Data Management Consultant (Opened to Botswana locals only)

The country seeks to apply for validation for being on the path to elimination of MTCT based on the criteria set by WHO for high HIV burden countries. In this regard, UNICEF is seeking the services of a national data management consultant, who will work with other consultants from WHO and UNAIDS to undertake a consultancy as indicated under specific activities and tasks.

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Background and Justification

Botswana with a population of 2,324,232, is currently among the countries with highest HIV and AIDS epidemic burden in Southern Africa. Just over a quarter (27%) of the total population are women of child-bearing age, while children under five years constitute12 per cent of the population. The annual population growth rate stands at 2.4 per cent and total fertility rate at 2.9 per cent (BDS 2017). The Botswana PMTCT programme prides itself of being the first national programme in Africa to have achieved 100% geographic coverage in a space of 3 years starting in 2000. Progress in service delivery shows that PMTCT services have been decentralized to the lowest levels. With the implementation of option B+ and adoption of “Treat All” strategy, the capacity of nurses to initiate lifelong ART has been strengthened.

Since its inception, PMTCT has recorded major achievements in terms of access, testing of pregnant mothers, HIV positive mothers taking up HIV prophylaxis and treatment and the proportion of new-borns tested at 6 weeks. Among the notable successes are: increases from 92 per cent in 2012 to 97 per cent in 2019 in the proportion of pregnant women accessing ARVs; a decline of HIV prevalence in pregnant women from 37.4 per cent in 2003 to 26.5 per cent in 2015, an increase in testing uptake of 98 per cent in 2019. Early infant diagnosis (EID) coverage has improved overtime from 49 per cent in 2016 to 85 per cent in 2019. The trend in infant feeding within the context of HIV infection also showed an increase in proportion of mothers breast-feeding their babies, though the proportion was only 41 per cent in 2019.

Botswana has a good syphilis prevention strategy among pregnant women integrated within the antenatal care programme and other SRH services. This program has been in place for decades (from the 1970s) which has resulted in low prevalence of syphilis among pregnant women. However, data on this indicator was not routinely reported at national level for monitoring of program progress.

The Government of Botswana aims to eliminate mother-to-child transmission (EMTCT) of HIV after two decades of implementation of the PMTCT programme. The Mother-to-Child-Transmission of HIV (MTCT) has significantly declined from 40 per cent at the inception of the programme in 2003 to 1.94 per cent (2019 spectrum estimates) and has been consistently less than per cent for at least the past three consecutive years. It is through these achievements that Botswana is among a few high burden HIV countries in the African region considered eligible for validation for being on the Path to Elimination (PTE) of MTCT.

Due to existing challenges and data gaps that needed to be addressed including the exclusion of non-citizens in program data reporting at national level and gaps in syphilis data, Botswana in February 2020 conducted a national data collection and verification exercise for syphilis and PMTCT programmes (including non-citizens data) for reconstruction of the national data base to improve EMTCT validation prospects. The results indicate that Botswana is in good standing for classification in one of the PTE of MTCT categories.

In this regard, the country seeks to apply for validation for being on the path to elimination of MTCT based on the criteria set by WHO for high HIV burden countries (refer to table above). This activity will allow the country to collect the data needed to apply for EMTCT validation. The findings and recommendations generated will be used to determine Botswana’s qualification and to apply towards the EMTCT validation and accreditation process. In addition, the findings will influence advocacy, policy, strategic direction and partnerships required to achieve the results and targets outlined in NSF3 and to accelerate progress towards EMTCT of HIV. The exercise will also provide recommendations on how the Botswana government can best re-position the PMTCT programme to qualify for the Global EMTCT validation. It is for this reason that the Botswana government wishes to embark on EMTCT of HIV and Syphilis assessment and submit the report of the assessment to the EMTCT Regional Validation Committee for consideration.

With support from the UN (WHO, UNICEF and UNAIDS), a team of national consultants will be recruited to work closely with the National Validation Committee to support the PTE validation process. The team will comprise of a Team Leader, Data Management, Gender and Human Rights and Laboratory consultants. UNICEF will support the recruitment of the data management consultant.

