UN Children's Fund Consultancy - Four REC/RED consultants to support MoH/UNEPI Jobs in Uganda

UN Children's Fund Consultancy - Four REC/RED consultants to support MoH/UNEPI Jobs in Uganda

Closing date: 08 Apr 2019

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, a fair chance

Uganda is one of the over 190 countries and territories around the world where we work to overcome the obstacles that poverty, violence, disease, and discrimination place in a child’s path.

Visit this link for more information on Uganda Country Office https://www.unicef.org/uganda/

How can you make a difference?

Under the technical supervision of the Immunization Health Specialist based in Kampala and administrative supervision by Zonal office health specialists, the RED/REC consultants will provide technical support to 58 poorly performing district local governments and health facilities in immunization service delivery.

Background

In alignment with the Global Vaccine Action Plan (GVAP), Uganda National Expanded Program on Immunisation (UNEPI) has set a target of reaching 90 per cent national coverage and 80 per cent in every district or equivalent administrative unit with three doses of diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis containing vaccines.

The Ministry of Health’s UNEPI aims to strengthen routine immunization and develops differentiated, equity-focused strategies to support poorly performing districts.

Analysis of DHIS2 EPI data for January – July 2017 and January – July 2018 revealed marked improvement in EPI performance in the UNICEF supported districts achieving the category 1 or 2 and having un-immunised children less than 2000. However, there are still key challenges that districts face leading to poor immunization coverage as follows:

Some HFs still have limited capacities in area of immunization microplanning and implementation of the micro plans to reach the target population

Limited funds for primary health care affecting the coverage and quality of supervision and monitoring of immunization services in all the districts

Marginalized / High risk population contribute to large numbers of unimmunized target populations

Inadequate mobilization activities at the community level and emergence of Anti-immunization groups in some districts affecting reaching target populations

Irregular data analysis and use of information for action

Key actions agreed at national level to tackle the low coverage of immunization:

MoH to conduct yearly micro planning meetings to ensure that district work plan have activities for immunization under the Government of Uganda’s funding

MoH to conduct resource mobilization from immunization stakeholders to address funding gaps for implementation with focus on C&E
MoH and districts to identify and map areas with marginalized, vulnerable and underserved populations for prioritization

Engagement of community resource persons in planning, mobilization, engagement of resistant communities and recognition of their important roles in health service delivery.

Continued efforts are required in 2019 to sustain gains in poorly performing districts in areas of supervision, mentorship and couching of health workers in immunization, cold chain management and overall training of Health Unit

Management Committees and VHTs to link communities to health facilities, and to monitor utilization of immunization and overall health interventions.

Key Tasks:

RED/REC consultants will provide technical support to 58 poorly performing district local governments and health facilities in immunization service delivery. The consultants will work under the supervision of Dr. Eva Kabwongera and the immunisation focal point/health specialists at the respective UNICEF zonal office.

The consultants will conduct regular consultation with the senior RED/REC/C&E consultant recruited by UNICEF to ensure a more integrated (MNCH) approach to microplanning.

Participate in performance review of the 36district identified with immunisation inequities to document lessons to inform UNICEF’s support during 2019.

Review immunisation background documents and earlier RED/REC consultancy-reports and document good practices and lessons learnt for scale up to other districts, develop a detailed work plan to support selected districts with the implementation of RED/REC approach.

Review and adapt as necessary the planning, costing, monitoring and mentorship tools for the assignment.

Support districts update their Health Facility and

community EPI+/MNCH micro plans with interventions that addresses under performance and coverage especially identified high- risk communities.

Ensure the finalization of micro plans with costing and financial gap analysis prior to the implementation of the Integrated Child Health Days + activities.

Support costing of the district/HF micro plans and analyse the gaps for 2018/2019 fiscal year to ensure their implementation

Using annual district costs and financial gap analysis, advocate and support the integration of REC/RED micro plans and budgets into the 2019/2020 district development plans.

In consultation with UNICEF zone office staff, organize targeted meetings with DHOs/DHTs in selected underperforming districts to share the costing and financial gap analysis and to advocate for integration of REC micro plans into the District Development Plan and the 2019/2020 fiscal year

Mentor health workers through supportive monitoring and supervision of routine immunization planned activities (static and outreaches) including; key cold chain practices such temperature monitoring and reviews, vaccine utilization monitoring and minor Maintenance/repairs.

Regular analysis of the supportive supervision data to get deep insights into the immunization bottlenecks and formulate strategies for reaching the fifth child.

Support DHTs to revitalize Health Unit Management Committees (HUMCs) using the standard guidelines provided by MOH and orient them on their roles and monitoring of EPI activities.

Hold review meetings with DHTs and health facility in charges on data collection, use and reporting.

Support districts to plan and implement integrated Child Health Days (ICHDs)

Support district plan Measles-Rubella Campaign and Measles-Rubella new vaccine introduction in immunisation schedule

As part of the final consultancy-report, document lessons learnt, challenges and recommendations on RED/REC implementation process for future consideration when developing RED/REC interventions in the coming years.

To qualify asan advocate for every child you will have…

A university degree in Public Health or Diploma in Nursing, Degree in Logistics management with relevant work experience, particularly in the planning, implementation and monitoring in EPI service delivery and EPI logistics;

A minimum of 2 years’ experience in Immunization planning and implementation
Excellent planning and monitoring and evaluation skills and ability to plan and oversee projects.

Expertise in working with communities and developing and disseminating information and messages

Proven working relations with district & sub-district structures

Knowledge of Reaching Every District/every child (RED/REC) strategy

Good analytic skills and report writing skill

Fluency in written and spoken English.

Good interpersonal and negotiation skills

Excellent facilitation skills, negotiation skills and oral and written communication skills;

A repertoire of a wide range of facilitation approaches

Strong qualitative and quantitative analytical skills

Knowledge of the Uganda context is an added advantage

Knowledge of UNICEF/GoU EPI programme is an added advantage

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

The competencies required for this post are….

View our competency framework at

http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

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, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.

Remarks:

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

How to Apply:
UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of our organization. To apply, click on the following link

UN Children's Fund Consultancy - Four REC/RED consultants to support MoH/UNEPI Jobs in Uganda