Consultancy Opportunity:  Qualitative data collector for a rapid Training Needs Assessment (TNA) for the Rwanda Food and Drugs Authority

Country:  Rwanda

Location: Rwanda

IH Activity Manager: Sr. Advisor – Regulatory Workforce and Organizational Capacity Development

 IntraHealth International Rwanda Office will facilitate the hiring process and contract management. 

When:  August – October 2021 (2 months

LOE: 18 days

Scope of Work

I. Background:

About USP and the PQM+ Program

The U.S. Pharmacopeial Convention (USP) is a scientific nonprofit organization that sets standards for the identity, strength, quality, and purity of medicines, food ingredients, and dietary supplements manufactured, distributed and consumed worldwide. USP’s drug standards are enforceable in the United States by the Food and Drug Administration, and these standards are used in more than 140 countries. USP’s focus on global public health extends to lower and middle-income countries with work in over 20 countries through donor-funded programs. Our programs are focused on building the capacity of regulatory authorities and manufacturers in ensuring patient access to quality-assured essential medicines by providing: 1) technical assistance to manufacturers to increase the supply of quality-assured priority medicines for malaria, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis (TB), neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), and maternal, newborn, and child health (MNCH) products; and 2) capacity-building activities to regulatory authorities to fulfill their function in ensuring the supply of quality-assured medical products.

USP was awarded the Promoting the Quality of Medicines Plus (PQM+) program, a USAID-funded global program designed to sustainably strengthen medical product quality assurance systems in low-and-middle income countries, including Rwanda.  PQM+ is currently seeking a consultant to undertake a rapid training needs assessment for the Rwanda Food and Drugs Authority (Rwanda FDA).

Brief Description of Purpose and Nature of the Assignment

The PQM+ program is contributing to the development of the Rwanda FDA organizational capacity by targeted STTA to conduct a training needs assessment and development of a Training Plan. Rwanda FDA staff have undergone several trainings to hone their technical skills in food and medical products regulation. Rwanda FDA staff have also been trained by other partners such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and other USAID programs on various pharmaceutical regulatory functions. This TNA seeks to establish the coherence of the training solutions as they relate to demonstrable needs as relevant to the organizational structure, associated job descriptions (JDs) and in alignment with the newly released WHO regulatory competency framework. Lastly, this assignment will put in place elements that will ensure the sustainability of Rwanda FDA learning and development systems

An indicator of organizational development and the institutionalization of best practices is a system for tracking trainings that have been offered to and consumed by its staff. This and related elements such as an SOP related to how a training plan is developed, implemented and assessed for effectiveness are elements needed to align with the WHO Global Benchmarking Tool for regulatory authorities. The team will assess the Rwanda FDA’s system for tracking training and related SOPS. Ultimately, the tracking system will be a record of trainings staff have undertaken and will incorporate a structured plan of the trainings that the staff need to take to sharpen their competencies to improve work performance. In addition, as the medical products regulatory field keeps on changing, Rwanda FDA staff must continuously improve their understanding of new developments in the field. Staff learning and professional development can be achieved in many ways and the above-mentioned tracking system would help Rwanda FDA monitor learning and development throughout the organization while providing evidence for continued planning.

To achieve the above, PQM+ is seeking the services of a local workforce capacity development expert to co-facilitate the data collection and report writing required of this rapid training needs assessment to inform the development of a competency-based training plan that aligns with the WHO Regulatory competency framework and associated Global Benchmarking Tool. The workforce development consultant should have extensive experience with conducting complex assessments, collecting qualitative data collection, creating training plans, and working with government stakeholders as well as, have a familiarity with the mandate, functions and operations of a national medicines regulatory authorities, like Rwanda FDA, and the WHO regulatory competency framework.

The consultant will be working jointly with a remote technical advisor and report writer to design the methodology, develop the tools, analyze data and produce the deliverables. Both consultants are responsible for the successful engagement with stakeholders, updating the PQM+ team and delivery of tools.

The consultant will be supervised by Sr. Advisor, Workforce Development, Lauren Montgomery-Rinehart.

All work will align to PQM+ and USAID Branding (Branding TEMPLATES).

