Consultancy – Documentation of programme evidence and promising practices for integrated HIV and SRHR programmes for adolescents and young people in Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA), including in the context of COVID-19

Consultancy – Documentation of programme evidence and promising practices for integrated HIV and SRHR programmes for adolescents and young people in Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA), including in the context of COVID-19

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Job no: 541334
Contract type: Consultancy
Level: Consultancy
Location: Kenya
Categories: HIV/AIDS

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                                                                               TERMS OF REFERENCE

Title of Assignment

Documentation of programme evidence and promising practices for integrated HIV and SRHR programmes for adolescents and young people in Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA), including in the context of COVID-19

Section

ESARO HIV/AIDS

Location

Home-based

Duration

80 working days over 7 months

Start date

From: 12 July 2021

To: 31 January 2022

Background and Justification
Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA) is the region carrying the largest share of the global burden of HIV and some of the highest rates of adolescent pregnancy. In the last decade, much progress has been made, but the gains are still fragile and HIV and unintended pregnancies continue to have a tremendous impact on the lives of children, adolescents and their families. Adolescents and young people (AYP), in particular adolescent girls and young women, are especially vulnerable to new HIV infections, which increase dramatically between the ages of 15 and 24 years . Over 1 million adolescents living with HIV call ESA home and more than one fourth of all new infections in the region are among this group. Additionally, in ESA, one in four women aged 20-24 years gave birth before the age of 18, with an estimated average adolescent birth rate of 107 .

In the context of COVID-19, the continuity of essential HIV and sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services in ESA has been disrupted. Emerging evidence indicates that people living with HIV face challenges accessing HIV testing and life-saving antiretroviral treatment, while the provision of family planning and other SRH and HIV prevention services has declined. Gender-based violence is on the rise and concerns are mounting around the mental health and wellbeing of AYP, including those living with HIV. Access to critical information and support has largely been halted with school closures and the suspension of peer-based programmes to align with physical distancing policies. Given the existing poor outcomes and gaps in care for AYP in relation to SRH and HIV in ESA, these trends are of particular concern.

Evidence summaries and collections of promising practices for effective AYP programme implementation in ESA are currently scarce. We have little understanding of how services are adapted and delivered effectively to AYP during COVID-19. There is an urgent need to document and share such knowledge .

Under the joint UN 2gether 4 SRHR programme UNICEF ESARO and UNFPA ESARO are seeking the services of a consultant to develop a series of implementation briefs on effective programming for AYP, including in the context of COVID-19. These implementation briefs will reflect available evidence from published and grey literature and knowledge from key programmes in ESA, including documented promising practices. Intended topics include: 1) HIV testing services; 2) mental health and psychosocial support for adolescents living with HIV; 3) delivery platforms for HIV and SRH services beyond the facility; 4) violence – gender-based and within the home; and 5) alcohol and substance use and abuse. The development of these products will support the regional office, country offices, UN partners, and youth networks in their advocacy efforts and importantly, implementers throughout the region as they adapt and deliver services and programmes to reach AYP during COVID-19.

Scope of Work
The overall goal of this consultancy is to develop a series of five high-quality implementation briefs to document programme evidence and implementation experiences of AYP HIV and SRH programmes and services, including necessary adaptions and considerations in the context of COVID-19.
The topics to be covered include: 1) HIV testing services; 2) mental health and psychosocial support for adolescents living with HIV; 3) delivery platforms for HIV and SRH services beyond the facility; 4) violence – gender-based and within the home; and 5) alcohol and substance use and abuse.
More specifically, the consultant will:
a. Develop an inception report and reach consensus with UNFPA and UNICEF on the approach and the methodology for selecting promising practices, timeline, and draft outline for the implementation briefs.
b. Review and collate the latest evidence of programmes and interventions from published and grey literature for each topic.
c. Identify key programmes and partners for each topic, conducting interviews to further understand implementation experiences and lessons, as well as COVID-19 adaptions and considerations for scale-up.
d. Analyze and distil the evidence and implementation experiences and draft five separate implementation briefs. Each brief should be no more than 10 pages. The briefs should be engaging yet practical and easy to understand with information on programme effectiveness, implementation, sustainability, scale-up, replicability, and COVID-9 adaptation and with annexes for resources and checklists.
e. Finalize all 5 briefs incorporating feedback from technical reviewers
f. Develop PowerPoint presentations to launch each brief and a dissemination plan

Working Relationship
The consultant will report to the UNICEF ESARO Adolescent and HIV/AIDS Specialist for the UNICEF funded deliverables and to the UNFPA ESARO SYP Regional Coordinator for the UNFPA funded deliverables.

Key partners, including UN agencies, governments, civil society organizations and the 2gether 4SRHR programme beneficiaries will also be consulted.

