National Consultant- In support of the Adolescent HIV- All In strategy, to strengthen the adolescent HIV/AIDs prevention and treatment response through consolidation of national and state level information

Consultancy

If you are a committed, creative professional and are passionate about making a lasting difference for children, the world's leading children's rights organization would like to hear from you.

For 70 years, UNICEF has been working on the ground in 190 countries and territories to promote children's survival, protection and development. The world's largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments.

 

 

LOCATION: Delhi with travel to specified states/ selected districts as required

 

DURATION OF CONSULTANCY: 4 months (Full-time consultancy)

 

CLOSING DATE: 6 July 2017

 

1. BACKGROUND:

 

HIV/AIDS is a significant contributor to mortality among adolescents 10-19 worldwide. In fact, the number of AIDS-related deaths among adolescents aged 10 -19 has doubled in the past 15 years as children who acquired HIV through MTCT who are either not on ART or fall out of care, have progressed to AIDS. The profile of adolescents living with HIV (ALHIV) differs across the regions. In Sub-Sahara Africa the majority of ALHIV were infected via vertical (mother-to-child) transmission. In Asia, Central Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, and the Middle East and North Africa, HIV infections among adolescents are driven by unsafe sexual behaviours and needle exchange. The few studies that include adolescents from low and concentrated HIV epidemic countries, especially outside of sub-Sahara Africa, suggest that HIV prevalence is disproportionately high among adolescent “key populations,” that include (a) adolescents who inject drugs, (b) gay and bisexual adolescent boys, (c) transgender adolescents and (d) adolescents who sell sex, including children (aged 10 - 17) exploited through the selling of sex.

 

National and sub-national data systems rarely provide the age- and sex-disaggregated data required to define the different needs of adolescents in the 10-14 and 15-19 year age groups. Yet it is clear that there are gaps in access, and variable quality of services for adolescents in many settings. Lack of health care provider skills in working with adolescents, age of consent laws, high levels of HIV- stigma, including in health care settings and schools, and inadequate youth focused health education and communication all contribute to limited access to information and services to prevent HIV infections, and to access treatment among adolescents. UNAIDS’ 2015 global estimates indicate that new HIV infections have plateaued at 2.1 million a year over the last 5 years in the total population, and declined only 7% (from 270 thousand to 250 thousand) in adolescents 15-19 years: clearly, progress on preventing new infections in adolescents and adults is insufficient. Investment in primary HIV prevention has focused on PMTCT and medical male circumcision, and increasingly on HIV treatment for prevention, whereas other components of “combination prevention” are not adequately supported and have not been sufficiently scaled up. In all regions, HIV disproportionally affects some of the most vulnerable and socially excluded populations who are key to halting the spread of the epidemic. In 88 out of 159 countries, more than half of all the estimated new infections are among key populations.

 

Effective responses require a solid understanding of the epidemiologic factors and structural drivers of the epidemic in addition to both the supportive and harmful laws and policies. It also requires policy makers and service providers to have the skills and relationships of trust to include key populations safely in planning and delivery of services for their own health and welfare. Demographic trends are producing a dramatic increase in the numbers of children and adolescents living in regions most affected by HIV.  As the population of these younger age groups continues to increase, the sexual and reproductive health knowledge and behaviour of adolescents today will define the scale of the epidemic in the future. In the absence of scaled up effective sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services and prevention interventions, new HIV infections and AIDS-related deaths will increase at an unprecedented rate among this age group. The sheer numbers of youth in Asia, nearing 600 million, demand expanded and sustained responses. Such demographic shifts pose significant challenges to national health systems and signal the need for urgent action to prepare for the expected increase in demand for prevention and treatment services.

 

UNICEF, UNAIDS and partners launched the ALL IN Agenda aimed at reducing new HIV infections among adolescents by 75% and AIDS related deaths by 65% by 2020 targeting 25 countries globally including India. As part of the “All In” Initiative, UNICEF ICO RCH Section in collaboration with NACO/MOHFW  will undertake a targeted  three phase country assessment will be conducted to inform adolescent programme improvement and development.

