Location : Kiev, UKRAINE
Application Deadline : 10-Oct-13
Additional Category : Poverty Reduction
Type of Contract : Individual Contract
Post Level : National Consultant
Languages Required : English Russian
Duration of Initial Contract : two months (20 October - 20 December 2013)
Background
Purpose of Special Service Agreement
To assist in estimating of cost of the model of integrated services for drug using pregnant women piloted in four cities of Ukraine for their scaling up at national level.
Background
One of the most crucial components for a successful response to HIV epidemic in Ukraine is the PMTCT programme. This requires a proper planning of preventive measures as a part of the national programme and appropriate funding for their implementation. The overall country objective is the further reduction and elimination of the incidence of mother-to-child HIV transmission. Ukraine is committed to scale up PMTCT programme towards elimination by 2015.Despite important progress in the coverage of prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) and decrease of HIV transmission to babies (MTCT of HIV rate) from 20 per cent in 2000 to 4, 9 per cent in 2010, there are serious issues and challenges that remain as not addressed. The major challenge of the PMTCT programme is integration of health and social services for reaching the most at-risk marginalized pregnant women with prevention interventions to further decrease and subsequently to eliminate MTCT of HIV. Coverage of the HIV-vulnerable group (IDUs, FSWs) is still low and it 'elevates' the national MTCT rate. Low uptake of health services, including antiretroviral treatment (ART) among female HIV-positive women who inject drugs is a well-recognised problem.To address these still very acute issues, UNICEF together with UNAIDS and WHO initiated a pilot project ‘Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission and Improving Neonatal Outcomes among Drug-Dependent Pregnant Women and Children Born to Them in Three Cities in Ukraine' launched in 2011 in Kiev, Poltava and Dnipropetrovsk. In 2013 the project was expanded to Krivui Rig, Dnipropetrovsk oblast. The project focuses on introduction of the integrated services for drug addicted pregnant women through establishment of the Centres for Integrated HIV Prevention, Care and Support Services. UNAIDS together with UNICEF and WHO advocated for inclusion of the model of integrated care and treatment into a new AIDS programme, which has been developed and approved in 2013. The proposed model, when introduced nationwide, will assist the country in its efforts to eliminate the mother-to-child transmission. The government confirmed its commitments, including the model introduction into the Concept for the New National AIDS Programme for 2014 – 2018.It is expected that calculation of the cost of the model of integrated care is used for estimating the funding needs for its future scaling up and the government resources needed for this to achieve the goal of elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV in the next few years. To support objectives of the above, the international consultant recruited by UNAIDS to estimate cost of the model of integrated services for drug using pregnant women. Lack of such information affects the government's ability to calculate appropriate preventive and protective measures on service delivery level (including preventive programmes and reintegration programmes). In order to coordinate and provide technical assistance in the cost estimate of the pilot model and to ensure all necessary for cost estimate data are available to intranational consultant, there is a need in a national consultant qualified in health economy issues.
Duties and Responsibilities
Objectives of the Special Service Agreement with expected results / outcome / products /sub products/outputs
Objectives of this Contract are to assist to international consultant in cost estimate of a model of integrated care and treatment for drug using pregnant women. The cost estimate should result in the inclusion the cost into the budget of a new National AIDS programme for 2014 – 2018 for its further funding and replication at national scale. The cost estimate should be the result of a collective contribution by concerned stakeholders and decision makers.It is expected that the following results are achieved while pursuing this objective:
- The range of data related to the health and social services provided within the pilot model of integrated care and treatment for drug using pregnant women are available for international consultant;
- The government has evidence of the cost and feasibility of implementing and sustaining PMTCT programme, which include the integrated care and treatment services for vulnerable groups of women.
- The costing methodology developed by the international consultant is used as a basis for future analysis of cost effectiveness.
