International Consultancy - Revision of the National Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health (RMNCAH) Strategy, Sierra Leone

Contract

This is a Consultancy contract. More about Consultancy contracts.

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, an advocate.

Please access UNICEF Sierra Leone information here and here

How can you make a difference?

Background

Despite significant investment in the health sector over the past several decades, Sierra Leone continues to have some of the worst health indicators in the world. According to the Demographic Health Survey 2019, maternal mortality is unacceptably high at 717 per 100,000 live births, while progress in neonatal mortality reduction has been slow with the current rate of 31 per 1,000 live births. With under-five mortality of 108 per 1,000 live births (the fourth highest globally), Sierra Leone is among 54 countries off-track to meet the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target on under-five mortality. Moreover, the proportion of under-five deaths occurring after the neonatal period (vs., neonatal period) is the highest at 70% in Sierra Leone while most Middle and Low-Income Countries have drastically cut the mortality in this age group and moved on to tackle maternal and newborn deaths.

MoHS considers revising and extending the RMNCAH strategy as an opportunity to: i) Incorporate the strategic directions outlined in the national policy/strategy documents launched after 2017 as well as the latest Government’s commitments such as institutionalization of life stage models of service delivery and intensified efforts to reduce post-neonatal mortality toward achieving SDG 3; ii) Align the timeframe of the strategy with the overarching national Health Sector Strategic Plan 2021-2025; and iii) Develop an RMNCAH operational plan 2022-2025.

Purpose and objective

The purpose of the consultancy is to support the MoHS in revision of the RMNCAH strategy 2017-2021 to update and extend till 2025 in alignment with the recent national and global policies, strategies, and initiatives to accelerate the progress towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC), SDG and reduction of preventable deaths of women, children, and adolescents in Sierra Leone. Secondly, an RMNCAH operational plan (2022-2025) with a clear accountability framework is to be developed by the consultant

Methodology and Technical Approach:

The consultancy will generally consist of desk review and analysis of existing data, documents, and reports including the national policy/strategy documents developed after 2017 as listed below and the RMNCAH strategy mid-term review report 2021; key informant interviews, and meetings with MoHS central and District Health Management Teams (DHMTs), RMNCAH Steering Committee and Technical Working Group, UN Agencies including WHO, UNFPA and UNICEF, other Health Development Partners (HDPs) such as World Bank/Global Financing Facility (GFF), FCDO, Global Fund, GAVI, USAID, PMI, INGOs, and other key stakeholders. Based on the evidence collected, the consultant will support the MoHS in revising the strategy and developing an operational plan (2022-2025).

Specific Tasks of the Consultant:

1. Prepare an inception report that should include but not be limited to interpretation of the Terms of Reference, a list of KII questions/checklist in line with the purpose, methodology and technical approach outlined above.
2. In collaboration with the Reproductive and Child Health (RCH) directorate, hold inception meetings with other programs and directorates of MoHS, HDPs (UN Agencies and Donors), and other partners using existing forums such as the national RMNCAH steering committee or TWG as well as through individual interviews as per KII questions/checklists. Work closely with Technical Working Team (TWT) comprising MoHS, UNICEF, UNFPA, WHO, and WB/GFF among others, which will provide close technical support and quality assurance oversight through reviews, inputs, and feedback.
3. Identify the key components to be updated or included in the revised RMNCAH strategy and the operational plan, noting that many of the components of the RMNCAH strategy 2017-2021 are still valid but there are components that need revision and updates.
4. Review of RMNCAH reference documents and information through desk review, KII, and other possible means of evidence collection in line with the need.
5. Revise and update the RMNCAH strategy components and develop the operational plan and timely obtain feedback and comments from the TWT and other experts in the field and relevant stakeholders and produce the draft revised RMNCAH strategy and operational plan document.
6. In close collaboration with the TWT, present the draft of the revised RMNCAH strategy and operational plan at a validation workshop bringing together the MoHS, HDPs, and relevant stakeholders.
7. Produce the final revised RMNCAH Strategy and Operational Plan by addressing relevant feedback and comments and incorporating relevant inputs.
8. Prepare a final report on the consultancy according to the following proposed format:
   1. Executive summary
   2. Introduction and background, including the objectives of the consultancy and the methodology and process followed
   3. Major findings (results achieved, constraints, lessons learned)
   4. Lessons and recommendations from implementing the consultancy
   5. Conclusions
   6. Annexes, incl. terms of reference, review questions and tools, documentation, list of stakeholders/partners, etc.

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

• Advanced university degree in Public Health, Medicine, Social Sciences, Health Systems Management, or other relevant disciplines.
• At least 8 years of progressively responsible professional work experience in the development, planning and management of reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health programmes (including Nutrition) in developing country contexts.
• Experience in health data collection, analysis, assessment, monitoring, and evaluation.
• Experience in team working in culturally diverse contexts.
• Experience of working in West Africa, specifically Sierra Leone is a strong asset.
• Familiarity with the UN system, including similar prior work in the UN system, is desirable.
• Commitment and willingness for immediate start.

Skills required

• Excellent analytical and organizational skills, including effective communication and people skills; ability to communicate and coordinate with various stakeholders and to express ideas and concepts concisely and clearly in written and oral forms.
• Language proficiency: Fluency in oral and written English is mandatory.

Please see attached ToR for detailed information. TOR - RMNCAH Strategy Revision.pdf

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.

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 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:

UNICEF only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at http://www.whed.net/.Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

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.