I. Brief description of the project and assignment

Despite notable progress in the past decade, TB remains a public health problem in most countries in the World Health Organization (WHO) European Region. The Eastern European Region has the highest rates of drug-resistant TB (DR-TB) in the world. TB project in Eastern Europe and Central Asia (EECA) to improve people-centered quality TB care - from a new model of care to improved early detection and treatment of DR-TB (TB-REP 2.0 project), funded by the Global Fund for the fight against AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria (GF) and implements the Center for Health Policy and Research (PAS Center) as a Principal Recipient in collaboration with partners, supports EECA countries in tackling the high burden of TB and MDR-TB and in approaching services on receiving anti-tuberculosis care to patients. TB-REP 2.0 focuses on strengthening people-centered approaches to TB treatment through sustainable health systems transformation and meaningful community and civil society participation.

To strengthen the capacity of the community of people affected by TB, TB service providers from CSOs and other stakeholders, TB People network - a partner of the PAS Center - has developed an e-learning platform Teach Me TB (https: // teachmetb.net /), in order to ensure that the aforementioned persons have access to scientifically accurate information on TB that takes into account the interests and needs of the community, organize online training for volunteers and CSO activists involved in TB control. Currently, the platform hosts courses: "Basic knowledge about tuberculosis" and "Change is possible: tools of civil society and communities to respond to tuberculosis." As development progresses, other courses will appear on the platform to help develop and strengthen communities and strengthen the role of CSOs in TB control.

Entering a new era of TB research and development, stakeholder engagement is becoming more widely recognised and endorsed as a critical component of it. At the core of stakeholder engagement is the commitment to create a beneficial, respectful, sustained, and transparent partnership that addresses the interests of all stakeholders in the research project, while supporting its ethical and scientifically rigorous conduct.

In this regard, the PAS Center in consortium with the SMIT Association intends to engage a team of consultants for the development and production of a video course with the code name "Community Engagement in TB research and Development", the tasks of which are described in this Terms of Reference (TOR).

II. The purpose of the assignment

The objective of the assignment is to develop and produce an online course to help CSOs working in the field of TB control and care, as well as activists and community members, which would systematize, update and expand their knowledge related to Community Engagement in TB Research and Development and the role of the CSOs in research. Thus, better understand how they can have an impact on TB trials and studies and to advocate for stakeholder engagement more actively.

The broader objective of this course is to encourage greater attention to the interests of all stakeholders affected by TB to help establish shared standards, expectations, and accountability for effective and outcome-driven engagement throughout all phases of TB operational or clinical research.

The online course should be 20-30 minutes’ video lectures on those areas of the CE in R&D, which, according to the latest updates in the area, are most important and relevant for civil society organizations and will help potential listeners in their activities to reflect on the genuine roles of the CSOs in research. Video lectures should be accompanied by more detailed presentations in PowerPoint (PP) format, and, if necessary, additional materials (for example, short videos related to the topic of the course, examples of successful petitions, CE Learning experiences, etc.).

The number of lectures (topics) is not limited, but in general, it should be possible to study the course for potential students within 5 - 7 days, spending no more than one hour of free time per day. At the end of the course, students should have the opportunity to test their knowledge by passing a test on their own. Based on the test results, they can receive a corresponding certificate - either on participation in the course (correct answer to 75% of the test questions), or on the successful completion of the course (correct answer to 90% of the test questions).

The working language will be ENGLISH with Russian translations. Video lectures, PP presentations and templates (diagrams) of written documents (if they are to be used) must be in two languages.

III. Tasks for the consultants’ team

The team of consultants will perform the following tasks:

Team leader

• Coordinating the implementation of the initiative by systematically consulting the responsibilities assigned to each team member, in order to obtain a qualitative final product;

• Keeping in line with recent international recommendations, guidelines and international practices regarding CE in R&D;

• Organizing and participating in the adjustment of the concept and the curriculum of the course;

• Coordinating the progress of the work with the funder (and relevant partners if necessary);

• Coordinating the process of finalizing and submitting the product.

• Organize and conduct a video recording of the course in accordance with the technical requirements for materials offered for placement on the Teach Me TB platform.

· Place the developed PP presentations on templates used by the Teach Me TB platform.

· Develop an annotation of the course for placement on the main page of the Teach Me TB platform, no more than 1000 characters without spaces, and provide the necessary, in his opinion, information about the author (s) of the course, which will be posted there.

· Develop a short guide for students of the course "How to use the course", no more than 1500 characters without spaces.

Consultant – expert CE in R&D

· Develop the concept note and curriculum of the course and consult it within the team and the funder;

· Develop the content of the topics included in the course and prepare lectures texts for the corresponding PP presentation;

· Coordinate and consult the progress made with the team.

· Develop, together with the team, questions for students to independently conduct the final test required to obtain a certificate of completion of the course.

· Select, if necessary, illustrative (reference) materials for use during the lecture, inclusion in the PP presentation or providing listeners as additional sources of information.

