UNDP Jobs - 72379- International Consultant (Assessment and review of

International Consultant (Assessment and review of existing HIV treatment and care services and revision of treatment guidelines in Afghanistan)

Location :

UNDP/GF Project, Home based and Kabul, AFGHANISTAN

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

27-May-17 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

3 months (with maximum 45 working days)

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

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. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Background

UNDP Global Mission Statement

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the UN’s global development network, advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. We are on the ground in 170 countries and territories, working with governments and people on their own solutions to global and national development challenges to help empower lives and build resilient nations.

UNDP is a lead agency in UNAIDS for addressing the dimensions of HIV and AIDS relating to human rights, gender and sexual diversity. In addition, UNDP contributes to public health and development partnerships through collaborations with the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (the ‘Global Fund’), Roll Back Malaria, Stop TB Partnerships, and special programmes on human reproduction and infectious diseases that disproportionately affect poor populations.

As a member of the country-level UN Joint Team on AIDS, UNDP operates strictly in support, and within the framework of national health plans and disease specific national strategies, under the programmatic leadership of national health authorities and respecting the critical role of local civil society organizations (CSOs). Promoting national ownership, developing capacity and strengthening national systems is the over-riding objective of UNDP’s engagement.

UNDP Global Fund Partnership

As part of its wider engagement with the United Nations, the Global Fund has partnered with UNDP since 2003 to ensure that grants are implemented and services are delivered in countries facing complex challenges. The partnership focuses on three closely linked areas of work: implementation support, capacity development, and policy engagement. For implementation support UNDP serves as an interim Principal Recipient (PR) (currently in 25 countries) in a variety of settings including countries that face capacity constraints, complex emergencies, poor governance environments, political upheaval, or donor sanctions. It does so upon request by the Global Fund and/or the Country Coordinating Mechanism (CCM) and when no national entity is able to assume the role at the time. UNDP’s role as PR is an interim arrangement until national entities can assume full responsibility for implementation and capacity of national partners (Government and CSOs) is also strengthened to ensure long-term sustainability of health outcomes.

Global Fund Programmes in Afghanistan

In July 2014, UNDP was selected by the Country Coordinating Mechanism (CCM) of Afghanistan as the Principal Recipient of four Global Fund Grants: HIV, Tuberculosis (TB), Malaria and Health System Strengthening (HSS). The goal of the Global Fund-funded HIV programme, which has started on 1 July 2016, is aligned with the goal of the National Strategic Plan(NSP): Investing in the Response to HIV, 2016-2020, namely to maintain prevalence of HIV below 0.1% among general population and below 5% among key population at high risk in the country. Afghanistan has a low and concentrated HIV epidemic and HIV is a public health concern among the key affected and vulnerable populations. One of the programme objectives is to maintain and scale-up prevention interventions among key populations at high risk and vulnerable groups.

HIV Treatment and Care System

The country is already working on restructuring and development of healthcare system infrastructures capable of delivering these services, including skilled health providers and laboratory facilities, HIV related training programmes, aligned national and local government policies, and a capacity to do operational research to improve care.

Treatment of HIV is provided through 5 ART Centers in Kabul, Herat, Nangarhar, Balkh and Khost Provinces. Kabul ART Center is the only stand-alone center that provides In-Patient and Out-Patient services within communicable hospital building, other services such as Lab tests (CD4 count), patient monitoring and referral of clients, pre ART services (clinical assessment and staging of disease and monitoring of the clients), provision of OI medicines for prevention of Opportunistic Infections are also provided. The Viral Load testing is done at the Central Public Health Laboratory.

The remaining four ART centers in Herat, Nangarhar, Balkh and Khost are integrated to VCT centers. The provided services at these centers are: Pre and Post ART counselling, clinical assessment and staging of disease and monitoring of the clients, provision of OI medicines for prevention of Opportunistic Infections, CD4 count and referral to other health facilities if required.

The integration of HIV treatment services with VCTs, and mentoring of health care workers, resulting in increased enrolment of HIV positive clients into treatment programs; however, gaps and implementation challenges still remain in the overall health system that necessitate action:

Apart from the ART, VCT and DIC centers staff, few health workers know how to test, treat, counsel and retain children and adolescents in HIV care;
The National program is conducting trainings on testing, care and treatment, the attrition of the trained staff still remain in place.

