Individual Consultant Development of National Midwifery Competency Framework
Organizational Context
UNFPA is the lead UN agency focused on sexual and reproductive health, aiming to fulfill every young person's potential. This consultancy supports the development of a National Midwifery Competency Framework in Kenya, addressing critical maternal and newborn health challenges. The consultant will report to the SRHR & Health Systems Specialist, with technical guidance from the Midwives Association of Kenya (MAK).
Job Purpose
This consultancy aims to provide technical expertise for Phase 1 of developing Kenya's National Midwifery Competency Framework. The consultant will conduct a comprehensive situational and gap analysis of current midwifery education, training, regulation, and clinical practice. This involves a desk review of existing documents and extensive stakeholder consultations to gather and validate data. The ultimate goal is to build a solid evidence base and formulate clear, evidence-based recommendations to inform the subsequent framework development phase, ensuring alignment with international standards and national requirements.
Responsibilities
The consultant will execute core tasks including a comprehensive desk review of relevant legislation, curricula, policies, and international standards (ICM, WHO). This involves designing data collection tools for key informant interviews and focus group discussions with stakeholders such as the NCK, MoH, educators, and midwives. Site visits to training and clinical facilities in Nairobi will be conducted to analyze clinical practice realities and systemic challenges. A gap analysis and competency mapping will compare national midwifery competencies against ICM domains. Findings will be validated in a workshop with stakeholders, leading to a consolidated evidence report. A final workshop will present the situational and gap analysis findings to secure buy-in for the framework's scope and structure.
Work Experience
Requires at least 7 years of professional experience in midwifery clinical practice, education, curriculum review, health workforce development, or policy. Demonstrated expertise in situational and gap analyses, qualitative data collection, and competency mapping is essential. In-depth knowledge of Kenya's health system and regulatory frameworks, along with proven experience in multi-stakeholder consultations, is also required.
Skills
Core competencies include integrity, commitment to UNFPA and UN values, cultural diversity, embracing change, achieving results, accountability, professional expertise, analytical and strategic thinking, and teamwork. Technical skills in qualitative data collection, analysis, and report writing are crucial.