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TERMS OF REFERENCE :
| Title of Assignment |
International consultancy for the development of HIV and SRH C4D products for adolescents and young people to drive behaviour change and promote demand for services |
| Section |
ESARO HIV /AIDS |
| Location |
Home-based / Virtual |
| Duration |
60 days over 5 months |
| Start date |
From: 11th January 2021 |
To: 14th June 2021 |
Background and Justification :
Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA) is the region carrying the largest share of the global burden of HIV and some of the highest rates of adolescent pregnancy. In the last decade, much progress has been made, but the gains are still fragile and HIV and unintended pregnancies continue to have a tremendous impact on the lives of children, adolescents and their families. Adolescents and young people, in particular adolescent girls and young women, are especially vulnerable to new HIV infections, which increase dramatically between the ages of 15 and 24 years . Over 1 million adolescents living with HIV call ESA home and more than a third of all new infections in the region are among this group. Additionally, in ESA, one in four women aged 20-24 years gave birth before the age of 18, with an estimated average adolescent birth rate of107 .
With the onset of COVID-19, the continuity of essential HIV and sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services in ESA has been disrupted. Emerging evidence indicates that people living with HIV are not accessing life-saving antiretroviral treatment; family planning and other SRH services have reduced capacity; and, gender-based violence is on the rise. For adolescents, access to critical information and support has largely been halted with school closures and the suspension of peer-based programmes to align with physical distancing policies. Given the existing poor outcomes and gaps in care for adolescents in relation to SRH and HIV, this is of particular concern.
UNICEF’s HIV, SRH and COVID-19 response requires intentional action to reach the diversity of adolescents and young people and innovatively engage with them to continue to support behaviour change and generate demand for HIV and SRH services. New and enhanced high quality, region-specific, interactive and up-to-date information and engagement products are urgently needed for adolescents and young people. Against this background, UNICEF is seeking services on a consultant to undertake the development of a set of regional communication for development (C4D) products on HIV and SRH including in the context of COVID-19. The development of these products will support the regional office, country offices, youth networks and UN partners through platforms such as U-Report, Internet of Good Things (IoGT) and social media.
Scope of Work :
The overall goal of this consultancy is to develop a set of high-quality regional C4D products on HIV, and SRH including in the context of COVID-19 to engage adolescent and young people, drive behaviour change and promote demand for services.
More specifically, this consultant will :
- Analyse available U-Report data (polls, unsolicited questions and counselling conversations) and review available reports to understand the current HIV, SRH and COVID-19 context for adolescents and young people in ESA ;
- Maximise the use of U-Report, IoGT and TuneMe platforms by developing social accountability surveys to engage adolescents and young people and understand the experiences and the quality of HIV and SRH programmes and services ;
- Develop adolescent-friendly information content on HIV, SRH and COVID-19 for U-Report, IoGT and social media ;
- Design interactive and graphic components to enhance the information particularly for IoGT ;
- Support dissemination of new and updated content through the development of a social media pack ;
- Ensure and demonstrate the engagement and contribution of adolescents and young people throughout the entire development process as well as the inputs of technical specialists and UN partners
Working Relationship :
The consultant will report to the HIV Specialist on adolescents in close collaboration with the C4D Specialist at the ESA regional office. The consultant will also regularly interact with the adolescents and young people from the region through the global network of young people living with HIV (Y+) as well as UN partners under the 2gether 4 SRHR grant. Engagement with Y+ will be facilitated and supported by the HIV Specialist on adolescents.
