Consultants To support in the process of evaluation the actual Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission (PMTCT) strategy in Tunisia

Please see deliverables included in attached ToR

Purpose of consultancy

The main objective of the mission is to support the Primary Health Care Directorate in the process of evaluation the actual Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission (PMTCT) strategy in Tunisia

Background

Although the incidence of HIV infection has remained low and PMTCT rare since the first case was notified in 1985, the national HIV PMTCT strategy was launched in 2007 and revised in 2011.

The implementation of the revised strategy began in 2013 with the objective of achieving the elimination of mother-to-child transmission by 2017 (EMTCT), reducing new pediatric HIV infections by 90% compared to data of 2013 and reduce the overall rate of HIV transmission in the population to less than 5% (through PMTCT).

This strategy has been slow in its implementation and has come up against several obstacles and has not been able to fully achieve its objectives.

The lack of information on the PMTCT implementation progress affects the ability of the Primary Health Care Directorate (PHCD) to design appropriate prevention and protection measures, both at the normative level (including standards, guidelines and protocols) and at the delivery level of services (including prevention and management programs).

PHCD ask the support of Tunisia WCO to recruit a national consultant to evaluate the PMTCT program actually implemented.

Furthermore, in 2021, WHO published the revised guidance for countries on validation of elimination of mother to child transmission of HIV, hepatitis B and syphilis, followed in 2022 the launch of the Global Health Sector Strategies on HIV, viral hepatitis and STIs 2022-2023. Those strategies set the target of triple elimination of mother to child transmission of HIV, hepatitis B and syphilis by 2030 using a people-centered approach.

It is expected that the results of the evaluation will provide an understanding of the current state of implementation of the PMTCT strategy, identify the barriers to scaling up access to PMTCT and provide an insight into needed changes in the strategy to achieve EMTCT in Tunisia

The findings of the evaluation should contribute to the design and development of an updated PMTCT strategy that envisages achieving EMTCT by 2030.

Work to be performed

The national consultant will work under the oversight and guidance of the national PMTCT-review steering committee and perform the following tasks:

• Develop the methodology for the PMTCT programme review and share with the steering committee for input
• Review the national strategy policies and guidelines related to PMTCT and analyze their appropriateness compared to the global guidance for achieving EMTCT
• Collect programmatic data on coverage of antenatal care, HIV (and syphilis) testing and treatment for those who test positive among pregnant women, to establish the current state of the PMTCT response compared to the global target of EMTCT as described in the latest WHO guidance
• Conduct key informant interviews with relevant stakeholders, including people living with HIV, programme managers, service providers and others, to identify an inventory of interventions implemented in PMTCT and understand the key strengths and challenges facing the implementation of those interventions
• Conduct field visits to service delivery sites to observe and assess the service delivery model and client pathways
• Analyze the data and information collected, and identify best practices, bottlenecks to scaling up PMTCT services and barriers to access as well as opportunities for improvement
• Develop a preliminary report of the findings and propose recommendations for improving the PMTCT response towards achieving EMTCT; and share with the steering committee for validation and input.
• Facilitate a stakeholder consultation for validating findings and recommendations

Deliverable

The final report will include:

• A description of the progress in achieving the EMTCT indicators in Tunisa
• An in-depth review of PMTCT strategy scope and implementation process and results in the country’s context and regarding the country’s commitments (relevance, efficiency, sustainability)
• An identification of bottlenecks and barriers, including policies, practices and other structural barriers to program implementation
• A documentation of lessons learned and good practices from program activities, as well as evidence of results
• A list of recommendations on the strategy review and fast tracking to achieve EMTCT in Tunisia.

Educational Qualifications

Essential: First university degree in Medicine or health related field.

Desirable: Master’s Degree in any related field (epidemiology, preventive medicine, public health) is an asset.

Experience Essential

• Have at least 5 years of experience in the field of HIV control or mother-child health including experience in the field of health program evaluation and/or evaluations or elaborate plan or strategies on HIV/AIDS area
• International experience is mandatory

Skills / Technical skills and knowledge

1. Ability to communicate sensitively, effectively, and creatively
2. Ability to be strategic and analytical.
3. Excellent facilitation and advocacy skills.
4. Excellent report writing skills
5. Great leadership, mobilization and personnel management skills.

Languages

Essential: Good command of both written and spoken French.

Location

Many governorates in Tunisia.

Remuneration and Expected duration of contract

• Remuneration: NO-C grade
• Expected duration of contract: 20days within this period: Tentative Start date: 1/11/2022- End date: 31/12/2022

Medical clearance

The selected Consultant will be expected to provide a medical certificate of fitness for work.

Hiring Unit

HIV unit - Tunisia

Travel

The Consultant is not expected to travel.

WHO Competencies

Enhanced WHO Global Competency Model: https://www.who.int/employment/WHO_competencies_EN.pdf?ua=

Interested candidates are strongly encouraged to apply on-line through Stellis. For assessment of your application, please ensure that:

(a) Your profile on Stellis is properly completed and updated; (b) All required details regarding your qualifications, education and training are provided; (c) Your experience records are entered with elaboration on tasks performed at the time.