Duties and Responsibilities

Scope of Work and Deliverables:

Under the overall supervision of the Programme Manager the consultant will be responsible for:

Provision of technical support to strengthen the capacity of the existing ART centers including:

Carry out an assessment of the care and treatment system including PMTCT, including update of the national treatment and PMTCT guidelines according to the latest WHO recommendations (2016); the overall setup and quality of care, the referral mechanisms between VCTs and DICs and training of ART staff based on the revised guideline.

Specific Objectives

Review and assess the existing ART centers in the country for treatment, counselling and psychosocial support, including patient monitoring databases maintained at NACP, and ART Centers, to agree on required changes, support and resources to ensure unified and standardized approaches to data collection and information flows for all treatment centers in the country;
Develop national action plans to bridge the gaps in capacity of HIV service providers in provision of HIV care, treatment and psychosocial support to children, adolescents and adults living with HIV; with special attention to key populations;
Provide recommendations on promoting adoption of best practices on care, treatment and support of HIV infected children, adolescents, and adults, with special attention to key populations so as to increase identification, treatment and retention in care;
To make recommendations that inform the development of national plans to enhance the quality of care, treatment and support of HIV infected children, adolescents and adults;
Review the existing National HIV treatment guideline including PMTCT guideline and draft updated version of the national treatment and PMTCT guidelines;
Present the findings of the comprehensive HIV treatment system assessment report including, findings and recommendations and endorsement;
Facilitate national stakeholders workshop on the revision/update of national treatment guidelines including PMTCT guideline and endorsement;
Provide training to health staff working in the five ART centres on implementation of the revised guidelines including proper management of HIV, management of comorbidities, patient monitoring, quality of care and co-infections and infection control;

If security permits carry out visits to provincial and implementer level (health facilities and contracted NGOs) to observe how care and treatment activities are carried out.

Expected Output and Deliverables:

Carry out an assessment of the HIV care and treatment system including PMTCT, the overall setup and quality of care, the referral mechanisms between VCTs and DICs and draft a comprehensive HIV treatment system assessment report including, findings and recommendations 14 working days (excluding travel days) 7 working days in country at the beginning of assignment and 7 days home based; 20%;
Revised/updated national treatment guideline including PMTCT guidelines according to the latest WHO recommendations (2016) 13 working days home based; 30%;
Consultative workshop with key stakeholders to present findings of assessment and the revised treatment guideline. Develop national action plans to bridge the gaps. 6 working days (excluding travel days) in country; 20%;
Conduct training for NACP, SRs and ART/VCT/PMTCT staff on the revised treatment guideline including PMTCT and produce training report. 8 working days in Kabul; 30%.

All above deliverables should be completed in 45 working days. The consultant should come up with an appropriate schedule for the in country and homebased work. The 45 working days do not have to be consecutive; the consultant can align the working days as per the need of being in the country or working from home. UNDP will cover the cost of airfare and travel in the country as per UNDP travel policy for Individual Contract mechanism.

Payment Modality

Payments under the contract shall be delivery based and be made on receipt of specific milestone reports, and including a timesheet according to UNDP procurement formats for individual contractors approved by the Program Manager or Deputy Program Manager.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

Demonstrates integrity by modeling 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.

Functional competencies:

Strong analytical, negotiation and communication skills, including ability to produce high quality practical advisory reports and knowledge products;
Experience in producing HIV treatment protocols;
Professional and/or academic experience in one or more of the areas of the development or knowledge management field.

Project and Resource Management:

Ability to produce high quality outputs in a timely manner while understanding and anticipating the evolving client needs;
Ability to focus on impact and results for the client, promoting and demonstrating an ethic of client service;
Strong organizational skills;
Ability to work independently, produce high quality outputs;
Sound judgment, strategic thinking and the ability to manage competing priorities.

Communications and Advocacy:

Strong ability to write clearly and convincingly, adapting style and content to different audiences and speak clearly and convincingly;
Strong presentation skills in meetings with the ability to adapt for different audiences;
Strong analytical, research and writing skills with demonstrated ability to think strategically;
Strong capacity to communicate clearly and quickly;
Strong inter-personal, negotiation and liaison skills.

