National PMTCT Monitoring and Evaluation consultant for the Global Alliance National Action plan

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, a fair chance

Uganda is one of the over 190 countries and territories around the world where we work to overcome the obstacles that poverty, violence, disease, and discrimination place in a child’s path. Together with the Government of Uganda and partners we work towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals, the objectives of the Uganda National Development Plan, and the planned outcomes of the United Nations Development Assistance Framework.

Visit this link for more information on Uganda Country Office https://www.unicef.org/uganda/

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Background and Purpose

Vertical transmission of HIV remains one of the major modes of HIV transmission. In 2022, an estimated 6000 vertical transmissions were documented in Uganda, (2022 MoH spectrum estimates. Although Uganda has made tremendous progress towards elimination of vertical transmission of HIV with sustained high maternal ART, several missed opportunities persist along the maternal and infant cascade. High treatment drop off, incident HIV infections during pregnancy/breastfeeding and failure to initiate antiretroviral treatment, have been estimated to contribute to 80% of new paediatric HIV infections through vertical transmission1. Despite the high coverage of PMTCT services in the country, the new HIV infections among infants is decreasing at a much slower rate and if data-based interventions are not fast tracked, the target for elimination of pediatric HIV,AIDS will not be met.

The PMTCT unit within the STD, HIV/AIDS Control Program (ACP) at Ministry of Health (MoH) leads the implementation of the national program to eliminate vertical transmission of HIV, Syphilis, and Hepatitis B (Triple Elimination). This includes coordination of all stakeholders including donors, implementers and the frontline health workers engaged in the triple elimination response. It also leads policy and guidelines review, development and dissemination; capacity building, training and mentorship; support supervision for quality assurance; data use for evidence-based implementation; research and innovation and resource mobilization.

As part of the mandate of MoH, the ACP has committed to end pediatric AIDS by 2030 as a public health threat and is working to fast-track interventions in collaboration with the communities and partners under two initiatives: - Global Alliance (GA) to end Pediatric AIDS by 2030, and PEPFAR’s Accelerating progress for PMTCT and Pediatric AIDS (AP3). The Global Alliance is a global initiative co-convened by UNICEF, UNAIDS and WHO with formal in-country commitment ascertained through senior government in early 2023. The Global Alliance is a 9-year initiative that seeks to bring together key stakeholders at national, regional, and global levels who work with women, children and adolescents living with HIV, national governments, and partners to mobilize leadership and funding to collectively accelerate efforts to address persisting PMTCT and paediatric HIV testing, care, and treatment gaps. The Global Alliance initiative seeks to accelerate the paediatric HIV response through data-driven, context-tailored comprehensive and integrated interventions delivered at scale. It is anticipated that successful implementation of the Global Alliance on pediatric AIDS and the AP3 through a multi-stakeholder national action plan (NAP) – which will be coordinated, monitored and periodically evaluated by the MoH – STD/ACP program - will contribute to achieving the 95-95-95 UNAIDS targets by 2025 and 2030. The NAP is premised on the 4 GA that is,

1. Early testing and comprehensive, high-quality treatment and care for HIV exposed infants, children and adolescents living with HIV
2. Closing the treatment gap and optimizing continuity of treatment for pregnant and breastfeeding women living with HIV
3. Preventing new HIV infections among pregnant and breastfeeding women,
4. Addressing rights, gender equality, and the social & structural barriers that hinder access.

The MoH seeks technical assistance for PMTCT Monitoring and evaluation, to steer coordination of the GA National action plan and the data driven quality assurance processes therein, in response to a human resource gap affecting this pivotal portfolio. To this end the CSD section seeks to recruit a national PMTCT monitoring and evaluation consultant to provide technical assistance to the MoH to coordinate the National Action plan to eliminate Paediatric HIV, AIDS.

Purpose

To lead, coordinate, supervise, and quality control the monitoring and evaluation of the national action plan to eliminate Paediatric AIDS in alignment with the Global Alliance Initiative, Global AIDS strategy, the national HIV/AIDS Strategic Plan and National Elimination Plan II.

Justification

The PMTCT Unit within the STD/AIDS control program at the MoH currently provides leadership for the coordination of the GA initiative National action plan to eliminate Paediatric AIDS by 2030 and yet it lacks a PMTCT monitoring and evaluation program officer. For this reason, a national consultancy to provide technical assistance for strengthened coordination of the data-driven initiative is critical to accelerate quality implementation of the NAP.

