Local Consultancy: Gender Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) - 180 Days over 10 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...

Purpose of Assignment

This assessment will identify and explore gender-related determinants and barriers that have potential to affect routine and COVID-19 vaccine uptake for countries, namely:

• Gender inequalities which lead to structural and infrastructural barriers within the household and the community, which are hampering access to immunization services;
• Intra-household gender power relations, social norms, access and control over resources, roles, responsibilities, knowledge, and agency that affect demand for vaccines (and potential links with demand for health services);
• Differences in the gender determinants and barriers of routine vaccines and COVID-19 vaccination.

* The assessment will take into consideration country-specific contexts and target populations for in-depth analysis.

* The specific objective of the assignment is to identify gender-related bottlenecks and issues that pose a barrier for adults, caregivers, and their children to access routine immunization services across the socio-ecological framework:

• System level: Are the vaccines available at different times? Are they affordable? Accessible? Human-Centered and Needs-based? Are there other overlapping inequities (e.g. IP, Disability,) that can aggravate the gender-related barriers to immunization access? Are there feedback channels in place to provide feedback on services provided with regard to vaccine delivery. What are the lessons learned on the integration of COVID-19 activities with routine immunization? What mechanisms are used to include gender and what impact does this have in outbreak dynamics?
• Service delivery: Are services nondiscriminatory, respectful, of good quality, provided by trust providers? Are health personnel motivated? Trained on PSEA? How are female workforces empowered in their job? What are the interventions and new technologies that enhance coverage equity and support tailored solutions to address gender-related inequities and barriers during emergency settings i.e., pandemics in MICs?
• Community: What are gender and social norms influencing vaccine uptake and access? What is the role of religious leaders and other influencers? What are the social relations and dynamics at the community level for health workers to do their job? What are attitudes towards female/male community health workers?
• Household level: What are caregivers’ roles in relation to childcare? The literacy level of caregivers? KAP of caregivers? What are costs and domestic burdens for caregivers to access vaccination? Who makes the decision in regard to vaccination or child well-being? Who makes the decision in resource allocations?

* The assessment will use mixed methods, in line with UNICEF guidance and existing assessment tools (e.g. Harvard Analytical Framework), to obtain community-based data to understand population and community trends related to gender determinants influencing vaccine uptake. The data collected through this assessment will complement other existing programmatic and field data to provide insights on gender-related barriers (intrahousehold, community, and system level). The purpose of this exercise is to obtain valuable data and gender insights to improve country programming for increased immunization coverage. Wherever applicable, the local consultant will facilitate the data collection process and work with EAPRO’s Gender Specialist and a firm endorsed by the UNICEF Regional Office for analysis and other tasks laid out in the scope of work.

Scope of Work:

• In close consultation with the EAPRO research team, UNICEF Philippines Immunization Team, and UNICEF EAPRO Gender specialist and Project focal, the national consultant is expected to primarily support with coordination, technical support, and translation related to the field level data collection (both quantitative and qualitative data collection).
• Other tasks will Include conducting desk review and initiate and convene stakeholder consultation, decides on the a list of key informants and stakeholders for interviews, focus group discussions (FGDs), drafting a mapping report for the Philippines, contributing to the synthesis of the country report including specific monitoring indicators, contribute to the development of gender advocacy briefs with approval from UNICEF and development of capacity building modules and lessons learned report on Training-of-Trainers sessions and participation in validation and policy dialogues to ensure GEDSI is mainstreamed .

Tasks:

Research work plan and inception report for gender analysis

Conduct a desk review of existing epidemiological data, behavioral data, studies, research, and other available reports of the relevant sector policies and how well gender needs and barriers are identified and met by existing health and nutrition services.

Undertake stakeholder consultation to finalize the scope of the research.

Contribute to the development of a tool for gender analysis in immunization following an existing global and regional tool and align with the planning processes of the Philippines.

Develop an inception report which reflects on the methodology for the review process, key target audience for the formative research, and outlines of the framework for the situation analysis and key recommendation for gender transformative reviewing.

Data Collection, field work, and analysis

• Coordination with UNICEF CO- Immunization Team, UNICEF Regional Office and research firm.
• Consultation with UNICEF and relevant stakeholders for the implementation of scope and timeline.
• Collect field-level data in the 5 priority sites (Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Antique, General Santos City, and Lanao del Sur in BARMM.
• Develop gender analysis reports and presentations with key recommendations, prioritization, and identifying entry points for solutions.
• Develop a briefing note based on the gender analysis outlining key findings, lessons, and recommendations.
• Support validation, endorsement, and policy dialogues at the National level through a consultative process with stakeholders.
• Identify and understand how gender influences health workforce perceptions and experiences and how their gender biases could influence performance, decision-making (in design or deployment) and the consequences of these biases.
• Include a Strength, Weakness, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) analysis of the health system with gender lenses.
• Map community-level influencers and local women partners who can be mobilized for community-based actions.

Capacity building training modules (Philippine’s context); and to pilot the module through Training -of-trainers session

• Identification of capacity-building needs through participatory approaches engaging with relevant stakeholders.
• Develop training modules based on the gaps identifies through the analysis.
• Validate the module with stakeholders and develop timeline for the implementation with endorsement by key stakeholders.
• Conduct training of relevant stakeholder involved in the research and data collection process and pilot training modules.
• Develop a report for the lessons learned from TOT sessions with recommendations.
• Develop a 2-pager advocacy brief with key findings from the analysis and the TOT sessions.

Deliverables/Outputs:

- Desk Review and Stakeholder analysis

- Inception Report

- Research Work Plan

- Progress report of data collection

- Zero draft of gender analysis /assessment report; Documentation report of validation workshop

- Final Report (summary based on the country level analysis, outlining key findings, lessons and recommendations)

- Training Needs Assessment

- Copy of Training Modules

- Report on validation of modules

- Training plan

- Report of training done

- Advocacy Brief

- Final Report

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

Education:

• Master’s degree in social science, development studies, gender, or related field any of the following areas: public health, development planning, public policy or health policy, development studies, or other development-related field.

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required:

W****ork Experience:

• At least five years technical experience in gender issues preferred supported by strong references.
• Demonstrated experience with gender integration in development programming, including monitoring and evaluation and previous work experience in the UN highly desirable.
• Strong analytical and presentation (oral and written) skills including use of essential computer software packages. The ability to meet deadlines and work with minimal day to day supervision.
• Excellent skills and experience in designing/reviewing research. High coordination and communication skills. Excellent knowledge of English. Excellent writing and analytical skills.

**Critical Technical Competencies:***.*

• Experience in developing training modules and advocacy briefs.
• Familiarity to health and immunization programming both national and local is an asset.
• Experience working with local government units, in particularly working on health and nutrition programs.
• Experience working with national government agencies: DOH and other NGOs.
• Strong interpersonal and communications skills required.

Language:

• Fluency in English, both in oral and written communication, and knowledge of the relevant local language is 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 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.

HOW TO APPLY

Qualified candidates are requested to complete an online candidate profile in http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/ by 27 October 2023. Only applications sent through the e-recruitment portal under Job Number: 566610 will be considered.

All candidates are requested to submit a COVER LETTER, and the duly filled P11 Form which can be downloaded from our website at P11 Form.docx (sharepoint.com) indicating three (3) previous supervisors. Please indicate your professional fees and the soonest availability to take on the post based on the above terms of reference.

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.

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. The candidate may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid).