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National Consultant: Equity Assessment for Health, Nutrition and Immunisation Services, Accra, Ghana

Accra

  • Organization: UNICEF - United Nations Children’s Fund
  • Location: Accra
  • Grade: Consultancy - National Consultant - Locally recruited Contractors Agreement
  • Occupational Groups:
    • Public Health and Health Service
    • Banking and Finance
    • Nutrition
  • Closing Date: Closed

UNICEF Ghana is seeking the services of a committed professional and expert who will be hired as an Individual Contractor/Consultant to provide technical and coordination support to facilitate national stakeholder engagement and processes for equity assessment for immunization and other Health and Nutrition services in Ghana. The assignment will start in July and end not later than 31 December 2018. The individual will be based in Accra and may be required to undertake some in-country field trips. Only Nationals of Ghana are eligible to apply. A Terms of Reference is attached to provide details.

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 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

Ghana has made progress in improving child survival and development. Over the last two decades, the Government of Ghana has implemented policies to improve access to basic health and Nutrition services. The country begun the implementation of a Community Health and Planning Services (CHPS) concept in the year 2000 to bridge the gap in geographical access to basic health and Nutrition services especially Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health (RMNCAH) for women and children. Ghana has also implemented social protection policies such as fully paid maternity leave and cash transfer through the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) which have implications for the wellbeing of mothers and children. The country also introduced a National Health Insurance Scheme in 2003 and free maternal and child health policy in 2008 to remove financial barriers for basic health services especially for the most vulnerable.

Overall access to healthcare services has improved but reduction in morbidity and mortality has been slow. There are also worrying disparities in mortality and coverage for key health interventions raising serious concerns about inequities in healthcare. Results from Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS), Multiple Indicators Cluster Surveys (MICS) and administrative data from the District Health Information Management System (DHIMS2) consistently show inequities in Under five mortality, immunisation coverages, Skilled Birth Attendance (SBA), stunting, newborn mortality etc. About a third (30%) of children in the Northern region are not fully immunized (GDHS 2014) and the Northern region is the only region in Ghana with prevalence of stunting (among children) above 30% as against the national average of 19% whilst the Upper West region has Newborn Mortality Rate (NMR) of 37 deaths per 1000 live births compared to the national average 29 deaths per 1000 deaths. 

UNICEF is supporting the Government of Ghana to conduct equity analysis to understand the extent of inequities and the factors driving same to generate evidence for equity informed programing. This Terms of Reference seeks to engage a consultant to coordinate partners and the process of the equity analysis.

Purpose of the Assignment

This Terms of Reference seeks to engage a national consultant to provide the necessary technical and coordination support for stakeholder engagement and processes to support the equity analysis in Ghana. The consultant, in coordination with the international experts, UNICEF and MoH/GHS, is primarily expected to:

  1. Scan, identify, and verify available data sources to be incorporated into the Equity Impact Sensitive tool (EQUIST).
  2. Provide timely logistical and coordination support to ensure that stakeholder engagement on EQUIST is broad-based and participatory in nature.
  3. Monitor and provide periodic updates on the implementation status of the equity analysis to enable timely decision-making when relevant.

The equity assessment will be national in scope and will include the following key thematic areas:

  • Immunisation
  • Maternal and Newborn Care
  • Antiretroviral Therapy for Mother to Child Transmission of HIV and Pediatric HIV
  • Management of Severe Acute Malnutrition
  • Early initiation and exclusive Breastfeeding
  • Infant and Young Child Feeding

How can you make a difference?

Main tasks 

  1. Provide technical support to the Policy Planning and Monitoring Division of Ghana Health Service to identify data sources that will be uploaded unto EQUIST and contribute to data analysis. The consultant will not upload the data but will ensure that the data is available for upload unto EQUIST.
  2. Organise 2 workshops for the international institution to build capacity of senior health managers and program officers on EQUIST, and conduct the assessment.
  3. Liaise with the contracted international institution to complete the analysis and provide regular updates on progress and challenges to the section chief who will supervise the contracted institution.
  4. Organise a validation workshop and follow up with international consultant for timely submission of final report for the equity assessment including the secondary analysis on immunization.

Deliverables

  1. A data base that contains data from national surveys on health and nutrition services is available
  2. Reports submitted on two stakeholder workshops to train health managers on EQUIST and conduct Equity analysis
  3. A validation meeting held to validate the report of the equity assessment.
  4. Final report of the equity assessment including the secondary analysis on immunization submitted.

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

  • A University Degree in public health and or research or other health related science is required.
  • A minimum of 5 years of relevant professional work experience in health program analysis
  • Experience in data management is desirable
  • Previous working experience with UNICEF is an asset
  • Knowledge of the EQUIST tool and equity analysis is an asset

Application procedure

Interested candidates should apply on-line to the link provided and indicate their daily/monthly professional  fees in Ghana Cedis. The applications will be evaluated based on detailed CV/Resume as well as a 2-page write up of how you will successfully complete this assignment.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

The technical competencies required for this post are….

View our competency framework at

http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

Remarks:

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.Download File 

This vacancy is now closed.
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