Background
The impact of health on development as well as the impact of development (with regards to the social, economic and environmental determinants of health - SEEDs) on health in Eastern Europe and Central Asia (EECA) is significant in the context of economies and healthcare systems in transition, growing HIV and TB epidemics, major challenges related to non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and substantial health inequalities in view of risk exposure and access to healthcare services.While all EECA countries have endorsed the European Policy Framework and Strategy for the 21st Century, the World Health Organization Health 2020 strategy framework, calling for a whole of government and whole of society approach for health and for universal coverage of essential healthcare services, few national health strategic documents have incorporated the social, economic and environmental determinants of health (SEEDs) as of yet. EECA countries signed the Ashgabat Declaration on non-communicable diseases (NCDs), which highlights the role of SEEDs and a multi-sectoral approach for the control of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and also pledges developing and adopting of national targets and action plans.
As member of the UN country teams (UNCT) and their role in the development and implementation of UN Development Assistance Frameworks (UNDAF), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is collaborating with WHO Europe and other UN agencies in the region to assist countries in the integration of a multi-sectoral health agenda in the periodic UNDAF reviews. In 2014, 11 countries (1) are developing a new UNDAF document while one territory (Kosovo (2)) is developing a new UN Common Development Plan (CDP). This offers the opportunity during a relatively short window period to support UNCTs and the UN Kosovo Team in the meaningful integration of a multi-sectoral health agenda into the UNDAF documents for the next 4-5 years period considering social, economic and environmental determinants of health and health inequalities, NCDs including the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control – FCTC, HIV, TB and malaria and others. This work will also reflect on the positioning of health in the ongoing post 2015 and sustainable development goals consultations.
In light of the above, the HIV, Health and Development (HHD) team of UNDP’s Istanbul Regional Center for Europe and the CIS requests the services of an international consultant under the following terms of references.
These countries are Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, FYR of Macedonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Serbia, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.
This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo Declaration of Independence.
Duties and Responsibilities
Under the supervision of the EECA HHD Team Leader and Regional HHD Programme Specialist and in close collaboration with other members of the HHD team the international consultant is expected to support the following services:- Coordination with other UNDP divisions and other UN agencies (particularly WHO, UNICEF and UNFPA) on regional and country level working on the integration of health as a multi-sectoral developmental issue into the Common Country Assessments (CCA) - UN Development Assistance Frameworks (UNDAF) and agency specific Country Programme Documents (CPDs) - based on already approved country roadmaps;
- Communication with the Peer Support Group for development of new CCA-UNDAFs (chaired by UNDP and UNFPA) ensuring timely inputs and feedback to draft documents shared by the UNCTs;
- Technical support to UNCTs through an integrated multi-sectoral health development package (including HIV prevention, treatment and care, the social, economic and environmental determinants of health (SEEDs), non-communicable diseases (NCDs) including the implementation of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) and other) as they develop new CCA-UNDAF documents and agency specific CPDs;
- Properly document lessons learnt and outcomes during the 2014 UNDAF development process in the 11 countries and 1 territory and summarize in a report which should serve as guidance and facilitation for similar processes in other countries of the region during the following years;
- Contributes to knowledge sharing by developing articles, blogs and using other social media tools communicating the achievements of this regional initiative.
- Provided technical and coordination support for the integration of health development package into newly developed CCA-UNDAF and CPDs in 11 countries and 1 territory of the region – May – 31 December 2014;
- Facilitated regional UN steering committee/coordination group (including UNDP, WHO, UNICEF and UNFPA) working on the integration of the health developmental issues into CCA-UNDAF and CPDs – May – 31 December 2014;
- Evaluation and lessons learnt report of the multi-sectoral integration of health priorities into UNDAFs of 11 countries and 1 territory in the region with key recommendations on the integration of health issues into CCA-UNDAF and CPDs – 15 December 2014;
- At least 3 social media products developed over the course of the consultancy (including articles, blogs and other) – May – 30 November 2014;
- End of project/consultancy report summarizing the work, end results and achievements of the consultancy (10-15 pages maximum) – 15 December 2014.
