Malaria, Tuberculosis and other infectious diseases
Closing Date:
Closed
The UNICEF LAC Regional Office is looking for an expert consultant to conduct a study on the situation of maternal and child health services including prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV among Venezuelan Migrants and Refugees in the context of Covid-19 in Colombia.
UNICEF promotes the rights and welfare of all children and adolescents in everything we do. Together with our allies, we work in 190 countries and territories to transform this commitment into practical actions that benefit all children, especially focusing our efforts on reaching the most vulnerable and excluded, worldwide.
The UNICEF Latin America and Caribbean Regional Office is based in in Panama, operating in 36 territories, including 24 country offices.
UNICEF works to put the rights and well-being of the most disadvantaged children at the heart of the social, political, and economic agenda, in line with our equity focus, working across our organization and with our partners in government, civil society and the private sector to support shifts in public policy, fuel social engagement, and increase investment for children.
UNICEF works around the world to help and protect the rights of migrants and displaced children by supporting government an partners at national and local level to put in place laws,, policies, systems and services that are inclusive of all children and address specific needs of migrants and displaced children helping them thrive.
In 2021, an estimated 14.7 million people, including 5.5 million children, will need humanitarian assistance related to: migration flows from and returns to the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela; needs related to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic; violence; and internal displacement.
Over the past years, the socio-economic crisis in Venezuela has led hundreds of thousands of children and adolescents to leave the country with their families to migrate to other countries in the region. They set out on the journey in difficult conditions and weary of the discrimination and xenophobia they might face in some places along the way.
According to the most recent official figures from Migration Colombia, there are currently 1,742,927 million Venezuelans residing in Colombia, of which 759,584 with regular status and 983,343 with irregular status and a total of 1,136,703 people have registered in the Single Registry of Venezuelan Migrants (RUMV), within the implementation phase of the Temporary Protection Status for Migrants, established by the National Government to regularize their situation in Colombian territory.
During the past months, Colombia experienced a new peak of the COVID-19 pandemic that has lasted several months due to various reasons such as the total opening of the economy, the arrival of new variants of the virus, the social mobilizations that have taken place in large cities.
During these months, the highest number of infections and deaths due to COVID19 has been registered, reaching more than 4,500,000 infections and 110,000 deaths.
Containment measures implemented during the pandemic, such as mandatory and focused confinements, mobility restrictions, interruption of basic medical services, giving priority to those required for COVID-19 care, have had an impact on the worsening of some public health indicators, such as maternal mortality, morbidity due to vector-borne diseases, the decrease in preventive services such as vaccination, prenatal control and growth and development programs, among others.
For every child, health
Purpose of the job
Under the overall guidance of the LACRO Health Specialists the consultant will develop a report that describes and analyses the current situation of the maternal and child health including the prevention of Mother to Child HIV transmission among Venezuelan refugees and migrants in Colombia.
How can you make a difference?
Specific Tasks
1. Collect and analyze quantitative and qualitative information on the causes of maternal and child mortality and morbidity among migrants and refugees in Colombia considering the following areas:
a) Comprehensive maternal and newborn care : Prenatal care, neonatal care (pre and post-delivery), respectful delivery care, post-natal care, including protocols for the HIV mother and child transmission, follow up of newborn care, breastfeeding etc
b) Immunizations and child health monitoring
c) Maternal and child nutrition
d) Referral system for obstetrics and pediatrics emergencies.
e) Management of pregnant women living with HIV and management of newborn.
2. Conduct a mapping of the maternal and child health services for people on the move with special focus on migrants and refugees in the context of COVID-19.
3. Identify the maternal and child services available for migrants and refugees in Colombia as well as the gaps and bottlenecks on the demand and offer of health services in the context of COVID-19
4. Collect, systematize and analyze information from health professionals, service users and involved partners (private and government) on:
a) Situation of the maternal and child health: quality of care, common causes of child and maternal mortality and morbidity,
b) Availability of health professionals specialized on maternal and child health
c) Availability of medical supplies
d) Existence of protocols on maternal and child health particularly on PMTCT
e) Level of demand and access of maternal and child health services.
5. Formulate conclusions and recommendations for each work axis identified considering the migratory situation as a transversal axis in the health outcomes of mothers and children. 6. Present a report that capture the results of the 4 actions mention before, including a executive summary
Expected Results
1. A report with updated information on the situation of maternal and child health including the HIV prevention of mother to child transmission among migrants and refugees in Colombia in the context of COVID-19. The report will include an analysis of the opportunities and bottlenecks surrounding maternal and child health. It will provide recommendations at national level on how to address major gaps to improve the access and quality of health services.
2. A webinar to present the findings and recommendations to partners working with refugees and migrants.
Deliverables
1. Inception report: A brief report of the methodology to be used for this study that clearly states, the key information to collect (relevant indicators) tools of data collection qualitative and quantitative, implementation of the data collection and a time table. Estimated 15 working days.
2. A draft report for consultation and validation by key partners in UNICEF and UNAIDS at national and regional level. The report will include the methodology and systematization of data, with a section of findings and recommendations. Estimated 15 working days.
3. Final report in word and pdf including an executive summary and a presentation of the study in a webinar. Estimated 10 working days.
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
Education: University degree in social sciences, epidemiology, public health or similar.
Work Experience: A minimum of five years of working in health programs with vulnerable groups or related fields.
- Work experience with any of the following areas: HIV, maternal and child health programmes.
- A good understanding of the migration flows in the LAC Region, particularly in Colombia.
- Experience on conducting similar studies in Colombia or in the LAC Region will be an asset.
- Experience working with UNICEF or United Nations will be an asset
Languages: Fluency in Spanish and English is required.
Technical knowledge: Professional technical knowledge and expertise in data collection design and analysis in health programmes.
Other skills and attributes:
Demonstrated excellent skills in word, excel, power point, virtual platforms
Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively
Ability to work efficiently under tight deadlines
Must be detail-oriented
Able to work effectively in a multicultural environment
Ability to clearly defined objectives and plan activities
Supervision: The consultant will work under the direct supervision of the health specialists in Survive & Thrive Section in LACRO
Workplace: this is a home-based remote consultancy.
How to Apply: Application should be submitted online and should include: Resume, Cover Letter and Financial proposal. Qualified candidates are requested to submit daily and monthly fees in their financial proposal.
For every Child, you demonstrate…
UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and the following core competencies: Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness, Works Collaboratively with others, Builds and Maintains Partnerships, Innovates and Embraces Change, Thinks and Acts Strategically, Drive to achieve impactful results, and Manages ambiguity and complexity.
To view our values and competency framework please visit the following links: Our Values and Our Competencies.
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:
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.
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.
This vacancy is now closed.
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