National Consultant: Implementation & Management of the Integrated SRHR &GBV Dashboard, Pretoria, South Africa, 30 days (remote)

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.

The population trends indicate that the Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA) regions are fast becoming the most youthful populous regions with 62% of these being less than 24 years old. This is the population group that represents the group at high risk of HIV infection and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) globally. The infection rates in this region differ from country to country with AGYW in South Africa, having approximately 100,000 new HIV infections occur annually. HIV risk on AGYW is complex and multifaceted driven by biological, behavioral, social, and structural factors. The notable factors affecting this group include sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), early sexual debut, early marriage and childbearing, limited availability of and access to sexual and reproductive health (SRH) and HIV prevention services, harmful discriminatory gender norms, exclusion from economic and educational opportunities.

Converging social, cultural, and economic factors affect the way in which adolescent girls and young women understand, negotiate and access information and biomedical treatment related to HIV. Persistent gender and age disparities and stigmas around female sexuality faced by this group are exacerbated by, and reinforced by poverty, lack of access to education (including sexual and reproductive health education) and livelihood opportunities, limited financial autonomy, lack of access to sexual and reproductive healthcare (as well as other healthcare services), and the risk of violence, including intimate partner violence.

In 2019 the United Nations Populations Fund (UNFPA) and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) will begin the implementation of a Canadian-funded programme titled "Empowering Women and Girls to realise their Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights in South Africa". The joint programme covers the period 2019 to 2024 and focuses on strengthening District-Level Institutions and Communities in Enabling Adolescent Girls and Young Women (AGYW) to realize their Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) and eradicating Gender Based Violence (GBV), in the Alfred Nzo & Nelson Mandela districts of the Eastern Cape and uThukela district in Kwa-Zulu Natal.

The programme is in line with the National Development Plan priorities to create a safer South Africa as well as ensuring a healthy life for all and will specifically focus on working with district level service providers and communities to ensure that vulnerable AGYW (ages 15-24) are empowered to enjoy their SRHR, and live free from coercion, discrimination and violence. The programme supports implementation of the 2019 Presidential GBV prevention and response emergency plan through; (a) provision of technical support for the development the National Strategic Plan on GBV and Femicide; (b) generation and utilization of strategic evidence to inform policies and programmes through the national GBV prevalence study. It also supports, the implementation of the cabinet approved national ASRHR framework strategy and will be coordinated under the leadership of the National/Provincial Coordination Forum, chaired by the Department of Social Development.

As part of its support, UNICEF developed an SRH/GBV dashboard in collaboration with KZN Department of social development. The dashboard aims to capture information from DSD, DOH and DOE to monitor the implementation of the youth program and capture the data. To date data has been captured, through the support of other partners and KZN DSD tools and an electronic database has been developed. Currently data collection is ongoing.

How can you make a difference?

Under the direct supervision of the HIV Manager, the consultant will work very closely with KZN DSD, Eastern Cape (Alfred Nzo and Nelson Mandela) UNFPA and DPME to provide support to the management of Strategic Information (SI) and monitoring of the implementation of the SRH/GBV dashboard, ensuring that data and information is analyzed and reported as agreed upon.

The consultant will be expected to monitor national and district programme implementation and performance; and ensure that data quality is improved. While support will primarily be directed towards KZN DSD, Eastern Cape (Alfred Nzo and Nelson Mandela), the consultant will be expected to support the implementation at the national level (DPME).

1. In collaboration with UNFPA, UNICEF and Districts; oversee the implementation of the district SRH and Social services dashboard to monitor the implementation of the district SRH, GBV and Social protection services in three districts (Nelson Mandela, Alfred Nzo and uThukela)
2. Mentor the district and institutionalize the use of the district dashboard as program a monitoring tool in the districts
3. Organize workshops and update meetings to oversee implementation, address challenges and identify the next steps
4. Oversee the documentation of the implementation of the dashboard, including the writing of the process and establishing the roles and responsibilities of various partners.
5. Organize update meetings with partners
6. Contribute toward reporting and preparation for the upcoming donor visit and showcase the dashboard and partner collaboration and contribution.

7. Participate in various forums to advocate for scale-up of the dashboard and provide an update

   Outputs/Deliverables:

8. Presentation and update regarding the implementation of the dashboard

9. Draft report with data analysed from the dashboard
10. Write up (concept) on the process of implementation of the dashboard.
11. Final report and presentation

Deliverables

Duration

(Estimated # of days or months)

Schedule of payment

Inception Meeting Report with a detailed action plan

5 days

20%

Draft report with data analysed from the dashboard

10 days

40%

Write up (concept) on the process of implementation of the dashboard.

Final report and presentation

10 days

40%

Travel (local)

As required

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

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in epidemiology, biostatistics, public health, social and allied sciences
• A minimum of five (5) of relevant professional experience in the public health sector
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another local language is an asset

You must have demonstrated ability, understanding and experience in managing complex Strategic Information for HIV, TB, SRH and MNCH. An understanding of the South African public health system, the different levels of health care service delivery, as well as prior experience with developing, implementing and monitoring results driven frameworks for public health programmes is required. Experience in working with the South African Departments of Health (national, province and district) and close partners is 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.

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 for ensuring 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.