National Individual Consultancy for assessment on gender-related barriers to MNCH service provision in Sri Lanka (Remote) - Sri Lankan nationals only

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 works to protect the rights of every child in Sri Lanka. Our goal is to ensure that all of our children survive, thrive and fulfill their vast potential.

In a world that is rapidly changing, children are faced with complex challenges and unprecedented opportunities. UNICEF’s programs are designed to reach and benefit all children so that they can withstand these challenges, leverage these opportunities and be the drivers of their own destiny.

UNICEF is committed to creating a country in which every child is free to learn, play and grow. Our programs work towards providing all children in Sri Lanka with shelter, nutrition, protection and education, wherever they may be. We strive to create communities in which children can live with dignity and hope, free from discrimination, violence and fear.

We make every effort to create and maintain environments that will enable and empower children to be the very best that they can be.

In this way, all children will not only benefit from economic and social growth but will become the driving force behind sustainable national development.

For over 50 years, with the help of our vast network of partners, UNICEF has made significant strides in raising health, education and protection standards for children in Sri Lanka. From achieving Universal Child Immunization (1989) to establishing The National Child Protection Authority (1998) to providing decades of crucial relief in the wake of devastating conflict and natural disaster, UNICEF has played a pivotal role in creating an environment in which children have the best chance to survive and thrive.

Yet, many challenges still exist, especially for the most vulnerable. Some national and regional bodies require resources and reinvigoration. Individuals and institutions need to be strengthened, coordinated and aligned with global standards so that children enjoy support in their schools, communities and homes to help them overcome challenges and unleash their full potential into the world.

Due to our long-standing reputation as an experienced, neutral and collaborative partner, UNICEF is ideally suited to drive these efforts. Our history of success in Sri Lanka is built on our ability to tap into a wide network of national and international partners which, in turn, is bolstered by our own far-reaching presence in the field. In working closely with these government, non-government and private entities, UNICEF takes a leadership role, drawing on our technical expertise to accurately assess existing challenges and develop, execute and coordinate solutions that are relevant and scalable on the ground. For more information about UNICEF Sri Lanka and its work visit: http://www.unicef.org/srilanka

How can you make a difference?

Key tasks :

Assessment on gender-related barriers to MNCH service provision including Immunization uptake in Sri Lanka

Between men and women that circumscribe women’s agency and restrict their access to and control over the resources required to act in their children’s best interest.

Identifying and measuring gender-related barriers and designing and monitoring the effectiveness of gender-responsive strategies, is an emerging and challenging area of work for many National RMNCH including Immunization Programmes. Further, the intersectionality of gender barriers with other socio-economic, ethnic, and religious determinants of reaching for MNCH and Immunization services can make it difficult to recognize gender barriers and to decide on the most effective approaches for mitigating their impact. Opportunities for analyzing and designing gender-responsive and transformative interventions tend to be linked to coverage and equity assessments (CEA) and other equity analyses, and the development of grant proposals for external funding sources. The development of the MCH policy, the next MNH SP, the Child Health SP, and the National Immunization Strategy (NIS) are other important opportunities that can be leveraged to mainstream gender programming.

Given the above, UNICEF SLCO is seeking a Consultant to conduct an assessment on the demand and supply side of gender barriers to MNCH including immunization programmes, and identify opportunities and strategies to address gaps.

The consultant will be required to provide technical assistance and accomplish the following tasks:

Assist the Ministry of Health in identifying gender-related barriers to MNCH service provision including immunization and HPV (demand and supply side)

a. Liaise with the gender focal point at the Family Health Bureau (FHB) of the Ministry of Health (MoH), establish, and continue to work with a working group comprising MoH staff and other relevant stakeholders including UNICEF staff, for validation and performing of the gender assessment.

b. Compile resources to inform the desk review in collaboration with the gender focal point at FHB and the working group and conduct the desk review.

c. Development of the methodology (qualitative and quantitative) and tools for conducting a comprehensive gender assessment in the health system and community, with a focus on MNCH including immunization services.

d. Presenting and finalizing the methodology to the gender focal point at FHB and the working group

e. In line with the approved methodology and tools conduct interviews, focus group discussions, and review available policies, strategies, programmes, and other relevant materials.

f. data analysis of the data collected and report writing, collaboratively or in liaison with the regional gender barrier analysis consultancy firm conducting the multi-country study to ensure alignment between different analyses done in the region.

g. Finalizing the gender assessment report, based on the recommendations of the validation meeting with the gender focal point at FHB and the working group.

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

• Master’s Degree in Public Health, Sociology, Social Sciences
• 5-year experience in analysis of gender and gender-related issues
• Experience in working with public health institutions, mainly the Family Health Bureau and Epidemiology Unit of the Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka

Duration - 3 months

How to apply:

Qualified candidates are requested to submit a resume and other relevant documents.

Please complete your profile in UNICEF's e-Recruitment system.

Please indicate your ability, availability and fee/rate (in LKR) to undertake the terms of reference above. (Indicate an all-inclusive fee (including lump sum travel, IT accessories, Internet and subsistence costs, as applicable) to undertake the tasks in the Terms of reference. Office 365 license will be provided by UNICEF, as applicable)

Applications submitted without a fee/rate will not be considered.

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.

If you think this position might be for you, please take the time to review our Country Office Mutual Agreements before you apply.

If you believe you can be a team member that can uphold these every day, then we look forward to receiving and reviewing your application.