International Individual Consultancy - Technical assistance to conduct an assessment of barriers for pregnant women to access the PMTCT services in the Republic of Moldova

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, Health

According to the National Health Strategy for 2007-2021 and the National AIDS programme 2022 – 2025, one of the national priorities related to HIV infection is to decrease the rate of mother to child transmission under 2%.

Existence of the National Program on control of HIV/AIDS and STIs along with recently approved various National Protocols on HIV/AIDS (mother-to-child transmission, paediatric, post-exposure prophylaxis, adults) highlights the importance of this public health problem.

As of December 31, 2021, a total of 15,177 HIV infection cases, including 797 new cases, were registered, out of the estimated 15,249. However, the number of people living with HIV registered with the health system, who are alive and know their HIV status is 10,596. The overall prevalence of HIV infection in the general population is around 0.2%. However, among target high-risk populations (IDU, MSM, etc.), the prevalence is around 11.4%. There were 7,267 people receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) as of December 31, 2021.

Within the Hospital for Dermatology and Communicable Diseases, a national monitoring unit (hereinafter ‘the Unit’) was established to coordinate and control implementation of the National Program for HIV/AIDS and STIs. The Unit is dealing with regular monitoring of the situation in the area. At the same time, to better understand the barriers for pregnant women to access the PMTCT services, an external assessment will be conducted with UNICEF support.

Therefore, UNICEF Moldova is looking for international expertise (individual consultancy) to support the Unit to undertake above-mentioned assessment and to develop recommendations on strengthening the PMTCT system in Moldova in line with international guidance, as specified below.

How can you make a difference?

1. Purpose of the assignment

The main purpose of the assignment is to provide technical assistance to the national monitoring Unit in conducting the assessment of barriers for pregnant women to access the PMTCT services and provide recommendations on how to reach elimination of mother-to-child transmission (eMTCT) status.

2. Objectives of the consultancy

This assessment has the following objectives: 1) analysing the current situation in the area of the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV in the country; 2) complementing the analysis with the information collected from the hospitals and Focus Group Discussions with pregnant women and mothers with children with HIV; 3) determining the barriers for the eMTCT.

In addition, the consultant will contribute to strengthening the national capacities through methodological guidance on data collection and analysis to ensure that the process corresponds to WHO guiding criteria on the validation of elimination status.

3. Details of how the work should be delivered

The assignment shall be completed during July – December 2022, i.e. 31 working days overall and will cover the following:

Preparatory stage, including training of partners (12 days)

• Undertake a desk review of Moldova PMTCT component of National Programme on Prevention and Control of HIV/AIDS and STIs (NAP): achievements and constraints based on desk review documents, PMTCT report of the national team for 2019-2021 and other related studies
• Review overall PMTCT component normative framework (internal regulations, protocols, standards, etc.) and provide recommendations for improvement
• Develop the assessment methodology in advance to the field mission to Moldova and to coordinate it with the involved parties
• Develop Inception report
• Equip the national Unit with abilities to assess medical institutions as per WHO guidelines and questionnaires through the training session

Data collection (7 days)

• Participate and contribute to the data collection, in coordination with the national Unit through the visits to the hospitals involved in providing services to women and newborns infected with HIV
• Conduct Focus Group Discussion(s) (FGD) with pregnant women and mothers with children with HIV
• Ensure quality of data collection and analysis according to agreed methodology and validate preliminary results and data interpretation with the national Unit

Data analysis, report writing and validation (12 days)

• Draft assessment report, including recommendations in line with the Template of National Validation Report in accordance with Global guidance on criteria and processes for validation https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240039360
• Present the results of the assessment to stakeholders and decision makers
• Develop a final report with recommendations to enhance the service provision to reach eMTCT status.

4. Work arrangements and official travel involved

The selected consultant will work under direct supervision of Health Officer, UNICEF Moldova CO, who will regularly communicate, provide feedback and guidance on the performance and all other necessary support so as to achieve objectives of the consultancy, as well as remain aware of any upcoming issues related to consultant’s performance and quality of work. The consultant will closely cooperate with representatives from the Hospital of Dermatology and Communicable Diseases to facilitate interaction with the national Unit.

The assignment envisages 2 in-country missions, as reflected in the 'Deliverables' table.

In country travel costs should be part of the financial offer. The daily subsistence allowance (DSA) should not exceed fees as promulgated by the International Civil Service Commission (ICSC) for Moldova Country Office. The travel shall be based on economy class travel, regardless of the length of travel, subject to exceptional approval of business class travel by the Head of Office, for example for medical reasons when certified by UN Medical Services in New York.

Consultant will make and pay for own international travel arrangements for arriving to Moldova including visa costs, insurance, any taxes etc, as reflected in the Financial Offer.

Travel costs not actually incurred due to travel mission cancellation, delays, contract termination or modification are subject to deduction from final contract amount.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have

• At least 8 years of professional experience in leading/conducting tasks of similar scale and level of complexity.
• Advanced academic degree in public health, epidemiology, infection diseases or other relevant studies.
• Proven experience in developing and conducting country assessments related to HIV and STIs, including analytical skills, namely in applying qualitative data collection methods and interpreting data collected at national level.
• Demonstrated experience in producing high quality reports (examples of 2 reports should be submitted with the technical proposal).
• Experience in working with UNICEF, WHO or other UN agencies will be an asset.
• Fluency in English and strong writing skills.
• Knowledge of Romanian will be an asset.

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.

For more details on deliverables and minimum requirements, please refer to attached Terms of reference (ToR)

2022_ToR Intern Indiv Consultancy_PMTCT- HIV_VA.pdf

HOW TO APPLY: Your online application should contain following attachments: Technical and Financial Proposals (templates below). Please secure the Financial Proposal *.pdf document with a password on document view; the password will be requested only from technically qualified candidates.

Technical Offer_PMTCT - HIV.docx

Financial Offer_PMTCT-HIV.xlsx

Applications for this assignment must be received no later than: 4 August 2022

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:

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.