State Lead Consultant, HIV & AIDS at UNICEF

Job Number: 513165

Work Type: Consultancy

Background and Rationale
Adolescents and Young People (AYP) segment of the population constitute 33% of the Nigeria's population. They are found in and out of school, and all spheres of endeavor of our lives (married, engaged in labor). Adolescents are very active, yet invisible population of the society (exploited in different ways, missing in data and services, not eligible to vote etc)

Access to and uptake of HIV counselling and testing (HTC) by adolescents is significantly lower than for adults. UNAIDS report on the global AIDS epidemic 2013 report indicate that only 10% of young men and 15% of young women (15 -24 years) were aware of their HIV status in sub-Saharan Africa. However, access and coverage vary considerably across countries and regions.

Globally, there is 30% decrease in AIDS related mortality in adults, 50% increase in AYP between 2005 -2012 (UNAIDS report on the global AIDS epidemic 2013). This increase in adolescent HIV-related deaths is due primarily to poor prioritization of adolescents in national HIV plans, inadequate provision of accessible and acceptable HTC and treatment services and lack of support for adolescents to remain in care and adhere to antiretroviral therapy (ART). Half of the 3.1 million Nigerians living with HIV are AYP aged 15 – 24 years.

Nigeria has the second highest global burden of HIV. 10% of the global population of adolescents living with HIV live in Nigeria. An ambitious plan to accelerate progress on AYP HIV intervention was conceptualized for Nigeria aligned to the four work streams of the “ALL INâ€Â initiative namely – a. Changing social context by working with adolescents as agents of change, b. Sharpening adolescent components of national programs, c. Promoting innovation and approaches for scale-up, d. Advocacy, communication and resource mobilization

Kaduna state is one of the flagship demonstration states. Thus, intensive programming took place in Kaduna state through an 12 month intervention to pilot an approach for comprehensive HIV service delivery for adolescents and young people initially in Jaba and Jemaâ LGAs and later on to Kagarko, Lere, Igabi, Chikun and B/Gwari LGAS. This intervention built in capacity strengthening of the adolescent HIV service delivery systems, partnerships, community mobilization and advocacy at state and LGA levels to achieve results. The intervention created demand for services, provided HIV Testing services and referral for prevention, treatment and care. In Kaduna State, 7 LGAs were identified for intensive intervention and evidence based work plans with clear objectives were developed following a rapid assessment, an in-depth analysis of the selected interventions to identify bottlenecks, and an analysis of the bottle necks to proffer solutions and evidence based of plans developed to remove the bottle necks using AADM tool. The four tracer interventions selected were 1) HIV testing Services 2) Interpersonal Communication for HIV prevention 3) Condom programming and 4) Family Life and HIV Education (FLHE)

The work in Nigeria has gained global attention within UNICEF and attracted additional funding. 1.7 million dollars has been allocated to intensify Adolescent HIV programming in Nigeria with the aim of helping to identify and place 90% of the 200,000 ALHIV in Nigeria, ensure 90% of those identified are placed on treatment and 90% of those on treatment achieve viral suppression (UNAIDS 90-90-90 targets).

In the last 10 months the funds have been utilized for the implementation of four key intervention areas. One of the four areas Intensifying Adolescent programming in Kaduna StateÂ, has been implemented with the technical support of this consultant to achieve the set objectives/activities as below with appreciable progress.

Specific activities successfully rollout this intervention area include:

• Implementation of the ''All In'' plans in the 7 LGAs identified by the ''All In'' assessment in Kaduna state
• Intensive programming, engaging government, communities, young people
• Creating evidence (profiling positive ALHIV, contact tracing, pregnant adolescents, integration for youth friendly services, determinants of uptake of services, adherence, transition etc.)
• Documentation, innovation (mHealth for increasing HCT, adherence of ART).
• Evidence generation and dissemination of lessons learnt to inform a learning collaborative to influence UNICEFs advocacy and convening for taking to scale, removing law barriers (e.g. age of consent).

It is required that the systems and structures that have been strengthened be sustained fir continuous delivery of services for AYP. Thus there is still need for the technical support to continue for the purpose of implementing a sustainability and exit plan. A LGA level consultant is required to ensure continuous implementation, monitoring and coordination and reporting of all planned activities in the 4 LGAs of Kaduna State.

