Consultancy, Revision of the National Standards for Adolescent Friendly Health Services, Windhoek, Namibia

Consultant Medical & Health Programme & Policy

Contract

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For every child, Health

Purpose of Assignment:

Addressing the health challenges of adolescents requires an integrated approach with various sectors, including health. Within the health sector, a key strategy is the provision of adolescent health services. The Adolescent Friendly Health Services Approach was adopted in Namibia in 2000 and then piloted in six health districts in 2002/03.

In 2011, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended the development and implementation of the National Standards for Adolescent Friendly Health Services (AFHS) for sensitization of adolescents on reproductive health, including the prevention of teenage pregnancy. The goal of the AFHS standards is to provide comprehensive equitable health services for adolescents. The Adolescent Friendly Health Services standards outline six components of the services for the adolescents, to be implemented through a multi-sectoral approach to ensure that the services are available and accessible to the adolescents.

These six components include: 1. Adolescent Friendly Health Service Providers 2. Adolescent Friendly Health Procedures 3. Adolescent Friendly Health Environment 4. Adolescent Active Participation 5. Community Support and Participation 6. Networking and Collaboration

Based on the WHO recommendations, the Namibian government developed AFHS Standards in 2011 in line with the National Policy on Sexual, Reproductive, and Child Health. The Ministry of Health and Social Services implemented the components of Adolescent Friendly Health Care Providers and Adolescent Friendly Environment in all 14 regions of service delivery in line with the National Policy on Reproductive Health. These components are mainly implemented by health care workers at the primary health care level of the health services.

Despite the implementation of the AFHS Standards, young people in Namibia face many health challenges, including sexually transmitted infections, HIV/ AIDS, unintended pregnancy, unsafe abortion, baby dumping, sexual violence, mental health problems, drug and substance abuse, early marriages, and other harmful traditional/cultural practices. The NDHS 2013 revealed that the proportion of men and women aged 15 -24 years who had initiated sex before age 15 years had gone up from 18 to 27% in men and from 7 to 9% in women between 2007 and 2013.

There has been limited dissemination of the Adolescent Friendly Health Services Standards, and the number of trained health workers in adolescent health has been declining over the years due to staff turnover. This has therefore affected the quality of health care delivered to adolescents in health facilities. The existing national standards of 2011 are outdated, hence there is a need for revision to ensure that they are aligned with the global standards, and national policies and are effectively disseminated and monitored to improve the quality of care for adolescents.

To enhance quality and efficiency of adolescents and young people, and specifically adolescent girls and young women, the Global Fund has operationalized an Adolescent Girls and Young Women Strategic Initiative (AGYW-SI). As a trusted leader on 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 adolescent-friendly health services through the revision and dissemination of the National Standards for Adolescent Friendly Health Services has emerged, in Namibia.

It is against this background that UNICEF is looking for a technical consultant to provide the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare TA in facilitating the review process of the 2011 National Adolescent Friendly Health Services Standards, the results of which will be used to complete the drafting of revised AFHS Standards for the period 2023-2027.

How can you make a difference?

Scope of Work: Goal: The goal of this assignment is to improve the quality of health services for adolescents and young people through the revision and dissemination of the National Standards for Adolescent Friendly Health Services.

Objectives: • Review the current implementation and delivery of the 2011 National Standards for AFHS, through undertaking a desk review, consultations with key stakeholders and fields visit to understand areas of prioritization and opportunities for improvements • Develop a theory of change to inform updating the 2011 National standards and secure better health and development outcomes for adolescents and young people • Develop a final National Standards for AFHS 2021- 2025, in line with national, regional and global benchmarks and guidance

Activities and Tasks: The consultant’s work will include but is not limited to the following:

• Attend a kickoff call with UNICEF and MoHSS • 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 • Present the workplan at an inception meeting with TWG • Conduct a comprehensive desk review of available literature, policies, current adolescent programming including outcome data • Conduct a consultation with: o Key informant interviews with stakeholders at various policy levels, implementation and service delivery levels, health workers, including all ministries with a mandate to address issues related to adolescent and young people’s health and development o Focus group discussions with different sub-populations of adolescents to identify their needs, gaps and experiences • Undertake field visits to specified number of sites to understand key programmes and services • Draft and finalize a situational analysis report based on the desk review, consultations and field visits • Develop a PowerPoint (PPT) to present the findings of the situational analysis and facilitate rapid needs assessment with key stakeholder to inform the process and prioritize issues • Propose a theory of change for the National AFHS Standards and draft revised National AFHS Standards 2021-2025 + PPT with priorities, key expected results, and present these at a workshop for finalization and endorsement • Submit the final National Standards for AFHS 201-2025 report for approval • Develop a learning report with the TA process, outcomes, recommendations, and lessons learned for country and regional dissemination.

Work Assignment Overview

Tasks/Milestone:

Deliverables/Outputs

Timeline

Number of working days

Kick off call with UNICEF and MoHSS

1. Summary minutes of inception meeting with UNICEF and MoHSS.

29 July 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 interviewed.

12 August 2022

7

Conduct a comprehensive desk review of available literature, policies, current adolescent programming including outcome data.

Conduct a consultation with:

- Key informant interviews with stakeholders at various policy levels, implementation and service delivery levels, health workers, including all ministries with a mandate to address issues related to adolescent and young people’s health and development

- Focus group discussions with different sub-populations of adolescents to identify their needs, gaps, and experiences

- Undertake field visits to specified number of sites to understand key programmes and services.

3. Draft situational analysis report + PPT with key findings from the desk review, consultations, and field visit to capture the experience and delivery of the current AHFS standards in place, including challenges, gaps, lessons learned and recommendations to inform updating the national standards and priorities key areas of implementation and delivery to secure improvements, for commenting and validation by TWG.

16 September 2022

25

- Draft and finalise a situational analysis report based on the desk review, consultations, and field visits.

- Develop a PowerPoint (PPT) to present the findings of the situational analysis and facilitate rapid needs assessment with key stakeholder to inform the process and prioritize issues.

4. Updated situational analysis report incorporating stakeholder feedback from validation meeting, finalized, and approved.

04 October 2022

5

Propose a theory of change for the National AFHS Standards and draft revised National AFHS Standards 2021-2025 + PPT with priorities, key expected results, and present these at a workshop for finalization and endorsement.

5. Draft theory of change and revised/updated National AFHS standards + PPT based on the updated situational analysis for commenting and endorsement at a stakeholder workshop.

04 November 2022

21

Submit the final National Standards for AFHS 201-2025 report for approval by MoHSS

6. Final National AFHS standards submitted for approval

18 November 2022

5

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

7. Learning report capturing the TA implementation process, outcomes, recommendations, and key lessons for country and regional dissemination

06 December 2022

3

Total Number of Days

67

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

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required:

Education: Advanced university degree in public health, pediatric/adolescent health, social sciences, epidemiology, or related field

Work experience: At least 7 years of professional experience at national and international levels, including field experience and expertise in adolescent programming / adolescent sexual reproductive rights and HIV programming or related field in Eastern and Southern Africa - Demonstrated understanding of policy/strategy /action plans developed at the national level or the region. - Good knowledge of the Namibia Primary Health systems especially Sexual and Reproductive Health - A set of strong qualitative and quantitative analytical skills and a good understanding of translating research into programmatic implementation will be an added advantage - Demonstrated ability to working in a multicultural environment and establish harmonious and effective relationships, including at local, sub-national and national level - Excellent communication and evidence-based report writing skills - 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

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

For every Child, you demonstrate…

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

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

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).

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Added 2 years ago - Updated 1 year ago - Source: unicef.org