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.

For every child, Health

How can you make a difference?

Purpose of Activity/Assignment:

Since May 2023, when WHO lifted the status of COVID-19 as Public Health Emergency, UNICEF with WHO and other stakeholders has supported the Ministry of Health (MOH) to develop and adopt a National COVID-19 vaccination integration framework to achieve a full system integration. COVID-19 vaccination has been integrated in routine immunization campaigns, in primary health services as well as in HIV programme to reach the adolescents that were one of the priority groups for Eswatini. In June 2023, HPV was also integrated in the framework. A comprehensive package of information including HIV, sexual reproductive health (SRH)and adolescent health, COVID-19 and HPV vaccinations information were included in. This package has been promoted among adolescents mainly through social media and events (indaba) organized by UNICEF in partnership with PSI and MOH. With USAID contributions, UNICEF has supported a massive U-Report enrolment campaign targeting school-age children, parents, and teachers. In 2022 UNICEF with MOH conducted the “Situation analysis of SRH including HIV and GBV services for adolescent and the youth in Eswatini using a triangulation approach” that produced evidence for relevant national programs to provide targeted interventions for adolescents in Eswatini. There are available a set of adolescent indicators from the recently launched MICS 2021-22. However, there is need to reinforce the support of adolescents through existing platforms integrating COVID-19, HIV and HPV and other public health approaches and monitoring the effects of the messages on the adolescents to improve the programme for adolescent health, HIV and nutrition.

Therefore, UNICEF is looking for a national consultant to map the UNICEF-supported interventions that are promoting adolescent health, HIV, nutrition and, using the existing data and information, to develop a plan for scale up, including strengthening of the use of the existing platforms of U-report and Internet of Good Things (IoGT) and for monitoring the interventions. Adolescents will be engaged throughout the consultancy process to have their inputs and prospective on how to improve interventions.

Scope of Work:

The overall purpose of this assignment is to strengthen the adolescent health programme through engagement and promote a comprehensive package of information for adolescents with a blended approach using social media, event (indaba), U-Report and Internet of Good Things (IoGT).

Specific Objectives

• Develop U-report survey to collect opinions, concerns and feedback from adolescents, parents and learners on the existing interventions.
• Map the UNICEF-supported interventions that are promoting adolescent health (including COVID-19 and HPV vaccinations), HIV, nutrition.
• Develop plan for scale up, including strengthening of the use of of U-report and Internet of Good Things (IoGT), and monitoring framework based on the findings and the existing ASHR&HIV data and information, to disseminate the messages on comprehensive package for adolescents.
• Continuous engagement of adolescents to ask questions and provide feedback on adolescent health, HIV, COVID-19 and HPV vaccination and SRH information and questions.
• Train Ministry of Education and Training and Ministry of Health on the scale up plan and monitoring framework including to conduct sensitization on the use of U-Report and IoGT.

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

Minimum Qualifications required:

Masters In public health, social sciences, statistics, development planning, or other related fields is required or a bachelor’s degree with a minimum of 7 years of experience.

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required:

• A minimum of five (5) years’ work experience in Programme Management, Monitoring and Evaluation and/or Knowledge Management is required.
• Experience in working on adolescent and youth engagement is required.
• Proven technical expertise for managing data capture and storage, analyzing diverse datasets, and presenting information in understandable ways including visualization tools and reports is required.
• Experience in a client-orientation and key coordination role with strong analytical, interpersonal and communication skills is required.
• Prior experience of capacity building is required.
• Experience working in UNICEF/UN or NGO organizations is a significant advantage.
• Ability to work independently while maintaining constant communication across multiple teams and partners as well as with focal persons in the Country Office is required.
• Ability to plan, organize, prioritize, and deliver under pressure is a requisite.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively in diverse settings, tailoring language, tone, style, and format to match audience needs.
• Proficiency in English, written and verbal, is required. Working knowledge of Siswati is an asset.

How to Apply:

Prospective consultants should apply through UNICEF jobs website using the link provided No later than 15th June 2024. The application package should include the following:
1. A cover letter.
2. Detailed Curriculum Vitae.
3. Qualified candidates are requested to submit their daily and monthly fees, inclusive of insurance and travel (if necessary) in their financial proposal.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

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

To view our competency framework, please visit  here.

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.