Expected Deliverables :
Under the overall guidance of the UNICEF’s ESA HIV Specialist on Adolescents, the consultant will deliver on the following :
- Summary minutes of inception meeting with UNICEF ESARO and Y+ ;
- Inception Report outlining the proposed methodology for meeting deliverables of the consultancy, including the outcomes of the U-Report analysis and report reviews and how they guide the focus and approach of the work plan ;
- Finalised social accountability surveys/polls on users’ satisfaction on services and programmes – approximately three on a range of HIV, SRH and COVID-19 issues ;
- Finalised Q+As with corresponding U-Report and TuneMe polls – approximately five on a range of HIV, SRH and COVID-19 topics, each of one composed by a flow of maximum 7 questions and associated messages ;
- Updated adolescent-specific content on HIV and SRH for IoGT – approximately eight pages including suggested design concepts and interactive components in line with IoGT guidance ;
- Social media pack to support dissemination based on the products develop including written content and graphic components ;
- PowerPoint presentation of all the developed C4D products to all engaged partners including Y+ and UN.
All deliverables must be developed with the engagement and contribution of adolescents and young people as well as include the inputs of UNICEF technical specialists and UN partners
Timeline and Payment Schedule :
The performance will be evaluated on timeliness, alignment with TORs, and quality of work. Payment will be made upon satisfactory completion of all deliverables as per schedule above.
| # |
Deliverable |
Associated activities |
Duration (estimated # of working days) |
Location |
Expected timeline |
Payment Schedule |
| 1. |
Summary Minutes of inception meeting |
|
1
|
Home
|
15th January
|
|
| 2. |
Inception Report |
Analysis of available U-Report data and C4D reports |
10
|
Home
|
1st February
|
10%
|
| 3. |
Social accountability surveys – approx. three |
Devise social accountability polls on users’ satisfaction on services and programmes |
6
|
Home
|
22nd February
|
30%
|
|
4.
|
Q+As with corresponding U-Report polls – approx. five |
Develop adolescent-friendly information content for Q+As |
15
|
Home
|
22nd March
|
|
| 5. |
Updated adolescent-specific content on HIV and SRH for IoGT – approx. eight pages |
Develop adolescent-friendly information content
Design interactive and graphic components |
20
|
Home
|
10th May
|
30%
|
| 6. |
Social media pack |
Develop a social media pack to Support dissemination of new and updated content with graphic components |
6
|
Home
|
31st May
|
|
| 7. |
PowerPoint presentation of final products |
|
2
|
Home
|
14th June
|
30%
|
|
Total
|
60
|
|
|
|
Desired competencies, technical background and experience :
- Education : Advanced university degree from a recognized academic institution in Public Health, Social Sciences, Social Science Research or related field ;
- Work experience : Minimum 8 years professional working experience in Public Health programs, with desired experience in Adolescent Sexual Health, HIV and Behaviour Change Communication ;
- Experience in working with adolescents and young people and developing similar adolescent C4D content is highly desired ;
- A strong set of creative and design skills, with experience of online platforms, is considered an added advantage ;
- Experience working in a multicultural environment, including international experience ;
- Language : Excellent English oral and written communication skills
Administrative issues :
- The HIV Unit, UNICEF ESARO will provide direct oversight and supervision of the consultant’s work, in close collaboration with the ESARO C4D section ;
- The consultant will use their own equipment including computer to produce deliverables. All communications shall be done through available and UNICEF recommended virtual platforms.
Conditions :
- As per UNICEF DFAM policy, payment is made against approved deliverables. No advance payment is allowed unless in exceptional circumstances against bank guarantee, “subject to a maximum of 30% of the total contract value in cases where advance purchases, for example for supplies or travel, maybe necessary” ;
- The candidate selected will be governed by and subject to UNICEF’s General Terms and Conditions for the individual contract.
How to Apply :
Desk review with shortlisted candidates requested to submit :
Interested candidates should apply online using the button below.
As part of their application, candidates should provide :
- A cover letter that specifies how you meet the desired competencies, technical background and experience (no more than 2 pages) ;
- A short CV (no more than 4 pages) ;
- A financial proposal that should include the total fees for the assignment which includes travel/administrative/per diems, if applicable ;
- 3 Referees ;
- P 11 form – which can be downloaded from our website at: http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/index_53129.html
Candidates with questions about the opportunity should contact Alice Armstrong at [email protected]
Deadline : 08 Dec 2020 E. Africa Standard Time.