International consultant - undertake comprehensive evaluation of the current Somali National Strategic Plan for HIV and develop a new strategy (2024-2026), 65 days, Mogadishu, Somalia

Consultant Medical & Health Programme & Policy

Contract

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For every child, health

www.unicef.org/somalia

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1. PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT: The purpose of this assignment is to conduct a review of the current National HIV Strategic Plan (NSP) for Somalia. The current HIV NSP was adopted in 2020 and is expiring in 2023, and hence needs to be reviewed before the start of the new grant. This assignment aims to develop a new HIV NSP after the completion of the review phase. The National AIDS Commissions (NACs) and the partners are working together on this review.

The review and the development of the new the new strategy will be conducted with the main stakeholders in Somalia which will include representatives from AIDS commissions, Ministries of health, Organizations working on HIV/AIDs, PLHIVs, health professionals and their associations, Community leaders, Community members, etc.), UN agencies, Implementing partners, Donors, the Federal Ministry of Health and the state Ministries to:

i. Develop a workplan and Draft inception report to be shared with UNCEF and the Somali AIDS Commissions ii. Conduct comprehensive evaluation on the successes and the weaknesses of the current HIV NSP iii. Review the facilitators and barriers to an effective HIV strategy in Somalia considering the new challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic iv. To assess operationalization and implementation of the current Strategy at its mid-term and suggest ways for strengthening implementation and impact during the remaining period of the current strategy v. To provide an evidence-informed rationale for integrating lessons learned during the implementation of the current strategy to build on the new strategy vi. Carry out detailed situation analysis to help understand and appreciate fully the environment in which the new strategic plan will be delivered considering recent developments in the health sector. vii. Explore Digital opportunities for the Somalia HIV stakeholders to maximize programme impacts using simple digital solutions. viii. Come up with a comprehensive evaluation/review report detailing the successes, challenges and lessons learned from the implementation of the current Somali HIV strategic plan. ix. Develop a new costed HIV NSP with and M and E framework for Somalia 2024-2026 x. Develop a national operational implementation plan within the strategy

2. METHODOLOGY: The selected consultant will do a thorough desk review on the HIV and AIDS prevention and response in Somalia. The consultant will work with the AIDS commissions to reach out the stakeholders of the HIV NSP including people living with HIV/AIDS, organizations working on HIV/AIDS, Ministries of health, education and social affairs. The other sectors such as nutrition, protection and WASH will be worked with to enhance multi-sectoral coordination. The consult will work from home for desk review and initial virtual meetings with key informants for interviews. Upon the completion of the desk review and key informant interviews, the consultant will organize a workshop for the presentation of the findings and the development of the new strategy.

This assignment will also involve travel within Somalia to refinement, validation and dissemination of the draft strategy. At least the consultant should visit one of the states in person while the rest of the physical meetings will be held within the country. Regular feedback sessions will be set-up with various stakeholders during the assignment.

The methodology will consist of:

2.1. Desk Review and Secondary Data Gathering from Key stakeholders:

2.1.1. Gather baseline/background information: examine the relevant background literature about the latest evidence about HIV prevention and response, legal environment, and service delivery in Somalia by conducting a situation analysis of the current HIV and AIDS initiatives and mapping of the existing efforts and documentation of the best practices employed by the actors on ground for evidence decision making. 2.1.2. Careful understanding of the current HV national strategic plan and any other relevant reviews, assessment and evaluations done by national or international organizations in Somalia and in similar contexts on HIV and AIDS work. 2.1.3. Review of the national development plan for the country, the health strategic plan, the newly revised essential package of health services (EPHS) document and other relevant strategies and policies that affect directly or indirectly to HIV and AIDS work.

3.2. Key Stakeholder Consultations 3.2.1 Conduct key informant interviews with key NACs and Ministry of Health staff, related Ministries, UN organizations, disease specific lead teams and identified PLHIV community members and leaders in order to draw down on their expectations and the gaps they have found in the current strategy and areas which need to be further developed. 3.2.2 Meet with experts in Social Behavior Change, Social Policy, Education, Child Protection and WASH sectors to draw down on their expertise and inform the review of the strategy. 3.2.3 Explore any existing government documents that guide ICT and digital health that may have an impact on HIV/AIDS programming 3.2.4 Consider, analyze and present innovative ideas such as digital health to be considered in the new strategy. 3.2.5 Gather feedback from community health workers and female health workers who provide HIV prevention services to the community

3.3 Key Stakeholder Meeting 3.3.1 Organize a workshop for all important stakeholders 3.3.2 Present the findings of the review to the participants 3.3.3 Lead the development the new strategy within the workshop

3.4 Final Refinement and validation of the strategy. This should include: 3.4.1 Prepare a draft of the revised strategy and a summary draft report to summarize the process of the review of the strategy 3.4.2 Visit Somalia and meet relevant stakeholders in person for final refinement of the strategy 3.4.3 Share the final the strategy for validation and endorsement with AIDS Commissions 3.4.4 Disseminate the final and endorsed strategy to the relevant stakeholders.

