National Consultant for SBC Strategy Implementation, 199 w/ds, Dushanbe, Tajikistan (for Tajik nationals only)

Consultant Programme & Policy

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,

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programs, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favouritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life – in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions — her or his rights are violated.

The Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) 2017 shows that almost all young children in Tajikistan have a vaccination card (97 per cent of children aged 12-23 months and 96 per cent of children aged 24-35 months). The DHS 2017 field staff saw the records for 90 per cent of children aged 12-23 months and 88 per cent of children aged 24-35 months, either at home or at a health facility. Vaccination coverage is high in Tajikistan. Among children aged 24-35 months, DHS 2017 data shows that 82 per cent had received all basic vaccinations at the time of the survey, and only 3 per cent had received no vaccinations. Of the basic vaccinations, coverage is highest for the BCG vaccine (96 per cent), followed closely by DPT, HepB-Hib 1 and Polio 1 (92 per cent each). Coverage remains high for subsequent doses of the DPT-HepB-Hib and polio vaccines, with 87 per cent of children having received the third doses of each of these vaccines. Eighty-seven per cent of children aged 24-35 months have been vaccinated against measles and rubella. Vaccination coverage is generally lower among urban children than rural children. For example, 84 per cent of children aged 24-35 months in rural areas have received all basic vaccinations, compared with 76 per cent of children in urban areas.

UNICEF Tajikistan is supporting the Ministry of Health & Social Protection in improving demand component of immunization services by promoting vaccine uptake and accelerating equity. Focus is on areas with zero dose children and children who fails to complete full vaccination, with particular focus on girls. UNICEF recently supported the Republican Immuno-Prophylactic Center (RCIP) in the development of SBC Strategy and costed action plan to promote vaccine update in areas with zero dose or incomplete vaccination. The SBC Strategy is for the next five years and Republican Immuno-Prophylactic Center (RCIP) will be leading implementation of prioritized strategic actions to reduce zero dose children and incomplete vaccination. The implementation requires continuous and close follow-up within RCIP and other relevant stakeholders, on a day-to-day basis. Thus, hiring of a national consultant is proposed under this ToR, to support RCIP in the implementation of SBC Strategy.

How can you make a difference?

The purpose is to support the Republican Immuno-Prophylactic Center (RCIP) in implementation of the SBC Strategy for 2024-2029. This involves close working with RCIP in specific and Ministry of Health and Social Protection and other relevant stakeholders in general. The also involves capacity building of relevant stakeholders (media community, civil society organization and relevant government structures) on gender transformative social and behavioral change interventions, and their active participation and engagement in promotion of uptake of vaccination, the development and use of the SBC communication products/material, documenting learning and sharing with the wide sector.

Description of the assignment: The consultant is required to undertake all tasks outlined below and ensure that the relevant deliverables are achieved and measured in efficient and effective manner. The SBC individual consultancy will support the implementation and monitoring of activities as laid out in the SBC Strategy and Costed Action Plan, led by both SBC and Health units of UNICEF Tajikistan, in partnership with the Ministry of Health. This may consist of but not limiting to supporting the RCIP in:

1.Work planning and periodic review of status of activities. 2.Coordination within RCIP, different vertical programs with the Ministry of Health & Social Protection other governmental departments, CSOs and private section entities. 3.Training and ongoing capacity building of key government officials, work force, civil society organization, religious/faith leaders, and community leaders on gender transformative interpersonal communication, community engagement and promotion of vaccine uptake 4.Systematic engagement of local government officials, CSOs, social and religious leaders in addressing behavioral barriers including social and gender norms in favor of vaccine update. 5.Co-creation, pretesting and implementation of gender transformative SBC printed, audio, visual tools, products, and material for promotion of vaccine update. 6.Establishment and functioning of social and community listening and complaint and feedback mechanism for immunization and collection, compilation, analysis and reporting of insights on vaccine update and quality of services on ongoing basis. 7.Monitoring and measurement of activities and results against the overall M&E indicators of the SBC Strategy and indicators/deliverables outlined in these terms of reference.

