National Consultancy to strengthen quality of care in maternal, child and adolescents’ health programming with UNICEF in Uzbekistan

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, care

UNICEF supports the Ministry of Health of Uzbekistan in strengthening the health system and improving the quality of maternal, neonatal, and child health (MNCH), water hygiene and sanitation (WASH), and nutrition. UNICEF’s Child Health and Development Section provides technical assistance to the Ministry of Health, supports the implementation of policies and programmes, builds the capacities of local health care workers, and facilitates partnerships and dialogue among key stakeholders. A key area of UNICEF investment is in strengthening the quality of health care services in the early years to improve health outcomes for children and adolescents.

UNICEF Uzbekistan requires a consultant to support the UNICEF Child Health and Development Section, in collaboration with diverse departments of the Ministry of Health (MOH) of the Republic of Uzbekistan and other national/international partners, to strengthen quality approaches across child and adolescent health programming.

The purpose of the consultancy is to support the Ministry of Health in improving quality of care approaches in the early years—with a strong focus of coordination within the Ministry’s diverse departments. The consultant will support coordination for endorsement of policies, regulatory frameworks and strategic documents for key programmes, including reproductive, maternal, neonatal, child and adolescent health (MNCAH), water hygiene and sanitation, and nutrition. The consultant will help to manage national partner’s engagement through technical working group meetings, webinars and other knowledge sharing platforms. In addition, the consultant will facilitate the engagement and participation of relevant MOH representatives in health-related events and support the collection and provision of necessary data from relevant MOH affiliated institutions.

Under the overall guidance of the Chief of Health and Development and the direct supervision of the Health Specialist, the Individual Consultant will provide support in the implementation of the UNICEF-Ministry of Health Road Map 2022-2025 activities, and the 2023 working plans. In addition, the consultant will support ongoing data analysis and review of MNCAH to guide programming and decision making.

Duration of assignment: 15 February – 15 November 2023.

Work Assignments Overview and Timeline

1. Facilitate the alignment of policy papers, strategic regulatory documents, orders and standard operating procedures pertaining to UNICEF activities toward improving reproductive, maternal, neonatal, child and adolescent health, WASH and waste management, nutrition with relevant departments of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Uzbekistan - 20 days.

2. Support UNICEF’s Child Health and Development Section and coordinate Ministry of Health inputs into the Knowledge, Attitudes, Practices, and Norms WASH Study, Aral Sea 3 Joint Programme Final Assessment, Assessment for early intervention integration into Health services, Costing of the climate-friendly health care waste management pilot, Health facility solar electrification assessment etc. Facilitate discussion of assessments results with the national partners, collect feedback and prepare consolidated review - 20 days.

3. Facilitate discussion, review of policy briefs, investment cases, concept notes developed within UNICEF’s Health and Development Programme by the key national counterparts and consolidate feedback - 20 days.

4. Provide ministerial support in organizing thematic working groups meetings and discussion initiated by UNICEF’s Health and Development section. Assist in organizing visits of UNICEF technical staff and consultants, partners and donors to Uzbekistan and organizing meetings with key national partners. consultants/partners/donors - 20 days.

5. Perform other tasks as deemed necessary and requested by the Supervisor - 10 days.

Total: 90 days

Deliverables

1. Monthly workplan Every regulatory and policy document submitted to the Ministry of Health is agreed with the relevant departments of the Ministry

2. Orders and instructions to the healthcare departments to provide support in assessments feedback are drafted, reviewed and signed by the Ministry of Health.

3. Healthcare data and informational support is provided during assessments. Assessments results are compiled and presented to UNICEF.

4. Every policy brief, investment case and/or concept note discussed with the national partners. Feedback and recommendations from the national partners compiled and presented to UNICEF.

5. Orders, instructions on planned meetings are drafted, reviewed, issued and sent to the relevant departments and government borders. Meetings of UNICEF experts, international partners and donors with requested national partners arranged.

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

• University degree in one of the disciplines relevant to health economics, economics, public administration, health policy, public health and/or social science or other related fields.
• Minimum of 3 years of relevant experience at national and/or international levels in the areas of health financing, health system development, public/business administration or related field.
• Knowledge and skills in planning, monitoring, data analysis, presentation and report writing.
• Project management skills including task prioritization, workflow coordination, and results-driven strategies.
• Experience of working with UN agencies.
• Good command Russian and Uzbek language.
• Knowledge of English is an asset.

Final rate shall follow the “best value for money” principle, i.e., achieving the desired outcome at the lowest possible fee. Consultants will be asked to stipulate all-inclusive fees, including lump sum travel and subsistence costs, as applicable.

Payment of professional fees is made against approved deliverables and monthly workplans. 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.

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 here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

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.