The American Red Cross (ARC) Haiti Delegation is seeking a Lead Training Manual and Curriculum Development Contractor to work in close collaboration with a national Training Contractor, ARC, Haitian Red Cross (HRC), Population Services International (PSI) and other consortium partners of the USAID-funded PrevSIDA (HIV/AIDS prevention) project.
The Contractor will take the lead in the development of a comprehensive HIV/AIDS trainer’s manual and curriculum, a community based volunteer (CBV) manual, and a volunteer tool kit of communication materials for the PrevSIDA HIV prevention program implemented in twelve sites of Haiti. The final products will be submitted in English but translated into Haitian Creole so must be culturally relevant to the population we are serving – disaffected, high risk Haitian youth between the ages of 15 and 24.
Background:
In partnership with the Haitian RC, ARC has joined a PSI-led consortium aimed at preventing the sexual transmission of HIV/AIDS in Haiti. The four year, $5,855,929 PrevSIDA project aims to reduce the incidence of HIV among most at risk populations and in settings characterized by high risk behavior. The project, which started January 2011 and ends February 28, 2015, will reach 263,411 individuals from high risk youth and adult populations with HIV prevention interventions.
PrevSIDA has grown out of the USAID-funded youth-focused Together We Can HIV prevention peer education program that began in 2004 in seven sites throughout Haiti. Sites were selected based on assessed need and HAITIAN RC branch strength. The program later expanded into two sites chosen on the basis of high prevalence (Anse-a-Veau in the Nippes at 3%) and being underserved by other organizations (Port de Paix in the North West). In addition to the nine sites of Cité Soleil, Petit-Goave, Pétion-Ville, Anse-à-Pitres, Cap Haitien, Fort Liberté, Ouanaminthe, Anse-a-Veau, and Port de Paix, three new branches are in the process of being established this year (Tabarre, Carrefour, and Gonaives).
The project activities address most-at risk-youth and young adult populations and those in settings characterized by high risk behavior. Project activities will reach certain at-risk populations that include young mothers, transport workers, informal sex workers, clients of sex workers, and female market workers. Project activities have also reached camp dwellers to increase awareness around HIV, particularly sexual transmission and the heightened risk through unprotected sex and multiple concurrent partners.
Project goal and objectives: The overall goal of the PrevSIDA project is to reduce the incidence of HIV among most-at-risk populations (MARPS) and in settings characterized by high risk behaviors in Haiti. It intends to address the gaps and needs of MARPs through the following objectives: • To identify populations and settings with high-risk sexual behavior and to identify the dynamics of the behavior. • To improve HIV/AIDS related knowledge, attitudes, skills and behaviors of MARPs and in settings characterized by high risk behavior through interpersonal communication-based outreach and community wide events. • To educate and mobilize communities to adopt responsible social norms, attitudes, and values that reduces vulnerability to HIV sexual transmission. • To provide leadership and technical support to USG partners and Haitian institutions involved in evidenced-based behavior change interventions. • To strategically link communication and education interventions for sexual prevention of HIV with other health related services and commodities, including targeted condom promotion and availability, as well as livelihoods initiatives for most-at-risk populations and those in settings characterized by high risk behaviors.
The program draws on internal expertise generated through six recent years of HIV prevention experience in Haiti, and has conducted community assessments to identify populations and settings with high-risk sexual behavior and to identify the dynamics of the behavior. With these data, ARC/HRC employed evidence-based approaches that are rigorously monitored and evaluated. The project focuses on HIV prevention among groups deemed to be most at risk for HIV, including youth and adults in settings characterized by high risk behaviors. While the targeted groups have distinct characteristics that call for unique interventions, the interventions can share common approaches and tools that can be adapted to reach different target groups or the same target groups in different settings. Community needs assessment in branches have determined the risk factors and social drivers of high risk sex such as multiple partners (sometimes concurrent), inconsistent condom use, transactional sex, age-mixing, and substance abuse which are common among youth in these communities. Complicating matters is the January 2010 earthquake, one of the worst natural disasters in recent history. Approximately three million Haitians were affected, with more than 222,570 fatalities, over 300,500 injured and a staggering 1.3 million people displaced . This radically impacted how HIV prevention programming moves forward in the three branches that were directly physically hit. For example, specially adapted interventions were required to meet the needs of camp dwellers.
