Individual consultancy: Health Specialist to support the advancement of the operationalization of the SWAP structure

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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

How can you make a difference?

Purpose and Objective:

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.

Methodology and Technical Approach:

UNICEF and partners in support to the Government of Mozambique are committed to address key challenges faced by children and women and help them fully realize their full rights. Those challenges include high vulnerability to poverty, high level of chronic malnutrition, high rates of child marriage and low access to quality social services. UNICEF is fully committed to guarantee the survival, development, protection and participation of Mozambican children.

UNICEF’s Mozambique child health and nutrition programme includes a focus on strengthening primary health care (PHC) for achieving universal health coverage (UHC) through multi-sectoral policy and action. UNICEF works towards contributing to national strategic plans and policies as well as subnational operational planning for children’s and women’s health that are evidence-based and equity-enhancing, leaving no child behind. UNICEF remains committed to promoting PHC towards UHC, with affordable, quality individual and population-level health services near where people live and work, a multisectoral approach to the determinants of health, community engagement and participation, and social accountability. In order to advance otwards achieving PHC/UHC, health sector partner coordination is key.

In December 2020, a new Sector Wide Approach (SWAp) structure was endorsed by the Ministry of Health (MISAU) to strengthen partner dialogue. Recognizing the importance of the history of collaboration between MISAU and Cooperation Partners (CPs) of the health sector in Mozambique, the partnership evokes the principles of the Kaya Kwanga Commitment, a Code of Conduct to guide the partnership for health development in Mozambique, signed by Development Partners in July 2003.

The partnership aims to create, under the leadership of MISAU, a structured and formal mechanism for dialogue, coordination and engagement between all health sector actors to ensure that all stakeholders (government, donor partners, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), civil society and the private sector) are represented, and that all vertical organizational entities, both funding mechanism and program/project-specific, fit into the formal mechanism. The specific objectives are:

1. To strengthen MISAU in its role of coordinating the health sector and facilitating the management of MISAU commitments with partners, including supporting MISAU in assuming its leadership in the sector policy dialogue mechanism.
2. To support MISAU in the development and implementation of national priorities, as defined in the Health Sector Strategic Plan (PESS) and its annual operational plan (which includes all the sub-strategies of operationalization of the Socials and Economic Plan (PES)).
3. To use research results, as well as monitoring and evaluation (M&E) to feed into strategic discussions on health priorities, and coordinate new research and M&E to improve understanding of Mozambican health system challenges and potential solutions.
4. To improve the mobilization and alignment of donor and government funding (including alignment of technical assistance) for national health priorities: establish consensus on health spending targets; ensure harmonization of internal and external funding around those targets and ensure monitoring of results.
5. To improve the sustainability of health sector interventions with a focus on MISAU systems strengthening and capacity-building.
6. To promote the strengthening of multi-sectoral health interventions.

The health sector dialogue structure establishes the specific timing of events within a calendar year, their structure, objectives and actors.

The structure of the dialogue is made up of four primary components:

a) the biannual Health Sector Meeting (RBSS);

b) the biannual Joint Coordination Committee;

c) the Technical Coordination Group (GTC); and

d) Thematic Working Groups (TWG).

The Health Partners Group (HPG) comprises a wide range of bilaterals, multilateral agencies, international Non-Government Organizations (I-NGO), National NGOs, Civil Society Organizations (CSO) and private sector entities. The HPG is coordinated by a Focal Partner (FP), assisted by an outgoing and incoming FP, together comprising the “Troika”. A number of Thematic Working Groups (ThWGs) have been established with government counterparts to facilitate the dialogue on several technical areas and cross-cutting issues of strategic importance for the health sector in Mozambique (see summary in Table 1). The ThWGs report to the HPG monthly. The Technical Coordination Group functions as a country Platform for the dialogue between MISAU and the HPG,and sets the agenda for dialogue at higher levels – the Joint Coordinating Committee (CCC) chaired by MISAU’s Permanent Secretary, and the Sector Coordinating Committee (CCS) chaired by the Minister of Health.

