Consultant to Review, Refine and Update of the Department of Social Development Comprehensive HIV & AIDS, TB and STI Strategy

Background

UN Women, grounded in the vision of equality enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, works for the elimination of discrimination against women and girls; the empowerment of women; and the achievement of equality between women and men as partners and beneficiaries of development, human rights, humanitarian action and peace and security. Placing women’s rights at the centre of all its efforts, UN Women leads and coordinates the efforts of the United Nations system to ensure that commitments on gender equality and gender mainstreaming translate into action throughout the world. UN Women provides strong and coherent leadership in support of Member States’ priorities and efforts, building effective partnerships with civil society and other relevant actors.

UN Women South Africa Multi-Country Office (SAMCO) is based in Pretoria, South Africa and serves five countries: South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, and ESwatini.

The National Strategic Plan (NSP) on HIV, STIs provides a roadmap for the country’s response for HIV, TB and STIS. It recognizes the gains that the country has made especially using the biomedical approaches. However, a biomedical focus alone cannot yield the lasting reduction in HIV transmission without tackling the social, behavioral, and structural factors that are driving the epidemic in the country. To achieve maximum impact on HIV prevention, the NSP calls for combination HIV prevention approaches focusing on social, structural, and biomedical interventions.

The Department of Social Development (DSD) developed an integrated strategy on HIV, STIs and TB to provide guidance to the Department, its implementing partners, and stakeholders to respond to the twin epidemics of HIV and TB in a more integrated manner. The strategy seeks to holistically address the social and structural barriers that facilitate HIV and TB acquisition, and to contribute meaningfully to social and behavioral change by creating an enabling environment, to ensure that individuals optimally utilize the current prevention approaches.

The Department of Social Development Comprehensive HIV, TB and STI Strategy (DSD Strategy) is intended to guide the DSD’s contributions to the goals of the National Strategic Plan on HIV, TB and STIs towards the reduction of new HIV infections in the country. 

The review and updating of the current DSD strategy should take into consideration new evidence and essential comprehensive services including the effects of the COVID -19 pandemic and other emergencies. The review and updated strategy will ensure continued commitment in the utilization of innovations and evidence that contributes towards transitioning the country to non-public health threats by the year 2030.  

Objectives of the assignment:

The Department of Social Development has a significant role in addressing the social and structural barriers as well as contributing to social behavior change to HIV prevention among the population including key populations and vulnerable groups. In responding to the mandate of the NSP, DSD developed the Comprehensive HIV &AIDS, TB and STI Strategy. The Department’s approach to HIV prevention is founded on a social development perspective which must be addressed at all levels of society, including the individual, interpersonal relationships, the family, communities and the structures and systems which determine the well-being of society.

Furthermore, the Strategy represents the DSD’s concerted efforts to harness the widest range of resources at its disposal and deliver a comprehensive response to the specific challenges and responsibilities presented by the NSP.

The multi-faceted nature of these challenges requires the adoption of a combination prevention approach – a holistic approach that recognise the social and structural drivers of HIV, TB and STI transmission, and adopts comprehensive measures not only to prevent new infections, but also to address issues of care and support to those living with or affected by HIV, TB and STIs. The approach also recognises the intersection of health issues with human rights, addressing all forms of inequalities, social justice, and gender equality.

The purpose of DSD Comprehensive HIV Strategy is to provide different stakeholders at national, provincial, and local levels with strategic direction to develop their own implementation plans that reflect their specific contribution to the achievement of the DSD Comprehensive HIV Strategy. In addition, the Strategy identifies the roles and responsibilities of different stakeholders and provides mechanisms for monitoring and evaluation of the strategy to measure implementation.

Purpose of the Assignment:

SANAC Trust in partnership with the Department of Social Development and UN Women would like to appoint a consultant to review and update a draft 5- year DSD Comprehensive Strategy on HIV, TB and STIs. The strategy should be aligned to   current developments and policies.