Expected Deliverables
The consultant will deliver on the following:
1. Summary minutes of inception meeting with UNICEF ESARO and UNFPA ESARO
2. Inception Report outlining the proposed methodology for meeting deliverables of the consultancy, including timelines, proposed outlines for the implementation briefs and the methodology for selecting promising practices
3. List of proposed organizations/programmes to interview and draft interview questions to further understand implementation practices, considerations, lessons, and COVID-19 adaptions.
4. Draft implementation briefs – five briefs approximately six-ten pages each highlighting latest programme evidence, implementation experience and lessons including adaption during COVID-19 and proposed consideration for programming and scale up within the region
5. Final implementation briefs – incorporating feedback from technical reviewers and including references and annex of resources
6. One PowerPoint presentation per implementation brief and a dissemination plan for the engagement of regional partners including national governments, implementing and UN partners as well as youth organizations
Contracting and payment of deliverables will be undertaken separately by each organization. As outlined below, UNICEF ESARO HIV section will be responsible for issuing the contract will be responsible for payment of the inception report, plus two of the five briefs i.e.,1) HIV testing services; and 2) mental health and psychosocial support for ALHIV.
The PowerPoint presentations and remaining three briefs i.e. 3) delivery platforms for HIV and SRH services beyond the facility; 4) violence – gender-based and within the home; and 5) alcohol and substance use and abuse, will be separately paid by UNFPA ESARO’s SYP team.

Timeline and Payment Schedule
Performance will be evaluated on timeliness, alignment with TORs, and quality of work. Payment will be made upon satisfactory completion of all deliverables as per the schedule below.

#

Deliverable

Duration (estimated # of working days)

Location

Expected timeline

Payment Schedule

 UNICEF

Payment Schedule

 UNFPA

1.      

Summary Minutes of inception meeting

1

Home

15 July 21

 

 

 

2.      

Inception Report

3

Home

26 July 21

15%

 

3.      

List of interviewees and draft questions

5

Home

 2 August 21

 

 

4.      

Draft implementation briefs x 2

28

Home

 1 Oct 21

25%

 

5.      

Final implementation briefs x 2

3

Home

22 Oct 21

10%

 

6.      

Draft implementation briefs x 3

30

 

Home

6 Dec 21

 

25%

7.      

Final implementation briefs x 3

6

 

Home

10 Jan 21

 

15%

8.      

PowerPoint presentations and dissemination plan

4

Home

28 Jan 22

 

10%

 

Total

80

 

 

50%

50%

Desired competencies, technical background and experience
1. Education: Advanced university degree in Public Health, Social Sciences, Social Science Research or related field
2. Work experience: Minimum 8 years of professional working experience in Public Health programs, with desired experience in Adolescent Sexual Health and HIV
3. Experience in developing similar products related to programme implementation is required
4. Ability to analyze technical information quickly and present it simply for audiences as well as demonstrating fast, accurate, and versatile writing skills
5. Experience working in a multicultural environment, including experience in ESA
6. Language: Excellent English oral and written communication skills

Administrative issues
The consultant will use their own equipment including a computer to produce deliverables. All communications shall be done through available and UNICEF recommended virtual platforms.

Conditions
• As per UNICEF DFAM policy, payment is made against approved deliverables. No advance payment is allowed unless in exceptional circumstances against bank guarantee, “subject to a maximum of 30% of the total contract value in cases where advance purchases, for example for supplies or travel, may be necessary”
• Payment against each deliverable will be determined by each respective supervisor based on assessment of the work output from the Consultant.
• Final performance evaluation will be conducted by both UNICEF and UNFPA taking into consideration the areas of responsibilities as outlined in the deliverable table above.
• The candidate selected will be governed by and subject to UNICEF’s General Terms and Conditions for the individual contract.
Risks
• As a remote assignment there is the potential risk that the deliverables will not be met in a timely manner. To mitigate this, regular calls and email touchpoints between the consultant and the supervisors will be conducted to check in on progress and address any potential bottlenecks.
• Ensuring a close working relationship with UNFPA through regular communication and having a well-planned consultancy timeline and contract procedures will be essential to reduce the risk of disjointed or delayed contract payments. This will further mitigate any potential reputational risk for both organizations.

Core Values
• Care
• Respect
• Integrity
• Transparency
• Accountability
Competencies
• Builds and maintains partnerships
• Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness
• Drive to achieve results for impact
• Innovates and embraces change
• Manages ambiguity and complexity
• Thinks and acts strategically
• Works collaboratively with others

How to Apply
Interested candidates should apply online using the button below. As part of their application, candidates should provide:
1. A cover letter that specifies how you meet the desired competencies, technical background and experience (no more than 2 pages)
2. A short CV (no more than 4 pages)
3. A financial proposal that should include the total fees for the assignment which includes travel/administrative/per diems, if applicable
4. 3 Referees.

Advertised: E. Africa Standard Time
Deadline: E. Africa Standard Time

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