 

The three consecutive phases of support include: a) An initial phase of disaggregated data analysis on HIV/AIDs profile among adolescents; b) Based on the findings of the data analysis report support national round tables with national technical group on adolescents to identify critical bottlenecks and c) Support key interventions on adolescent HIV/AIDs prevention and treatment formulated through the clinical roundtables to be incorporated into national HIV/AIDs planning.  A consultant is required to support phase one of the country assessment process to undertake an equity- based analysis of demographic and HIV epidemiological information on adolescents including adolescent key population groups, and relevant cross-sectoral programmes about adolescents to strengthen adolescent component of the national HIV programme.

 

 

2. PURPOSE:

 

To undertake an equity-based collation and analysis of demographic and HIV epidemiological data and information on adolescents including adolescent key population groups, and relevant cross-sectoral programmes about adolescents to strengthen the adolescent component of the national HIV programme.

 

Scope of Work: National level with State level engagement as required

 

The objectives of the consultancy undertaking include:

 

1. Undertake data collation, analysis and technical validation of existing data on adolescents and HIV from national and state levels and
2. Conduct an assessment of the programme enabling environment to inform identification of priority populations, programmes and geographic settings to accelerate HIV results in adolescents.

 

The global guidance document and the All In Tools will guide the work of the consultancy.

 

 

 

3. MAJOR TASKS/DELIVERABLES:

 

• Review existing and on-going assessments on HIV and adolescents to document what is known, the gaps and to ensure complementarity through a desk review of secondary data
• Collate national and sub-national data (from existing surveys, studies, routine MIS and program level data) on adolescent demography, HIV/AIDs incidence and prevalence, adolescent sexual and reproductive health issues, education, and gender based violence, social protection and any other relevant information on adolescent health to populate the Adolescent Assessment and Decision Makers Tool (AADM) tool. The data set should also include national costing information related to adolescent HIV programmes.
• Conduct desk review of available data on: ,           ^:
• HIV epidemic among adolescents (including adolescent key affected populations), risks, and vulnerabilities, including analysis by age (10-14; and 15-19), gender and geographical location
• Availability, access and utilization of HIV and other adolescent focused interventions disaggregated by age, gender and geographic location; and for adolescent key population groups
• Review existing national or regional strategic plans, policies and/or guidelines on HIV and adolescents
• Review of programme enabling environment related to policy, coordination system and stigma
• Other additional adolescent data, as relevant to India as per the AADM Tool, with additions and updating
• In collaboration with Technical team from UNICEF, NACO and other partners, facilitate technical validation of data sets for phase 1 of the Adolescent Assessment and Decision Makers Tool (AADM).
• Facilitate a meeting with adolescents and young people (representatives of adolescent and youth networks) to: 1) Orient them on the All In Initiative and 2) to collect their inputs on adolescent engagement in decision-making and HIV programming. This will include the administration and collation of findings from the adolescent networks’ assessment of the programme enabling environment.
• Administer the programme enabling environment worksheet of the AADM to members representing the different constituencies, and compile the findings.
• Draft a final report of the Rapid Assessment Phase 1
• Facilitate multi-sectoral stakeholder validation meetings at national & state levels with representation from policy makers, planner/and managers from relevant government agencies, funding and implementing partners, representatives of adolescent networks and the UN joint team to review, endorse and advance the recommendations emerging from the assessment.
• Develop an action plan for phase-II of the country assessment: In-depth analysis of low performing interventions in selected geographic settings.

 

 

4. END-PRODUCTS

• Adaptation of AADM Tool to India context as a part of the data disaggregation process
• Validated data set for rapid assessment in AADM
• Analytical report of Phase I Assessment including assessment of enabling environment  
• Plan for Phase II AADM Evaluation

5. SUPERVISOR:

 

The consultant will report to the Health specialist, UNICEF ICO RCH Section.