Over the next few years, the ARC/HRC will continue to be a key partner in the reduction of HIV incidence in Haiti. Purpose: The Contractor will lead the development and strengthening of a comprehensive HIV prevention trainer’s manual with curriculum, community based volunteer (CBV) manual, and peer educational tool kit in the context of high risk youth from 15-24. The focus of the materials is on: 1) Improving Haitian Red Cross staff, volunteer, and Most-at-Risk Population (MARP) knowledge of the transmission, prevention, testing, and treatment of HIV/AIDS in Haiti.
2) Improving Haitian Red Cross staff, volunteer, and MARP understanding of supplemental relevant topics such as gender based violence, female empowerment, sexual negotiation, transactional sex, anti-stigmatization, communicating with trusted adults of MARPS, and reaching 10-14 year olds.
3) Improving the capacity of volunteers to use the peer education methodology and behavior change and communication strategy in the context of the high risk youth population. Key Deliverables: Activity 1. Meet with PrevSIDA team and National Training Contractor to discuss needs for the training curriculum/manuals and tool kit, and review findings from our Barrier Analysis on condom usage.
2. PrevSIDA materials review and literature search and review of other existing training materials.
3. Develop (with input from National Training Contractor and PrevSIDA team) and submit revised draft of trainer’s manual, CBV manual, and tool kit.
4. Work with National Training Contractor to design a 5-day training of FMs to pre-test/demonstrate use of revised trainer’s manual.
5. Work with National Training Contractor to design a 5-day training by FMs to pre-test CBV manual and tool kit, including field practice with local community.
6. Conduct workshop with National Training Contractor and PrevSIDA team to make final revisions.
7. Submission of final revised trainer’s manual, CBV manual, and tool kit. Total expected work days: 30
2. PrevSIDA materials review and literature search and review of other existing training materials.
3. Develop (with input from National Training Contractor and PrevSIDA team) and submit revised draft of trainer’s manual, CBV manual, and tool kit.
4. Work with National Training Contractor to design a 5-day training of FMs to pre-test/demonstrate use of revised trainer’s manual.
5. Work with National Training Contractor to design a 5-day training by FMs to pre-test CBV manual and tool kit, including field practice with local community.
6. Conduct workshop with National Training Contractor and PrevSIDA team to make final revisions.
7. Submission of final revised trainer’s manual, CBV manual, and tool kit. Total expected work days: 30
Key deliverables: Deliverables 1. Revised DRAFT of trainer’s manual, CBV manual, and CBV tool kit TBD 2. Design five day training of FMs and RCs using the new trainer’s manual with the National Training Contractor Allow time to translate training into Creole 3. Design five day training of CBVs using the new CBV manual and toolkit, including field practice with the National Training Contractor Allow time to translate training into Creole 4. FINAL trainer’s manual, CBV manual, and CBV tool kit approved by PrevSIDA team in English
Expected Duration: The duration of the Consultancy is estimated to be a total of 30 work days to be completed by July 31, 2013. Required qualifications: The successful candidate should have the following skills, experience, and qualifications: • At least 7 years of experience working on curriculum and training manual development • Masters or graduate degree in public health, community development, or related subject • Demonstrated professional experience with training, community-based behavior change, and communication skills • Demonstrated professional experience with HIV/AIDS required; strong preference for HIV/AIDs experience among high risk youth groups • Fluency in English is required; knowledge of French and Creole preferred • Professional work experience in Haiti preferred
Reporting: The Contractor will work under the supervision of the HIV Program Delegate at the ARC – Haiti Delegation in Port au Prince, and in coordination with relevant ARC, HRC, and PSI PrevSIDA staff.
Payment schedule: The Contractor will be paid for the number of days worked, based on the agreed upon daily rate, upon the written approval of all deliverables by the ARC HIV Program Delegate and the submission of a timesheet and invoice.
Payment schedule: The Contractor will be paid for the number of days worked, based on the agreed upon daily rate, upon the written approval of all deliverables by the ARC HIV Program Delegate and the submission of a timesheet and invoice.
How to apply:
Interested candidates should send their applications to prevsidaconsultant@gmail.com . Please put the following in the subject line: Lead Contractor for Training Manual and Curriculum Development
