Background
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 will start 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/AIDS situation in Afghanistan
Afghanistan experiences a low-level HIV epidemic. UNAIDS estimates 5,900 people living with HIV in Afghanistan in 2017 with male to female ratio of 7:1. (Recent spectrum date 2018 indicates the number as 6600, which is not yet approved). Cumulatively, the national AIDS control program has identified 2,733 HIV cases. While overall prevalence is low (<0.1%) in the general population, the HIV epidemic disproportionately affects PWID. (HIV prevalence ~4.4%, ranging from 0.3% in Mazar-i-Sharif to 13.3% in Hirat) (IBBSS 2012. The similarities between the HIV-1 subtypes in Afghanistan and Iran, suggest that strains have been circulating between the two countries through the returning of the Afghani refugees who also injected drug. Among other key populations at risk, HIV prevalence was 0.7% among prisoners, 0.4% among Men with High Risk Behavior (MHRB) and 0.3% among Women with High Risk Behavior (WHRB) in 2012.
HIV/AIDS in People Who Inject Drugs (PWID)
The estimated number of people who use drugs (PWUD) in Afghanistan is between 2.5 and 2.9 million (about 11% of the population) in 2015, majority (1.9 to 2.3 million) use opiates. Based on the 2012 size estimation report (using a unique multiplier method), there were an estimated 12,500 PWID in Kabul and 1,200 to 1,500 in each of Hirat, Mazar-i-Sharif, and Jalalabad. A mapping exercise in 2007 located 1,251 PWID in Kabul and 159 in Jalalabad, with an overall extrapolation of 2.24 per 1,000 adult men in Afghanistan. PWID were mostly (97%) street-based in urban settings; 53.1% were illiterate. Risks for HIV and other infectious disease were high, including 88.5% with inadequate knowledge of HIV, 29.3% paying for sex, 0.4% sharing injecting equipment (up to 33.6% in 2009), 9.4% having STI symptoms, and 27.3% reporting condom use at last sex. PWID in Hirat had a higher (33.2%) rate of non-sterile injection equipment sharing. While awareness of harm reduction services ranged from 58% to 80% (except in Charikar at 2.2%), use of services such as HIV testing was very low (e.g., 2.7% in Kabul, 12.6% in Jalalabad). It is worth mentioning that the National Strategic Plan for HIV Aids, 2016-2020 address the major issues of concerns regarding key population and particularly the PWID. Moreover, the NSP-3 provides provision of community consultation for PWID, which is further elaborated through this ToR. There are limited number of community based organizations (CBOs) dedicated to provision of services to PWIDs in Afghanistan. However, there are various NGOs involved in serviced delivery, where representatives from PWID community do not have stake in the management and governance structure of those NGOs. To ensure initiation of community based organizations and institutionally support the existing CBOs, a thorough community consultation is planned to be conducted. Kabul home to most injecting drug users More than 70 per cent of all injecting drug users in the four major cities of the country (Balkh, Heart, Jalalabad and Kabul). Injecting drug users are most likely to contract hepatitis C, followed by hepatitis B, syphilis and HIV. Provision of organized harm reduction and public health services are vital in fight communicable diseases, especially HIV. One of the major issues the PWID community faces is lack of well-organized and dedicated CBO to represent them at national and international levels. In addition, there are not advocacy and pressure groups to fight for the rights of PWIDs in the country and conduct fund raising initiatives for better service delivery to their community.
Duties and Responsibilities
Overall Objective of the Consultancy:
The overall objective of this consultancy is as follow:
To conduct one community consultation on PWID services in Afghanistan in close collaboration and support from the Afghan CCM, MoPH, National Program for Control of AIDS, Hepatitis & STI (ANPASH) and all the other relevant in-country partners, such as registered CSOs, UNODC, UNICEF, EU, UNDP and WHO.
To apply strategies to map/Identify potential groups or organizations which are representing communities and whose mandates are to provide services and advocacy for those key population (PWID).
- To recommend operational strategies for institutional development of community-based organizations dedicated to support the PWIDs in Afghanistan.
- To map potential individuals having dedication and capacity to establish community-based organizations to support key affected populations.
Major Tasks and responsibilities:
- Desk/Literature review of reports and all available information on PWID communities in Afghanistan and services available to them, including Country KP Service Packages report from 2018.
- In-country consultations with relevant PR/CSOs working with PWID, all other agencies working with PWID in 11 PWID services site, with focus on major cities (Kabul, Herat, Mazar, Jalalabad and Kandahar).
