Gender and Health Systems Consultant Tender, USA - 28212895

Procurement Summary

Country : USA

Summary : Gender and Health Systems Consultant

Deadline : 16 Nov 2018

Other Information

Notice Type : Tender

TOT Ref.No.: 28212895

Document Ref. No. :

Competition : ICB

Financier : United Nations Secretariat

Purchaser Ownership : -

Tender Value : Refer Document

Purchaser's Detail

Purchaser : UNITED NATIONS CHILDREN'S FUND
3 United Nations Plaza 44th Street between 1st and 2nd Avenues New York Tel: +1-326.7000 Fax: 887.7465 / 887.7454
USA
URL :http://www.unicef.org/

Tender Details

Tenders are invited for Consultancy: Gender and Health Systems Consultant, Gender Section, PD-NYHQ.

UNICEF works in some of the world-s toughest places, to reach the world-s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

Background

As UN Member states reaffirmed their commitment to strengthen primary health care systems as an essential step toward achieving universal health coverage in Astana on 26 October 2018, attention to the role of community health/ frontline workers in achieving this goal is essential. Investing in universal health coverage (UHC) and social development requires investing in community health/frontline workers (CH/FLWs). These frontline workers often make up the backbone of health systems in LMICs but as a female dominated cadre are underpaid, overworked, unsupported, and marginalized. CH/FLWs have made possible the delivery of life saving interventions to underserved women and children in LMICs where human resources for health are insufficient. Beyond expanding reach and quality of health care delivery, CH/FLWs are uniquely positioned to catalyze change in the gender power relationships and norms that underlie social determinants of poor health status.

UNICEF-s Gender Action Plan (GAP) 2018-21 underscores that gender equality in health systems (HS) is needed so that every boy and girl child survives and thrives - a goal area in the 2018-2021 Strategic Plan (SP). Strengthening service delivery and empowering communities to care for their children are two key actions under UNICEF-s Health Strategy. Attention to gender in the implementation of the Health Strategy can unlock critical bottlenecks towards achieving its goals to ending preventable maternal, newborn and child (MNC) deaths as well as promote the health and development of all children. The rationale for prioritizing the advancement of gender equality in the community health workforce under these actions are twofold: (1) Gender biases and inequalities must be addressed for Community Health/ Frontline Workers (CH/FLWs) to effectively and sustainably delivery health services to marginalized populations and (2) Community Health/Frontline Workers must be empowered to effectively support change in healthy behaviors and health care utilization among communities.

Purpose

As part of its role in supporting the enhancement of UNICEF-s programming excellence on gender equality, the Gender Section (GS) at UNICEF HQ is seeking a consultant to strengthen gender equality/ gender responsiveness in health systems by addressing practices and policies that particularly disadvantage women as community health/ frontline care workers. This entails conducting document analyses and interviews to highlight the gender dimensions and responsiveness of community health workers- career advancement opportunities, with a focus on a sub-set of countries (upto10). Specifically, the consultant will carry out the following activities:

1. Undertake analyses of health policy, planning and financing instruments in a sub-set of countries to document the gender dimensions /responsiveness to empowering CH/FLWs, especially women, for their career advancement (including numbers, ratios and roles and professional development paths).

2. Identify promising practices and specific gaps in empowering CH/FLWs, particularly women, with a focus on what works and does not work as well as some key research questions for further enquiry.

3. Develop a brief note to support UNICEF country offices and partners in advocating for and providing specific recommendations to empower female and male CH/FLWs within a health systems/policy approach.

4. Develop 2 communication products - a power point presentation and 2-page policy brief that synthesizes the key points of analyses and recommends specific steps to integrate a gender responsive approach in health systems strengthening focused on empowering CH/FLWs.

The consultant will work with the Senior Advisor, Gender and Development in the Gender Section, Programme Division NYHQ, and in close collaboration with other Programme Division sections, especially Health as well as regional and country offices.

Expected Results:

UNICEF CO-s and partners are supported to advocate for and provide specific recommendations to strengthen health policy, planning and financing opportunities to empower female and male CH/FLWs, and achieve greater gender equity within the health system. The expected results of this consultancy are as follows:

1. Strengthened data to better profile community health/ frontline workers and polices that promote or hinder their professional growth.

2. Identified promising practices and pathways to professionalize and advance CH/FLWs especially women.

3. Supported advocacy to strengthen health systems to improve the professional role and standing of female community health/ frontline workers.

Time frame:

Start date: 10 December 2018

End date: 30 June 2019

Duty Station: NYHQ or remote

Travel: The consultant will be reimbursed approximately $8, 500 for one mission to the WCARO region and one mission to the ROSA region. This is the estimated cost of travel based on standard cost of economy travel, terminals fees, and per diem for 10 days. Following UNICEF travel policy, we estimate travel support as economy airfare/train fare, local transportation and a per diem allowance to cover meals and accommodation. Reimbursement to the consultant will occur after the mission and will be based on receipt (transportation) and the per diem will be calculated according to the DSA circular published monthly by the United Nations.

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Key competences, technical background, and experience required

Masters or Ph.D in Public Health or closely related field.

§ Minimum 8 years relevant experience and expertise in designing, implementing, managing, and delivering results-based programmes on gender and health issues with a particular focus on health systems or health policy analysis.

§ Strong research, conceptual and analytical skills relevant to gender and health, along with demonstrated credibility with both health and gender experts; publication record in peer reviewed journals a plus.

§ Demonstrated ability to link policy and programming, understand and apply indicators and measures in gender and health.

§ Experience in working with country level experts in shaping, implementing and evaluating gender and health programmes.

§ Demonstrated ability to express ideas and concepts clearly and concisely in written and oral form; excellent diplomatic and negotiation skills in working with colleagues across sectors.

§ Highly organized with ability to work across functional areas and with multiple priorities.

§ Self-starter with the ability to deliver results.

§ Understanding of UN systems and country programmes a plus.

§ Fluency in English, knowledge of another UN language a plus.

Please indicate your ability, availability and daily/monthly rate (in US$) to undertake the terms of reference above (including travel and daily subsistence allowance, if applicable). Applications submitted without a daily/monthly rate will not be considered.

Remarks

With the exception of the US Citizens, G4 Visa and Green Card holders, should the selected candidate and his/her household members reside in the United States under a different visa, the consultant and his/her household members are required to change their visa status to G4, and the consultant-s household members (spouse) will require an Employment Authorization Card (EAD) to be able to work, even if he/she was authorized to work under the visa held prior to switching to G4.

At the time the contract is awarded, the selected candidate must have in place current health insurance coverage.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

Advertised: 02 Nov 2018 Eastern Daylight Time
Applications close: 16 Nov 2018 11:55 PM Eastern Standard Time

Documents

 Tender Notice