Objective of the assignment

1. To design the GA initiative Monitoring and Evaluation accountabilities by the MoH PMTCT program
2. To support development and review of targeted PMTCT and HMIS normative guidance and training curricula
3. To provide technical support for continuous monitoring and evaluation of the National Action Plan to end Pediatric HIV/AIDS and national PMTCT Strategic Information
4. To lead the development of monthly, quarterly, and annual program reports/ updates and performance reviews for the NAP and the broader PMTCT program

Tasks

1. Develop and standardize GA and broader PMTCT M and E benchmarks including a comprehensive indicator matrix, CQI dashboards, M and E micro plan

2. Develop and/or update earmarked PMTCT, M&E normative guidance and training materials including Comprehensive PMTCT manuals, GANC-PNC manuals

3. Lead the data management processes for GA National Action plan and the broader PMTCT program including routine data abstraction, triangulation, analysis and synthesis for global and national country program reports, national coordination and performance reviews, spectrum estimates, donor proposals, etc.

4. Design and lead the implementation of the national 2023 PMTCT DQA including dissemination of findings, recommendations

5. Participate in GA National Action plan and broader PMTCT Quality assurance activities including supportive supervision and targeted mentorship

6. Participate in broader PMTCT Technical capacity building activities including for national guidelines, HMIS, CQI collaboratives

7. Provide technical support and guidance to all stakeholders regarding PMTCT SI through coordination platforms and/or established TWGs, at national and subnational levels

8. Provide technical support for national PMTCT Strategic Information including TA to implementers, spectrum estimates, DQAs, CQI

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

The selected national consultant should have:

Education:

• Advanced university degree in Medicine , Public Health or other related academic fields.

Work Experience:

• At least five to eight years of relevant experience working in the areas of public health, HIV and /or development.

Comprehensive technical knowledge and skills for HIV programming, with focus on PMTCT, Paediatric and adolescent HIV care and treatment, strategic information skills and health systems strengthening

• National level public health programming

• Proven ability to manage complex partnerships

• High level of initiative and ability to navigate challenges in prioritization to complete tasks and deliverables in a timely manner is essential.

• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English with strong interpersonal and presentation skills.

• Strong qualitative and quantitative analytic skills and report writing skill

General Conditions: Procedures and Logistics

• Under the consultancy agreements, a month is defined as 21 working days, and fees are prorated accordingly. Consultants are not paid for weekends or public holidays.
• Consultants are not entitled to payment of overtime. All remuneration must be within the contract agreement.
• No contract may commence unless the consultant provides a certificate of completion of a mandatory course on “Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse”. A certificate to be submitted with the signed contract should have been obtained in the last three months.
• For international consultants outside the duty station, signed contracts must be sent by fax or email. Signed contract copy or written agreement must be received by the office before Travel Authorization is issued
• No consultant may travel without a signed travel authorization prior to the commencement of the journey to the duty station.
• Unless authorized, UNICEF will buy the tickets of the consultant. In exceptional cases, the consultant may be authorized to buy their travel tickets and shall be reimbursed at the “most economical and direct route”, but this must be agreed to beforehand.
• Consultants will not have supervisory responsibilities or authority on UNICEF budget.
• Consultant will be required to sign the Health statement for consultants/Individual contractor prior to taking up the assignment, and to document that they have appropriate health insurance, including Medical Evacuation.
• The Form 'Designation, change or revocation of beneficiary' must be completed by the consultant upon arrival, at the HR Section.
• Clearance from the Government is required for civil servants or other government employee.

Language: Fluency in English.

Application Procedure/Call for Proposals

Interested candidates are required to submit a technical proposal on how they intend to approach the work. The proposal should include a timeline, and methodology, based on the Terms of Reference. The proposal must also include detailed CV of the consultant, as well as a financial proposal, clearly indicating daily rate for professional fees. The financial proposal must be all-inclusive of all costs (consultancy fees and where applicable air fares, airport transfers, daily living expenses). This is an international level consultancy and competitive market rates should apply.

Evaluation of Candidate:

The consultant will be competitively selected from a list of applicants based on their past experience of doing similar work (extensive experience in writing donor reports, in compiling and editing annual reports for various UNICEF offices).

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

The competencies required for this post are….

View our competency framework at

http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

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, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.

Remarks:

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.