ACTIVITIES AND TIMEFRAME IN WEEKS

S/N

Activity

Timeframe in weeks

Proposed Payment Schedule

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

1.

Develop a workplan and materials for consultation meeting(s)/key informant interviews and submit to UNICEF and NACs for approval

X

X

30%

2.

Conduct detailed desk review of literature

X

X

3

Virtual Key informant interviews with a representative sample of relevant stakeholders

X

X

X

30%

Conduct a 5-days workshop(s), present the findings and draft the new strategy

X

X

X

4.

Hold face to face meeting with AIDS Commissions, The Ministries of Health, UNICEF and other relevant stakeholders for final inputs to the draft strategy

X

X

40%

Share the final strategy with the AIDS Commissions for endorsement and conduct virtual dissemination meeting

X

4. MANAGEMENT: The consultant will be co-supervised on a day-to-day basis by the Health Manager- Global Fund in UNICEF, the ministries of health and the Heads of AIDS Commissions.

The consultant should provide their own working tools to complete this assignment This should include access to virtual meetings. The consultant should be willing to travel to all accessible areas of Somalia. The consultant will be responsible for their insurance and security while in Somalia.

5. TIMEFRAME: The consultancy period is estimated to be 65 days from the commencement date.

6. DUTY STATION:

The consultant will based in Mogadishu with travel to Garowe and Hargeisa.

7. ASSURANCE AND RISK MITIGATION:

Security is always an issue working in Somalia. The consultant will be under an individual contract and will be responsible for their own safety. However, in all the regions, the consultant will be linked into the UN security system so that they receive regular security updates and are monitored by the UN security team. To further mitigate risks, in Somalia and Somaliland, it is recommended that international consultants stay at UNDSS-cleared hotels/guesthouses. If the consultant does not have their own security arrangements, they will be referred to known security companies to support their transport to and from the facilities.

8. GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF CONTRACT: UNICEF’s General Terms and Conditions of Contract will apply to any contract(s) awarded in connection with the RFPS.

9. PAYMENT SCHEDULE: Payments are linked to deliverables and are only paid with submission of deliverables indicated in Section 5 above. Upon signature of the contract, the donor-specific reporting templates will be provided by UNICEF.

Work Assignment Overview

Tasks/Milestone

Deliverable/Outputs

Timeline/days

• Develop a workplan and materials for consultation meeting(s)/key informant interviews and submit to UNICEF and NACs for approval

• Conduct detailed desk review of literature

• Draft of Inception report developed and shared with UNICEF and the NACs for review and comments.

• Desk Review in electronic copy shared with UNICEF and NACs

15

Virtual Key informant interviews with a representative sample of relevant stakeholders

Summary Notes of the findings

15

Conduct a 5-days workshop(s), present the findings and draft the new strategy

Draft New strategy

15

Hold face to face meeting with AIDS Commissions, The Ministries of Health, UNICEF and other relevant stakeholders for final inputs to the draft strategy

Share the final strategy with the AIDS Commissions for endorsement and conduct virtual dissemination meeting

• Revised draft strategy
• Final Revised strategy

20

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

• An advanced university degree in Public health, medicine, nursing, social sciences or any other health related course.
• The consultant should demonstrate at least ten years’ experience in HIV/AIDS work and strategy development with high-quality reporting and ability in working in complex and fragile environments.
• Demonstrated experience in conducting similar work.
• Solid technical background, analytical, diplomacy and facilitation skills required on consultancy team including a good command of English language; Knowledge of the local language will be an added advantage.
• Knowledge and understanding of the UN system and capacity to promote consensus and establish positive working relationship. Integrity, tact, discretion and demonstrated sensitivity to cultural differences.
• Willingness to work in difficult circumstances and knowledge of the operational context (socio-cultural, economic and political) situation will be an added advantage.
• Experience in liaising with public officials and capable of responding rapidly to ad hoc requests for meetings under tight deadlines; facilitating consensus discussions among diverse stakeholders, aligning leadership and stimulating ownership of strategy goals and initiatives
• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is considered an asset.

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 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:

Kindly include an all-inclusive technical and financial proposal with your application. Applications without a technical and financial proposal will not be considered.

Consultants are required to have the necessary medical/health insurance valid for the entire duration of contract, including proof of medical evacuation for consultants who are required to travel.

UNICEF only considers Higher education 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.

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.

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