Core Competencies:

Demonstrating/safeguarding ethics and integrity;
Demonstrate corporate knowledge and sound judgment;
Self-development, initiative-taking;
Acting as a team player and facilitating team work;
Facilitating and encouraging open communication in the team, communicating effectively;
Creating synergies through self-control;
Learning and sharing knowledge and encourage the learning of others. Promoting learning and knowledge management/sharing is the responsibility of each staff member;
Informed and transparent decision making.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Master degree in medicine; public health or related fields.

Experience:

Minimum of 7 years of professional experience working in HIV/AIDS with specific focus on HIV care and treatment including PMTCT;
A good understanding of Afghanistan’s HIV/AIDS epidemic;
Strong knowledge of and demonstrated practical experience in applying the normative guidance on HIV care and treatment by technical partners such as WHO, UNAIDS is a must;
Epidemiological literacy and skills;
Knowledge of Global Fund and UN/UNDP would be an asset.

Language Requirements:

Fluency in written and spoken English is required;
Second UN language is an asset.

Working Arrangements:

Institutional Arrangement

The consultant will have a combination of home based with two 2 travels to Kabul. Work under the direct supervision of the Programme Manager of UNDP/Global Fund grants in Afghanistan;
The consultant will liaise with relevant government departments-NACP, Implementing Partners and WHO, UNAIDS, WB and others as needed.

Duration of the Work

The duration of work will be maximum 45 working days starting from 15th June to 14th September, 2017;
This will be split between home based and Kabul Afghanistan, specific schedule to be agreed between UNDP and selected Consultant.

Duty Station

Home based with 2 travels to Kabul, Afghanistan

Price Proposal and Schedule of Payments:

The contractor shall submit a price proposal as below:

Daily Fee – The contractor shall propose a daily fee which should be inclusive of his/her professional fee, local communication cost and insurance (inclusive of medical health and medical evacuation). The number of working days for which the daily fee shall be payable under the contract is 45 working days;
Living Allowance (LA) – The contractor shall propose a LA at the Kabul applicable rate of USD 162 per night for his/her stay at the duty station for maximum 20 nights in total. The contractor is NOT allowed to stay in a place of his/her choice other than the UNDSS approved places.
Travel & Visa – The contractor shall propose an estimated lump sum for home-Kabul-home travel and Afghanistan visa expenses;

The total professional fee, shall be converted into a lump sum contract and payments under the contract shall be made on submission and acceptance of deliverables by UNDP/Global Fund under the contract in accordance with the abovementioned schedule of payment.

Evaluation Method and Criteria

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on the following methodology:

Cumulative Analysis + Interview

The award of the contract shall be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

Responsive/compliant/acceptable; and
Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation;

Technical Criteria weight 70%;

Financial Criteria weight 30%.

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 49 points (70% of the total technical points) would be considered for the Financial Evaluation.

Technical Criteria (70 points):

Technical Proposal (30 Marks)

Technical Approach & Methodology (20 marks) – Explain the understanding of the objectives of the assignment, approach to the services, methodology for carrying out the activities and obtaining the expected output, and the degree of detail of such output. The Applicant should also explain the methodologies proposed to adopt and highlight the compatibility of those methodologies with the proposed approach;
Work Plan (10 marks) – The Applicant should propose the main activities of the assignment, their content and duration, phasing and interrelations, milestones (including interim approvals by the client), and delivery dates. The proposed work plan should be consistent with the technical approach and methodology, showing understanding of the TOR and ability to translate them into a feasible working plan.

Qualification and Experience (40 marks) [Evaluation of CV]:

Written Assessment & Work Sample (10 marks) – The short-listed applicants shall submit (upon request) a written evidence of their work that is relevant to the assignment. The applicant may also be requested to participate in an Interview to assess their technical aptitude for the assignment;
General Qualification (10 marks);
Experience relevant to the assignment (20 marks).

Documents to be included when submitting the proposals:

Interested individual consultants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications in one single PDF document:

Duly accomplished confirmation of Interest and Submission of Financial Proposal Template using the template provided by UNDP (Annex II);
Personal CV or P11, indicating all past experience from similar projects, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate and at least three (3) professional references.

Technical Proposal:

Brief description of why the individual considers him/herself as the most suitable for the assignment;
A methodology, on how they will approach and complete the assignment and work plan as indicated above.