Senegal: Consultant, Focus Group Discussion Facilitator

Background and Purpose:

Palladium is a global leader in the design, development and delivery of Positive Impact - the intentional creation of enduring social and economic value. We work with foundations, investors, governments, corporations, communities and civil society to formulate strategies and implement solutions that generate lasting social, environmental and financial benefits.

For the past 50 years, we have been making Positive Impact possible. With a team of more than 2,500 employees operating in 90 plus countries and a global network of more than 35,000 technical experts, Palladium has improved - and is committed to continuing to improve - economies, societies and most importantly, people's lives.

Palladium is seeking a facilitator to lead a series of 8 focus group discussions (FGDs) in 4 districts. Participants in these FGDs will be community workers who are contributing to infectious disease reporting (CVACs.) The facilitator will lead the FGDs by soliciting verbal responses from participants to a series of pre-formed questions the responses to which will be recorded and entered in a log.

Palladium is a child-safe organization, and screens applicants for suitability to work with children. We also provide equal employment to all participants and employees without regard to race, colour, religion, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, veteran or marital status.

Project overview and objective of the consultancy

With USAID funding, MEASURE Evaluation is assisting the Senegalese Government to establish Community Based Surveillance of infectious diseases, including those of zoonotic origin. This project involves training community health workers called CVAC, to identify and report suspected cases of twelve infectious diseases through application of standard community case definitions. The CVACs are volunteers and influential members designated by their community to support key initiatives like maternal and child health, access to universal health care, and surveillance. Given the multiple roles played by the CVAC, MEASURE Evaluation would like to assess the key factors that can contribute to the motivation of the CVACs to ensure sustainability of CBS.

The purpose of this consultancy is to facilitate a series of 8 FGDs in 4 districts of Senegal. The key objectives are:

1. To explore what motivates and what demotivates community health volunteers in their general roles and specifically in providing alerts as part of Community Based Surveillance (CBS).

2. To provide recommendations for ways to reinforce CVAC motivation in their role in surveillance.

Tasks

1. The consultant will familiarize him/herself with the MEASURE Evaluation community surveillance project
2. Review and revise draft FGD questions as necessary
3. Facilitate 8 district-level FGDs
4. Review transcripts and transcriptions
5. Prepare FGD summaries
6. Conduct any other task related to this FGD as requested by the supervisor

Required Profile and qualifications

The Consultant should meet the following requirements:

1. University degree in public health or similar.
2. Familiarity with current communicable surveillance activity in Senegal
3. Experience in leading FGDs
4. Experience in working with local communities
5. Excellent inter-personal communication skills in French, Wolof and other local languages.
6. Ability to travel in Senegal
7. Good written skills in French
8. Ability to communicate in English is an advantage >

Qualified candidates should send CV and motivation letter to judith.tsague@thepalladiumgroup.com and joseph.sarr@thepalladiumgroup.com by August 15th.