National Consultant to provide technical assistance in enhancing access to social services for and reducing stigma and discrimination against children and adolescents living with HIV

The purpose of the assignment is to support UNICEF in a) strengthening the capacity of different actors, including civil society organizations and self-governing bodies, to ensure the well-being of children and adolescents living with HIV through interpersonal communication and community engagement to influence and support personal and social change and access to social services; and b) empowering adolescents and youth living with HIV.

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 every child, protection. 

The purpose of the assignment is to support UNICEF in a) strengthening the capacity of different actors, including civil society organizations and self-governing bodies, to ensure the well-being of children and adolescents living with HIV through interpersonal communication and community engagement to influence and support personal and social change and access to social services; and b) empowering adolescents and youth living with HIV.

The consultant will support a) the planning and implementation of a training for directors of AIDS centres aimed at enhancing the effectiveness of services related to the prevention, treatment and care of HIV, and the provision of quality medical and psychosocial services to people living with HIV, with a primary focus on children and adolescents living with HIV (February 15-17), b) provide regular supervision to professionals assigned with providing psychosocial and other support services to children and adolescents living with HIV and their families (February to December 2023), and c) support a selected number of adolescents and youth living with HIV and their families in Andijan and Fergana regions through trainings covering basic life skills and psychosocial wellbeing.

Work Assignments Overview and Timeline: 

1. Support the planning and implementation of a training to directors of AIDS Centres aimed at enhancing the effectiveness of services related to the prevention, treatment and care of HIV, and the provision of quality medical and psychosocial services to people living with HIV, with a primary focus on children and adolescents living with HIV - by 24 February 2023.

2. Provide supervision to relevant staff of AIDS centres and Day Care Centres as well as residential care facilities for children aimed at enhancing the provision of support, in particular social and psychosocial support, to children and adolescents living with HIV and their families, as well as to address burnout among professionals - 20 February to 31 December 2023 (80 sessions in total).

3. Organize two regional trainings for adolescents and youth living with HIV and their families (tentatively in Fergana and Andijan) - April 2023.

Deliverables/Outputs:

1. A 2-day training workshop (14 academic hours) for directors of eight regions in Uzbekistan conducted.

A training report submitted, including results from pre- and post-test.

2. Conduct twice a week online/offline supervision sessions for relevant professionals.

Submit monthly reports on the supervision support provided, key challenges faced by professionals and recommendations of how to further improve the support.

3. Two 3-day trainings organized for an approximate 40 adolescents/youth and 25 family members

A training report submitted, including results from pre- and post-test.

Payment schedule:

The final rate shall follow the “best value for money” principle, i.e., achieving the desired outcome at the lowest possible fee. Consultants will be asked to stipulate all-inclusive fees, including lump sum travel and subsistence costs, as applicable.

Payment of professional fees will be based on submission of agreed deliverables. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold payment in case the deliverables submitted are not up to the required standard or in case of delays in submitting the deliverables on the part of the consultant

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

• Bachelor or master’s degree in health/ psychosocial sciences or related fields; 
• At least 5 years of practical experience of working programmes related to HIV/AIDS;
• Experience in providing psychosocial support to children and adults living with HIV;
• Experience in empowering children, adolescents and adults living with HIV through knowledge and skills, aimed at improving their psychosocial wellbeing;
• Experience in conducting trainings on HIV/AIDS related topics;
• Good communication and networking skills;
• Good communication skills in Russian and Uzbek and good understanding of English.. 

For every Child, you demonstrate… 

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

 To view our competency framework, please visit  here. 

 UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment. 

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. 

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.