Iraq: Public health promotion/ Community mobilization Training – Iraq

Provision of emergency assistance to conflict-affected populations in Mosul City/Ninewah Governorate

1. Presentation of the French Red Cross and the Iraqi Red Crescent Society

The mission of the French Red Cross is to prevent and alleviate all human suffering, and contribute to all efforts related to protection, social welfare, prevention, education and health care. The French Red Cross is operational in northern Iraq since 2013, especially in Dohuk, Ninewah and Erbil governorates. Focused first on the influx of Syrian refugees, then on the IDP crisis and the challenging return of population in newly liberated areas, FRC is providing assistance in a range of sectors including wash, livelihoods, education and relief. The Iraq programme presently employs about 50 to 60 national staff and 10 to 15 international staff.

The French Red Cross works in partnership with the local branches of the Iraqi Red Crescent society (IRCS) according to areas of intervention. In 2018, FRC will continue its emergency and recovery assistance for Syrian refugees, Iraqi IDPs, returnees and most vulnerable host communities. This will include in particular:

• continuous development of synergies with the Iraqi Red Crescent society
• joint FRC/IRCS contingency planning and emergency response for new waves of people displacement induced by the ongoing conflict or for poorly-covered vulnerable population
• provision of sustainable wash facilities & services in informal settlements on Sinjar Mountain
• expanding livelihoods program in northern Iraq through promotion and improvement of Water use, Hygiene and Sanitation & Waste management/disposal.

2. Brief presentation of the project

On the 19 February 2017, the operation to retake western Mosul started. The security conditions have been deteriorating with the beginning of the military operation. This conflict caused massive displacement and many people lost their homes and livelihood.

The WASH activities aim to support the suffering populations from lack of drinkable water, safe storage and hygiene practices, caused by the current military operation. Due to the generally widespread hardship conditions of life in the area of intervention, all the people living in these areas will be eligible for assistance.

In this context, French Red Cross and Swedish Red Cross will ensure WASH related trainings to the Iraqi Red Crescent Society in order to stronger respond to the needs and support of the conflict-affected population.

3. Objectives and expected results from the consultancy

3.1 Rationale of the consultancy

Public health promotion/ community mobilization is a planned, systematic approach to enable people to take action to prevent and/or mitigate diseases and promote basic standards towards better health to be upheld even in difficult living circumstances. It can also provide a practical way to facilitate community participation, accountability and monitoring in WASH, Health and other programmes. Public health promotion/ community mobilization should aim to draw on the affected population’s knowledge, practices and resources, as well as on the current evidence base to determine how public health can best be protected.

Public health promotion/ community mobilization involves ensuring that people make the best use of available facilities and services provided and includes the effective operation and maintenance of the facilities. The three key factors are:

• a mutual sharing of information and knowledge
• the mobilisation of affected communities
• advocate for the provision of essential materials and facilities.

Community mobilisation is especially appropriate during disasters as the emphasis must be on encouraging people to take action to protect their health. Promotional activities should include, where possible, interactive methods, rather than focusing exclusively on the mass dissemination of messages.

3.2 Objectives

The overall mission’s goal is to have IRCS staff and volunteers trained in planning, creating and conducting Public health promotion/ Community mobilization sessions and to be able to reach disaster-affected populations and to prevent and/or mitigate the risk of public health.

The primary objectives are:

1. To develop training materials and curricula for a five day training for IRCS staff and volunteers. IRCS volunteers will be able to hold sessions like: Hygiene Promotion, Household Water Treatment & Safe Storage, Waste Management and Health. This will depend on the needs in the community.
2. To develop an accompanying participant handbook for the training participants. This handbook will act as a resource for the IRCS staff and volunteers. It will enable them to continue to develop their skills and to train others.
3. To design and deliver an intensive (five days) training for the IRCS staff and volunteers to orient them on the new curriculum.

All documents shall be in English with appropriate illustrations for easy reference, putting into consideration its target users.

3.3 Deliverables

The Consultant is expected to deliver the following outputs which will have to be approved by the Program.

1. A core training curriculum: The curriculum will focus on developing the knowledge and skills that IRCS staff and volunteers require to implement Public health promotion/ Community mobilization sessions.

The curriculum will be highly interactive and participatory, using real life situations relevant to the Iraqi context. The templates required for the various activities and exercises will be annexed. This includes pre- and post-tests to assess participant knowledge and skill acquisition.

1. A handbook for participants to support IRCS staff and volunteers participation during the training and afterwards.
2. A five days training to orient the IRCS staff and volunteers on the new curriculum. A report from the training will include lesson learnt, ways of improvement, initial and final tests results…

4. Logistics and timing

The period of execution of the contract will be between 6 to 8 weeks (5 working days per week) and should not finish after the 31^st March (end of the project). Half of the mission will be done homebased and the second half will be done at Erbil (Iraqi Kurdistan).

List of steps :

• Development of training curriculum
• Development of handbook participant
• Preparation of the training (in Erbil)
• Implementation of 5 days training
• Reports and debriefing
  Total length of consultancy: not exceeding 8 weeks

N.B: The planning is given as a rough guide. It can be reexamined depending on the circumstances and the methodology.

The WASH delegate will be the focal point for the consultant during the entire mission. And there will be regular contact with the Regional WASH Technical Advisor based in Asia during the consultant mission.

All costs related to the presence and the movement on the field will have to appear on the financial offer.

Assets like mobile phone or computer will not be provided.

The FRC does not pay for the traveling days from location of the consultant to Erbil.

5. The consultant

The consultant must provide a direct and clear answer to all the points contained in the terms of reference. The consultant will closely work with the IRCS and FRC staff.

Consultant’s Profile

Profile required:

• Background in Social Sciences or similar.
• Proven experience in developing hygiene promotion strategies.
• Strong reporting skills.
• At least 3 years of working experience in hygiene promotion related fields; experience in the Kurdistan or Middle East region is an asset.
• Fluent in English compulsory (additional arabic is an asset).
• Knowledge of other Red Cross Movement WASH projects is an asset.

6. Selection criteria and application procedure

The criteria for the evaluation of the quality of the proposal are:

• Technical quality of the proposed methodology.
• Experience and qualification of the consultant.
• Financial proposal.

The proposal must include, at least:

• A technical proposal, stating clearly the evaluation methodology and the work plan.
• A human resources proposal, including CVs highlighting relevant qualifications and experience.
• A budget presenting the global cost of the consultancy (covering all expenses for the consultant).

The evaluation proposal will necessarily include the consultant’s registration/fiscal number.

After the review / screening of the proposals, only short-listed applicants will be contacted by phone or email.

Interested candidates are requested to send their evaluation proposal in English in electronic format with reference “FRC-IRCS_HP-TRAINING_Name” to the following email addresses: tender-iraq.frc@croix-rouge.fr.