UNICEF is set to take a leadership role as an incoming focal partner in the Troika. To progress towards PHC/UHC, sector dialogue is critical and the Health Specialist - Health Sector Governance - will support UNICEF Mozambique’s position as focal partner for the Troika and ensuring successful operationalization of the newly established SWAp structure with Ministry of Health (MISAU) in Mozambique. The position will support full participation in the health sector, and role in the Troika, including its participation at various level of the policy dialogue and to ensure adequate follow up on key actions/decisions emanating from different fora (HPG, TWG, GTC, CCC and SCC). The work will be substantive in nature, requiring frequent interaction with counterparts in government and with other UNICEF sectors.

Activities and Tasks:

Under the general supervision of the Chief of Health & Nutrition section, and in collaboration with the other contributors to development partner coordination with MISAU, the Health Specialist will support the advancement of the operationalization of the SWAp structure in line with priorities of the government. The Health Specialist will provide support to the Troika, to DPC in overall coordination and oversight of Thematic Working Groups, HPG and other related initiatives identified by MISAU to strengthen partner engagement and contributions to the development partner dialogue structure.

The Health Specialist will work in close support to the Planning Department of MISAU as well as and will have duty hours working within the MISAU to better integrate and support the advancement of the health development partner coordination mechanism with key MISAU Directorates, with a specific support to the Planning Directorate

Deliverables and Payments****:

Payments will be processed upon acceptance of the corresponding deliverable and against an invoice that will make reference to the contract reference and deliverable number. Payments will be approved by the respective section chief.

Deliverable 1: Inception Report

Delivery timeframe (specify weeks, months or working days): End of Month 1

Deliverable/product(s): Deliveries will be presented to Head of Section (HoS) through an Inception Report with supporting documents (links, attachments)

1. Assessment of progress of SWAp structure with development partners and government
2. Recommendations based on findings, including steps needed for finalization of the Kaya Kwanga document
3. Workplan for the duration of the consultancy, considering health policy dialogue calendar

Payment (indicate amount or %): 10% or specified amount for first deliverable

Deliverable 2-11: Monthly Report #1- #10

Delivery timeframe (specify weeks, months or working days): End of Month 2-11 (10 months)

Deliverable/product(s): Deliveries will be presented to Head of Section (HoS) through a Monthly Report with supporting documents (links, attachments) at the end of each month

1. Analysis of SWAP structure progress in line with key objective and including functionality of thematic groups with key recommendations towards strengthening consistency and contributions to Ministry led initiatives and priorities
2. Analysis of HPG partner meeting and areas for further strengthening
3. Participation in key meetings related to the Troika, HPG Consultative Group, HPG wider group, and ThWGs
4. Preparation and participation in the to organizing key sectorial review meeting meetings/workshops such as GTC, CCC and Bi-annual sector meeting with MISAU
5. Key actions & progress to strengthen MISAU-Partner coordination (defined with MISAU & partners)
6. Assessment & follow-up on areas for strengthening HPG and partner coordination
7. Support provided to other related partner strengthening coordination mechanisms (UN, civil society, government)
8. Identification & progress on lessons’ learned and related documentation
9. Identification & support key advocacy initiatives prioritized by health partners

Deliverables per month will be specified in accordance to inception report findings and recommendations from partners and Ministry of Health

Payment (indicate amount or %): 8% or specified amount/month

Deliverable 12: Final Report

Delivery timeframe (specify weeks, months or working days): End of Month 12

Deliverable/product(s): Final report

Payment (indicate amount or %): 10% or specified amount for first deliverable

1. Analysis of progress of SWAP 2021-2023 and key recommendation
2. Reporting on key accomplishments by Troika, per Thematic Group and by HPG

Payment (indicate amount or %): 10% or specified amount/month

Management and Supervision****: The Health Specialist will work under the overall supervision of the Chief of Child Health & Nutrition (CHN) Section in Maputo, in close interaction with government and partner counterparts.

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

Academic qualifications:

Degree in medicine, public health, social science or a related field and post-graduate degree (master's level or above) in public health, health management or a related field.

Work experience:

A minimum of five/eight (5/8) years of relevant professional experience at international or national level in Health programmes with a focus on PHC and health systems support, including experience in planning, coordinating, monitoring, documenting and reporting on issue related to strengthening the wider health partner coordination system and strengthening of the health system.

Specific knowledge, competencies, and skills required:

• Familiarity with relevant tools and frameworks for analysis of thematic health system strengthening areas
• High-level capacity for sensitive liaison with partners
• Strong communication skills in English and Portuguese

Language skills:

Fluency in English (written and verbal) and working knowledge of Portuguese, is required.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

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

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.