International Expert to facilitate the assessment of PMTCT services in MCH facilities and documentation of the Early Infant Diagnosis within HIV prevention interventions (2013-2016) in the Kyrgyz Republic

Bishkek

Organization: UNICEF - United Nations Children’s Fund
Location: Bishkek
Grade: Consultancy - International Consultant - Internationally recruited Contractors Agreement
Occupational Groups:
- Statistics
- HIV and AIDS
- Sexual and reproductive health
Closing Date: Closed

Assessment of the Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV services and documentation of Early Infant Diagnosis on HIV interventions 2013-2016 in the Kyrgyz Republic

Objective/purpose of the consultancy/services

To contribute to the improvement of the organization’s accountability for its performance by defining and documenting key achievements as well as missed opportunities in its engagement with partners in support of improved PMTCT and Pediatric HIV care and treatment between 2012 and 2016;
To generate evidence and learning to enhance the understanding of the UNICEF and other stakeholders on how the strategies and programmes related to PMTCT and Pediatric AIDS have evolved, what has worked, has not worked and why and make recommendations for UNICEF’s future engagement in PMTCT and Pediatric HIV care and treatment;

These activities will be implemented in the frame of UNICEF’s Health and Nutrition Section’s RWP for 2016-2017, under the Output 1.1.11 and contract between UNICEF and UNAIDS (August 2016 - December 2017), under the project “Strengthening the system of HIV prevention among women and children to eliminate further mother to child HIV transmission and strengthening infection control in medical facilities of KR”.

Scope of work, deliverables and key tasks

1. Provide inception report with the content.

2. Analysis of existing documentation on PMTCT, including current policy, strategies and programs; standards/protocols, reports and statistics (will be provided). To revise reports on assessment of PMTCT from other countries (will be provided) and propose additional instruments if it is needed for conduction of current assessment and preparation of final report.

3. Preparation of protocol of survey, adaptation of questionnaires (senior management of medical facilities, medical workers, women). This questionnaires are available.

4. Perform preliminary data analysis and draft report to facilitate round-table discussion to present preliminary evaluation results and recommendations to key stakeholders and counterparts

5. Analysis and preparation of report on assessment of PMTCT situation (all information collected by survey team will be provided) with elaboration of recommendations addressing identified gaps in respect to regulatory framework, standards, access, quality and coverage to ensure a good quality comprehensive and sustainable provision of PMTCT services.

6. Review and prepare documentation report on EID implementation in the Kyrgyz Republic based on existing documentation in the area of Early Infant Diagnosis on HIV, data showing the impact of interventions of main stakeholders to widen the coverage with testing.

Reporting and supervision

The Consultant will work under supervision of Cholpon Imanalieva, Health and Nutrition Specialist, and closely with Edil, Tilekov, HIV officer/

Qualification/level requirements

I. Academic Qualifications:

This assignment will require a senior International expert with extensive experience of working in the Public Health, HIV/PMTCT,

Advanced Degree in Medicine, Public Health and/or Anthropology

II. Professional Experience in the area of HIV/PMTCTPublic Health

Minimum 5 years of experience in the conduction/facilitation of the evaluation/assessment of the projects/programs in the area of HIV/PMTCT;
Proven experience in the analyzing of programmes related to HIV/PMTCT is mandatory;
Excellent management, communication, facilitation and inter personal skills;
Previous experience of working in Kyrgyzstan is a strong asset;
Experience of working with UNICEF is mandatory.

Duration

This consultancy is envisaged for 8 working days in country and 7 working days out of the country within the period of September 2017

Duty station and official travel involved

Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan including travel to the fields in Osh province) (1 two-day trip to Osh).

The consultant shall propose service fee including the travel costs based on above estimated schedule.

Reimbursement of travel related costs shall only be processed if travel was duly authorized by an authorized supervisor or Head of Office, in writing and prior to the travel.

Consultants are responsible for assuming costs for obtaining visas and travel insurance.

Travel paid for by UNICEF in advance, and travel costs reimbursed after travel, shall be based on economy class travel, regardless of the length of travel, subject to exceptional approval of business class travel by the Head of Office/ Division Director, for example for medicals reasons when certified by UN Medical Services in New York. Daily subsistence allowance (DSA) for official in-country field travels shall not exceed the daily rates established for specific country regions as promulgated by the International Civil Service Commission (ICSC).

Terms of Payment:

The Consultant will be expected to complete following deliverables with local experts:

Inception report with tables and questionnaires.
Protocol of survey with adapted questionnaires is prepared.
Draft report is presented for discussion during round table and collection of comments.
Final report according to format is submitted.
Report with documentation of Early Infant Diagnosis implementation in Kyrgyz Republic 2013-2016 is prepared and submitted.

Upon finalization of deliverables – 1 and 2 consultant will be entitled for 30% of the fee, the rest of the fee 70%, will be paid after Final completion of the consultancy, deliverables 3, 4 and 5.

Performance indicators

Consultant’s performance of work will be evaluated primarily based on the following indicators:

Completion of tasks and deliverables specified in the ToR;
Good quality of submitted document;
Initiative, independence, due diligence, timeliness, appropriate delivery of results;
Highest professional standards of work with national counterparts, UNICEF CO and DPs;
Good cooperation with national authorities, UNICEF and DPs;
Organizational capacities, time-management skills demonstrated.