National Lead Consultant Coordinator for the Overall Path to Elimination validation process of HIV, Syphilis and Hepatitis B (PTE), Windhoek, Namibia (Open for Nationals only)

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For every child, good health

Background and Purpose of Activity/Assignment: The global community has committed to eliminating of vertical transmission of HIV and syphilis as a public health priority. In 2014 the World Health Organization (WHO), together with the UN and bilateral partners released the first edition of the Global guidance on dual elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis as a public health threat. In 2015 the Global Validation Advisory Committee for Elimination of Mother-to-Child Transmission (eMTCT) was established and that same year the first country, Cuba, was validated. The second edition of the guidance, published in 2017, introduced Path to Elimination (PTE) to recognize the achievements of high burden countries, with progressively higher targets representing, bronze, silver and gold tiers on a continuum towards full validation. The third version, released in 2021, provides guidance for triple elimination of HIV, Syphilis and Hepatitis B virus (HBV). Despite having one of the highest HIV prevalence in the world, Namibia has made significant strides in improving performance of key indicators on prevention of vertical transmission of HIV and congenital syphilis. The country has attained a universal coverage of over 95% for process indicators including those for first ANC attendance, HIV testing among pregnant women and maternal antiretroviral treatment (ART). Although there is lack of adequate data on syphilis situation in the country, with syphilis prevalence rate of 2% among women receiving ANC services, congenital syphilis indicators are expected to be similar to those for PMTCT of HIV. Namibia’s HIV estimates in 2020 showed that the overall mother-to-transmission rate (MTCT) rate reduced from 13.4% in 2012 to 3.8% in 2019. Despite this progress, challenges to attainment of eMTCT of HIV and congenital syphilis exist.

Namibia is considered to be one of the countries that is ready to be validated for the Path to Elimination of HIV, syphilis and Hepatitis B (PTE). In preparation for the PTE validation, several important steps have been undertaken by the Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS). In 2020 the country launched the national roadmap for the elimination of mother-to- child transmission of HIV and congenital syphilis (2020-2024) which sets the goal and milestones to have Namibia certified as having achieved the Gold Status tier as per WHO’s Path to Elimination (PTE) targets by 2024. The National Validation Committee (NVC) chaired by MoHSS was established in 2020 and members trained on PTE validation processes. To evaluate whether the country meets and qualifies for the validation of eMTCT of HIV and syphilis, the MoHSS with the support of UNICEF conducted a pre-validation assessment of the current programme status of MTCT of HIV and syphilis to establish the baseline status of eMTCT of HIV and congenital syphilis indicators against the global standards for validation and to provide an understanding of Namibia's current position on its PTE as stipulated in the National Roadmap. The Pre-validation assessment noted that the country is on the right path to achieving elimination as programmes are strongly rooted in Primary Health Care with improvements in the detection and management of HIV and syphilis in pregnant women, with the rates of MTCT reduced, equal and or below the global elimination targets. In this regard, the country seeks to apply for validation for being on the path to triple elimination of MTCT based on the criteria set by WHO for high HIV burden countries.

Against this background and at the request of the MoHSS, technical support was provided to Namibia in October 2022 by a joint Global and Regional validation team to support country preparations for PTE validation application. Support provided included retraining of the NVC members and technical leads on the PTE validation process, including on the triple elimination agenda as per the revised 2021 validation guidance and the development of an operational plan for the PTE validation process detailing the activities, roles and responsibilities, TA required and timelines.

As such, the Government of Namibia, through the MoHSS, with support from the UN family and other partners, is in the process of hiring consultants to support the PTE triple validation exercise. This includes the recruitment of the lead consultant for the overall PTE validation process coordinator. Towards this end, and on behalf of the National Validation Committee, UNICEF is seeking the services of a consultant who will be responsible for coordinating the overall PTE triple elimination validation process.

How can you make a difference?

Scope of Work

Goal and Objective: Under the guidance of the NVC Chairperson, Director of Primary Health Care, MoHSS, and direct supervision of the HIV Specialist (PMTCT & Community Health), the consultant will support the planning and co-ordination of the overall PTE triple elimination of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV, Congenital Syphilis and HBV. The specific objectives of the PTE validation process are to:

• Assess achievement of the process and impact indicators against the set targets for the validation of elimination of MTCT of HIV, Congenital syphilis and HBV using the standard data assessment and verification tools.
• Assess the country’s eMTCT programs to determine compliance with regional and global validation criteria and processes and eligibility for validation on Path To Elimination (PTE).
• Build national consensus on and finalize a national validation report.
• Submit the national validation report and apply for PTE validation to the Regional Validation Committee (RVC).