Outputs:
- Assisting in gathering costing specific and other data, including key indicators and types of services (health and social);
- Ensuring the data collected are agreed with the counterparts (Ukrainian Centre for Diseases Control and State Services for HIV and Other Socially Dangerous Diseases and Ministry of Social Policy);
- Coordination and assistance to UNICEF and international consultant in the in-country phase of the cost estimate study;
- Assistance in carry out the interviews, site visits, review of available statistical, clinic or other site specific or/and other data sources;
- Assistance in meetings with relevant national, sub-national and local counterparts and if warranted, community members;
- Debrief the UNICEF Ukraine;
Delivery dates based on the work plan (to be approved by UNICEF HIV/AIDS Officer):
- Costing specific and other data, including key indicators and types of services (health and social) collected and submitted to the UNICEF - Provisional Due Date: 18 October, 2013;
- Agreed with the Ukrainian Centre for Diseases Control and State Services for HIV and Other Socially Dangerous Diseases and Ministry of Social Policy data submitted to UNICEF and international consultant - Provisional Due Date: 20 October, 2013;
- The agenda and schedule of the meetings with government counterparts and other partners submitted to UNICEF and international consultant: Provisional Due Date: 22 October, 2013;
- Revised draft of the international consultant report submitted to UNICEF - Provisional Due Date: 5 December, 2013;
- Final report – Provisional Due Date: 20 December, 2013.
Details of how the work should be delivered:
The consultants have to develop and submit to UNICEF monthly reports and final report.Performance indicators for evaluation of results:The evaluation of results will be based on the following indicators:
- Technical and professional competence (will be measured by the quality of product provided to UNICEF and feedback from UNICEF, international consultant and UCDC and State Service on HIV/AIDS and Other Socially Dangerous Diseases)
- Quality of work (timely submission of the monthly reports and final product to UNICEF)
- Quantity of work (completing the assignments indicated in parts 2, 3, and 4 above)
- In addition such indicators as work relations, responsibility and communication will be taken into account during the evaluation of the consultant's work.
Competencies
- Ability to conduct key informant interviews and group discussions
- Ability to analyse, interpret and synthesise information from a number of sources
- Ability to work in a team
- Strong communication skills
Required Skills and Experience
- Solid knowledge and understanding of PMTCT and social protection thematic area
- Experience in health and social protection system assessments, evaluations, including financial aspects
- At least a university degree in a relevant disciplines
- Minimum 3 years' experience of consulting with government departments, development partners etc.
- Ability to conduct key informant interviews and group discussions
- Experience with the execution of cost estimates in the respective area of health is an added value.
Definition of supervision arrangements:
Consultant will be supervised by the HIV/AIDS Officer, UNICEF Ukraine.
Description of official travel involved:
Travels may be envisaged to the project sites within the country. The local travel will be paid separately. No travel shall be undertaken prior to completing the UN Basic and Advanced Security in the Field Courses. The consultant is required to certify being covered by medical/health insurance.
UNICEF recourse in the case of unsatisfactory performance:
In the event of unsatisfactory performance, UNICEF reserves the right to terminate the Agreement. In case of partially satisfactory performance, such as serious delays causing the negative impact on meeting the programme objectives, low quality or insufficient depth and/or scope of the assessment completion, UNICEF is entitled to decrease the payment by the range from 30 to 50%.
Support provided by UNICEF:
Technical assistance, consultations, funding.The deadline for submission of applications is 10 October 2013.Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.Applicants that fulfil the above requirements are requested to complete the United Nations Personal History Form (P. 11) available at www.unicef.org/employ and submit it together with a CV and a cover letter describing your professional interests in working for UNICEF. Applications should be sent to:UNICEF Office, 1, Klovskiy Uzviz, Kyiv, UkraineFax No. 380-44-230-2506E-mail: recruitment_kiev@unicef.org (Please indicate ‘National Consultant for estimating the cost of the model of integrated services for drug using pregnant women piloted in four cities of Ukraine for their scaling up at national level' in the subject of your application)UNICEF does not charge any fees or request money from candidates at any stage of the selection process, nor does it concern itself with bank account details of applicants. Requests of this nature allegedly made on behalf of UNICEF are fraudulent and should be disregarded.
UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.
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