Consultancy: Childhood TB Specialist - Health, PD - NYHQ, Requisition# 503317

The purpose of the services being requested is to support the critical workplan activities for integration of childhood TB as detailed in the Child Health Unit workplan. The scope of work includes the following:

If you are a committed, creative professional and are passionate about making a lasting difference for children, the world's leading children's rights organization would like to hear from you.

For 70 years, UNICEF has been working on the ground in 190 countries and territories to promote children's survival, protection and development. The world's largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments.

Background & Rationale

As part of the Child Health Unit workplan, there is a need to provide policy, technical and programming guidance for the integration of childhood TB activities within the broader context of maternal, newborn and child health (MNCH) and integrated management of childhood illnesses, including better linkages with HIV programs. As UNICEF work on community health system strengthening evolves under the overall HSS approach, support is required for integrating childhood TB and HIV into community health programmes, including consolidation of evidence and learning on integration into MNCH programmes, as detailed in the Child Health Unit workplan. We have had a TA in place for childhood TB work over the past two years, however the current resource gap for this work does not allow formation of a post at this time, and therefore the work will need to be continued through a consultancy until additional resources are available. Once additional resources are generated then we can consider creation of a fixed-term or new TA post to continue the work on integration of childhood TB/HIV into MNCH and community health.

Purpose

The purpose of the services being requested is to support the critical workplan activities for integration of childhood TB as detailed in the Child Health Unit workplan. The scope of work includes the following:

Technical support for strengthening community health, child health, HIV and nutrition programmes to integrate childhood TB:

• Support phased scale-up and assessment of TB/HIV adapted iCCM in Nigeria and Uganda (including finalization of protocols for evaluation)
• Support Malawi CO to finalize and publish evaluation of TB/HIV iCCM pilot with Save the Children
• Participation in DPRK Global Fund TB programme review
• Collaborate with Global Fund and support country offices for integration of childhood TB activities in GF TB and HIV grants during new funding cycle (2017-2019)
• Provide technical support for cross-sectoral community system strengthening, to ensure TB/HIV/MNCH/nutrition integration where appropriate

 Consolidate evidence and best practice on integration of childhood TB/HIV into MNCH and community health:

• Consolidate evidence on best practice to strengthen prevention, diagnosis and management of childhood TB and HIV through integrated service delivery through various program entry points, e.g. sick child (IMCI/iCCM), nutrition programmes (SAM treatment units), HIV/PMTCT programmes
• Support development of guidance on 'Child Centred Approach' for child survival, in collaboration with HIV and Nutrition Sections

 Advocacy and resource mobilization for integrated childhood TB programmes:

• Support DOC and D&A/DRP with development of relevant messaging and publications on Childhood TB:
• Development of UNICEF Childhood TB brochure when new data and mortality estimates are published
• Messaging for social media on childhood TB and HIV integration
• Prepare webinar and/or brown bag on Childhood TB and HIV integration
• Support resource mobilization for integrated programming including childhood TB/HIV integration – in particular explore options with BMGF, USAID and Global Fund.

 Strengthen UNICEF leadership in global partnerships and networks for childhood TB:

• Support dialogue with WHO on planning for ministerial conference on TB&SDGs planned for December 2017, as well as high level meeting on TB planned for 2018
• Participate in relevant partnerships and networks related to childhood TB – WHO Child TB subgroup, regional TB Task Forces

 It is envisaged that some travel will be required in order to carry out this scope of work, in particular for country technical support (e.g. DPRK, Uganda, Nigeria) and for any relevant partnership/network meetings that arise during the consultancy period.

 Expected results: (measurable results)

Effective management and delivery of programme assistance for integration of childhood TB into MNCH and community health programmes:

• documentation of program results for Uganda, Nigeria and Malawi TB/HIV iCCM programs
• Report on DPRK TB Programme Review
• Childhood TB activities integrated into Global Fund country grants for community-based programs (including iCCM) for at least 3 country Global Fund TB and/or HIV grants

 Consolidation of evidence and best practice on integration of childhood TB into MNCH and community health:

• Draft document on best practice for integration of childhood TB and HIV into MNCH and community health

 Development and dissemination of effective messaging for childhood TB for advocacy and resource mobilization:

• Finalized Childhood TB brochure incorporating most recent data on burden
• Funding proposals prepared for childhood TB and HIV integration

 Effective representation in global partnerships and networks for childhood TB:

• Reports on meetings attended and follow-up actions for UNICEF

 Duty Station: New York HQ, with work remotely as needed

 Timeframe

 Start date:   01 May 2017                       End date: 31 August 2017              

 

Deliverables (See the last page for guidance on formulating deliverables)	Duration (Estimated # of Days)	Deadline
Documentation of program results for Uganda, Nigeria and Malawi TB/HIV iCCM programs	30	31 August 2017
Report on DPRK TB Programme Review	10	30 June 2017
Draft document on best practice for integration of childhood TB into MNCH	20	31 July 2017
Finalized Childhood TB brochure incorporating most recent data on burden	5	31 May 2017
Funding proposals prepared for childhood TB	10	31 August 2017
Reports on partnership/network meetings attended and follow-up actions for UNICEF	10	Within 15 days of meeting attended
total	85

Key competences, technical background, and experience required Deadline

• Advanced university degree in public health or related technical field
• Paediatric training or training in care, support and treatment for children with TB is required.
• At least 8 years professional work experience at the national and international levels in programme planning, management, monitoring, and evaluation, in the area of child health and childhood TB.
• Experience with primary care and community-based childhood treatment, referral and quality of care in the area of childhood TB
• Experience working with UNICEF and/or UN partners is preferred
• English language required; knowledge of another UN language is an asset

To view our competency framework, please click here. 

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.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of our organisation.