TERMS OF REFERENCE
Consultancy for the Integration of Antenatal Care and Multiple Micronutrient Supplementation into Pre-Service Training Curricula for Nurses and Midwives in Rwanda
1. Background
NOURISH (Nurture the ecosystem, Optimise the market, Unlock financing, Reinforce ANC platforms, Integrate and Scale MMS and Calcium for Healthy Future) was launched in Rwanda in February 2026. The initiative aims to strengthen the antenatal care (ANC) system and scale access to multiple micronutrient supplementation (MMS) for pregnant women across the country. This supports the Government of Rwanda's efforts to transition from iron and folic acid supplementation (IFAS) to MMS nationwide and reaffirms the collective commitment that MMS can be delivered at scale through Rwanda's ANC platforms.
In Rwanda, nearly one in four pregnant women suffers from anaemia and 2.7% of newborns are born with low birthweight, underscoring the urgent need for effective maternal nutrition interventions. Research shows that MMS — a daily supplement containing 15 essential vitamins and minerals — is at least as effective as IFAS in preventing maternal anaemia and more effective in improving birth outcomes, including reducing low birthweight and preterm births. NOURISH builds on Rwanda's strong foundation in maternal health and nutrition, emphasising long-term sustainability by strengthening workforce capacity, supply chains, quality assurance, health information systems, and governance and coordination mechanisms across institutions.
A critical enabler of this long-term sustainability is the integration of ANC and MMS content into the pre-service training curricula for nurses and midwives. Through NOURISH, Sight and Life aims to move beyond short-term interventions and embed the knowledge and skills needed to deliver quality ANC — including MMS supplementation — directly into the professional formation of Rwanda's health workforce, ensuring that every pregnant woman can access the nutrition she needs for a healthy pregnancy and a healthy future.
2. Objectives
The overall aim of this assignment is the inclusion of ANC and MMS modules in the pre-service curriculum of nurses and midwives, as a mechanism for sustainable capacity building and long-term strengthening of maternal nutrition services.
The specific objectives are:
- To map academic curricula and training programmes for nurses and midwives and identify related capacity-building activities.
- To develop a strategy for the revision of relevant curricula and initiate the formal revision process.
3. Scope of Work
3.1 Key Tasks
The consultant will be responsible for the following:
- Conduct a landscaping and assessment of current pre-service curricula for nurses and midwives in Rwanda.
- Map other relevant activities related to ANC and health workforce capacity building to identify entry points and complementary activities (e.g. Ministry of Health, 4x4 initiative, NCDA).
- Facilitate engagement with universities and relevant stakeholders to advocate for the revision of ANC and MMS-related modules.
- Identify the procedural and regulatory steps required to formally revise and update the existing modules.
- Facilitate meetings and workshops for sensitisation, advocacy, and validation of activities and module content.
3.2 Methodology
The consultant will employ a mixed set of approaches appropriate to each stage of the assignment:
- Desk review and key informant interviews to map the current landscape of pre-service nursing and midwifery curricula.
- Meetings and consultations with key stakeholders (Ministry of Health, universities, NCDA, development partners) for advocacy and to build consensus around the need for curriculum revision.
- Facilitation of validation workshops to review, refine, and formally endorse proposed module content with relevant academic and regulatory bodies.
- Any additional activities identified as necessary in the course of the assignment to meet the stated objectives.
4. Deliverables and Expected Outputs
The consultant will be expected to produce the following outputs. All deliverables shall be submitted in English and approved by the Programme Manager before being considered final:
- Mapping and Landscaping Report: A comprehensive assessment of the current pre-service education system for nurses and midwives, including an inventory of ongoing and planned capacity-building activities related to ANC and maternal nutrition.
- Stakeholder Engagement Record: Documented minutes, attendance lists, and summaries of all meetings, workshops, and advocacy sessions conducted during the assignment.
- Activity and Progress Report: A consolidated report summarising all activities carried out throughout the assignment, key findings, challenges encountered, and recommendations for next steps.
5. Duration and Timeline
The assignment is estimated at approximately two (2) days per week and shall run from April 2026 to July 2026, for an estimated total of approximately 24 working days. The exact number of working days shall be confirmed and mutually agreed upon before contract signature.
The indicative timeline is as follows:
Phase 1 — Inception and Landscaping (April 2026)
- Review of existing pre-service curricula and relevant policy documents
- Conduct key informant interviews with key stakeholders
- Submission of Mapping and Landscaping Report
Phase 2 — Stakeholder Engagement and Advocacy (May–June 2026)
- Facilitation of stakeholder consultations and advocacy meetings
- Identification of procedural and regulatory steps for curriculum revision
- Documentation of stakeholder engagement activities
Phase 3 — Validation and Reporting (July 2026)
- Facilitation of validation workshop(s) with academic and regulatory bodies
- Submission of final Activity and Progress Report
- Handover of all documentation and records to Sight and Life
Within seven (7) calendar days of contract signature, the consultant shall submit a detailed work plan specifying the schedule of activities, key milestones, and planned deliverable submission dates for approval by the Programme Manager.
6. Reporting and Supervision
The consultant shall report directly to the Africa Director and the Programme Manager of Sight and Life. Regular progress updates shall be shared on a bi-weekly basis, or at a frequency mutually agreed upon at the start of the assignment. All deliverables shall be submitted to the Programme Manager for review and written approval before being considered final.
7. Qualifications and Experience
The ideal candidate will possess the following:
- Advanced degree in public health, nutrition, education, or a related field
- Demonstrated experience in health workforce development, curriculum design, or pre-service training in a low- or middle-income country context
- Strong knowledge of maternal and newborn health, antenatal care, and/or nutrition programming in Rwanda or the East African region
- Proven experience engaging with government institutions, academic bodies, and regulatory authorities
- Excellent facilitation, communication, and report-writing skills in English
- Familiarity with Rwanda’s health system and Ministry of Health structures is an asset
8. Application Process
Interested candidates are invited to submit the following documents to Sight and Life:
- An updated curriculum vitae (CV)
- A brief technical proposal (no more than two pages) outlining the proposed approach and methodology
- A financial proposal indicating the daily consultancy rate
- Contact details of two professional references.
9. Application Instruction
Qualified bidders are requested to submit their applications to SAL_Rwanda@sightandlife.org with the subject line: Consultancy for the Integration of Antenatal Care and Multiple Micronutrient Supplementation into Pre-Service Training Curricula for Nurses and Midwives in Rwanda not later than April 24th at 6.00 PM Kigali time.
Please note that only short-listed bidders will be contacted. SAL Rwanda is an equal opportunity employer. All applications will be treated according to the merit of the candidate and with strict confidentiality.
Sight and Life reserves the right to accept or reject any application and is not bound to provide reasons for its decision.