National Consultant: Coordination & Implementation of the Global Alliance Plan at UNICEF
Job no: 574661
Contract type: Consultant
Duty Station: Pretoria
Level: Consultancy
Location: South Africa
Categories: Health, HIV/AIDS
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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, health.
The challenge: Thousands of children die from treatable and preventable conditions. Since 1995, South Africa has made substantial progress in transforming its health sector, making primary healthcare services available to millions who were previously denied access. Yet access to healthcare remains a challenge, with vital healthcare interventions not reaching the areas and people that need them. Read more…
The solution: UNICEF is committed to ensuring that every child survives and thrives. Our approach to South Africa’s health challenge is three-fold:
- contributing to the evidence-base for policy, advocacy and programming
- delivering innovative programmes with partners – especially in high-burden and low-performing districts
- supporting the Government to develop and implement policies and strategies to take vital action to scale Read more…
How can you make a difference?
It is more than four decades since the HIV epidemic was
identified as the most devastating infectious disease across the globe,
threatening economies, households, and lives of individuals. Since then,
many countries have demonstrated that the HIV pandemic, like any
disaster, can be overcome. As such, globally there is a notable decrease
in new HIV and AIDS related deaths, bringing the AIDS response closer
to achieving SDG 3.3 of ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.
Despite the considerable progress made in overcoming this
devastating epidemic, children living with HIV (CLHIV) aged 15 years and
below are being left behind in the global HIV response when compared to
the general population. Globally, only 52% of children that are living
with HIV are accessing lifesaving treatment in comparison to 76% of the
adult population. This backlog has resulted in 15% of children dying due
to AIDS-related illnesses.
Although South Africa’s the treatment coverage is 96% among pregnant women living with HIV, the country still experiences an estimated 10 000 new vertical transmission cases, that arise from both perinatal and postnatal infections, including from seroconversions that happen among mothers post-delivery and during breastfeeding. The country has the largest population of children living with HIV globally, however, as of April 2024, only 82% of children under 15 living with HIV know their status, only 66% on treatment and only 69% of those on treatment are virally suppressed (82-66-69). To achieve 95-95-95 targets, the number of Children (<15) on ART by must be increased by 74,887.
Stigma, discrimination, punitive laws and policies, violence, gender inequalities remain the barriers that hinder access to treatment care and support for women, adolescents, and children. Developing countries in Southern and Eastern Africa are most affected by these inequities.
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The Global Alliance to End AIDS in Children by 2030
Responding to these glaring inequities in the global HIV response for children, the UN agencies including UNAIDS, UNICEF, WHO, international partners like PEPFAR, Global Fund, country governments as well as civil society announced the establishment of The Global Alliance (GA) to end AIDS in children by 2030. The proclamation was made at the 24th International AIDS Conference held in Montreal, Canada in 2022. South Africa was counted among the twelve countries that joined the alliance which included Angola, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
The work of the Global Alliance is anchored on four pillars that countries need to address by developing country specific interventions. The twelve inaugural member states urged all governments to turn these commitments into action and call on civil society, faith-based organizations, local partners, and global funders to support these efforts. South Africa is among the member states that has pledged its commitment to end AIDS in children by 2030. This will be achieved by:
- Strengthening case finding among HIV exposed infants and children.
- Scaling up initiation of dolutegravir based regimen to pregnant and breastfeeding women as per revised guidelines.
- Strengthen regular retesting of pregnant and breastfeeding women.
- Scale-up access to social protection (social grants, nutritional support, early childhood development) for eligible children, adolescents and women living with HIV and key and priority populations for improved access to HIV treatment and services.
- Address gender-based violence and femicide, sexual assault and abuse e.g., infants, children, adolescents, and women including scaling up advocacy for the enforcement of laws.
To realise the goals of ending AIDS in children by 2030, led by SANAC through the National Technical Working (TWG) Group a high-level plan has been developed, and the TWG is in the process of developing a Global Alliance dashboard that aligns to the monitoring and evaluation framework. In addition, the National Technical Working Group has been meeting with provinces to present the Global Alliance plan and support them to develop provincial plans.
UNICEF has recognised that implementation mainly occurs at a district level and therefore will support the districts to focus and prioritise interventions to improve HIV outcomes for children including elimination of vertical transmission. The activity contributes to the UNICEF South African Country Office (SACO) Health and Nutrition Section 2023-2025 Rolling work plan and aligns to the Provincial and District level support to strengthen implementation of the prevention of vertical transmission of HIV, Pediatric HIV and tuberculosis program
For every child, quality health
PURPOSE
The purpose of the vacancy announcement is to seek the services
of a consultant to oversee the coordination and the implementation of
the Global Alliance plan to end AIDS in children in South Africa in 5
districts (City of Johannesburg, Ehlanzeni, Tshwane, eKhurhuleni ,
Nelson Mandela). These are the districts with the highest number of
women and children living with HIV.
The consultant will directly report to the HIV Manager within the
UNICEF SACO and indirectly report to the districts, and with feedback
and presentations to the global alliance national technical working
group, where necessary.
