Consultant: Resource Mobilization Consultancy for South Sudan Polio Transition

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Background & Rationale

The goal of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) End Game Strategy is to ensure that a polio-free world is permanent and that the investment in polio eradication provides public health dividends for years to come. After an historic achievement of markedly reducing to the brink of eradicating polio from the globe, the GPEI is now planning the transition (both the scale down and, where appropriate, repurposing) of the polio infrastructure, tools and knowledge to support broader health initiatives.

As GPEI funding began ramping down in January 2017, sixteen polio priority countries, representing 90 per cent of GPEI annual funding, have begun development of transition plans. Each country plan will identify those essential polio functions that match country health priorities and work to ensure that as GPEI fund ramps down and is eliminated, financial resources are secured to ensure the targeted assets and essential functions are transitioned and integrated into national health systems.

South Sudan Polio Transition Plan has identified three national health priorities.  These are the key areas where Polio assets currently make vital contributions to eradication activities and whose transfer and integration into national health programming can help ensure South Sudan remains polio free and national health programming is strengthened. These areas are (1) The Expanded Programme on Immunization, (2) Integrated Disease surveillance and response and, (3) Community-based health systems strengthening (The Boma Health Initiative).

By end January 2018, work will also start on the country Post-Certification Strategic Plan for which key activities for the period 2020-2022 will be combined with those of the country's polio transition plan. The country's final transition plan will be used as the anchor to convene a Stakeholders Workshop, by Q1 2018, in Juba to review the plan and leverage donor support for investment in the plan's three health priorities as GPEI funding ramps down.  For advocacy purposes, this will entail the development of a strong investment case and meeting with donor stakeholders to explain and powerfully illustrate the impact of the GPEI funding ramp down in South Sudan not only on polio but the wider expanded programme on immunization in South Sudan, which has heavily relied on GPEI funding over the years.    The case will draw linkages and outline the impact that investment (or lack thereof) will have on programme delivery/coverage as well as the resulting impact in human dimensions (e.g. new vaccine preventable disease cases/outbreaks, deaths averted, etc).

Purpose

Expected results

Under the supervision and under direction of the Chief of Health, South Sudan Country Office and with support from the UNICEF Polio Transition Manger in New York, the incumbent will be responsible for: 

• • Resource mobilization strategy for 2018-2022 to cover the polio transition plan, which includes South Sudan post-certification responsibilities. Based on the country transition plan, other documentation, and interviews with key stakeholders (i.e. government, WHO, UNICEF, CDC, CORE, etc. transition focal points) develop a resource mobilization strategy for South Sudan's Polio Transition Plan (including post certification activities).  
  • Donor mapping – develop a mapping of potential donors/investors - support South Sudan transition planning in the development of a comprehensive and ranked mapping of potential donors to participate in the country Stakeholder Workshop.
• Documentation for donors – drawing from mapped assets and identified country health priorities, develop donor oriented advocacy documentation describing polio transition and assets required for investment. The documentation (investment case) will draw linkages and outline the impact that investment (or lack thereof) will have on programme delivery/coverage as well as the resulting impact in human dimensions (e.g. disease cases/outbreaks, deaths averted, etc.
• Meeting preparation“ in coordination with country-led efforts to plan the Stakeholders Workshop, oversee donor outreach and invitations to attend the Workshop.
• Meeting facilitation“ ensure supporting documents, presentations, and discussions are facilitated through a donor's lens.
• Meeting follow up“ plan and provide appropriate follow up with meeting notes, outcomes and agreements reached to all donors who were invited to the workshop.
• Coordination with the South Sudan Transition Planning Team – ensure coordination and harmonization with the RM and advocacy efforts carried out by the South Sudan planning team to maximize synergies and harmonized messaging, and outreach to potential donors.

Outcomes

• Investment case document
• Well attended and engaged Stakeholders Workshop in Juba who arrive well briefed on the investment risks and opportunities presented by polio transition in South Sudan.

 further information in: Draft South Sudan Transition Plan for The Polio Eradication Initiative (January 2018)

 Duty Station

On-line consultation with travel to Juba, South Sudan.

Timeframe:  Approximately four months with 60 work days (and up to 2 trips of up to 10-15 days each in Juba)

Start date: 12^th February 2017  End date: 31^st June 2018

Key competences, technical background, and experience required Deadline

Education

• Master’s Degree or equivalent in Economics, Social Sciences, International Relations, Political Sciences or related field.

Work Experience and Technical Background:

• A minimum of eight years of progressively responsible relevant work experience in the development, planning and management of strategies for resource mobilization.
• Knowledge of immunization and the Polio Eradication programme and hands-on Polio programme implementation experience is required.
• Robust knowledge of and relevant experience with resource mobilization, advocacy communication, and donor engagement.
• Experience with the use of the Lives Saved Tool (LIST) will be an asset (http://www.livessavedtool.org/)
• Strong written and oral communication, facilitation and presentation skills is required.
• Experience with document lay-out and design will be an asset.
• Fluent in English.

UNICEF is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.

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