Individual Consultancy: To provide technical HIGH-level support to PEN-PLUS on Non-Communicable Diseases in Children, Maputo, 11 months

Provide high level technical assistance to the implementation of the PEN-Plus project led by the NCDI Poverty Co-Secretariat at Universidade Eduardo Mondlane.

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. 

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How can you make a difference? 

BACKGROUND / RATIONALE

The Non-Communicable Disease International (NCDI) Poverty Network was established in December 2020 with the goal to prevent and reduce the death and suffering of children and young adults doubly afflicted by extreme poverty and noncommunicable conditions. The NCDI Poverty Network supports the development, pilot, and scale up of innovative service delivery models to effectively decentralize interventions for prevention and management of NCDIs affecting poor and vulnerable populations. PEN-Plus is a strategy to enable mid-level providers (nurses, clinical officers, etc.) to lead outpatient care for severe chronic NCDs affecting young individuals (for example, type 1 diabetes, advanced rheumatic heart disease, and sickle cell disease) at first-level referral facilities in an integrated approach. In collaboration with the World Health Organization, PEN-Plus will build upon and strengthen the WHO Package of Essential NCD Interventions (WHO PEN) for primary health centers, as well as expand the availability of interventions to the pediatric population.

Currently the Mozambique Program is at the stage of developing its National Operational Plan and the educational materials for implementation of the program nationwide. The aim is to incorporate information on Type 1 Diabetes, Sickle Cell Disease and Heart Failure in the Young to the Integrated Management of Neonatal and Childhood Illnesses (MNCI) strategy currently in use in our country, taking into consideration the different levels of cadres and task shifting in Mozambique

Purpose of Activity/Assignment: 

Provide high level technical assistance to the implementation of the PEN-Plus project led by the NCDI Poverty Co-Secretariat at Universidade Eduardo Mondlane.

PROGRAMME AREA AND SPECIFIC PROJECT AREA:

The Mozambique PEN-Plus high-level Consultant for Pediatrics will be responsible for:

• Provide high-level technical support to the PEN-Plus Mozambique Technical Working Groups team 

• Advise the local program leadership on strategic decisions regarding the PEN Plus National Operational Plan

• Design a training strategy for decentralized care for Type1 Diabetes, Sickle Cell Disease and Heart Failure in the Young (Rheumatic Heart Disease, Congenital Heart Disease) based on task-shifting to non-specialist health providers

• Develop and/or update the pediatric PEN-Plus package for incorporation into the Integrated Management of Neonatal and Childhood Illnesses (IMNCI), including the tools for:

o Early detection

o Clinical care delivery

o Task-shifting to non-specialists

o Training and mentorship

o Supply chain and equipment management

o Information systems

o Assessments and evaluations

o Internal and external communications

• Lead the process of validating the content produced for IMNCI through workshops with stakeholders and high-level meetings with the MoH

• Map all Childhood-, Adolescent- and NCD-related initiatives, policies and strategies, that are relevant to PEN Plus implementation countrywide

• Map all partners and stakeholders supporting government and PEN-Plus efforts on childhood-onset NCD

• Support the efforts to incorporate the NCD pediatric component in the national health policies and strategies (NCD, Maternal Newborn Child and Adolescent Health, Community Health, Mental Health National Program, etc)

• Develop documentation and briefs to disseminate the results and for advocacy purposes

• Report monthly on the progress of the consultancy

• Mapping all NCD-related initiatives, policies, and strategies, as well as all partners and stakeholders supporting government efforts on NCD and PEN-Plus

• Participate in the PEN-Plus team weekly/monthly calls to understand and be updated on the network’s progress on its programmatic standards

• Establish regular communication between UNICEF and NCDI Poverty Co-Secretariat

• Facilitate the communication between the PEN Plus team and government institutions for the implementation of the pediatric component of the program

• Monitor the implementation of PEN Plus activities (clinical supervision and mentorship, training and data systems monitoring) especially at health facility level

• Support the inclusion of pediatric NCD services into the health sector planning annual cycle (PES)

• Develop documentation and briefs to disseminate the results and for advocacy purposes

Work Assignments Overview

Develop Customized childhood NCD Package to fit the IMNCI guidelines and materials

Deliverables/Outputs

Addenda ready to print for IMNCI chart booklet; facilitator and participants manual’s Timeline

20 days

Work Assignments Overview

Develop Tools for NCD early detection

Deliverables/Outputs

Tools for NCD early detection

Timeline

30 days

Work Assignments Overview

Develop materials for Health professionals related with longitudinal care as well as IEC materials for patients

Deliverables/Outputs

Longitudinal care materials

Timeline

20 days

Work Assignments Overview

Develop a package of training (manuals for facilitators and participants) as well Deliverables/Outputs

NCD Training package

Timeline

30 days

Work Assignments Overview

Develop a mentorship tools aligned with MoH model

Deliverables/Outputs

Mentorship tools

Timeline

20 days

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have… 

• A

  BACKGROUND / RATIONALE

  The Non-Communicable Disease International (NCDI) Poverty Network was established in December 2020 with the goal to prevent and reduce the death and suffering of children and young adults doubly afflicted by extreme poverty and noncommunicable conditions. The NCDI Poverty Network supports the development, pilot, and scale up of innovative service delivery models to effectively decentralize interventions for prevention and management of NCDIs affecting poor and vulnerable populations. PEN-Plus is a strategy to enable mid-level providers (nurses, clinical officers, etc.) to lead outpatient care for severe chronic NCDs affecting young individuals (for example, type 1 diabetes, advanced rheumatic heart disease, and sickle cell disease) at first-level referral facilities in an integrated approach. In collaboration with the World Health Organization, PEN-Plus will build upon and strengthen the WHO Package of Essential NCD Interventions (WHO PEN) for primary health centers, as well as expand the availability of interventions to the pediatric population.