It is against this background that UNICEF is seeking the services of a national data management consultant. These ToR are specifically for the data management consultant.

Scope of Work

Goal and objective:

Under the leadership and guidance of the Team Leader (hired and supervised by WHO Botswana), the team of consultants will work collaboratively to support the assessment and report writing and will specifically be responsible and accountable for products/outputs under the specific areas assigned to them. The overall objectives of the EMTCT assessment are to:

1. Assess achievement of the process and impact indicators against set targets for the validation of elimination of MTCT of HIV and syphilis using the standard four data assessment and verification tools.
2. Assess the country’s EMTCT programs to determine compliance with regional and global validation criteria and processes and eligibility for validation of being on the Path to Elimination (PTE).
3. Build national consensus on and finalize a national validation report.
4. Submit the national validation report and apply for PTE validation to the RVC.

AWP details/reference:

This assignment is linked to delivery of results within output 2.2 of the 2020 Annual Workplan and will contribute to supporting Path to Elimination (PTE) processes including data collection and reporting and will take place between December 2020 and February 2021.

Specific activities and tasks for the Data Management Consultant:

1. Be the technical lead in data management and analysis for the validation assessment and oversee the administration of the data collection and verification tools.
2. Conduct literature review to identify data challenges/gaps (including but not limited to review of the routine data quality assessment (RDQA) for PMTCT, National DQA for ART, Pre-validation checklist assessment and the 2020 national PMTCT and syphilis data collection reports, including review for completeness and accuracy and facilitate collection of missing information and verification of data as necessary.
3. In liaison with the Team Leader and other consultants, the MoHW, NVC and the assessment secretariat, ensure data collection tools and other required instruments are available and adapted to Botswana context, pre-tested and the teams trained to conduct field work of the highest quality possible.
4. In collaboration with the Team Leader coordinate field data collection teams and ensure timely data collection. Participate in field visits as necessary for oversight and quality assurance.
5. Create database to facilitate data entry and analysis.
6. Oversee data entry and lead data cleaning and analysis, ensuring data quality and integrity.
7. Visualize the data and interpret results into a succinct but comprehensive report.
8. Provide inputs and contribute to writing of the final report.
9. Participate in and facilitate stakeholders’ workshops to disseminate preliminary and final findings.

Payment Schedule

Administrative issues and Conditions

1. The consultant will use own equipment to produce deliverables.
2. The consultant is expected to travel in-country (subject to COVID-19 situation) and work remotely based on an agreed upon schedule. Timing for visits and planning will be jointly agreed with UNICEF Botswana Country Office, WHO and MoHW. The consultant is required to indicate an all-inclusive fee for this assignment, considering in-country travel as applicable.
3. As per UNICEF DFAM policy, payment is made against approved deliverables. No advanced payment is allowed unless exceptions against bank guarantees, subject to a maximum of 30 percent of the total contract value, in cases where advance purchases, for example for supplies or travel maybe necessary.
4. The candidate selected will be governed by and subject to UNICEF’s General Terms and Conditions for individual contracts.

In addition:

• Consultants are not entitled to payment of overtime.  All remuneration must be within the contract agreement.
• No contract may commence unless the contract is signed by both UNICEF and the consultant or Contractor.
• Consultant will be required to complete online courses related to Ethics, Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse and Security related trainings prior to taking up the assignment and/or travel.
• Consultant will be required to sign the Health Statement for consultants/individual contractor prior to taking up the assignment, and to document that they have appropriate health insurance covering COVID-19, including Medical Evacuation.

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

• A Master’s degree in epidemiology, demography, statistics or related health field.
• Experience of either programme reviews, health systems approach in programme reviews or health sector reviews of not less than 5 years.
• Demonstrable good data management skills, including data collection, analysis and interpretation. Experience with development of data collection tools of added value.
• Experience in designing and using databases.
• Evidence of having worked with government. Experience with public health institutions will be an added advantage.
• Good command of written and spoken English.
• Good presentation and report writing skills.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

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.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

Remarks:

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws.