National Health, HIV and ECD Project Manager, Brasília, Brazil

Contract

This is a Consultancy contract. More about Consultancy contracts.

Background & Rationale

UNICEF, in partnership with the Brazilian government, agreed with a Cooperation Programme for the 2017-2021 period (Country Programme 2017-2021), which aims to support Brazil to achieve the rights of the most excluded and vulnerable children and adolescents. Having equity as a guiding principle, within the framework of the Sustainable Development Goals, the Country Programme seeks to facilitate the generation and sharing of knowledge in order to identify the most excluded children and adolescents, as well as to monitor and measure progress towards their rights. This engagement is aligned with the United Nations Framework Partnership for Sustainable Development 2017-2021 (UNSDPF).

The health, HIV and ECD Unit at UNICEF Brazil works on several fronts to promote the rights of children and adolescents, including nutrition, HIV/Aids, immunization, the promotion of adequate early childhood development (ECD), among others, while also working at the health/nutrition response to the humanitarian situation with Venezuelan migrants. During the Covid-19 pandemic, a new front was embraced in view of preventing Covid-19 transmission in the most vulnerable areas. The Covid-19 response included activities such as: increasing risk communication and community engagement, providing WASH and other supplies to vulnerable families, strengthening the capacities of frontline health workers, and addressing mental health of adolescents, children and child caregivers. In this current semester, the Unit is also responsible for developing strategies and provide technical assistance in WASH and IPC for PHCFs.

At the same time, a great concern has been raised by UNICEF regarding the secondary effects of the pandemic among pregnant women, children and adolescents. The decreased offer and demand for essential health services as well as the social distancing have threatened the adequate growth and development of children in many ways. Data in Brazil confirm the increase of poverty, decreased access to healthy food, lower vaccination coverage and the resurgence of measles outbreaks during the pandemic. In this challenging context, UNICEF has been persistently advocating for the continuity of essential health services during the pandemic, while working in the regular programmatic areas and Covid-19 response.

In this context, planning and managing the delivery of regular and new programmatic activities is crucial, and the Health, HIV and ECD Unit will need support to undertake all the actions and deliver quality results. Therefore, the individual contractor will support the implementation of activities that will promote qualified health services and integrated policies for ECD during the Covid-19 outbreak.

Purpose

The individual contractor (IC) will support the development and implementation of the Health, HIV/Aids and ECD Unit projects, monitoring the work of implementing partners and deliveries of specific projects. The IC will report directly to the Chief of the Health, HIV and ECD Unit, and will work together with the current Health team at UNICEF facilitating the elaboration of terms of reference and partnership contracts, tracking progress and risks of agreed activities and facilitating quality donor proposals and reports.

Expected results: (measurable results)

SMART: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, Time Bound

Result 1: Project activities within the area of Health/HIV/Aids and ECD, including COVID-19 Response Plandelivered in time, with expected reach and adequate monitoring and reporting

Activities:

1. Contribute to the implementation and monitoring of activities within specific projects in the area, with attention to the adequate spending of funds and reporting needs, such as SDG ECD Joint Programme, Astrazeneca, AXA and Lego interventions at National and territory levels;
2. Support the elaboration of high-level donor proposals and donor reports whenever required;
3. Support the elaboration of Terms of References, partnerships contracts (PCAs and SSFAs), and bidding processes needed for the adequate implementation of projects;
4. Support partnerships and contracts for assuring quality implementation of agreed activities in timely manner;
5. Conduct data and information gathering as per request to support the elaboration of technical notes, donor proposal and reports, and other unit reports;
6. Proactively work for reducing risks and minimizing implementation difficulties based on specific and targeted interventions, when necessary;
7. Support the preparation of materials and presentations to the Health and HIV Unit;
8. Any other related tasks as may be required or assigned by the supervisor.