Work Assignment Overview

Key Activities and Tasks****Deliverables/Outputs****Timeline****Payment ScheduleSubmit the Inception ReportApproved inception report (detailed proposed methodology and workplan)By 22 April 2023 Develop TORs and facilitate the coordination of thematic teams and sub-technical working groups on data, programme, lab and Human Rights (HR), Gender Equality (GE), and Community Engagement (CE) with leads and co-leads.Developed Terms of Reference (ToRs) for thematic teams on data, programme, lab, and HR/GE/CE).By 30 April 2023 Coordinate the PTE validation exercise and ensure all members of the PTE team work together and collaboratively to complete the exercise within agreed upon timelines.

Develop and implement the national PTE validation process plan in consultation with the thematic team leads, NVC, and MoHSS.

Approved national PTE validation process planBy 31 May 202320%Facilitate the adaptation of the global eMTCT tools to Namibia context and ensure teams are facilitated and equipped to collate/collect required data of the highest quality possible.Final versions of assessment tools pre-tested and data collected.By 31 May 2023 Coordinate data abstraction of syphilis and hepatitis B in high volume and low-performing sites.

Be the link between the consulting team, the MoHSS and NVC.

In collaboration with thematic leads and team members, organize thematic meetings to review the implementation of agreed interventions.

Syphilis and Hepatitis B data abstracted in high volume and low performing sites, and report documented.By 30 June 202330%Document the eMTCT validation processes, lesson learned and best practices.

Assist MoHSS Programme Managers with facilitation of document processing, compilation and obtaining other required documents for eMTCT validation purposes.

Compiled draft country PTE validation assessment report.By 31 July 2023 Assist in the development of circulars and other updated information pertaining to EMTCT of HIV, Congenital Syphilis and HBV.

Ensure timeous and quality submission of data for timely decision-making.

Coordinate and oversee the development and finalization of the national assessment validation report (in collaboration with the report writer).

Submission of the approved final national PTE validation assessment report for HIV, Congenital Syphilis and HBV.By 31 July 2023 Present draft report and the final assessment report to the MoHSS, NVC, RVC and partners.

Ensure the assessment follows laid down procedures and is conducted in an ethical manner.

Support the coordination of the in-country missions and field visits by NVC and thematic team members.

Ensure all deliverables are of the highest quality and conforming to the validation guidelines and standards.

Documentation of the eMTCT validation processes, lessons learned and best practices.31 July 202350%To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

• An advance degree (master’s or higher) in Public Health, Epidemiology, Research, Monitoring and Evaluation or any other relevant and related field.
• Minimum of 8 years’ experience in the field of the Public Health, HIV/AIDS national response and/or HIV/AIDS national M&E system, international development or related field.
• Previous experience with development of national policies, guidelines, and strategic plans, (especially related to HIV/PMTCT, STIs and Hepatitis), programme reviews, assessments, research or similar work.
• Excellent command of written and spoken English.
• Excellent analytical, facilitation, report writing and presentation skills.
• Familiarity of working with MOHSS, WHO and the UN system will be an added advantage.
• Demonstrable good leadership and management skills and experience in leading similar reviews will be an added advantage.

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.

How to apply

Qualified and interested candidates are encouraged to submit an online application before the closing date.

Please submit expression of interest together with: • A cover letter, no longer than 1 page, and curriculum vitae showing how the consultant meets the required qualifications, experience and expertise.

• Detailed curriculum vitae including a description of relevant main achievements. • Minimum three references that include the name and contact person, title and contact information. • A comprehensive technical proposal outlining the methodology the consultant will apply, and highlighting relevant assumptions.

• Technical Proposal demonstrating the consultant’s understanding of the ToRs, the proposed methodology/approach and timelines for the respective deliverables. • A detailed financial proposal quoted in Namibian Dollars. The financial proposal must include all expected costs such as travel (expect to travel to Zambezi, Oshana, Omaheke, and // Karas regions for a maximum of 10 days outside Windhoek ) , accommodation and administrative costs for the consultant (exclude the cost of group meetings). UNICEF will not cover any additional costs outside the approved financial proposal • A financial proposal/budget, which must include all expenses related to the assignment (including travel costs). UNIECF will not cover any costs of the consultancy not included in the financial proposal (excludes costs of meetings for attendees).

• Writing samples might be required during the recruitment process.

Incomplete applications e.g. without financial/budget proposal will not be considered.

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. If you have not been contacted within 2 months of the closing date, please accept that your application was unsuccessful. Regret emails will be sent only to shortlisted/contacted candidates.

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.