Qualitative Researcher: Zero-dose children in- depth assessment Consultant, Pretoria, South Africa (26 days)

Contract

This is a Consultancy contract. More about Consultancy contracts.

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, Immunisation

How can you make a difference?

PURPOSE OF ACTIVITY/ASSIGNMENT:

UNICEF South Africa is technically supporting the National Department of Health to improve all aspects of the routine immunization system and ultimately reduce the number of zero-dose children. In June 2022, UNICEF South Africa supported the DOH in analyzing routine administrative data to document the current status of the zero-dose children in the country. Further data analysis was also done to determine where zero-dose communities are prevalent (high proportion and high numbers of children) in the country.

Unfortunately, zero-dose children are not only deprived of the opportunity to receive immunization; in many cases, they miss out on other life-saving interventions too, such as growth monitoring, among others. Moreover, threats of outbreaks, such as the ongoing measles and polio outbreaks in neighboring countries, could be exacerbated by the problem of zero-dose communities. This failure to equitably deliver immunization services to all communities, especially the disadvantaged and marginalized ones, calls for an urgent response. Effective interventions are possible if the government and its partners can determine possible reasons why children are not getting vaccinated.

UNICEF South Africa proposes to work with the DOH to obtain additional insights to understand perspectives of different stakeholders, such as caregivers, health workers and other decision-makers, on the supply and demand barriers specific to identified zero-dose communities as well as their perspectives on what strategies might be important to reduce the barriers and improve immunization coverage and equity.

The work will include a particular focus on filling in existing gaps in information regarding specific existing barriers, as well as on compiling potential solutions proposed by beneficiaries and local stakeholders such as health workers, local leaders or community members themselves.

In collaboration with the UNICEF South Africa Health Specialist, the Consultant, will support the National Department of Health to undertake assessments of both supply and demand barriers to childhood immunization in four districts that have been identified by UNICEF and the National Department of Health as being among the 20 in the country with either the highest proportion or largest numbers of ‘zero dose’ children.

SCOPE OF WORK:

1. Support the National Department of Health and UNICEF South Africa in reviewing the study protocol including data collection tools and consent forms 1.1. Support the review of proposals from potential institutions 1.2. Contribute to the discussion on the scope and the methodology of the study 1.3. Review the study protocol including sharing any relevant literature 1.4. Review the data collection tools and consent forms

2. Support the conduct of the study, report and manuscript development 2.1. Review the training materials for field workers 2.2. Advise on the data analysis plan 2.3. Review the analysed data and advise on the documentation of the findings and formulation of actionable recommendations 2.4. Review the report and the PowerPoint 2.5. Support the development and review of a manuscript for submission to a peer reviewed journal

Tasks/Milestone:

Deliverables/Outputs:

Timeline

Inception report

Review of proposals from potential institutions

1 days

Protocol Review and input

• Finalised protocol
• Finalised data collection tools

6 days

Data collection support

• Training materials for field workers reviewed

3 days

Data analysis review and input

• Finalised data analysis plan

4 days

Report, PowerPoint and manuscript development

• Research Report
• PowerPoint
• Draft Manuscript

10 days

Final consultancy report

Final report

2 days

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

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS required:

Social science research, Qualitative Research Discipline: Public Health

KNOWLEDGE/EXPERTISE/SKILLS required: At least 10 years’ experience providing technical support and leadership in implementation research, qualitative research at a regional, national or provincial level.

HOW TO APPLY:

Interested and qualified candidates are requested to submit their application to the following link:

This notice will also appear on http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/, http://www.unicef.org/southafrica, UN Job List, UN Jobs Please indicate your ability, availability and daily/monthly rate (in ZAR) to undertake the terms of reference above (including admin cost if applicable).

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.