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Qualifications

1. Background 

Kenya has a considerably young population, with 46% (21.9 million) of the total population being below the age of 18, while those between the ages of 10 and 19 constitute 11.6 million. Furthermore, adolescents and young people are disproportionately affected by economic and health disparities, which limit their enjoyment of their rights and freedoms as envisioned in the Constitution of Kenya of 2010.

Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health (ASRH) and HIV remain a critical concern, particularly for vulnerable adolescent girls in Kenya. The HIV estimate report 2023 revealed that adolescents and young people between the ages of 15 and 24 years accounted for more than 41% of all adult new HIV infections. While the rate of teenage pregnancies has reduced from 18% in 2014 to 15 % in 2022, the absolute numbers indicate the rate is still relatively high. Despite efforts to improve access to sexual and reproductive health (SRH) and HIV services, challenges persist, attributable in part to knowledge gaps, limited resources, cultural barriers, policies, and inadequate infrastructure. Consequently, adolescent girls continue to face high rates of teenage pregnancies and new HIV infections, affecting their overall well-being and prospects.

In response to these challenges, the Joint UN Team comprising  UNFPA, WHO, UNAIDS, the SDG Partnership Platform Kenya and the United Nations Resident Coordinator Office in collaboration with TIKO, Joint SDG Fund, the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF), KOIS and the Government of Kenya; designed a two-year Adolescent Sexual Reproductive Health Development Impact Bond  (ASRH- DIB) programme aimed at increasing access and uptake of SRH and HIV services (testing, prevention, and treatment) among vulnerable adolescent girls (15 and 19 years). The programme implemented in 10 selected counties with a high burden of teen pregnancies and HIV in Kenya (Bungoma, Busia, Homa Bay, Kakamega, Kisii, Kisumu, Nairobi, Nyamira, Migori, and Mombasa) and is due for a mid-term review (MTR).

WHO as the technical thematic lead for the ASRH DIB Learning Agenda has been mandated by the JP technical committee to manage and coordinate the MTR of the programme. The purpose of the MTR is to help assess the progress towards the achievement of the programme objectives and key results, both developmental and financial, as specified in the Project Document and assess early signs of programmatic success or failure to identify changes to be made, if required, to ensure the programme is on track to achieve its intended results. The MTR will also review the strategy of the programme and its risks to sustainability. It is expected that the review will apply a collaborative and participatory approach,  ensuring close engagement with the UN Joint team, government counterparts including the Ministry of Health, Council of Governors and county government health officials from the participating counties, private and public sector partners, direct beneficiaries, and any other key stakeholders to provide evidence-based information that is credible, reliable, and useful for the design and implementation of future similar programs in Kenya.

2. Deliverables

The consultant will review all relevant sources of information including documents prepared during the preparation/design phase, the ASRH DIB Programme Document, reports, national strategic and policy documents, and any other materials that the UN Joint Team considers useful for this evidence-based review. The consultant will perform the review based on the following categories: i) Design; ii) Progress/Results to date; iii) Management Efficiency; iv) Risk Management and v) Sustainability. Additionally, the MTR report will also include an executive summary as well as a conclusion section summarizing the findings and recommendations, and a rating section based on the findings and assessments of the 5 categories.

Data collection will include key informant interviews of stakeholders with programmatic responsibilities, County CECs from the participating counties, County Reproductive Health Coordinators, Adolescent & Youth Sexual Reproductive Health focal points, County AIDS & STIs coordinators, Program design and implementation teams from the participating UN agencies, senior officials from the Ministry of Health, and relevant key experts in Adolescent Sexual Reproductive Health and HIV; and include field missions to the selected counties and facilities to conduct qualitative interviews with health care workers, CSO representatives and beneficiaries. Additionally, the MTR is also expected to consult with the donors and financiers of the program including Bridges Outcome Partnerships, Joint SDG Fund, Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF) which are the outcome funders, and KOIS who provide operational, financial, and legal structuring for phase 1 of the program. The MTR process should use gender-responsive methodologies and tools and ensure that gender equality and women’s empowerment, as well as other cross-cutting issues, principles of Leaving No One Behind, and SDGs, are incorporated into the final mid-term review report. The deliverables are summarized hereunder:

N/B: The final mid-term review (MTR) report shall be submitted no later than 20th February 2025.

3. Qualifications, Experience, Skills and Languages

Educational Qualifications

Essential:

• Advanced degree in Public Health, Social Sciences, or related postgraduate qualifications

Desirable:

• Professional training/certification in Monitoring and Evaluation would be an added advantage.

Experience

 Essential: 
5- 10 years of proven professional experience leading evaluation in the areas of family planning, HIV and AIDS, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV), or Adolescent and Young Peoples Sexual and Reproductive Health.

Desirable:

• Experience leading evaluations in sustainable development financing or investments for Sexual and Reproductive Health.
• Knowledge and experience of working with the UN system.
• Demonstrated practical experience in the design and implementation of monitoring and evaluation strategies, and gender-responsive methodologies and tools.
• Experience with stakeholder engagement at national and sub-national levels.

Functional Skills and Knowledge 

• Experience in designing and conducting evaluations that apply relevant mixed-methods evaluation approaches.
• Good understanding of the Kenyan decentralized health systems strengthening context.
• experience and demonstrable expertise in evaluating integrated health service delivery programmes.

Languages and level required.

Level of Education: Bachelor Degree

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: No requirements