Background
In Angola, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), is implementing the country’s Global Fund HIV grant (AGO-H-UNDP) in the capacity of Principal Recipient over the 2016-2018 period. Such a role is carried out by UNDP in support of the national response to HIV led by the Instituto Nacional da Luta contra VIH/sida (INLS), under the Ministry of Health, and within the framework of the 2015-2018 National Multisectoral Strategic Plan for HIV/aids. Besides INLS, UNDP Sub-Recipients include UNFPA, MSH and 8 international and national NGOs.
General context
With an estimated prevalence of 2.2% [1.5 – 3.1 %], Angola faces a generalised, albeit concentrated HIV epidemic (UNAIDS, 2015). According to the 2015-2016 Multiple Indicators Survey (MIS) and Demographic Health Survey (DHS),?the HIV prevalence among 15-49 years old in Angola is 2%, with significant regional, gender and age variations.? As far as gender differences are concerned, a higher prevalence is seen among women (2.6%) compared to men (1.2%). In relation to age differences, nearly 1% of 15-24 years old are living with HIV.
Angola’s response to its HIV epidemic is currently led by the INLS and informed by the Fifth National Strategic Plan (NSP) against HIV/aids and viral hepatitis (V PEN) (2015-2018). The V PEN strategic objectives include: 1) Prevention of HIV Infection; 2) Diagnosis, continued treatment and support; 3) Creating an enabling ethical and legal environment; 4) Multisectoral integration and articulation; 5) Monitoring & evaluation / Management of Strategic Information; 6) National capacity-building and resource mobilisation. The mid-term review of the NSP was conducted in May 2017.
Duties and Responsibilities
Key Populations and HIV in Angola
Preliminary results from two recent Integrated Behavioural and Biological Survey (IBBS) among Key Populations (KP) has demonstrated how they are disproportionately affected by the HIV epidemic in Angola. According to the 2016 SADC-supported IBBS, 10,5% of Female Sex Workers (FSW) in the cities of Luanda and Benguela / Lobito are living with HIV and 2,6% are living with active syphilis. The preliminary results of a Pepfar-supported IBBS results show a prevalence of 7.8% among FSW and 2.4% among men who have sex with men (MSM) in Luanda and Benguela provinces. High prevalence of other STIs was reported among the same populations in the same locations.
The current National Strategic Plan for HIV/aids (V PEN, 2015-2018) includes targets on SW and MSM to be reached with HIV prevention services. Under the Pepfar-funded Linkages Project, services to SW, MSM and Transgender persons include identification and outreach to Key Populations; HIV testing, counselling and referral / linkages with treatment and care services; treatment adherence support through champions of positive living. All of these services are provided in Luanda city only.
Under the UNDP/Global Fund Project, such services will be complemented with post psychosocial support, gender-based violence support, police sensitisation and FSW empowerment and organisational development approaches with FSW based in Luanda city. The Project will also fund HIV prevention services targeted at MSM in Benguela which include outreach, HIV testing and referral and support to treatment adherence support as well as sensitisation and training of health professionals working with Key Populations.
Although existing or under development, the offer of HIV/aids services targeted towards Key Populations remain by and large limited in scope. Also, Key Populations represented continue to report cases of stigma, discrimination and violence either from health professionals, the police or other members of society. Resources for KP leadership and organizational development as well as documentation and advocacy are also lacking. Yet CSOs and Key Populations groups appear to be in demand for such capacity development according to UNDP assessment.
Scope of Services, Expected Outputs and Target Completion
Angola included in its 2015 Funding Request to the Global Fund, the development of a National Key Populations Strategy, Plan and Guidelines. The aim of such documents is to help reduce new infections among Key Populations by achieving the following specific objectives :
- Provide a KP-focused policy framework which will guide, orient and inform policy makers and KP programme implementers towards common objectives and defined targets
- Come up with the set of interventions, and the types of services required in order to attain such targets
- ?Clearly spell out the “how to” of such interventions to implementers and service providers in terms of best practices, attitudes and behaviours in relation to service delivery to KP or KP involvement in such services
In order to achieve the above mentioned specific objectives, UNDP is recruiting one or more Technical Assistance (TA) providers. Specifically, the TA Service provider (the Service Provider) or the Offeror is expected to deliver the following outputs:
By 28th February 2018 :
- Situation Analysis Report on KP strategies, programming and practices in Angola;
- The National KP Guidelines on working with and for Key Populations designed for Implementers and Health Professionals;
- Report of the National KP Guidelines validation workshop.
By 31st March 2018 :
- The National Key Populations Strategy and Plan on working with and for Key Populations;
- Report of the KP National Strategy and Plan validation workshop.
