Consultancy, Develop a Comprehensive linkages and referral framework for adolescent and young people in Namibia

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Application deadline 1 year ago: Monday 11 Jul 2022 at 21:55 UTC

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UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, health

Purpose of Assignment:

In Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA), 62% of the population is less than 24 years and an estimated 26% of new HIV infections occur among adolescent girls and young women (AGYW), aged 15-24 years. HIV prevalence rates among young women are also more than twice as high compared to young men. This disproportionality is reflected in Namibia, with AGYW affected with higher HIV incidence rate (0.99 percent) than same-aged young men (0.03 percent) due to factors such as social isolation, economic disadvantage, discriminatory cultural norms, orphanhood, violence, and high school drop-out rates. The risk of HIV transmission is further compounded by high sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), with young women who have experienced sexual violence or abuse to be around 50%, in Namibia.

There is an urgent need to scale-up interventions that work across sectors to address the structural drivers and social determinants that increase the risk of HIV acquisition amongst AGYW and drive other vulnerabilities. Referral and linkage systems are key components of improved service demand and accessibility to a comprehensive package of interventions that cut across sectors to address multiple factors that directly and indirectly increase HIV risk.

To enhance the quality and efficiency of AGYW programming, the Global Fund has operationalized an Adolescent Girls and Young Women Strategic Initiative (AGYW-SI). As a trusted leader in adolescent and HIV policy, data and programming, UNICEF is working with the Global Fund to provide technical assistance (TA) and strengthen Global Fund AGYW grant implementation in priority countries. The requirement for TA in the area of strengthening linkages and referrals of interventions across sectors, including SGBV for AGYW has been identified.

It is against this background that UNICEF is looking for a technical consultant to provide TA to the Global Fund AGYW Principal Recipient (PR) and Sub Recipients (SRs) to support the strengthening identification, and linkages and referrals across services for a multi-sectoral comprehensive package for AYP, in particular AGYW.

How can you make a difference?

Scope of Work: Purpose: The purpose of this assignment is to support the principal and sub-recipients of the Global Fund in developing a comprehensive linkages and referral framework across services for AYP with a focus on AGYW.

Objectives: • Map out services and interventions for AYP across different programme and government sectors and development partners with a focus on AGYW and their sub-populations and the various entry points (schools, community, health facilities etc.) • Review the current linkage and referral systems at the district-level, including consultations to capture the experience of implementation and effectiveness, and with broader consultation to understand differences in implementation and outcomes in districts that do not currently have systems in place • Provide recommendations on strengthening the current linkage and referral system and it’s implementation. • Provide recommendations for the national scale-up of the linkage and referral systems across different sectors for the PRs to take forward • Develop a national framework • Learn from the implementation process and share lessons for regional learning

Activities and Tasks: The consultant’s work will include the following:

• Attend an inception meeting with PRs/SRs and key national partners including MOHSS, MOE, TWGand to be present during the Stakeholder meeting • Develop an Inception Report outlining the proposed methodology, workplan and tools and presented to country partners. • Undertake a desk review of the latest literature, policy and evidence on linkage and referrals for AYP in Namibia and the region • Liaising with key implementers to map current services and interventions for AYP/AGYW across different sectors • Review the current systems, referral pathways, linkages between services and interventions, including associated programme implementation, outcome data and AYP retention and tracking processes within and between services and interventions • Undertake consultations/key informant interviews through existing platforms of engagement to understand experiences of the linkages and referrals, including bottlenecks, challenges and lessons learned with regards to effectiveness and outcomes in those districts currently using a system compared to districts that are not • Provide draft recommendation on strengthening the linkage and referral system, implementation, and draft framework, including for HIV, SGBV, SRH and broader layered interventions • Develop and deliver a PowerPoint presentation (PPT), summarizing and circulating key findings and draft recommendations for feedback and validation from partners, including national-level stakeholders • Based on validation meeting inputs, develop a final national linkage and referral framework, including recommendations for national scale-up • Develop a final report with key lessons of TA support from the development through to sign off process, to share for regional learning.

Work Assignment Overview

Tasks/Milestone:

Deliverables/Outputs

Timeline

Number of working days

Attend an inception meeting with PRs/SRs and key national partners including MOHSS, MOE, TWGand to be present during the Stakeholder meeting.

  1. Summary minutes of inception meeting with stakeholders (PRs/SRs and key national partners including MoHSS, MoEAC and TWG.

