Individual Consultancy : Conduct a gender analysis of barriers to demand and access to immunization and Vitamin A supplementation in Mozambique

Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) has developed a Recovery Plan for the Mozambique Immunization Services: Leveraging COVID-19 to Make A More Resilient Program. This plan provides a unified vision to reach children who have missed vaccine doses in the recent past and create a stronger system for long-term high immunization coverage to reach all children in years to come. It identifies concrete activities that all immunization stakeholders are responsible for supporting, implementing, and/or monitoring. The objectives of the recovery plan are to: Reduce the number of zero-dose and under-immunized children between 2019 and 2022 affected by the disruptions to routine immunization services exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic in the priority districts. Identify and implement activities that can adaptively overcome persistent challenges in the immunization program and re-build a system that is able to withstand future disruptions. As part of its support to the recovery plan, UNICEF Mozambique decided to dedicate special effort to improve and facilitate the use of routine immunization services by users in order to increase access and improve the experience of the service by users and service providers. Acknowledging the deeply embedded gender inequalities that affect childcare and access to/demand for services, and the prominent role that women play as caregivers, UNICEF supported a quantitative assessment on social and behavior change (SBC) and gender barriers to immunization uptake

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, Health 

How can you make a difference? 

Purpose of Activity/Assignment:

Mozambique has stagnated in its vaccine coverage due to factors including natural disasters such as Cyclone Idai in April 2019 and political instability in the center and north of the country in recent years that curtail provision of essential health services. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic exacerbated this situation. WHO/UNICEF Estimates of National Immunization Coverage (WUENIC) data indicate that Penta-3 coverage in Mozambique fell by 31 percent from 2019 to 2021.

It is with this urgent need that Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) has developed a Recovery Plan for the Mozambique Immunization Services: Leveraging COVID-19 to Make A More Resilient Program. This plan provides a unified vision to reach children who have missed vaccine doses in the recent past and create a stronger system for long-term high immunization coverage to reach all children in years to come. It identifies concrete activities that all immunization stakeholders are responsible for supporting, implementing, and/or monitoring.

The objectives of the recovery plan are to:

Reduce the number of zero-dose and under-immunized children between 2019 and 2022 affected by the

disruptions to routine immunization services exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic in the priority districts. Identify and implement activities that can adaptively overcome persistent challenges in the immunization program and re-build a system that is able to withstand future disruptions.

As part of its support to the recovery plan, UNICEF Mozambique decided to dedicate special effort to improve and facilitate the use of routine immunization services by users in order to increase access and improve the experience of the service by users and service providers. Acknowledging the deeply embedded gender inequalities that affect childcare and access to/demand for services, and the prominent role that women play as caregivers, UNICEF supported a quantitative assessment on social and behavior change (SBC) and gender barriers to immunization uptake.

The quantitative assessment to verify drivers (including to demand and supply of services) towards uptake of routine immunization was conducted in the 31 priority postos administartivos during the second quarter of 2023. Results were made available in December 2023, together with qualitative data collected through exit interviews of users of routine immunization (RI) service. While some initial analyses of the database were realized, an in-depth gender analysis of the barriers and drivers for immunization uptake and Vitamin A supplementation remains pending, while urgent to design

evidence-based interventions.

1. Objectives of the consultancy

The consultancy objectives will be as follows:

Exploiting the dataset to conduct a statistical analysis of the gender-relevant variables and identify gender dynamics that affect (or support) immunization and Vitamin A supplementation.

Compare the information with qualitative information gathered through the exit interviews and identify

gender-solid trends, barriers and factors affecting immunization and Vitamine A supplementation.

Redact a gender analysis document that outlines the findings and identifies recommendations for actionable interventions

Scope of Work:

Under the supervision of the Gender Specialist, the Consultant will deliver the following tasks/outputs:

Identifying an appropriate statistical approach for the dataset analysis, which enables the identification of causalities, correlations and relevant gender factors in Immunization and Vitamin A.

Conduct the statistical analysis of the gender relevant aspects in existing dataset, including (but not only) to understand;

- if the family configuration affects immunization and Vit A uptake

- gender influences the experience at the health facility, and how that affects immunization and Vit

A uptake ( aka if information and quality of service at the health facility are gender imbalanced and how that affects the uptake);

- if gender roles within the household and child care responsibilities affect immunization and Vit A (ex fathers participation in caregiving activities or their support to health expenses, mother/father awareness of the vaccination schedule and services, etc )

- if we can track tendencies where households characterized by traits of gender imbalances (considering for instance decision making over child health, source of HH revenues, permission to take the child to the vaccination center and the vaccination level to identify what are the key barriers at the HH level are

significantly associated with low levels of immunization/Vit A uptake;

- the profile of caregivers of children with the lowest and highest immunization levels (considering education, socio-economic status, i.e, young mothers with young children who are single and low-income and low education, older mothers with younger children who are married/in a relationship/higher-income/higher education etc)

- Compare the statistical analysis with information gathered through the exit interviews and highlight trends, discrepancies or significant information on gender barriers and drivers to immunization and vitamin A supplementation.

Methodology and Technical Approach

The Consultant is expected to work remotely. He/she will work with the UNICEF M (MCO) Gender Specialist and SBC Specialist, in consultation with BirdLAB and regional office.

Candidates will be required to submit a technical and all-inclusive financial proposal for delivering the consultancy.

Work Assignment Overview:

Tasks/Milestone:

Identify gender relevant variables and validate the questions/approach with MCO

Deliverables/Outputs:

• Outline of the variables and questions

Timeline: 1 day

Tasks/Milestone:

Exploit the dataset and conduct a statistical analysis of the gender-relevant variables

Deliverables/Outputs:

• Power point presentation of the outcome of the statistical analysis

Timeline: 9 days

Tasks/Milestone:

Compare statistical analysis with exit interviews reports

Deliverables/Outputs:

• discrepancies on gender factors influencing immunization

Timeline: 1day

Tasks/Milestone:

Produce a gender analysis for immunization uptake and Vitamin A supplementation

Deliverables/Outputs:

• Zero draft is submitted for review by MCO
• MCO review (4 days)
• Revised draft incorporating the above MCO feedback is submitted to MCO for further review
• MCO review (2 days)
• Final report incorporating the above MCO feedback is submitted including a Power Point presentation to MCO

Timeline: 16 days (including MCO review)

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

• An advanced university degree in one of the following fields is required: international development, human
  rights, psychology, sociology, international law, or another relevant social science field.

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required:

A minimum of 8 years of professional/academic experience including relevant statistical research

Excellent written communication skills.

Demonstrated ability to use statistical software

Fluency in English is required, knowledge of Portuguese will be an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate… 

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS). 

  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.