Key Duties And Responsibilities

• Facilitate the establishment of a working group comprising representatives from government agencies, healthcare providers, community-based organizations, and other key stakeholders.
• Organize and guide initial meetings to review existing drug-related policies, identify gaps, and establish a coordinated approach to strategy development.
• Ensure active participation of the working group throughout the consultancy process.

2. National Needs Assessment

• Conduct a comprehensive assessment to identify gaps in Somalia’s drug control policies and healthcare systems, with a focus on addressing drug dependency and harm reduction.
• Gather data through stakeholder consultations, surveys, and analysis of existing reports and studies.
• Provide a detailed report highlighting priority needs and challenges in drug and substance abuse management.

3. Development of a Comprehensive National Policy and Strategic Framework

• Draft a national policy framework that focuses on substance abuse treatment, harm reduction interventions, and legal protections for vulnerable populations.
• Incorporate international best practices while aligning the framework with Somalia’s cultural, legal, and socio-economic context.
• Outline clear goals, objectives, and priority actions for stakeholders to address drug and substance abuse effectively.

4. Drafting Evidence-Based Guidelines

• Develop operational guidelines for harm reduction programs, including HIV and STI prevention, substance abuse treatment, and support services tailored to Somalia’s context.
• Ensure the guidelines include practical tools such as standard operating procedures (SOPs) and service delivery protocols.

5. Designing Capacity-Building Materials

• Create training modules, tools, and reference materials for healthcare workers, social workers, and other relevant stakeholders.
• Focus on building capacity for harm reduction, substance abuse treatment, and related health services.
• Include materials that address stigma and promote equitable service delivery for vulnerable populations.

6. Policy Review and Recommendations

• Review existing policies and regulatory frameworks on substance use and harm reduction in Somalia.
• Identify gaps and propose actionable recommendations to align Somalia’s policies with international best practices.
• Provide a detailed policy review report for stakeholder validation.

7. Development of an Implementation Roadmap

• Draft a clear, actionable roadmap for operationalizing the strategic framework and guidelines.
• Include timelines, resource requirements, milestones, and roles of stakeholders.
• Ensure the roadmap is practical and adaptable to Somalia’s unique context and resource constraints.

8. Stakeholder Engagement and Validation

• Facilitate consultations and workshops with key stakeholders to review and validate the strategic framework, guidelines, and roadmap.
• Incorporate feedback from stakeholders to finalize all deliverables.

Implementation This program will be implemented through a coordinated effort involving the Ministry of Health, local governments, healthcare providers, civil society organizations, and international partners such as UNICEF and WHO. The Ministry of Health will provide overall leadership, while local healthcare providers and CSOs will be responsible for delivering services at the community level. International partners will support capacity building, policy development, and technical assistance.

Qualification Skills and Experience

• Advanced degree (master’s or higher) in Public Health, Health Systems, International Development, or a related field with a focus on behavioral health or social
• Minimum of 10 years of experience in HIV/AIDS and substance abuse treatment, with a focus on:
  Development of Comprehensive Drug and Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Programs and strategies and capacity development.
• Developing Opioid Substitution Therapy (OST) and harm reduction strategies.
• They should have proven experience in policy around substance abuse prevention and treatment and expanding access to healthcare services for vulnerable populations.
• Additionally, they should demonstrate the ability to work in multi-stakeholder environments, including government agencies, NGOs, and community groups, and have extensive experience in capacity building for healthcare workers and community outreach campaigns
• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is considered an asset.
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.

Level of Education: PostGraduate Degree

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: 120