 

 

6. DURATION:

 

4 months from start date of the consultancy. Approximately 21 days of travel anticipated over 4 months.

 

 

7. PAYMENT TERMS

 

• Payment is linked to receipt and satisfactory acceptance of deliverables.

• Travel expenses will be reimbursed at actuals based on receipt of invoices/reports.
• Per Diem will be reimbursed at UNICEF consultant rates.

 

 

8. QUALIFICATION, SPECIALIZED KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

• Postgraduate degree in public health, sociology and/or other social sciences.
• At least 5 years or more of experience in Programme Development and Strategic Planning
• Experience in HIV and adolescent program development
• Research skills: data collection skills for both qualitative and quantitative data, data analysis, and report writing.
• Experience with conducting bottleneck analysis and development of action plans to address identified bottlenecks.
• Experience in working on supporting HIV/AIDS projects and research and working with national and State HIV/AIDs program; NACO; SACS and partners
• Experience in writing reports of high quality and scientific standard.
• Familiarity with national frameworks; national programme assessment and planning is an advantage.

 

 

Competencies:

• Excellent knowledge of current global research and/or initiatives on HIV and adolescent.
• Ability to liaise with relevant government ministries, NACO, youth and adolescents networks government offices, CSOs, youth and adolescent networks and the UN Joint team
• Good communication, facilitation and analytical skills mandatory

 

Please submit your online application by COB 6 July 2017.

HOW TO APPLY: Your online application should contain three separate attachments:

1. 1. 1. A Cover letter explaining the motivation for applying and also explaining how the qualifications and skill-set of the candidate are suitable for this position (to be uploaded online under cover letter)
      2. Curriculum Vitae (CV) (to be uploaded online under CV/resume)
      3. A financial proposal indicating deliverable-based professional fee as per template attached below.  Please do not forget to specify your name in the file while saving. (to be uploaded under financial proposal template).                             

 

Without the financial proposal template your application will be considered incomplete.

 

4. 4. 4. Document with Links to Work Samples – Including Reports of Previous Projects Accomplished; Published Articles; Chapters in Publications;  Training manuals produced; Other relevant publications (You can either share a file with the links to your work samples or you can upload the documents) (to be uploaded under work samples section).

 

It is critical to submit work samples as you will observe from the advertisement that marks have been assigned to this criteria for arriving at the most suitable candidate

 

The selection will be on the basis of technical evaluation & financial offer in the ratio of 80:20.  The criteria for technical evaluation will be as follows:

 

1. 1. 1. Cover Letter – explaining the motivation for applying and also explaining how the qualifications and skill-set of the candidate are suitable for this position (8 Min Marks/ 10 Max Marks)

2. Relevant educational qualifications of the candidate (12 Min/ 15 Max)

3. Relevant work experience (12 Min/15 Max)

4. Work Samples (8 Min/ 10 Max) – Including Reports of Previous Projects Accomplished; Published Articles; Chapters in Publications; Training manuals produced; other relevant publications

 

Candidates who score 40 marks and above in criteria 1-4 above and also score the minimum score against each criteria will be short listed for an interview.

 

5.  Interview with shortlisted candidates (24 Min/30 Max)

 

 

Total technical score – 80. Minimum overall qualifying score is 64. Only those candidates who meet the overall qualifying marks of 64 as well as score the minimum cut-off in each of the above sub-criteria including the interview will be considered technically responsive and their financials will be opened.

 

 

• Any attempt to unduly influence UNICEF’s selection process will lead to automatic disqualification of the applicant.
• Joint applications of two or more individuals are not accepted.
• Please note, UNICEF does not charge any fee during any stage of the process.

 

For any clarifications, please contact:

 

UNICEF

Supply & Procurement Section

73, Lodi Estate, New Delhi 110003

Telephone # +91-11-24606516 (Direct)

Fax # +91-11-24391410; Email: indconsultants@unicef.org

    

 

 

 

 

 

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of our organisation.