Scope of Work:

The consultant will be using the current Comprehensive Strategy as the basis for their work   to review and refine the document aligning it to the current data and agenda on HIV and AIDS. Achieving this will include the following:

1. Adjust the already developed literature review, using the Global commitments and national strategies to develop a Comprehensive Strategy for the Department of Social Development towards ending the inequalities driving HIV epidemic.
2. Bring forth the social determinants of TB including intervention strategies for community response for TB response. 
3. Refer to DSD policies, strategies, and programmes in addressing the social determinants of HIV, TB and STIs in the country.
4. Refine the draft Comprehensive Strategy on HIV, TB and STIs aligning this to the draft NSP 2023-2028 including lessons learned from the outgoing NSP 2017 -2022.
5. Review and revise the Theory of Change ensuring its relevancy towards the departmental contribution through its social and behaviour change programming. This should also be aligned to the draft NSP 2023 -2028.
6. Consolidate the Strategy to a systematic measurable integrated guiding document that enables tracking and analysis of the DSD and other relevant stakeholders’ response towards HIV, TB and STI implementation progress.
7. Develop M&E framework with indicators and targets matrix guiding measurable, timely and precise key results of the strategy.

Duties and Responsibilities

The duties and responsibilities include:

1. Refining of the literature review;

2. Outlining the social determinants of HIV, TB and STIs;

3. Aligning the findings with DSD Policies, strategies and Programmes;

4. Producing a draft NSP aligned to the outgoing strategy and other relevant national strategies;

5. Developing a coherent Theory of Change;

6. Developing an Monitoring and Evaluation.

Key Deliverables:

1. Inception report detailing the proposed methodology for meeting deliverables of this consultancy, including workplan and data gathering process;
2. A draft revised theory of change on the 5-year comprehensive strategy for HIV, TB and STIs;
3. M&E framework with indicators and targets over 5 years to measure progress on the implementation of the strategy;
4. A print ready 5-year Comprehensive Strategy on HIV, TB and STIs;
5. A power point presentation capturing the important elements of DSD Comprehensive on HIV, TB and STIs;
6. Final report on the delivery of the assignment.   

Competencies

Core Values:

• Respect for Diversity;
• Integrity;
• Professionalism;

Core Competencies:

• Awareness and Sensitivity Regarding Gender Issues;
• Accountability;
• Creative Problem Solving;
• Effective Communication;
• Inclusive Collaboration;
• Stakeholder Engagement;
• Leading by Example.

Please visit this link for more information on UN Women’s Core Values and  Competencies: https://www.unwomen.org/sites/default/files/Headquarters/Attachments/Sections/About%20Us/Employment/UN-Women-values-and-competencies-framework-en.pdf

Functional Competencies:

• Strong Research and analytical skills;
• Strong strategy development understanding;
• Strong programme formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation skills;
• Ability to synthesize program performance data and produce analytical reports to inform management and strategic decision-making;
• Strong ToC development skills;
• Strong knowledge of Results Based processes;
• Strong M&E framework development.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Master’s degree, in policy development, public health, Community development and /or related social sciences qualification or related fields;

Experience:

1. At least 5 – 10 years of experience in research development and data analysis and writing skills;
2. Demonstrate abilities and knowledgeable in the translation of policy imperatives and development of Theory of Change to inform strategy development;
3. Thorough knowledge of the work the Department of Social Development with in-depth understanding of the community and cultural dynamics including harmful norms driving the HIV and STI epidemics in the country;
4. Demonstrated a strong track record in the development of the strategic documents, in consultation with relevant stakeholders in the field of HIV and social development; 
5. Knowledge and / or understanding of the SANAC and its stakeholders, with strong stakeholder management skills and experience working at different levels of the South African Government;
6. Ability of producing high level evidence informed reports and professionally designed PowerPoint presentations.  

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in oral and written English is required;
• Working knowledge of another official UN language is an asset.

Note:

Please note that applications without a completed and signed UN Women P-11 form will be treated as incomplete and will not be considered for further assessment.

UN Women Personal History form (P-11) can be downloaded from http://www.unwomen.org/en/about-us/employment

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