04 August 2022

1

Develop an inception report with detailed work plan of activities with projected timelines required for the assignment including tools assessment instruments for group discussions and individual interviews.

2. Inception report for presentation to stakeholders through TWG detailing the proposed methodology for meeting deliverables of this consultancy, including workplan and relevant data gathering and reporting tools e.g., interview/ consultation guide and list of key stakeholders to be interview.

16 August 2022

6

- Undertake a desk review of the latest literature, policy and evidence on linkage and referrals for AYP in Namibia and the region

- Liaising with key implementers to map current services and interventions for AYP/AGYW across different sectors

- Review the current systems, referral pathways, and linkages between services and interventions, including associated programme implementation, outcome data and AYP retention and tracking processes within and between services and interventions

- Undertake consultations/key informant interviews through existing platforms of engagement to understand experiences of the linkages and referrals, including bottlenecks, challenges and lessons learned with regards to effectiveness and outcomes in those districts currently using a system compared to districts that are not

- Provide draft recommendation on strengthening the linkage and referral system, implementation, and draft framework, including for HIV, SGBV, SRH and broader layered interventions

3. Draft report and national linkage and referral framework with accompanying PowerPoint (PPT) for a presentation that includes the following for commenting and validation -

    1. Updated mapping of services and interventions for AYP/AGYW across sectors
    2. Outcomes of desk review and consultations that capture the experience and delivery of current linkages and referral systems, including, challenges, lessons learned,
    3. Recommendations to strengthen the effectiveness and scale-up of linkage and referrals

31 October 2022

40

- Develop and deliver a PowerPoint presentation (PPT), summarizing and circulating key findings and draft recommendations for feedback and validation from partners, including national-level stakeholders.

4. Conduct a validation meeting with key stakeholders and partners

11 November 2022

3

Based on validation meeting inputs, develop a final national linkage and referral framework, including recommendations for national scale-up.

5. Final national linkage and referral framework based on inputs from the stakeholder validation meeting

25 November 2022

7

Develop a final report with key lessons of TA support from the development through to sign off process, to sharing for regional learning.

5. Final report and updated PPT with recommendations for improvements, including a way forward for national scale-up from validation meeting with comments incorporated and approved

15 December 2022

10

Develop a learning report with the TA process, outcomes, recommendations, and lessons learned for the country and regional dissemination.

6. Learning report from the implementation process for regional dissemination.

20 December 2022

3

Total Number of Days

70

Payment schedule

The performance will be evaluated on timeliness, alignment with TORs, and quality of work. Payment will be made upon satisfactory completion of all deliverables as per schedule below.

  • Inception report outlining the proposed methodology and data gathering tools to meet deliverables
  • 20%

  • Final linkages and referral framework

  • 30%

  • Learning report detailing the technical assistance implementation process at country level for regional learning

    • 50%

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

  • Education: Advanced university degree in public health, pediatric/adolescent health, social sciences, epidemiology, or related field
  • Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required:

    Work experience: At least 8 years of professional experience at national and international levels, including field experience and expertise in adolescent programming or related field in Eastern and Southern Africa, is desirable - A set of strong analytical skills and a good understanding of translating research into policy and programmatic implementation will be an added advantage - Technical field experience with data collection and pathway analytics would be an asset - Demonstrated ability to work in a multicultural environment and establish harmonious and effective relationships, including with national-level stakeholders - Must exhibit the UNICEF Core Values of: 1. Care 2. Respect 3. Integrity 4. Trust 5. Accountability - Language: Excellent English oral and written communication skills. - Knowledge of local language(s) is an asset

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA).

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

How to apply Qualified and interested candidates can access UNICEF’s vacancies page at https://jobs.unicef.org/cw/en-us/job/545557?lApplicationSubSourceID= or Vacancies | UNICEF Careers to submit an online application before the closing date.

Please submit expression of interest together with: Qualified candidates are requested to send their CVs, letter of interest clearly indicating how their qualifications and experience match the requirements, a technical proposal that demonstrates understanding of the ToRs and overall approach to undertake the work, and a detailed financial proposal. The financial proposal must be all-inclusive. UNICEF will not cover any cost not included in the financial proposal (other than the cost of meetings with partners or as already stipulated under ‘Terms and Conditions’). Kindly attach samples of relevant previous work.

Please note that applications without either a technical proposal or a financial proposal will NOT be considered.

Evaluation Weighting 70% - Technical 30% - Financial

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

Remarks:

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws.

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. The candidate may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid).

Added 1 year ago - Updated 1 year ago - Source: unicef.org