Context and Description of Work
As part of an overarching objective to improve pediatric quality-of-care (QoC), MCGL field programs have supported select countries to introduce and implement Pediatric Death Audits (PDA). Typically, these efforts have built on existing (though often also still nascent) systems for Maternal and Perinatal Death Surveillance and Response (MPDSR), which has been applied at facility, district, regional, and national levels as part of overall efforts to improve maternal and neonatal mortality in facility care.
In September 2021, MCGL collaborated with WHO AFRO to move the PDA agenda forward, and jointly organized an orientation workshop for 17 African countries (Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Africa, The Central African Republic, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe). Participants were oriented on the WHO guideline on pediatric death review, and early implementing countries shared implementation learning. The participating countries developed action plans, which vary widely in implementation status.
Within the MCGL global work plan, PDA is part of the broader activity on MPDSR and PDA. In that context, the consultant will be expected to work with the broader MCGL team, also including those working on maternal and newborn health, as directed by the Child Health Director. In this Scope, “MCGL global team” is inclusive of these other key stakeholders.
MCGL is seeking an expert consultant to flesh out the most critical MCGL activities to advance PDA, within the scope and available resources of the project, including work at both country and global levels. Key questions to be considered include:
– What is the appropriate context for PDA as part of pediatric QoC?
– Is the model of MPDSR a suitable platform on which to roll out PDA?
– When is PDA appropriate? For example, is it critical at all levels of under-five mortality rate or is it targeted to particular levels?
– Should PDA be targeted primarily at facility care? Or is community-level care (including health-promoting and preventive interventions, as well as care-seeking) also critical in PDA?
– What should be the role of verbal and/or social autopsy (VASA) in PDA?
– How can PDA be best structured to ensure that response is a critical part of the overall approach, at all levels?
– What safeguards need to be built to ensure that PDA is blame-free for key actors, while ensuring transparency and accountability, thereby driving action to improve outcomes?
– What key next steps should be undertaken by MCGL at global level, over the next 12-18 months?
– What key next steps should be undertaken by MCGL at country level, over the next 12-18 months?
Scope of work

1. Develop, submit for review, and revise-as-needed an Inception Report, including review of current and completed MCGL activities that relate to PDA, including global, regional, and country activities on pediatric quality of care and barriers/enablers of effective IMCI implementation. Include a detailed work plan and timeline for all other deliverables.
2. Organize and facilitate virtual cross-country learning activities (such as virtual meetings and workshops) on PDA with MCGL and USAID global and country teams (from Nigeria, Kenya, Zambia). Prepare a workshop report summarizing key conclusions, presentations, and participants.
3. Develop a draft MCGL discussion paper/Concept Note for PDA application, as well as an accompanying PowerPoint presentation.
4. Convene virtual meetings with stakeholders to review the draft Concept Note. Initial review should be with the MCGL and USAID global teams. Other key stakeholders include but are not limited to MCGL country teams, WHO/HQ, and WHO/AFRO. Finalize the Concept Note.
5. Develop a recommended detailed implementation plan for PDA within the overall MCGL global work plan, as well as recommendations for PDA activities to be taken up by MCGL field programs, with particular consideration given to Nigeria (already underway), Kenya, and Zambia. Submit for review and consultation with the MCGL teams, and revise as appropriate.
6. Participate in weekly check-ins with the MCGL Child Health Director and other members of the global MCGL team, as needed. Note that these might include invitations to participate in the regular weekly MCGL Child Health Team meetings and/or the monthly Extended Child Health Team meetings.
7. Working with the MCGL global child health team, organize and facilitate monthly check-ins with the USAID/Global Health Bureau Child Health Team. This will include setting the agenda and preparing a PowerPoint presentation to focus discussion.

Please click the link for more info: https://savechildrenusa.sharepoint.com/sites/DGHFiles-ChildHealth/Shared%20Documents/Forms/AllItems.aspx?RootFolder=%2Fsites%2FDGHFiles%2DChildHealth%2FShared%20Documents%2FChild%20Health%2FAdmin%2FConsultants%2FGlobal%20and%20Country%2Dlevel%20Support%20for%20Pediatric%20Death%20Audits&FolderCTID=0x012000E8EB401BC744F844936548719841C49E