National Health Consultant (Open for Nationals of South Sudan only).

The Health Consultant will provide technical support to the Health Specialist in the Malakal field office for the implementation and monitoring of activities under PEHSP. The consultant will be based in Malakal and is expected to have regular travels within Upper Nile State and surrounding areas of UNICEF interventions, conducting programmatic visits scheduled and other Health program requirements, with focus to the following counties: Renk, Melut, Longechuk, Nasir, Kodok.

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Background/Rationale for the Assignment

South Sudan’s Child mortality and morbidity rates are high: under‐five mortality is 91 per 1,000 live births while neonatal mortality is 39 per 1,000 births; child malnutrition is severe, with underweight prevalence at 23 percent of children (UNICEF, 2016). Maternal mortality is among the highest in the world, estimated at 789 per 100,000 births. Endemic diseases pose a heavy burden, particularly malaria, which accounts for 20–40 percent of all health facility visits. The health care system particularly in Upper Nile State is extremely stretched: only about 40 percent of the population can access health care within a 5‐kilometer radius. Life expectancy of 56 years is low.

In response to this situation, since 2019, UNICEF is implementing a World Bank-funded Project including the preparedness and deployment of vaccines in South Sudan, deliver of essential health service delivery in the states of Upper Nile and Jonglei States, while developing Government capacity for health sector stewardship.

The project has entered the second phase (July 2021 – 2022) with a clear commitment from all parties to boost the implementation and achieve better results and beyond. An intensive supervision is needed to keep a close monitoring of IPs work on the ground while also providing the necessary technical support to boost the project interventions in Upper Nile State.

 Purpose/task & Expected Results

The Health Consultant is to be based in Upper Nile State to support supervision of the COVID-19 Emergency Response and Health Systems Response Project (CERHSRP) in Upper Nile State.

 Main Duties and Responsibilities:

• Support to Implementing Partners
  • Participate in UNICEF health program strategic discussion for the planning of the CERHSRP health program and activities.
  • Work closely and collaboratively with internal and external colleagues and partners in the field to discuss operational and implementation issues, provide solutions, recommendations, and/or alert appropriate officials and stakeholders for higher-level intervention and/or decision.
  • To assess and monitor the delivery of high-impact PHC services in health facilities and counties targeted by the project.
  • To improve quality of care provided in health facilities targeted by the project, by providing technical support and in-service training/mentorship to existing health workers based on assessed needs; by disseminating and enforcing the MOH’s written protocols and technical standards and by identifying gaps in skilled health workers at the facility level.
• Performance Management

• Track and capture lessons learned and best practices in the program and ensure they dissemination and application in other locations to maximize program performance.
• Participate in monthly supportive and PEHSP program reviews with government and other counterparts to assess programs and report on required action/interventions at the higher level of program management.
• Conduct regular program field visits to assess progress and ensure that results are achieved by implementing partners and verified at County and State levels. Provide technical support, take appropriate action to resolve issues, and/or refer to relevant officials for resolution. Report to supervisor on critical issues, bottlenecks, and potential problems for timely action to achieve results.
• Perform frequent supervision visits to implementing partners, health facilities, and communities targeted by the project as per agreed planning and using MOH’s quantitative supervisory checklist (QSC).
• Ensure best practices in Pharmaceutical supply chain management (PSCM) using the Ministry of Health’s Pharmaceutical Management Information Systems (PMIS) tool kit are roll out and being used correctly during supervision visits.
• Strengthen the management capacity of the State Ministry of Health (SMOH) and County Health Departments (CHDs) in providing the delivery of high impact PHC services and in carrying out their key stewardship functions, specifically

• Reporting and quality Assurance
  • Prepare supervision visit reports with findings of each visit and corrective actions to be taken to ensure improved health care service delivery at both community and health facilities levels.
  • Convene forums constituting of implementing partner (field based and Country Office-based) staff, internal colleagues and Lot Focal Persons to discuss key field findings within 5-7 days upon completion of supervision to craft a suitable way forward for performance improvement.
  • The conduct of systematic and supportive supervision of service delivery at all health facilities using the MoH’s QSC tool.
  • The effective coordination of all health partners at the County and State levels to harmonize activities.
  • The implementation of the MOH’s standard recording and reporting systems, including the health management information system (HMIS) and the Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR).
  • Coordinate with relevant implementing partners to provide a timely and adequate response to epidemics or other health emergencies if needs arise.
  • On a monthly basis, collect and analyse all relevant data and information to gauge the progress of achievement of results under the agreement. The data will come from various sources (i) the MOH’s health management information system (HMIS); (ii) the MOH’s quantitative supervisory checklist (QSC);  and (iii) internal monitoring, spot check, auditing, and verification mechanisms currently used by UNICEF or newly designed for this activity.
  • Participate in relevant meetings on the PEHSP project with Implementing partners, MoH, CHD, and other relevant stakeholders.
• Scope of Work:

The Health Consultant will provide technical support to the Health Specialist in the Malakal field office for the implementation and monitoring of activities under PEHSP. The consultant will be based in Malakal and is expected to have regular travels within Upper Nile State and surrounding areas of UNICEF interventions, conducting programmatic visits scheduled and other Health program requirements, with focus to the following counties: Renk, Melut, Longechuk, Nasir, Kodok.

Qualifications and Competencies

• A University degree in one of the following fields is required: public health/nutrition, pediatric health, family health, health research, global/international health, health policy and/or management, environmental health sciences, biostatistics, socio-medical, health education, epidemiology, or another relevant technical field
• A minimum of 5 years of professional experience in public health and management and/or in relevant areas of maternal and neonatal health care, health emergency/humanitarian preparedness, at the international level, and/or in a developing country is required.
• Experience in health program/project development in a UN system agency or organization is an asset.
• Experience working in Upper Nile Region and/or in a similar project like the PEHSP is an added advantage.
• Knowledge of the duty station is considered an asset for this consultancy.
• Diplomacy, conflict management, flexibility, understanding of local cultural and social practices are key success factors for this consultancy.

 A range of specialized skills:

• Experience of management of PEHSP or similar programs.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills and report writing.
• In-depth analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent facilitation skills, training skills, and ability to organize and implement training.
• Ability to work in a multi-cultural environment and proven interpersonal skills.
• Experience in building successful relationships with government counterparts, UN agencies, CSOs, and other relevant stakeholders.
• Ability to cope with hardship conditions.
• Knowledge of computer management skills including Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint software.

All applications must be submitted with detailed financial and technical proposal

Payment Schedule

Payment will be done monthly upon delivery of key task and submission of all necessary reports as stipulated in the detailed  Terms of Reference.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA).

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

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:

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

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.