Terms of Reference
Health Communications Consultant
Background:
Ministry of Health began exploring the introduction of DMPA-SC in 2016 and accelerated development of the business case and introduction plan upon receiving technical and financial support from Access Collaborative donors (DFID, UNFPA, CIFF and BMGF) in late 2017. The MOH together with DMPA-SC task force, a sub-committee of the Family Planning Technical Working Group (FP-TWG) developed an ambitious costed DMPA-SC implementation and Scale up Plan that defined and costed sequential activities that would lead to the introduction of DMPA-SC in the public sector and its scale up in the private sector. Among the activities within the scale up plan was to develop a communication and demand creation plan under which Information and Education Communication materials would be created. The IEC materials should target appropriate audiences, provide accurate information on the injectable contraception, it’s benefits and effectiveness, proper use and disposal, and dispel any myths and misconceptions. The materials will be used for sensitization, as teaching aids, as how-to steps, and for demand creation within the public and private sector channels.
In support of the MoH effort to develop IEC materials for use in expanding access to DMPA-SC in Kenya, DKT International is seeking a consultant to work closely with the Ministry of Health-Reproductive Maternal Health Services Unit and its stakeholders to review, contextualize and develop communication materials that will facilitate the roll out of DMPA-SC. The consultant will ensure that all work and deliverables under the terms of reference comply with the MOH Reproductive Health objectives and relevant family planning policies and guidelines.
Key objective of the consultancy:
To develop key messaging & communication materials content that will be adopted by different target audiences including, but not limited to healthcare providers, potential users/clients, key stakeholders, and media. The messages and materials should be effective at increasing awareness and creating demand for DMPA-SC as an innovative injectable contraception that has potential to expand access for contraception in Kenya.
Scope of work:
The Consultant shall be required to review, contextualize and develop communication materials messaging and content for DMPA-SC in order to achieve the key objective of the Consultancy services.
The assignment will involve the following activities, among others:
Undertake desk review on DMPA-SC communication materials available locally, regionally and internationally from key stakeholders to identify key areas and key materials that can be easily adapted for use in Kenya.
Define key target audiences that the DMPA-SC communication materials will be targeting, this may include, but may not be limited to:
Primary target audience – *Health Care Providers, Family Planning Consumers (Women of Reproductive Age)
Secondary target audience – Media, Decision Makers etc.
*NB: Self Injection of DMPA-SC was approved by the regulator Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB) on 11th May 2019.
Identify all the key communication materials for the defined target audiences & appropriate mediums of communications to those audiences.
Contextualize, align and develop suitable communication materials for the various target audiences.
Facilitate workshop sessions with Ministry of Health and stakeholders to review, refine and finalized the developed communication materials.
Develop pre testing tools, pre-test & refine the adopted communication materials with the key target audiences upon testing.
Develop a roll out plan for DMPA-SC IEC materials.
Final communication materials developed for onward design, layout and production.
Participate in any other relevant DMPA-SC activity as need guided by the ACSM sub committee.
Required Outcomes
Pre tested and final DMPA-SC communication materials for key target audiences
DMPA-SC Communication roll out plan, including, but not limited to the following:
a. IEC materials and key messages on DMPA-SC
b. Pretesting tools for the materials
c. Crisis communication plan
d. Monitoring and Evaluation Plan
Facilitation of DMPA-SC IEC workshop with relevant stakeholders.
Milestones and Key Deliverables
No
Reporting Period and Key Deliverable
Duration
Desk review of existing DMPA-SC materials
3 days
List of proposed materials and communication tools for each key target audience
2 days
Draft DMPA-SC communication roll out plan
5 days
Draft IEC materials adapted and developed for use in Kenya (for each key target audience)
7 days
Facilitation of workshop for stakeholder input
5 days
Revision of final draft IEC materials
3 days
Pre-testing of IEC materials
5 days
Finalization of IEC materials and submission to MoH and DKT
5 days
Final communication roll out plan
5 days
Performance period and level of effort: maximum 40 days during the period June 2019
Skills preferred/required
Masters’ Degree in Health Communication or related field
At least 10 years of professional experience in developing Sexual Reproductive Health messaging
Experience in working within the Kenya health sector preferably Reproductive Maternal Child Health/Family Planning and understands the current SRH policies and guidelines
Proven experience in undertaking similar work and efficiently adapting and designing communication materials
Ability to develop appropriate messaging for different audiences
Ability to deliver a high quality, creative and innovative output
Excellent written and oral communication and presentation skills
Proficiency in English and Kiswahili among other local languages
