signing of the agreement

Procedure 

Potential applicants are asked to make a quotation based in the administrative criteria and core competencies criteria mentioned below. These quotations are assessed using compliance, technical expertise, time of delivery and price as criteria. MTaPS withholds the right to conduct interviews with one or more potential applicants before an award decision is made. Purpose of the interview is to seek further clarification on the submitted quotations and learn more about the background and previous experiences of the potential applicants and their teams.

Administrative criteria

Contents of quotation 

The following should be included in the application: 

• Technical and financial proposal,  and should contain description of the following
  • Background and relevance of past experience in relation to the current  consultancy task
  • Brief synopsis  on the subject of consultancy: It should reflect how the consultant has conceptualized and understood the task
  • Methodology
  • Detailed work plan with timelines
  • Budget (with breakdown)
  • References of previous work 

Core Competencies & Qualifications: 

• Individual/Firm Consultant with proven previous experience in developing training manuals on health and behavioral change communication
• Firms/organizations must be registered. In case of individual the person must have master degree in relevant field (Health education/communication, Mass Communications; Development Communication; Journalism) or professional with experience in health communication or BCC