Payments:
- First installment will be made after submission of a detailed work-plan (20%);
- Second installment will be made after providing technical and coordination support for the integration of health development package into newly developed CCA-UNDAF and CPDs in 11 countries and 1 territory of the region (40%);
- Third installment will be made upon completion of all other tasks (40%).
Competencies
Corporate competencies:- Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
- Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
- Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
- Treats all people fairly without favoritism;
- Fulfills all obligations to gender sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment.
- Commitment to the principles set forth in the UN High Level Declarations on HIV and AIDS, High Level Declaration on NCDs and the Report of the Global Commission on the Social Determinants of Health;
- Very good understanding of the practical aspects of health (social, economic and environmental determinants of health (SEEDs), non-communicable diseases including implementation of the FCTC, HIV prevention, treatment and care, and other) in the region;
- Familiarity with the UN system and the development of UN specific programming documents, policies and strategies;
- Good understanding and experience with joint national planning processes;
- Excellent organizational skills, ability to work independently, strict adherence to completing assigned tasks in a timely manner;
- Quality-oriented professional, constructive approach to obstacles and delays in planned performance;
- Excellent research and drafting skills;
- Excellent communication and presentation skills, oral and written;
- Advanced user of virtual communication tools.
Required Skills and Experience
Education:- An advanced degree (masters or higher) in public health, international development or other relevant field.
- Five or more years of relevant regional experience in the field of public health and international development;
- Experience in working with UN system specifically in the field of the health (addressing the social, economic and environmental determinants of health, NCDs, HIV and other health-related developmental issues);
- Previous experience engaging in the development of UN specific programming documents, strategies and policies;
- Advanced knowledge in developing and using innovative social media resources blogs, articles is a plus.
- Fluency and ability to communicate and write complex documents in English;
- Knowledge of Russian and other regional languages is a plus/considered an asset.
Individual consultants will be evaluated based on a cumulative analysis taking into consideration the combination of the applicants’ qualifications and financial proposal.
The award of the contract should be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:
- a) responsive/compliant/acceptable;
- b) having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical (P11 desk reviews and interviews) and financial criteria specific to the solicitation. Only highest ranked candidates who are found suitable for the job (based on desk review of P11) will be invited to participate in interview.
- Education and additional qualifications (courses, diplomas) - max. 2.5 points;
- Five or more years of relevant regional experience in the field of public health and international development - max. 10 points;
- Experience in working with UN system specifically in the field of the health (social, economic and environmental determinants of health, NCDs, HIV and other health-related developmental issues) - max. 10 points;
- Previous experience engaging in the development of UN specific joint programming on national, regional or global level - max. 10 points;
- Communication skills and languages - max. 5 points;
- Interview (Technical expertise) - max. 6 points;
- Interview (Competency skills) - max. 3.5 points;
- Interview (Organizational skills) - max. 3 points.
Application procedures
Qualified candidates are requested to apply online via this website. The application should contain:
- Cover letter explaining why you are the most suitable candidate for the advertised position. Please paste the letter into the "Resume and Motivation" section of the electronic application;
- Filled P11 form including past experience in similar projects and contact details of referees (blank form can be downloaded from http://europeandcis.undp.org/files/hrforms/P11_modified_for_SCs_and_ICs.doc ); please upload the P11 instead of your CV;
- Financial Proposal* - specifying all inclusive daily rate in USD. Payment to be made based on payment scheduled outlined above (specific deliverables will be agreed with the Supervisor at the beginning of each month in writing);
- Incomplete applications will not be considered. Please make sure you have provided all requested materials.
Please note that the financial propose is all-inclusive and shall take into account various expenses incurred by the consultant during the contract period (except of travel related costs are these are not envisaged for this contract).
Payments will be made only upon confirmation of UNDP on delivering on the contract obligations in a satisfactory manner.
Individual Consultants are responsible for ensuring they have vaccinations/inoculations when travelling to certain countries, as designated by the UN Medical Director. Consultants are also required to comply with the UN security directives set forth under dss.un.org
General Terms and conditions as well as other related documents can be found under: http://on.undp.org/t7fJs.
Qualified women and members of minorities are encouraged to apply.
Due to large number of applications we receive, we are able to inform only the successful candidates about the outcome or status of the selection process.