SCOPE OF WORK
The consultancy will directly contribute to the annual work plan activity: To support the development and implementation of the global alliance plan in nine (9) provinces. In this regard, the objectives are to:
- Support and coordinate the institutionalisation of Global Alliance to end AIDS at sub-national levels.
- Support coordination of implementation of the Global Alliance plan and contextualisation in the five (5) districts.
- Facilitate identification, implementation and tracking of implementation in collaboration and in alignment with ongoing initiatives.
- Facilitate the use of Quality Improvement (QI) methodologies to improve implementation of the vertical transmission program and paediatric HIV services.
Activities and tasks
Execute a project management role, including but not limited to the five (5) districts as well as to provide strategic specialist expertise and guidance on coordination of the multi sectoral approach. The activities include:
- Implement provincial/ district project plan in line with the country plan.
- Update and track the alliance plan, compile and present project reports and dashboards periodically and as needed.
- Use data to identify keys gaps in paediatric and adolescent HIV care and the vertical transmission program- priorities at least four (4) gaps that could be addressed to improve the program.
- Provide support to outline key interventions that are to be implemented by the districts and partners to address the gaps and continuously monitor implementation including attainment of district targets.
- Maintain a GA Country team/Provincial Team database, ensuring that stakeholder information is up to date.
• Participate and provide technical support in Global Alliance Provincial Technical Working Group. - Work closely with the country/provincial team and technical working group to develop and implement a learning agenda that promotes learning and adaption of approaches and activities for scaling up.
- Participate in monthly update calls with UNICEF to update progress and upcoming activities.
Outputs and deliverables
- Inception report meeting and a workplan with timelines
- Districts (5) consultation report and plans aligned to the global alliance, with priority actions, indicators and baselines included.
- Quarterly districts reports outlining and updating the district quality improvement plans, in terms of implementation of key activities, bottle necks and the next steps (for the 5 districts).
- Bi-weekly to monthly update meetings UNICEF held.
- Quarterly feedback meeting with the national global alliance team held and district implementation and progress presented.
This consultancy is for 12 months.
- Inception report (2 weeks) – 10% of estimated budget
- Quarterly district consultation and data informed quality improvement plans reports for the 5 districts, sub districts and prioritized health facilities (1 month) – 20% of estimated budget
- Implementation of specific QI actions and indicators report (1 month) – 20% of estimated budget
-
Quality improvement progress report, with progress from last quarter to this one outlined, bottlenecks and how to address them incorporated. Best practices are documented. (over a period 4 months) – 20% of estimated budget
- Meeting actions and Quality improvement progress report, with progress from last quarter to this one outlined, bottlenecks and how to address them incorporated (over a period of 3 months) – 20% of estimated budget
- Final report (last month) – 10% of estimated budget
All the reports must be submitted in English and will be quality reviewed and approved by UNICEF before payment is made.
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
- An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in social sciences/ public health
- A minimum of five (5) years of relevant professional experience at national and international levels, including experience and expertise in HIV, vertical transmission program and/or pediatric HIV
- Prior experience project management, monitoring and tracking results
- Multi stakeholder and partner coordination
- Experience working with the UN and DOH an asset
- Technical experience in
- coordination of partners
- quality improvement
- using data to identify and track implementation
- Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is considered an asset
- Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of a local language is an asset
- A technical proposal to be submitted with your application
- A financial proposal aligned to deliverabls to be submitted with your application
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.
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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 their 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.
Advertised: South Africa Standard Time
Deadline: South Africa Standard Time
How to Apply:
To submit your application, please follow the link provided below.
Temporary Appointment: Health (Financing) Specialist P3 at UNICEF
Job no: 574614
Contract type: Temporary Appointment
Duty Station: Dar-es-Salaam
Level: P-3
Location: United Republic of Tanzania
Categories: Health
UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.
At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.
UNICEF is a place where careers are built: we offer our staff diverse opportunities for personal and professional development that will help them develop a fulfilling career while delivering on a rewarding mission. We pride ourselves on a culture that helps staff thrive, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.
For every child, Health
The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programs, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias, or favouritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life — in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions — her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens — addressing inequity — not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfil their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. This is the reason why, the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of a nation.
How can you make a difference?
The United Republic of Tanzania (URT) has renewed its commitment to achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and adopted Primary Health Care (PHC) as a main pillar for its action to achieve its UHC goals. Optimal Public Financial Management (PFM) in the health sector is a prerequisite for effective and efficient use of scarce resources. The ultimate objective of UNICEF’s health financing work is to contribute to health system strengthening (HSS) to achieve UHC focusing on effective PHC service delivery. The Health Specialist (Health Financing) is expected to nurture close collaboration with other key partners at the national and sub-national level, including the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Finance, the President’s Office Finance and Planning, the President’s Office for Regional Administration and Local Government, selected regional authorities, other UN agencies, development partners and International Financial Institutions. The Health Specialist (Policy, Planning and Financing) will also work closely with the UNICEF TCO Social Policy, Nutrition, and HIV/AIDS sections to effectively drive the health financing agenda.