8.Documentation of learning, success stories and best practices on SBC for immunization.

The consultant will also be accountable for measurement of the results as agreed in the overall M&E Framework for the SBC Strategy and specifically indicators related to the task included in this assignment and gender transformative approaches. The consultant is expected to undertake field monitoring visits, collect data on the agreed indicators, compile results and report on periodic basis to UNICEF and RCIP. The consultant will ensure that the gender components emphasized in the SBC strategy are properly implemented, including the agenda of the events, gender balance in the events, and gender-disaggregated data in the reports. The consultant should incorporate gender aspects in the recommendations and, when engaging with government structures, highlight the challenges women face in immunization and access to services.

Tasks/Milestone/Deliverables/Outputs/Timeline/Estimated Budget:

1. Ensure planning, coordination, and periodic review of SBC for immunization within RCIP. RCIP Approved Annual Workplan covering activities proposed for year 1 of costed action plan (from SBC Strategy); Reports of periodic SBC review meetings between RCIP and stakeholders, 1 Sep.2024 – 31 July 2025, 24 days, 20%

2. Support RCIP in training and ongoing capacity building of key government officials, work force, civil society organization, religious/faith leaders, and community leaders on interpersonal communication, community engagement and promotion of vaccine uptake with consideration of gender aspects; Training and capacity building plan, based on yearly work plan. Training and capacity building reports with gender disaggregated data and concerns, including results reporting through agreed upon indicators; 1 Sep.– 31 Dec.2024, 30 days, 20%

3. Facilitate systematic engagement of local government officials, CSOs, social and religious leaders in addressing behavioral barriers and social and gender norms in favor of vaccine update; Event reports of Jamoat level and Mahalah level community engagement sessions; 2 Jan.-31 July 2025, 36 days, 20%

4. Ensure and support co-creation, pretesting and implementation of SBC printed, audio, visual tools, products, and material for promotion of vaccine update. RCIP approved SBC package on vaccine uptake (including print, audio, video product, process maps, job aids etc); 31 Dec. 2024, 24 days

5.Support establishment and functioning of social and community listening and complaint and feedback mechanism for immunization and collection, compilation, analysis and reporting of insights on vaccine update and quality of services on ongoing basis. Social listening and feedback analysis/reports and recommendation as part of monthly report with focus in gender aspects; 30 Sep.2024–31 July 2024, 35 days, 20%

6.Undertake monitoring and measurement of activities and results against the overall M&E indicators of the SBC Strategy and indicators/deliverables outlined in these terms of reference; Monthly field monitoring visits. Results monitoring report against the M&E Framework; monthly, 30 days, 20%

7. Document learning, success stories and best practices on SBC for immunization. Quarterly and assignment completion report, where gender aspects are considered; 30 Sep.2024–31 July 2024, 20 days

Total consultancy days: 199 w/ds during 1 Sep. 2024- 31 July 2025

Travel info:

15 local trips are planned for this consultancy with 30 days DSA.

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

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in public health/sociology/social work/social anthropology or another relevant field
• Working experience: At least 5 years of experience in social and behaviour change/ social mobilization/community development/public health/epidemiological surveillance and health.
• Expertise/Skills: Coordination, on the job training and capacity building, monitoring and documentation in social and behaviour change/ social mobilization/community development/public health/epidemiological surveillance and health.
• Language: Excellent written and verbal communication in English, Tajik and Russian.

REQUIREMENTS:

Qualified candidates are requested to submit:

1. Cover letter/application/CV.

2. Completed Financial proposal in TJS per deliverable, stating also the timeframe for completion of deliverable and/or daily rate in TJS, including travel cost (Annex 3 to be completed): Annex 3 Financial proposal.docx

3. Contacts (email address/tel:#) of three referees (recent direct supervisors) 4. Applications without financial proposal will not be considered.

Applications must be received in the system by 27 August 2024 on UNICEF website.

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.

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Added 4 hours ago - Updated 3 hours ago - Source: unicef.org