Consultant – practitioner/researcher in the field of TB Clinical and Operational Research

· Ensure the content of the course is in line with international practices of R&D in the field of TB;

· Prepare specific materials on the interaction between research team, trial participants and communities/CSOs to create a beneficial, respectful, sustained, and transparent partnership that addresses the interests of all stakeholders in the research project;

· Develop the content of the topics included in the course and prepare lectures texts for the corresponding PP presentation;

· Develop, together with the team, questions for students to independently conduct the final test required to obtain a certificate of completion of the course.

IV. Qualification requirements for the consultants’ team

The team are welcome to apply by indicating the team leader in the cover letter.

Qualification requirements for Team leader

General work experience (30 points):

  • University degree in public health, social science or other relevant field;

  • Desirable experience in community/civil society involvement in TB control;

Compliance for the task (50 points):

  • Knowledge of the problems of TB, Research and Community Engagement;

  • Knowledge of the challenges faced by civil society organizations to engage in Research;

  • Experience in the preparation of relevant materials addressed to various groups of population;

  • Experience of participation in CE activities (as a facilitator / trainer / lecturer for TB activists);

Required knowledge and skills (20 points):

Qualification requirements for Consultant – expert CE in R&D

General work experience (30 points):

  • Master level degree in public health, social science or other relevant field;

  • Knowledge of the problems of TB, Research and Community Engagement;

  • Knowledge of the challenges faced by civil society organizations to engage in Research;

  • At least 5 years of relevant professional experience;

Compliance for the task (50 points):

  • Proven understanding of the Good Participatory Practice Guidelines in the field of TB research and development;

  • Knowledge of major global and regional policy documents to meet the logic and need of the community engagement in research and development;

  • Demonstrated experience in collaboration with TB research institutes and sites, NTPs, civil society and affected TB communities;

  • Desirable experience in community/civil society involvement in TB control;

  • Experience in the development and production of relevant materials/lectures or courses addressed to various groups of population;

Required knowledge and skills (20 points):

  • Excellent writing and communication skills;

  • Knowledge of languages: English (native or fluent with proven work experience).

Qualification requirements for Consultant – practitioner/researcher in the field of TB Clinical and Operational Research

General work experience (30 points):

  • University degree in medicine/pharmacy, public health, public policy or other relevant field;

  • Knowledge of the TB Research development pipeline;

  • Minimum 5 years of progressive professional experience in the area of TB clinical/operational studies or other relevant initiatives in TB R&D;

Compliance for the task (50 points):

  • Knowledge of international ethical standards for conducting clinical and operational studies

  • Demonstrated experience in collaboration with civil society and affected TB communities;

  • Proven understanding of the Good Participatory Practice Guidelines in the field of TB research and development;

  • Experience in the development and production of relevant materials/lectures or courses addressed to various groups of population.

Required knowledge and skills (20 points):

  • Excellent writing and communication skills;

  • Knowledge of languages: English (native or fluent with proven work experience).

V. Period of the assignment

The consulting will be carried out within 4 months starting from the date of signing the contract, including one month for the preparation of the concept note.

VI. Expected results

The consultant group will be required to provide the following materials:

  • Concept note presenting the consultant's vision of the future course: a list of video lecture topics with a summary (synopsis) of the content of each. The note should also explain how the lectures will be recorded (for example, in the studio, in the office, using video equipment or only a computer video camera, with the inclusion / demonstration of illustrative video and other materials, etc.), indicate the approximate duration of each lectures and the entire course and explain the methodology for its study by potential listeners. The total volume of the note is no more than 6 thousand characters without spaces, font size 12 p.

  • Texts of lectures, planned for recording, in Word format, font size 12 p. At the end of the text of each lecture should be given links to those materials that the consultant will use or intend to recommend as additional sources of information for the audience.

  • The text of the short guide for students "How to use the course", no more than 1500 characters without spaces.

  • An annotation of the course for placement on the main page of the Teach Me TB platform, no more than 1000 characters without spaces, and information about the author (s) of the course, which will be posted there.

  • Video recording of all lectures of the course.

  • Slide presentations accompanying video lectures, placed on templates used by the Teach Me TB platform.

VII. Reporting requirements

The consultant group will work under the direction and supervision of the PAS Center and the SMIT Program Coordinators and will be required to provide the results of his work within the specified time frame.

All submissions will be reviewed and approved by the PAS Center and the SMIT in the following order:

  • Concept note (preparation and submission deadline - no later than 1 month from the date of signing the contract) - within 5 working days from the date of its receipt by the program coordinator of the PAS Center and the SMIT.

  • Texts of lectures, guidelines for using the course and its annotations (preparation and submission period - no later than 1 month from the date of approval of the conceptual application) - within 7 working days from the date of their receipt by the PAS Center and the SMIT program coordinators.

  • A trial video recording of one of the lectures of the course and the corresponding RR presentation (preparation and submission period - no later than 1 month from the date of approval of the lecture texts) - within 5 working days from the date of their receipt by the program coordinators of the PAS Center and the SMIT.

  • Video recording of all lectures of the course and the corresponding RR presentations (preparation and submission period - no later than 4 months from the date of signing the contract) - within 10 working days from the date of their receipt by the program coordinator of the PAS Center and the SMIT.

This vacancy is archived.

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