II. Key Responsibilities/Tasks

The consultant will:

• Conduct a desk review of pertinent documents relating to the mandate, functions, and performance of Rwanda FDA, including the findings and recommendations of the World Health Organization -Global Benchmarking Tool (WHO-GBT); the Institutional Development Plan (IDP) of the Rwanda FDA, and the WHO competency framework for National Medicines Regulatory Authorities (NMRAs)
• Conduct a rapid task/job analysis to identify the required/expected competencies needed to improve how regulatory and administrative tasks are done at Rwanda FDA
• Assess the audience to ensure appropriate targeting and delivery mechanisms
• Map out the current training offerings and identify gaps in Rwanda FDA internal training programs related to its core mandate and functions
• Support the compilation of a training needs assessment report (audience and targeted content to the level of competency-based learning objectives defined)
• Develop a database, or inventory, of the trainings and courses undertaken by Rwanda FDA staff
• Support the development of a training plan for the Rwanda FDA, which is aligned to the WHO competency framework for NMRAs

Project Management Responsibilities

a) Participate in the initial kick-off meeting and other work implementation meetings with the PQM+ and Rwanda FDA teams to discuss the activity, agree on activity implementation plan to guide the activity through completion
b) Provide continuous updates to the PQM+ and Rwanda FDA teams on progress of assignment
c) Compile and submit notes and action points from key meetings

Supporting Documentation and websites (not exhaustive list)

• WHO GBT
• WHO regulatory competencies
• WHO Global Competency Framework for Regulators of Medical Products (June 2020)
• Rwanda FDA Strategic Plan 2021_2024 1

III.Overall Deliverables and Timeline

• Activity inception report
• Training Needs Assessment (TNA) report
• Compile an inventory of trainings offered by Rwanda FDA
• Comprehensive training plan for the Rwanda FDA
• SOP on how the training plan is developed, implemented and assessed annually
• Guidelines on a training tracking system for trainings undertaken by Rwanda FDA staff
• Final report

Time frame for the work

The work has a level of effort of 18 workdays and will be conducted within a timeframe of approximately two (2) months between August 2021 and October 2021 (detailed timeline to be established with the consultant, in consultation with the Rwanda FDA).

IV. Payment schedule

All invoices will be approved by Lauren Montgomery-Rinehart. Payment will be made upon receipt and approval of the Consultant’s invoice. Invoices will follow the IntraHealth format as presented to Consultant in the Agreement.

V. Basic Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in instructional design adult learning, human resources or organizational capacity development or other relevant fields.
• An advanced degree in a closely related field will be an advantage
• Minimum of ten (10) years of experience in conducting and or implementing training needs assessments and writing competency-based training plans
• Expert knowledge of adult learning and curriculum development for professionals preferably in the public health or regulatory authorities
• Experience with developing or contributing to the development of academic or in-service courses for professionals
• Knowledge of medicines regulatory authorities and public health commodities will be an asset

Other Competencies

• Demonstrates high professional integrity and zeal to work
• Familiarity with the local pharmaceutical or health sector in Rwanda
• Familiarity with the mandate, functions and operations of the Rwanda FDA
• Results driven with demonstrated successful outcomes
• Ability to handle multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment
• Excellent written and verbal communications skills
• Ability to work flexible hours when needed.

Application Procedure

If you are interested in this consulting work, please provide us with the following:

1. A cover letter demonstrating how you meet the criteria described above, and how you propose to organize the work outlined above, in a simple Gantt Chart
2. A copy of your Curriculum Vitae (CV), showing previous similar and relevant work done
3. Statement that you will be bidding as an individual
4. Your hourly consultancy rate in USD, which is inclusive of all applicable taxes.
5. Your availability to do the work during the specified period
6. Names and contact details for three referees

Closing Date: The closing date for applications is August 31, 2021. However, due to the urgency of this position, applications will be short-listed and interviewed on rolling basis, and we may offer the consultancy to before the closing date. Applications should be submitted to Lauren.montgomery@usp.org with a copy to hr-rwanda@intrahealth.org with Qualitative data collector for a rapid Training Needs Assessment (TNA) for the Rwanda Food and Drugs Authority in the subject line.

Note

• Applications that do not meet the minimum requirements listed above will not be considered.
• Please, note that no phone calls will be accepted. Should you have any question or need clarifications, kindly send your email to : montgomery@usp.org and copy Lmontgomery-rinehart@intrahealth.org