The Purpose of the Assignment

• The Lead consultant shall be responsible for providing overall technical support and coordination of the project in the state, and provide direct support for implementation in 4 LGAs. (S) He will technically support the LGA consultant for implementation of the AYP interventions in the remaining 3 LGAs of the state.
• The lead consultant shall ensure data collection and reporting to UNICEF on monthly and quarterly basis, organize feedback to relevant stake holders and also liaise with the research and documentation consultants for high quality documentation and research activities.
• The consultant will work closely with, and support government partners to ensure transparency and program accountability, and facilitate knowledge transfer to government partners and community members in all the LGAs.

Major Tasks to be Accomplished

• Support SACA in coordinating and monitoring the implementation of the LGA AYP plans;
  • Provide technical assistance to SACA to develop a AYP plan implementation monitoring plan
  • Support the strengthening of the State and LGA coordination mechanism
  • Participate as an ad hoc member of the Prevention TWG and AYP Subcommittee
• Support the LGA coordination and implementation of the LGA AYP plans:
  • Provide technical assistance to the LGAs for  the development of and implementation of monthly activities from the respective LGA plans
  • Facilitate monthly LGA team review meetings
  • Provide technical support to the LGA Team regarding all aspects of adolescent HIV interventions in the assigned LGA
  • Undertake field visits to LGA and communities to assess progress, identify problems and propose remedial or alternative strategies or courses of actions to accelerate/improve quality of adolescent HIV intervention s in the assigned LGAs
• Provide support to AYP disaggregated data generation and use at state and LGA levels:
  • Support LGA M&E Officers to ensure timely data collection (monthly and quarterly) from Service Delivery Points (SDPs), and collation at ward and LGAs, and ensure transmission to state
  • Facilitate standardized 2-way feedback mechanism with SDPs and LGA & LGA and State
• Provide technical support to the review of the LGA plan:
  • Support annual LGA Plan review meeting;
  • Support quarterly LGA feedback and advocacy meeting;
• Facilitate community engagement and empowerment for sustainability:
  • Mapping of existing adolescent platforms/forums/networks/u Reporters forum for all sectors (WASH, Nutrition, Education, Health etc) including private sector at the LGA/State level.
  • Engage and work with new and existing community structures at all levels for increased community participation and ownership of AYP interventions and strengthen partnerships with key allies including Implementing partners, NGOs, CBOs, faith-based organizations, women and youth groups for effective use of networks to promote programme ownership and sustainability
  • Identify and advice the LGA and state on opportunities for further integration of AYP HIV services in to PHCUOR, SOML Initiative and other MCH platforms
  • Support LGA demand creation activities
• Facilitate, in coordination with UNICEF Field Office, the effective use of UNICEF funds for the intervention at the State and LGA levels.
• Submit monthly and quarterly progress report to UNICEF
• Any other duties assigned by Supervisors or authority of UNICEF Field Office

End Product/Ouputs

• Documentation plan/framework and templates
• Detailed Work plan
• Report of inception meeting with state stakeholders
• Monthly and quarterly reports
• Consolidated final report (with various components as on documentation plan)

Qualifications or Specialized Knowledge/Experience Required
The proposed consultancy and assignment is at NOB level. The required qualification and experience for the consultancy are:

Experience and skills:

• Basic university degree (Masters degree is an added advantage) in public health, medical sciences, development areas or related field
• Five years or more experience in HIV and AIDS, gender, social protection or health programming, with proven record of working with adolescents and young people
• Good report writing skills, presentations using innovative templates and formats using current software applications and information technology is an advantage
• Ability to work with and coordinate a multi-sectoral team
• Self-driven and able to work alone, under tight schedules and to meet tight deadlines
• Experience in planning and managing technical meetings and conferences

Competencies:

• Communication- Speaks English fluently; presents information with skill and confidence; projects credibility; structures information to meet the needs and understanding of the intended audience; presents information in a well-structured and logical way. Fluency in local language is an added advantage
• Relating and networking - Easily establishes good relationships with external partners and staff; builds wide and effective networks; relates well to people at all levels.
• Drive for results - Sets high standards for quality of work; independently monitors and maintains quality of work; works in a systematic, methodical and orderly way; consistently achieves project goals; focuses on the needs and satisfaction of internal and external partners; accepts and tackles demanding goals with enthusiasm.

Kaduna Application Link

Benue Application Link