Background

UNODC, a co-sponsor of the Joint United Nations Program on HIV AIDS, provides technical assistance to member countries following the relevant resolutions and decisions in the UNGASS 2016 that adopts the political declaration on HIV and AIDS. Together with UNAIDS and other UN co-sponsors, it ensures that fast-tracking can accelerate the fight against HIV and End the AIDS Epidemic by 2030. As the UNAIDS convening agency that tackles issues that link drug use and HIV, UNODC helps the Philippines implement comprehensive HIV services for people who use and inject drugs, including those enrolled in the criminal justice system for drug-related offenses. UNODC also pays special attention to women who inject drugs, as they are often more vulnerable to HIV than their male counterparts. Women are more likely to be stigmatized and marginalized by society and, therefore, more likely to hide their drug use behavior, making them more vulnerable to drug addiction and making an uninformed decision.

Furthermore, another population with the highest prevalence rate of HIV cases in the Philippines is men having sex with men. In 2020, UNODC researched Chemsex in the country and found out that the combined risks of unsafe injecting, sexualized drug use and unprotected sex substantially elevate the risks of HIV transmission among men having sex with men. 

In response to the issues identified, UNODC initiated various activities and engagements with crucial Government partners and civil society organizations. One of the many initiatives that UNODC introduced in the country is the training for Law Enforcement groups on HIV service provision, which was adapted into the Philippines context in partnership with CSOs. Also, UNODC has supported the Department of Health, Epidemiological Bureau’s; First Integrated HIV Behavioural Serologic Surveillance (IHBSS) in jails. The surveillance provides baseline data that served as a basis for the national plan of action. Subsequently, key recommendations and improvement of HIV prevention, treatment, and care services for people deprived of liberty and services and benefits for jail personnel noted. The efforts made in 2018 are to be continued with additional planned activities.

OBJECTIVES OF THE ASSIGNMENT

The UNODC seeks a consultant to support the implementation of activities under the Unified Budget, Results and Accountability Framework (UBRAF), UNAIDS instrument for maximizing the coherence, coordination, and impact of the UN's response to AIDS, explicitly supporting the roll-out of activities specified in this TOR.  The overall objective of the assignment is to support the UN Joint Team on HIV AIDS on carrying out strategic activities that promote fast-tracking of HIV services for PWUDs, PWIDs, and those in detention facilities for drug-related offenses. 

Under UNODC Senior Resident Policy Advisor's supervision in the Philippines, the Consultant will provide technical services to the UNODC, JTA, and UNAIDS.

INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENT

Under the supervision of the Health and Drugs Team together with the UNODC Senior Resident Policy Advisor, the consultant is expected to constantly update the Health and Drugs National Program Officer on the progress of his/her work related to the project, at least once a month during the contracting period, to ensure that targets are met in a timely manner.

DUTY STATION AND DURATION OF WORK

Duty Station: Manila, Philippines (with possible travel within the country) The Consultant is expected to work remotely and provide his/her own laptop, work space, internet connection for the work requirement. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic and declaration of State of Public Health Emergency in the Philippines, all work and travel of the Individual consultant shall be done within the guidelines and protocols set by the local and national government and in compliance with community quarantine policies.

Duration of work: Five Months (schedule of report submissions and other related documents is as indicated in the Expected Outputs and Deliverables clause). Regular updating/reporting to the designated coordinator assigned for the particular project is as stated above. 

SCOPE OF PRICE PROPOSAL AND SCHEDULE OF PAYMENTS

1. The Contractor should send the financial proposal based on a lump-sum amount for the delivery of the outputs identified below. The total amount quoted shall be “all inclusive” (professional fees 110 person-days spread in five months, communications, etc.) that could possibly be incurred by the Contractor should be factored into the final amount submitted in the proposal.
2. Travel, as deemed relevant by UNDP and compliant with government guidelines on community quarantine, will be arranged and paid for by UNDP and should not be included in the financial proposal.
3. Medical/health insurance must be purchased by the individual at his/her own expense, and upon award of contract, the Contractor must be ready to submit proof of insurance valid during contract duration
4. The contract price will be fixed output-based price..
5. Payments will be done upon satisfactory completion of the delivery by target due dates and submisson of montly report. Outputs will be certified by Mr. Olivier Lermet, Senior Policy Advisor prior to release of payments.

Duties and Responsibilities

SCOPE OF WORK

For the period April 2021 to August 2021, the Consultant will support implementing the 2021 UBRAF strategic plans and support the UNODC Health and Drugs team in other activities linked with the UBRAF activities. The Consultant will be directly reporting to and supervised by the Senior Policy Adviser of UNODC Manila and will work full time.

The consultant will carry-out the following duties:

1. Support the roll-out of the Memorandum Circular on the management of HIV AIDS to BJMP jails in the National Capital Region (NCR);
2. Organize the conduct of an Assessment of HIV Services embedded in the Community-based Drug Treatment and Rehabilitation program (CBDRP) of the DOH Drug Abuse Prevention, Treatment and Rehabilitation Program (DDAPTP), and local Anti-drug Abuse Council (ADACs);
3. Identify/Develop HIV package for PWUDs based on the result of the assessment;
4. Organize the conduct of an Assessment of HIV Services embedded in the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) services for CICL, and support the development of an Issue Brief / Concept Note/ White Paper in partnership with subject matter experts;
5. Identify/Develop HIV package for CICL based on the result of the assessment, and support the development of an Issue Brief / Concept Note/ White Paper in partnership with subject matter experts;
6. Advocate for targeted health service provision for MSM engaged in ChemSex behavior, including through coordinating the development of an Issue Brief/ Concept Note / White Paper with subject matter experts;
7. Advocate for non-custodial measures for female, minor offenders (girls) in the context of substance use, promoting the concepts in the UN Bangkok Rules;
8. Organize training on the Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission (PMTCT) for jail personnel.
9. Establish partnership with CSOs supporting legal literacy, access to justice and enforcement of rights of PLHIV, PWUD, PWID and PDLs;
10. Contribute to the writing of webstories, news articles, social media posts on the project’s activities and advocacies;
11. Support the Asian Center for Drug Policy teams in the gathering of research and policy studies on the topics relevant to the current assignment; and,
12. Support other Health and Drugs related activities as may be requested by the Senior Resident Adviser.

EXPECTED OUTPUTS AND DELIVERABLES

The following task and deliverables table shall guide the Consultant’s work:

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 and technical competencies

• Ability to work in a diverse and multi-cultural environment;
• Self-motivated and ability to work under pressure and to meet strict and competing deadlines;
• Displays analytical judgment and demonstrated ability to handle confidential and politically sensitive issues in a responsible and mature manner;
• Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities

Required Skills and Experience

Offers will be evaluated based on the combined scoring method :

• Technical qualifications = 70%
• Financial Proposal =    30%

For the evaluation of the Technical Proposal, the selection of the successful consultant must be based on the following qualifications (with the appropriate obtainable points):