National Consultant for the Coordination of Regional PHC Operational Plans, Bissau, 8 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.

Background:

Guinea Bissau has among the lowest health and socio-economic indicators in the UNICEF West and Central Africa Region. It is still affected by the devastating impact of the 1998/1999 civil war and the ensuing political instability which continue to undermine efforts to improve access, coverage, and quality of PHC services for children, women, and communities. With strong UNICEF advocacy and technical support, the Government of Guinea Bissau organized a months-long participatory and multisectoral analysis that was presented at a National PHC Forum held from 6-8 February. The National PHC Forum culminated in the issuance of a National Call to Action for the Revitalization of PHC signed by the representatives of the highest level of Government and Partners.

One of the specific recommendations made in the Call to Action for PHC was the need to develop sub-national multiyear operational plans aimed at translating the national vision of PHC retained for Guinea Bissau into sustained and sustainable action that accelerates progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals in Guinea Bissau. Though it is a labor-intensive endeavor, it is a much-needed initiative that will galvanize both decision-makers and service providers to define evidence-based priorities and define need-responsive and contextually adapted operational plans for the 2025-2027 period based on each region’s epidemiological profile and health service delivery system’s capacity. The monitoring and evaluation of this first set of operational plans will determine the content and strategies for the development of the next generation of the multiyear-costed regional PHC operational plans.

For every child, Health!

How can you make a difference?

1. Lead all coordination and administrative support activities for the National Steering Committee and the National Technical Working Group for the planning and implementation of processes related for the development of Multiyear Costed Regional PHC Operational Plans in 11 Regions.
2. Lead all coordination and administrative support activities for the five sub-technical working groups responsible for the development and dissemination of the planning and budgeting guidelines by PHC service delivery platform for their assigned thematic areas: a. Reproductive Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health and Nutrition Care, b. Prevention and Control of Diseases, c. Immunization, d. Community Health Programme and Systems Strengthening e. Preparedness and response to public health emergencies and to health care in emergencies. f. Health Referral Systems Strengthening g. Governance and leadership systems strengthening for PHC and SDGs
3. Lead the coordination and management of all content and administrative support for national and regional level all technical and consultative workshops related to the development of the 11 Multi-year Costed PHC Regional Operational Plans.
4. Coordination of the production of technical, and advocacy materials to be prepared for the National high-level PHC Financing Round Table to be held in Guinea Bissau by end of June 2024.
5. Lead the coordination and implementation of the National PHC Financing Round Table.
6. Ensure close-out activities are completed and documented on time and with quality.

Specific tasks: Under the supervision of the Chief of the Health and Nutrition Section and in close collaboration with the Deputy Representative Programmes, the consultant will:

• Develop, in consultation with the UNICEF Senior Management, the Senior PHC Consultant, and the Health and Nutrition Section Team, a management plan for the Development of PHC Operational Plans
• Consult with internal and external stakeholders to ensure timely development of concept notes, workshop and meeting agenda, transmission and confirmation of invitations, agendas, and requests for contribution to participants, sub-technical group leads, and the PHC Technical Working Group.
• Ensure timely and quality communication to UNICEF management, UN focal points, and Steering Committee.
• Ensure that the proposed activities and their estimated costs have been reviewed and validated by the appropriate administrative and finance validation teams.
• Ensure that the proposed communication and visibility materials have been reviewed and validated by the appropriate communication validation teams.
• Ensure timely communication of the needs of the PHC initiative to programme and operation support teams
• Nurture and maintain good working relations with counterparts, partners, and UNICEF teams while ensuring engagement and drive defined in a tightly managed workplan.
• Ensure timely communication of challenges, risks, and emerging opportunities related to the development of Regional Operational Plans to the UNICEF Chief of Health and Nutrition, the Senior Consultant, and to the UNICEF Guinea Bissau Management.
• Ensure documentation of progress throughout the development of the PHC Regional Operational Plans.

Work modalities:

• The contract duration is for 8 months calculated based on working days per month and includes frequent travel to the regions
• The selected candidate is expected to be based at the UNICEF office with frequent on-site work at the Ministry of Health and at the regional level to follow-up and lead preparatory with various MOH and DRS-led teams.
• The consultant will travel to all regions based on his/her approved workplan for an estimated number of 85 days.
• UNICEF will provide office space, access to internet, scanner/printers, and communication cards.
• The consultant payment will be made monthly based on satisfactory deliverables and quality progress reports. the final payment will be based on performance and approved close-out report.
• Interested candidates should submit their application including a letter of motivation and all costs related to this consultation. The financial offer must include fees and daily subsistence for travel to regions.

Work Assignment Overview:

Deliverables/Outputs:

Delivery Deadline

1. Development and approval of Inception report including draft process management workplan developed with the Chief of Health and Nutrition and Senior Consultant for PHC Operational Planning Exercise and complete with contact information of key stakeholders

Inception report and management plan validated

30th Nov. 2023

2. Consult with internal and external stakeholders to ensure timely development of concept notes, workshop and meeting agenda, transmission and confirmation of invitations, agendas, and requests for contribution to participants, sub-technical group leads, and the PHC Technical Working Group.

Concept notes and tools for Subnational planning approved

5th Jan. 2024

3. Consult with internal and external stakeholders to ensure timely development and submission of Sub-Working Group contributions.

Draft Guidelines of seven Sub-Technical Working Groups validated by national and regional teams

5th Feb. 2024

4. Administrative support and field work for regional level planning teams completed for 4 regions.

Drafts of Regional Operational Plans completed for 4 regions (Quinara and Tombali + Bolama and Bijagos)

5th Mar. 2024

5. Administrative support and field work for regional level planning teams completed for 5 regions.

Drafts of Regional Operational Plans completed for 5 regions (Cacheu, Oio, Farim, Bafata and Gabu)

5th Apr. 2024

6. Administrative support and field work for regional level planning teams completed for 2 regions.

Drafts of Regional Operational Plans completed for 2 regions (Biombo and SAB)

5th May. 2024

7. Development and approval of Concept Notes and Visibility materials for the PHC Financing Round Table

Management plan and visibility materials for the PHC Financing Round Table validated

5th June. 2024

8. Submission of plans and organization of final review workshops by the National PHC technical working group and the PHC Steering Committee.

11 Regional PHC Operational Plans validated at the National Level

5th July 2024

Final Summary Consultancy Report

12th July 2024

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

• Master’s in Public Health • Training in social mobilization and community engagement • Demonstrated ability to drive teams multidisciplinary for results • Effective communication and presentation skills • Demonstrated ability to work independently • Demonstrated ability to work in multidisciplinary teams

Work Experience:

• At least 5-years work experience with health programmes and project, • Experience working in regions and with regional teams required. • Experience in coordinating national and/or regional workshops and trainings.

Language Proficiency:

• Mastery of Portuguese and Crioulo required • Good working knowledge of French or English is a strong 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.

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.