Result 2: Health/HIV/Aids and ECD Unit supported with improved data and information management

Activities:

1. Participate in meetings between UNICEF staff and the Programme implementing partners as part of monitoring of the work plan and results of the agreed activities;
2. Promote quality assurance of partnerships, improving partnerships agreements, monitoring activities and revising reports presented according to the expected results;
3. Support the execution schedule for priority activities in order to optimize the use of funds within the deadlines stablished for the grants and improve the efficiency of the activities implementation;
4. Develop a detailed project plan to monitor and track progress and measure project performance using appropriate tools and techniques;
5. Propose changes to the project scope, project schedule and project costs using appropriate verification techniques and ensuring that all projects are delivered on-time, within scope and within budget;
6. Maintain systematic and routine updated information on progress related to area of Health, HIV/aids and ECD for the Chief, the team, technical partners, and the other relevant teams of UNICEF (such as communication and other thematic areas);
7. Develop spreadsheets, diagrams and process maps to document needs and monitoring of activities progress;
8. Support the analysis of BCO reports and indicators to align the activities executed to the UNICEF main outcomes;
9. Create and maintain comprehensive and adequate project documentation.

Duty Station

Brasília, DF

Deliverables:

The services included in the contract will be delivered continuously, with the same intensity throughout the months. The results will be evaluated by the following deliverables:

• Report of at least 5 main meetings with strategic partners from the area;
• Present tools and strategies to better execute and monitor the activities of priorities projects and related activities;
• Present good practices systematized;
• At least three draft written materials to support donor reports and thematic funds reports;
• At least three ToRs produced according to the needs of the Unit;
• Monthly report on project development and achieved results to support management of the area.

1st Deadline: 05/12/2020

Amount: R$ 11.000

2nd Deadline: 05/01/2021

Amount: R$ 11.000

3rd Deadline: 05/02/2021

Amount: R$ 11.000

4th Deadline: 05/03/2021

Amount: R$ 11.000

5th Deadline: 05/04/2021

Amount: R$ 11.000

6th Deadline: 05/05/2021

Amount: R$ 11.000

7th Deadline: 05/06/2021

Amount: R$ 11.000

8th Deadline: 05/07/2021

Amount: R$ 11.000

9th Deadline: 05/08/2021

Amount: R$ 11.000

10th Deadline: 05/09/2021

Amount: R$ 11.000

11th Deadline: 05/10/2021

Amount: R$ 11.000

PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

• Punctuality in meeting deadlines;
• Quality of the work delivered;

• Timely provision of the deliverables;

• Products prepared in a consultative manner with relevant staff;

• Full adherence to the monthly planning and diligences as agreed with Supervisor;

• Ssatisfactory quality level of reports and actions (quality of inputs, analysis, register of activities, recommendations, etc).

Immediately upon signature of the agreement, the UNICEF supervisor and the selected individual contractor will meet for detailed discussion of the Work Plan and the quality criteria for product delivery. Regular meetings will also be scheduled at a distance or in person to follow up the activities defined in the Work Plan.

The monthly reports shall be subject to review and approval by UNICEF after delivery by the individual contractor. If needed, revisions and alterations may be requested by UNICEF related to quality and technical depth parameters. Only after final clearance from the UNICEF Brazil, the payment will be processed.

Key competences, technical background, and experience required Deadline

• Post-graduate/Master’s degree in Project Management;
• Expertise in Health/ Nutrition/ HIV and/or ECD will be an asset;
• Minimum 3-5 years of experience working with planning, implementing, monitoring and evaluation of projects;
• Experience in UN system agency or organization is an asset.
• Fluency in Portuguese and English is required. Knowledge of Spanish is an asset.

Other skills and Attributes:

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills;
• Solid organizational skills including attention to detail and multitasking skills;
• Teamwork skills and capacity to work with tight deadlines;
• Good orientation to planning and monitoring;
• Knowledge in the use of digital media tools and social networks;

General Conditions: Procedures and Logistics

• The individual contractor must provide her/his own computer to carry out the daily work .
• Expenses related to travels will be covered by UNICEF and paid as per UNICEF travel rules and regulations;
• No activities may commence unless the contract is signed by both UNICEF and the Individual Contractor;
• The selected individual contractor must develop this daily work at the Brasília UNICEF Office and reside in Brasília/DF.

Application must include:

• Submission of at least 2 products and/or writing samples (in Portuguese and English) related to relevant topic;
• Minimum three references that include the name and contact person of previous supervisors, title and contact information.

Restrictions

In case of government officials, the contract cannot be issued without prior written clearance by the Government​, or unless on leave without pay.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all religious and ethnic backgrounds, representing the diversity of Brazil, such as black and indigenous people, to apply to become a part of our organization. Candidates will be equally considered regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, social and HIV/aids status.