Background

This joint United Nations HIV/AIDS plan of action for 2018 is a first step of a biannual plan that aims at changing the trajectory of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Gujarat State by impacting on key areas to fast tract the Gujarat State’s HV/AIDS response. Major strategic interventions included here will support Gujarat State in:

1. reducing new HIV infections especially eliminating new HIV infections among children and targeting key populations by increasing their access to information, knowledge and integrated HIV and reproductive health services,
2. upholding human rights of the most vulnerable people and people living with and affected by HIV up front,
3. increasing access to health and HIV services and reducing discrimination at the work places, schools and in the societies at large, and
4. improving the understanding of the dynamics in virtual space where most of the key populations operate and use of treatment and care programmes data to improve health outcomes for key populations and people living with HIV.

UNODC as one of the seven United Nations agencies involved in the implementation of these activities in support of the Gujarat State AIDS Control Society (GSACS) and under the coordination of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS UNODC will bring on the table its special expertise on strengthening IDU Targeted Interventions and prison interventions and will contribute to the joint implementation process with other UN agencies . This is being done under the rubric of Joint United Budget Analysis Framework (UBRAF).

UBRAF focus on Gujarat: Based on last available HIV estimates and the limited resources to attend all the issues in a very large country like India and achieve result, the State of Gujarat has been selected because it has the highest number of new HIV infections in the country and is among the states with highest number of AIDS-related deaths.  Further, the  state has  large  size of key populations (MSM, TG, FSWs) and also nine of its districts (Ahmedabad, Bhavnagar, Vadodara, Rajkot, Surendranagar, Sabarkhanta, Surat, Kheda, and Anand) have shown high  HIV prevalence among pregnant women and key populations.. Also, being a economically progressive state,  Gujarat attracts migrant workers in the formal and informal sectors, female sex workers and drug trafficking.

On the positive side because of its good governance and the community long standing engagement in social issues, the State has lot of potential to improve the HIV/AIDS epidemiological situation within the next two years especially with the targeted United Nations Joint Team on AIDS (UNJTA) support in focusing the state and districts response to HIV/AIDS where it matters the most and achieve impact.

UNODC is supporting the state of Gujarat to strengthen harm reduction services by supporting interstate learning and continuous mentoring and support for strengthening the Injecting drug use Targeted Interventions. The OST centres established in the state have been operating sub optimally resulting in 40 % coverage of IDUs being provided harm reduction services through IDU TIs.

Duties and Responsibilities

Scope of Work: The services of a harm reduction expert are required to provide mentoring, support and strengthen capacity of the 2 OST centres in Gujarat, located at Ahmadabad and Surat.  

Estimated Number of Days: It is envisaged that this will be a two phased consultancy. Phase-II activities will commence post the completion of Phase I activities. A total number of 16 days are estimated for this consultancy with the following breakup:

Competencies

Knowledge and Skills:

• Good mentoring and supportive supervision skills;
• Knowledge regarding NACO guidelines on OST;  
• Good interpersonal skills and ability to work in a team
• Proficiency in MS word

Languages:

• Good communication skills and the ability to write clear analytical reports

Required Skills and Experience

Educational Qualification:

• Advanced university degree in medical sciences

Experience:

• At least 7 years of professional clinical work experience in Opioid substitution Therapy clinical management.
• At least 5 years of working with National AIDS Control Organization on Opioid Substitution Therapy.
• Prior experience of mentoring supporting OST clinics as per NACO standards  and familiarity with quality assurance tools.
•  Ability to write short and crisp reports.

Payment Terms:

Documents to be submitted: 

• Updated CV / P-11 form with contact details of 3 references; Link for P 11 

            UNDP India Website, clicking the link: http://www.in.undp.org/content/india/en/home/operations/careers.html

• Technical proposal outlining methodology for mentoring, support and quality assurance
• Financial proposal including per day rate, travel expenses for mentoring and support field visits, local travel expenses at Ahmadabad and Surat.

Evaluation Criteria:

Technical Criteria weight - 70 marks

• Educational Qualification - 10 points;
• Experience in the harm reduction field - 25 points;
• Experience of conducting quality assurance and mentoring support for OST centers  - 35 points;

Financial Criteria weight - 30 marks

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

Note:

• Any kind of miscellaneous charges i.e. internet, phone etc. would not be reimbursed;
• Please note proposals without financial proposal will not be considered;
• Individuals working with institutions may also apply, contract would be issued in the name of the individual for the specific services;
• The consultant should include an estimated cost for travel (inclusive of air fare, daily subsistence expenses, local transportation cost and accommodation) to Ahmedabad and Surat in the financial proposal. UNODC will not be responsible for making travel arrangements.
• All the requested documents should be clubbed in one file for uploading as the system has provision for uploading one file only.

Cumulative analysis:

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

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

Contact information for queries related to Request for Proposals

For any clarification, please contact: 

jyotiee.mehraa@un.org