The prioritisation of the National Guidelines is due to help inform ongoing interventions or interventions which are about to start. Given the time constraints, the Offeror may work independently or as part of a team. UNDP also reserves the right to recruit more than one Offeror and/or to recruit national Consultants to support International Consultants.
Major activities to be undertaken by the offeror or Service Provider. Timeline
Carry out the desk-based review including literature review and desk-based stakeholder interviews Dec 2017
Conduct in-country consultations with INLS leadership, other HIV/aids policy makers, programme implementers, KP representatives, other stakeholders (police, health professionals, development partners) Januaery 2018
Produce a Situation Analysis Report on KP strategies, programming and practices in Angola January 2018
Lead the facilitation of the validation workshop on the findings included in the Situation Analysis Report January 2018
Draft the National KP Guidelines on how to work with and for KP, designed for Implementers and Health Professionals Jan and Feb 2018
Lead the facilitation of the validation workshop for the draft National KP Guidelines Febryary 2018
Finalise and deliver the National KP Guidelines February 2018
Draft the National KP Strategy and Plan on working with and for KP January and March 2018
Institutional Arrangements
The Service Provider will directly responsible vis-à-vis UNDP for the completion of the National Key Populations Plan, Strategy and Guidelines. In that sense, the Service Provider will report to the UNDP/Global Fund Project Coordinator on its progress in achieving these outputs on a monthly basis.
In addition, the Service Provider will carry out its activities under the technical oversight of the INLS, exercised through its leadership and the IEC Department. In addition, the Service Provider may also be expected to provide regular updates to INLS partners involved in KP programming (Pepfar, UNDP, the Linkages Project etc.) as well as the KP representatives. Through these updates, the Service Provider may be required to incorporate technical feedback received from the INLS and/or KP stakeholders including KP representatives.
The Service Provider will liaise and seek support from UNDP/Global Fund Project team on logistical issues such as the preparation of stakeholder consultation workshops and meetings, transport needs etc.
The expected duration of work is as follows:.
As mebntioned
KP Guidelines KP national Strategy Total Period of
And plan execution
Desk-based literature 4 4 8 Dec 2017
And interviews
In-Country stakeholder 5 5 10 Jan 2017
Consultations
Situation analysis report 4 4 8 Jan 2017
Writing
Validation of consultation findings.
Workshop Preparation 1 February
Workshop facilitation 1 February
Workshop report writing 2 February
Validation of outputs
Workshop preparation 1 1 2 February and Mar
Workshop facilitation 1 1 2 February and Mar
Workshop report writing 2 2 4 February and Mar
Drafting and Finalization 5 5 10 January and March
Total number of days 46
Location of Work
The Offeror may offer to carry out the 46 days of consultancy without interruption or divide it into two stages, provided that the outputs are delivered as per the schedule above. Any trips resulting from the Offeror’s decision to travel out of Angola during the 46 days period will be at the Offeror’s cost.
The Service Provider is expected to identify the necessary stakeholder consultations, with a view to ensuring the national nature of the exercise . UNDP will take charge of the Offeror’s travel costs within Angola.
The Place Study, Linkages Angola Project, 2017
Scope of Proposal Price and Schedule of Payments
The contract price is a fixed output-based price regardless of extension of the herein specific duration. In the computation of the contract price, the Proposer is expected to include the daily consultancy fees only. Travel, meetings and workshops and printing costs will be covered by UNDP.
The schedule of Payments will be decided based on the number of Service Providers eventually contracted by UNDP through this recruitment process.
Application procedure
In order to apply, the Service Provider must submit in one single electronic file the following :
- One Curriculum Vitae for each Service Provider;
- One brief Technical Proposal outlining the Service Provider’s approach in delivering the expected outputs as described in these Terms of reference;
- One Financial Proposal including the information on the Service Provider’s consultancy fee;
- Please ensure that all files are combined in one single file as the system only allows for one single file to be submitted.
Competencies
- Aware and respectful of United Nations values of tolerance for diversity, including on sexual orientation and behaviours
- Displays cultural , gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.
- Highest standards of integrity, discretion and loyalty.
Functional competencies.
- Excellent facilitation skills;
- Excellent report and other document writing skills;
- Able to anticipate and respond to the clients evolving needs;
- Able to deliver high quality products within agreed timeframe.
Required Skills and Experience
Academic qualifications:
- Post graduate degree in a health of social sciences-related areas.
Experience:
- At least 15 years of experience in the HIV/aids strategy development and programming;
- At least 10 years of experience in providing technical assistance ion Key Populations strategy development and programming.
Language:
- Fluent in English;
- Working knowledge of Portuguese.