  Currently the Mozambique Program is at the stage of developing its National Operational Plan and the educational materials for implementation of the program nationwide. The aim is to incorporate information on Type 1 Diabetes, Sickle Cell Disease and Heart Failure in the Young to the Integrated Management of Neonatal and Childhood Illnesses (MNCI) strategy currently in use in our country, taking into consideration the different levels of cadres and task shifting in Mozambique

  Purpose of Activity/Assignment: 

  Provide high level technical assistance to the implementation of the PEN-Plus project led by the NCDI Poverty Co-Secretariat at Universidade Eduardo Mondlane.

  PROGRAMME AREA AND SPECIFIC PROJECT AREA:

  The Mozambique PEN-Plus high-level Consultant for Pediatrics will be responsible for:

  • Provide high-level technical support to the PEN-Plus Mozambique Technical Working Groups team 

  • Advise the local program leadership on strategic decisions regarding the PEN Plus National Operational Plan

  • Design a training strategy for decentralized care for Type1 Diabetes, Sickle Cell Disease and Heart Failure in the Young (Rheumatic Heart Disease, Congenital Heart Disease) based on task-shifting to non-specialist health providers

  • Develop and/or update the pediatric PEN-Plus package for incorporation into the Integrated Management of Neonatal and Childhood Illnesses (IMNCI), including the tools for:

  o Early detection

  o Clinical care delivery

  o Task-shifting to non-specialists

  o Training and mentorship

  o Supply chain and equipment management

  o Information systems

  o Assessments and evaluations

  o Internal and external communications

  • Lead the process of validating the content produced for IMNCI through workshops with stakeholders and high-level meetings with the MoH

  • Map all Childhood-, Adolescent- and NCD-related initiatives, policies and strategies, that are relevant to PEN Plus implementation countrywide

  • Map all partners and stakeholders supporting government and PEN-Plus efforts on childhood-onset NCD

  • Support the efforts to incorporate the NCD pediatric component in the national health policies and strategies (NCD, Maternal Newborn Child and Adolescent Health, Community Health, Mental Health National Program, etc)

  • Develop documentation and briefs to disseminate the results and for advocacy purposes

  • Report monthly on the progress of the consultancy

  • Mapping all NCD-related initiatives, policies, and strategies, as well as all partners and stakeholders supporting government efforts on NCD and PEN-Plus

  • Participate in the PEN-Plus team weekly/monthly calls to understand and be updated on the network’s progress on its programmatic standards

  • Establish regular communication between UNICEF and NCDI Poverty Co-Secretariat

  • Facilitate the communication between the PEN Plus team and government institutions for the implementation of the pediatric component of the program

  • Monitor the implementation of PEN Plus activities (clinical supervision and mentorship, training and data systems monitoring) especially at health facility level

  • Support the inclusion of pediatric NCD services into the health sector planning annual cycle (PES)

  • Develop documentation and briefs to disseminate the results and for advocacy purposes

   

  Work Assignments Overview

  Develop Customized childhood NCD Package to fit the IMNCI guidelines and materials

  Deliverables/Outputs

  Addenda ready to print for IMNCI chart booklet; facilitator and participants manual’s Timeline

  20 days

   

  Work Assignments Overview

  Develop Tools for NCD early detection

  Deliverables/Outputs

  Tools for NCD early detection

  Timeline

  30 days

   

  Work Assignments Overview

  Develop materials for Health professionals related with longitudinal care as well as IEC materials for patients

  Deliverables/Outputs

  Longitudinal care materials

  Timeline

  20 days

   

  Work Assignments Overview

  Develop a package of training (manuals for facilitators and participants) as well Deliverables/Outputs

  NCD Training package

  Timeline

  30 days

  Work Assignments Overview

  Develop a mentorship tool aligned with MoH model

  Deliverables/Outputs

  Mentorship tools

  Timeline

  20 days

  A bachelor's degree in  specialty Paediatrics

• Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required:

  • Minimum of 3 years working experience with University or Learning Institutions for Health Professionals
  • Strong knowledge of the National Health Service
  • Strong clinical background in rural health care settings.
  • Experience with management of non-communicable diseases is preferred.
  • Experience with program design, monitoring and evaluations
  • Strong English and Portuguese communication skills, both written and oral.
• Fluency in Portuguese and English is required. 

Consultants will be asked to stipulate all-inclusive fees, including lump sum travel and subsistence costs, as applicable.

For every Child, you demonstrate… 

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS).  

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment. 

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check. 

Remarks:  

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

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws. 

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.