Under the direct supervision and guidance of the Chief of Health, the incumbent will lead UNICEF’s work with the government and implementing partners to influence the size, composition, equity, efficiency, and effectiveness of health spending at the national and sub-national levels.
MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES AND TASKS
Summary of key functions/accountabilities:
- Data-driven health financing and spending
- Improving the use of health sector public financial resources
- Advocacy, networking, and partnership building
- Innovation, knowledge management, and capacity building
- Data-driven health financing and spending
- Prepare timely economic analysis of expenditure on PHC to inform the national dialogue on efficient and effective health spending.
- Undertake selected health sector budget analysis to inform UNICEF’s advocacy and technical engagement with the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Finance, the President’s Office for Finance and Planning, the President’s Office for Regional Administration, and Local Government to leverage and prioritize resources for sustainable PHC services delivery.
- Provide technical support in the design, implementation, and monitoring of the Universal Health Insurance Scheme and the Zanzibar Health Services Fund in collaboration with other key development partners (e.g., WHO, GAVI, Global Fund, the World Bank, the Global Financing Facilities, International Monetary Fund, Health Basket Fund partners).
- Improve the use of health sector public financial resources
- Provide technical assistance to Ministries of Health Tanzania mainland and Zanzibar in designing the purchasing arrangements and pooling resources under the Universal Health Insurance scheme and the Zanzibar Health Insurance Fund.
- Provide technical guidance around key PFM reforms in the health sector (e.g. streamlining funding for PHC and community health services) and establish a system linking expenditure with outcomes using routine data systems and monitoring spending inequities.
- Work with sector colleagues to build capacity to undertake costing and cost-effectiveness analysis on priority interventions to help inform policy decisions on child-focused investments.
- Advocate for introducing and earmarking health takes, realise efficiencies, and identify other innovative health financing mechanisms.
- Improve the use of health sector public financial resources
- Build and sustain effective close working partnerships with health sector government counterparts, national stakeholders, as well as global partners, allies, donors, and academia for active networking, advocacy, and effective communication to improve health planning, budgeting and financial flows to the sub-national level.
- Prepare communication and information materials to promote awareness, establish partnerships/alliances, and support national efforts on fundraising for health programmes (PHC, UHC and HSS).
- Participate and/or represent UNICEF in all Health Basket Fund meetings, relevant inter-agency discussions, and planning on health-related issues to collaborate with inter-agency partners/colleagues on PFM in the health sector-related discussions.
- Drive the compelling use of finance data and evidence in advocacy materials and campaigns, including designing visually attractive infographics and data analysis on health planning, budgeting, and expenditures.
- Collaborate with WHO, World Bank, other UN agencies, and implementing partners to provide country-level technical assistance on public financing, focusing on conducting the mid-term review of the Health Basket Fund and developing the new Memorandum of Understanding.
- Lead on the institutionalisation of the annual health policy review as part of the budgeting process, and relevant institutional budgetary review (e.g. for climate and nutrition)
- Advocate, during strategic discussions with the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Finance, the President’s Office for Finance and Planning, the President’s Office for Regional Administration, and Local Government.
- Innovation, knowledge management, and capacity building
- Review other countries experiences around priority topics (e.g., GAVI transition, financing health emergencies preparedness and response).
- Document and disseminate lessons learned from national efforts in strengthening health systems and expanding health coverage for UHC with a focus on PHC and routine immunization, and to improve partnerships for sustainable health systems strengthening.
- Provide technical leadership and coordination of relevant operational research around costing and funding specific health interventions and programmes, thus contributing to the knowledge base in health systems.
- Disseminate relevant research findings, publications, presentations, and reports.
- Develop and conduct capacity-building activities on health financing for UNICEF staff and government officials.
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
Minimum requirements:
- Education: An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in health economics, health financing, public financial management, or a closely related field is required.
- Work Experience: At least 5 years of relevant professional experience in a public finance or economic development role within the national/international health sector.
- Skills:
- Preference will be given to candidates having demonstrated knowledge of and professional experience in at least two of these areas: public financing, economic analysis, health financing, and advocacy.
- Language Requirements: Fluency in English is required. Fluency in Swahili is a strong asset.
Desirables:
- Experience working in developing countries, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa is considered an asset.
- Relevant experience in a UN system agency or organization, or a global health initiative (TGF, GAVI, GFF) or development bank is considered an asset.
For every Child, you demonstrate…
UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values
The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…
(1) Builds and maintains partnerships
(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness
(3) Drive to achieve results for impact
(4) Innovates and embraces change
(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity
(6) Thinks and acts strategically
(7) Works collaboratively with others
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Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.
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.
We offer a wide range of measures to include a more diverse workforce, such as paid parental leave, time off for breastfeeding purposes, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.
UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). 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 is committed to promoting the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. 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.
UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.
Remarks:
As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.
UNICEF’s active commitment to diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable female candidates from programme countries are encouraged to apply
Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.
UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.
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All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.
Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.
Advertised: E. Africa Standard Time
Deadline: E. Africa Standard Time
