International Consultant - Technical Assistance for EMTCT and Paediatric HIV, Freetown, Sierra Leone, 11.5 months

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, commitment.

Please visit UNICEF Sierra Leone website here: www.unicef.org/sierraleone

How can you make a difference?

Purpose and objectives:

To provide technical support to the National AIDS Control Programme (NACP)/Ministry of Health and Sanitation (MoHS), the National AIDS Secretariat (NAS) and other stakeholders in Sierra Leone to strengthen the health sector response to EMTCT and Pediatric HIV in order to prevent and reduce new infections, reduce AIDS-related deaths and eliminate HIV related stigma & discrimination to reach ambitious national targets as stipulated in the Sierra Leone EMTCT of HIV and Paediatric HIV Strategic and Operational Plan 2021-2025 and National Strategic Plan (NSP) on HIV and AIDS 2021-2025. To support adaptive strategies to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on HIV prevention and control and to meet the Global Fund targets.

Methodology and Technical Approach

The incumbent is responsible for supporting the NACP/MoHS of Sierra Leone, NAS, and partners to support the development and implementation of the national health sector response and contribution to 95-95-95 and the Ending AIDS.

There are immediate opportunities to accelerating the health sector response to HIV in Sierra Leone: through close collaboration with other priority programmes and entities of the MoHS – in particular Health System Strengthening (HSS), Reproductive, Maternal, Neonatal, Child and Adolescent Health (RMNCAH), National TV and Leprosy Control Programme (NTLCP); and through funding from the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria, and other large donor-funded programmes. The incumbent will ensure the effective implementation and integration of EMTCT and Paediatric HIV program into the RMNCAH program. Sierra Leone has also recently developed the EMTCT and Paediatric HIV Strategic and Operational Plan 2021-2025 and adapted newer and innovative approaches to the programming. The incumbent will provide support to ensure that above mentioned strategies are successfully implemented and documented, including as supported through financing from the Global Fund. The risks associated with the protracted COVID-19 pandemic should be anticipated and mitigated to the extent possible.

She/he will closely work with Government and HIV partners to streamline and coordinate the work related to the normative, programming, and operational functions related to EMTCT and Paediatric HIV program.

Specific Tasks of the Consultant

Under the direct supervision of the Programme Manager, NACP, and UNICEF Health Specialist, the incumbent will contribute to expand the implementation of the Sierra Leone EMTCT of HIV and Paediatric HIV Strategic and Operational Plan and strengthen the EMTCT and Paediatric HIV response, including those related to co-infection and second-line ART; increasing the involvement of communities, health-care providers, non-governmental organizations and corporate partners and District Health Management Teams (DHMTs) through increased country support and strong partnerships; strengthening surveillance, monitoring and evaluation.

• Strategic & Operational Planning and Program Management
• Systems Strengthening and Capacity Building
• Support Data, Analytics & Operations Research

Please see attached for detailed information on deliverables and timelines: ToR EMTCT.pdf

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

• Medical Degree from a recognized university with a postgraduate degree or equivalent in Public Health /Epidemiology or a related field.
• At least 7 years of experience in EMTCT and Pediatric HIV program at national/subnational level.
• Practical experience in programme management and strategic plan development.
• At least 5 years international experience in working with UN and/or international NGOs, bilateral and multilateral agencies.
• Clinical experience in eMTCT and Pediatric HIV treatment and care.
• Experience with key populations programming.
• Extensive knowledge and experience in HIV prevention and control programming and implementation.
• Proven experience in EMTCT and Pediatric HIV programme management at the country level.
• Knowledge of health systems strengthening and strategic planning at the national level.
• Ability to develop and facilitate the development of guidelines and effectively monitor progress in the use of guidelines.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to cooperate and negotiate with technical and funding agencies and establish and manage relationships with government ministries, district local governments, national and district partners, service providers, communities, and other stakeholders.
• Experience with Global Fund proposal development, grant making and implementation processes.
• Fluency in written and spoken English.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills. Ability to write and communicate clearly.
• Computer software application, including word processing, spreadsheet, and corporate software packages.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

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

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

Click here to learn more about UNICEF’s values and competencies.

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.

Consultants and Individual contractors are responsible for paying any taxes derived from the earnings received from UNICEF.

• Application to include financial proposal that will detail your daily/monthly rate (in USD) to undertake the terms of reference.

• Payment of professional fees will be based on submission of agreed satisfactory deliverables. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold payment in case the deliverables submitted are not up to the required standard or in case of delays in submitting the deliverables on the part of the consultant.

  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.