Consultant Medical & Health Programme & Policy

Contract

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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!

www.unicef.org/health

How can you make a difference?

UNICEF has an important role in cholera prevention, preparedness, and control as a core member of the Global Task Force on Cholera Control (GTFCC) and co-lead for multi-sectoral cholera platforms in West and Central Africa, East and Southern Africa and Middle East and North Africa regions. The organization has internal resources, namely the Cholera Toolkit and a global cross sectoral task team, both of which have been instrumental in providing leadership and promoting an integrated approach to cholera prevention, preparedness, and response.

The rationale for this consultancy is therefore, the dedicated time needed to complete this review in a relatively short period, the cross sectoral experience and the additional skills in programme review.

Goal and objective

Under the supervision of the Regional Health Emergencies Specialist (ESARO), the consultant will conduct an in-depth review of the implementation of the ESA cholera strategic framework, related procedures and make appropriate recommendations and update the related guidance to enhance readiness and response to current and future cholera outbreaks in line with findings and recent regional and global developments.

Activities and Tasks

1. Develop inception report and workplan

   • Develop relevant protocols, questionnaires, analysis framework and list relevant data sources
   • Conduct desk review and primary data collection
   • Collect, review, and analyse data from country offices and ESARO

2. Conduct a stock take of the implementation of the ESA cholera strategic framework at regional and country levels

3. Review cholera related emergency procedures and response, and develop recommendations to address emerging findings

   • Review cholera related emergency procedures, in line with the global standard benchmark for timeliness of response (ESARO SoPs, GTFCC guidance etc), regional needs, and findings from country response to cholera outbreaks between 2018 and 2023
   • Assess effectiveness of country office response with focus on effectiveness, appropriateness, and timeliness of intervention packages
   • Develop recommendations to enhance readiness and response to current and future cholera outbreaks in line with global practice and guidance.
   • Rank the recommendations, indicating the top 3 most important actions the RO should do differently in support to the CO before, during and after cholera outbreaks.

4. Other public health emergencies: Assess awareness and follow up of recommendations from evaluation of other public health emergency responses among ESARO and CO staff.

Work relationships

The management of the contract will be led by the ESARO Health section, together with WASH and SBC, and close collaboration with HARP, PHE HQ and EMOPS. The Health Specialist (Emergencies) will be the direct supervisor.

Outputs/Deliverables

Deliverables

Duration (Estimated # of days or months)

Schedule of payment (Percent of payment)

Inception report and workplan, including protocols, questionnaires, and analysis framework, including list of relevant data sources

4 days

8 September 2023 (10%)

Conduct inception meeting with regional office

1 day

8 September 2023 (0%)

Review of relevant documents and analysis

18 days

24 September 2023 (10%)

Remote data collection and analysis with country offices

38 days

20 November 2023 (20%)

Progress report, 5 pages maximum, in English, to be submitted electronically

Monthly progress reports are part of the different deliverables

Every mid-month

(September 2023 -

January 2024) (0%)

Conduct a stock take of the implementation of the ESA cholera strategic framework at regional and country levels

15 days

15 December 2023 (20%)

Review cholera related emergency procedures in line with the global standard benchmark for timeliness of response, regional needs, and findings from country response to cholera outbreaks between 2018 and 2023

15 days

30 December 2023 (20%)

Develop recommendations and update the related guidance to enhance readiness and response to current and future cholera outbreaks in line with findings and recent regional and global developments.

5 days

10 January 2024

(0%)

Final report and power point (50 pages maximum, in English)

15 days

30 January 2024 (20%)

Payment Schedule

The payment schedule is included in the table and will be made on the satisfactory completion of outlined tasks/activities (deliverables).

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

Education:

Advanced university degree in Public Health (MSc or PhD) or Masters in Health Sciences or a university degree in Engineering with advanced training in public health

Specialized skills:

• Strong experience in disease prevention and control in Africa, with specific expertise in cholera outbreak preparedness and response.
• Strong analytical skills and ability to clearly synthesize and present findings, draw practical conclusions, make recommendations, and prepare well-written reports.
• Strong knowledge of the health and WASH sectors, with direct knowledge of field programmes.

Experience: At least 8 (eight) years of progressively responsible professional work experience at country, regional and international levels in public health emergency preparedness, readiness and response including support to countries.

Languages: Fluency in written and spoken English. Knowledge of another UN language used in the ESA Region (French or Portuguese) is an asset.

Competencies that the consultant should have for the assignment.

• Drive to achieve results for impact (II)
• Works collaboratively with others (II)
• Thinks and acts strategically (II)

For every Child, you demonstrate…

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

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

Administrative issues

• As the consultancy will be remote based, it is important that the candidate is available between 10 am to 4 pm Nairobi time. Progress meetings will be conducted monthly, following the inception report, based on a pre-agreed schedule.
• No travel is anticipated on this consultancy.
• Should any travel be required, it will be by most economical fare and reimbursement will be as per UNICEF policy. In that case, the selected candidate should confirm fully vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine prior to travel. The selected candidate will be solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance are valid for the entire period of the contract.

Conditions

• As the consultancy is remote, neither office space nor equipment will be provided. The consultant is expected to use their own equipment.
• Official travel is by most economical fare and reimbursement as per UNICEF policy.
• As per UNICEF DFAM policy, payment made against approved deliverables. No advance payment is allowed unless in exceptional circumstances against bank guarantee, subject to a maximum of 30 per cent of the total contract value in cases where advances purchases, for example for supplies or travel, may be necessary.
• 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 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.

How to apply

Qualified candidates are requested to submit a cover letter, CV or P11 form and their expression of interest/ financial proposal to the online recruitment portal (Talent Management System).

Interested candidates to indicate their ability, availability, and rate (daily/monthly) expressed in US$ for international or KES for national consultancy or individual contract to undertake the terms of reference. The fees should be inclusive of other costs incurred such as travel or subsistence allowances for international consultants who will be based in Nairobi.

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UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment.

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. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.

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1 9 countries reported 10,440 cholera cases with 60 deaths (CFR 0.57%) in 2021 (WER 2022)

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Added 10 months ago - Updated 10 months ago - Source: unicef.org