- focused group discussions with PWID (including female PWID where possible) in 11 sites.
- Explore potential individuals and institutions from PWID community for further development and support as peer educators and service providers.
Debriefing to key stakeholders on findings
Report of findings, including recommendations to improve effectiveness of PWID services.
Expected Output/Deliverables; Timeframe and Payment percentage:
The International Consultant is responsible to provide the below deliverables:
Desk/Literature review of all relevant documents, i.e. HIV reports especially on PWID Tentatively.Number of working days; 3, with 10% of payment;
Identifying partners views on harm reduction efforts, consultant meets with both government and non-government partners individually to understand the concerns each may have in regards to harm reduction work in Afghanistan.Number of working days: 4, with 20% of payment;
National consultation Organization of a 2-day orientation consultation to provide community and civil society actors with the overview of findings from PWID status in Afghanistan. Number of working days; 2 with 10% of payment;
Organization and facilitation of a 1 day workshop to bring together broader stakeholders to discuss recommendations from the consultation with the PWID community and the stakeholders. Number of working days; 2 with 10% of payment;
Recommend Individuals and Institutions for further capacity development to ensure efficient services delivery to PWIDs. After desk review and community consultation, the consultant will identify potential groups or organizations which are representing communities and whose mandates are to provide services and advocacy for those key population (PWID) and explore availability of existing CBOs working for PWIDs in Afghanistan. Number of working days; 2 with 10% of payment;
Drafting and finalization of an action plan to address recommendations from the community consultation process. The action plan should also identify and present short and medium-term technical assistance needs for PWID programs (with a focus on community empowerment), as well as potential TA providers that can be leveraged to support organizations working with and/or representing PWID in Afghanistan. Number of working days; 4 with 20% of payment;
Case study on the TA highlighting overall lessons learned (3-5 pages). Case study format should include (Title, Summary Introduction, Findings, Lessons, Next Steps, Recommendations, Bio/Profile and Annex).Number of working days 5 with 20%of payment.
Working Arrangements:
Institutional Arrangement
- The international consultant will work under the direct supervision of the UNDP GFP Programme/ Deputy Programme Manager in Afghanistan;
- The consultant will liaise with relevant government departments and other organization ANPASH, CSOs, UNODC, UNICEF, EU and WHO.
- The consultant however is expected to use his/her own laptop and mobile phone
Duration of the Work:
- The duration of work will be one month with maximum 22 working days.
Duty Station:
The consultant will be based in UNDP GFP office, Kabul Afghanistan. The consultant will follow the working hours and weekends as applicable to the Gov civil servants. Consultant’s field visits, movement and consultations shall be coordinated by UNDP. The consultant is at all times required to observe UNDP security rules and regulations.
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;
Treats all people fairly without favoritism.
Functional Competencies:
Knowledge Management and Learning:
In-depth practical knowledge of inter-disciplinary development issues;
Seeks and applies knowledge, information, and best practices from within and outside of UNDP;
Must have excellent communication skills both verbal and written
Management and Leadership:
Builds strong relationships with clients, focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback;
Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities;
Ability to lead effectively, mentoring as well as conflict resolution skills;
Demonstrates strong oral and written communication skills;
Remains calm, in control and good humored even under pressure;
Proven networking, team-building, organizational and communication skills.
Required Skills and Experience
Required Skills and Experience:
Master’s in social science with special focus on one of the followings: public health, Community Health, HIV, Drug management, and Community Development.
Experience:
Should have at least 5year experience in working for or in support of community-based organizations dedicated to PWID and HIV/AIDS;
Experience of the South Asia regions would be an asset;
Experience and proven track of record on conducting community consultations for key population, especially the PWID;
The candidate should be willing and fit to travel by air outside of Kabul city based on security recommendation and spend the nights outsides Kabul if required;
Demonstrated experience in serving in an advisory role.
Language:
Excellent written and spoken English;
Afghanistan language (Pushto or Dari) is an asset.
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 22 working days;
Travel & Visa – The contractor shall propose an estimated lump sum for home-Kabul-home travel and Afghanistan visa expenses.
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. These shall be as indicated in the above, the milestone reports shall be certified by UNDP-GFP HIV Programme Officer and shall be made upon approval by the GF programme or GF deputy Programme Manager.
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 under the contract in accordance with the abovementioned schedule of payment.
Note: The cost for the reginal travel will cover by project and this cost should not include in the Financial proposal
Evaluation Method and Criteria
Individual consultants will be evaluated based on the following methodology:
Cumulative Analysis
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 Points):
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 a written assignment 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.