Consultancy: Gender and Health Consultant - Gender and Health Sections, PD- NYHQ, Requisition# 506505

The purpose of this consultancy is to support the analysis and translation of sector-specific gender responsive / transformative programme strategies to achieve better health results for girls and women in a sub-set of countries. The consultant will work with the Gender Section, in consultation with the Health and Nutrition teams, to support evidence-based programming that leverage the opportunities and address the gendered barriers to delivering quality services for better pregnancy, health and nutrition outcomes for girls and women. The main focus of the consultant’s work is to advance specific data and evidence of programme interventions and technical support, to achieve 1 or more results in the areas of quality maternal care, health systems strengthening specifically the role of women as health workers, adolescent girls’ nutrition, HPV and/or HIV.

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.

Background

UNICEF is currently in the final year of implementing its Gender Action Plan (GAP) 2014-2017, which clearly outlines how UNICEF will promote gender equality across all of the organization’s work at the global, regional and country levels. The GAP takes a dual approach in addressing gender disparities in key child outcomes. This includes four targeted priorities that focus specifically on adolescent girls’ empowerment and well-being: promoting gender-responsive adolescent health, advancing girls’ secondary education, ending child marriage and addressing gender-based violence in emergencies. It also includes addressing the gender dimensions of programmatic results across the seven outcome areas) of the Strategic Plan along with the relevant indicators for measuring success.

UNICEF addresses health and well-being of girls and women in multiple sectors, through Health (pregnancy, maternal health, immunization -HPV), Nutrition (adolescent girls and anemia), WASH (menstrual hygiene management), and HIV (testing and treatment).  By advancing a gender responsive and transformative approach to addressing the aforementioned health issues and related systems, the Gender Action Plan prioritizes the role of girls and women as both consumers and producers of health (including nutrition, HIV, immunization- HPV) in achieving UNICEF’s mandate. 

Building on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Global Strategy for Women’s, Children’s and Adolescent’s Health (EWEC 2.0), UNICEF’s new Strategy for Health 2016-2030 commits to address key health issues by influencing government policies; strengthening service delivery; and empowering communities, including adolescent girls and boys.  UNICEF’s Nutrition and WASH strategies apply a similar focus on gender through programming in addressing the needs of adolescent girls through scaled and targeted programming on anemia prevention and menstrual hygiene management.  In addition, UNICEF’s new Strategic Plan (2018-21) and concurrent Gender Action Plan  reiterate this focus prioritizing gender results and programmes that promote gender equitable systems and programmes that enable girls and boys to survive, thrive and transform their lives.

As part of its role in supporting the enhancement of UNICEF’s programming excellence on gender equality, the Gender Section (GS) at UNICEF HQ is seeking a consultant to advance work in gender-responsive and transformative programming with a focus on UNICEF’s core programmes of pregnancy care and support, child health including immunization, nutrition and health systems strengthening.  

Purpose

The purpose of this consultancy is to support the analysis and translation of sector-specific gender responsive / transformative programme strategies to achieve better health results for girls and women in a sub-set of countries.  The consultant will work with the Gender Section, in consultation with the Health and Nutrition teams, to support evidence-based programming that leverage the opportunities and address the gendered barriers to delivering quality services for better pregnancy, health and nutrition outcomes for girls and women. The main focus of the consultant’s work is to advance specific data and evidence of programme interventions and technical support, to achieve 1 or more results in the areas of quality maternal care, health systems strengthening specifically the role of women as health workers, adolescent girls’ nutrition, HPV and/or HIV.

3. Expected Results:

UNICEF CO’s and RO’s are supported to develop, implement and document at scale models of gender responsive and transformative interventions to enhance health and nutrition outcomes for adolescent girls and women. The expected results of this consultancy are as follows:

• Consolidated data and evidence of sector-specific interventions that address gender barriers and leverage opportunities focused on strengthening systems to provide and promote one or more of the following quality pregnancy care and support services, better nutritional and health outcomes for adolescent girls and women, or gender equitable systems specifically for female health workers.
• Strengthened programming in a sub-set of countries specifically around defining key results; conducting gender analysis of programmes; identifying interventions to address gender barriers and monitoring progress.
• CO capacity strengthened to design and deliver sector-specific gender responsive and transformative interventions to enhance health and nutrition outcomes for adolescent girls and women (through targeted TA).

Duty Station: NYHQ

Travel: The consultant will be reimbursed approximately $9,600 for two missions to the ESARO and ROSA regions.  This is the estimated cost of travel based on standard cost of economy travel, terminals fees, and per diem for 10 days. Following UNICEF travel policy, we estimate travel support as economy airfare/train fare, local transportation and a per diem allowance to cover meals and accommodation.  Reimbursement to the consultant will occur after the mission. 

Timeframe: 170 days

Start date:  11 September 2017        

End date:  8 June 2018

Cost and Timeframe for Deliverables:       

Key competences, technical background, and experience required

• Advanced university degree (Masters) in public health, medicine or other relevant health science areas; Ph.D. is considered an asset.
• Minimum 8 years overall relevant experience and expertise in designing, implementing, managing, and delivering results-based programmes and/or interventions on gender and health, especially with focus on adolescents;
• Strong research, conceptual and analytical skills relevant to gender, adolescent issues and health
• A publication record in peer reviewed journals and/or demonstrated credibility on health and gender issues.
• Demonstrated ability to express ideas and concepts clearly and concisely in written and oral form;
• Strong research, conceptual and analytical skills relevant to gender and health (adolescent issues, a plus).
• Demonstrated ability to understand and apply indicators and measures in gender and health
• Highly organized with ability to work across functional areas and with multiple priorities;
• Self-starter with diplomatic, and negotiation skills, along with the ability to deliver results;
• Excellent understanding of UN systems and international development issues;
• Fluency in English, knowledge of another UN language a plus.

To view our competency framework, please click here. 

Please indicate your ability, availability and daily/monthly rate (in US$) to undertake the terms of reference above (including travel and daily subsistence allowance, if applicable).  Applications submitted without a daily/monthly rate will not be considered.

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.