Consultant: Developing guidance and tools for risk-informed / resilient health and HIV programming

Background

The concept of resilience has gained traction in the international aid community as the social and economic costs of disasters, conflicts, epidemics and other calamities has continued to rise. Increasingly expensive humanitarian interventions have become the norm; this despite the fact that many of the shocks and stresses are predictable and their consequences can be mitigated or prevented. At the same time, it is acknowledged that chronic and high vulnerability levels amplify the impact of shocks and stress. To this end it is widely recognised that development and humanitarian programs must increasingly focus on the vicious cycle of vulnerability and exposure to shocks and stress. This requires adaptive programming that is conflict sensitive and risk informed, including addressing the structural and underlying causes of vulnerability, with an overall aim to strengthen the resilience of the most vulnerable children as well as the communities and the systems that are meant to protect them.

Programme Division of UNICEF, New York is developing a Basic Package for Risk Informed Programming which will enhance the capacity of UNICEF country offices, programmes, and partners in risk prone or fragile settings to: (1) use risk information to develop flexible programmes, (2) to strengthen systems to adapt/adjust programmes based on risk, and (3) make the guidance and tools available to prepare and respond to shocks. The tools will focus on systems, community-based, and individual programmes to build safety and resilience of systems, communities and individuals in risk prone and fragile settings. The project will contribute to the UNICEF resilience agenda proposed for the Strategic Plan (2014-2017).

It will bring together and harmonize existing guidance and tools on disaster risk reduction (DRR), climate change adaptation (CCA), and peace-building as well as for preparing and responding to emergencies. It will translate risk information and bring the necessary guidance and tools directly to Health and HIV program managers for practical “how-to” use.

Purpose

To develop “how to” tools for the Health and HIV component of the UNICEF multi-sectoral Basic Package for Risk-Informed Programming. The tools will help to support governments, UN agencies and implementing partners to analyse risk and understand how to adapt policies and programmes with the aim to build the resilience of systems, communities and individuals.

Main Responsibilities and Tasks

• Gather evidence and good practices

1. Conduct desk-based basic research and literature review on global, regional and national key public health and HIV interventions, guidance and tools aiming to reduce risks associated with shocks.
2. Collect good practices and lessons learned from UNICEF offices in countries that have adopted or are working towards risk-informed programming.

• Design and Develop the UNICEF Health and HIV Component of the Basic Package for Risk-Informed Programming: To be developed in harmony with the multi-sectoral framework for the Basic Package for Risk-Informed Programming (developed by the lead consultant working across sectors)

1. Consult with the UNICEF Health and HIV sections in country offices, HQ, and Regional Offices to gain an understanding of existing UNICEF programmes in Health and HIV.  
2. Work with selected country teams, in country and remotely, to develop the Health and HIV component of UNICEF’s Basic Package for Risk-Informed Programmes (in the form of a “how-to guide”) that could include practical tools on the following: (1) How to use multi-hazard risk assessments and situation analyses to adapt programming (what the risks are and  their potential impact on Health and HIV programmes); (2) How to adjust/adapt existing UNICEF Health and HIV programs based on risks (e.g. immunization programs, child and newborn health (including PMTCT and paediatric HIV) and community based health programs, preparing and responding to emergencies including templates for assessments, preparedness and response plans and funding proposals.   
3. Link the Basic Package with UNICEF Strategic Plan (2014-2017) and vision on equity including the equity monitoring systems.

• Deliverables

1. Technical guidance and tools (“how to” guide) to adapt UNICEF supported Health and HIV programs to include risks as part of the Health and HIV component of UNICEF’s Basic Package.
2. Collection, synthesis and dissemination of UNICEF and partner’s lessons learned and good

Minimum Qualifications and Competencies

• Advanced university degree in public health (MD, nursing or other relevant health discipline that provides the candidate with medical clinical knowledge) plus a master’s, MSc, PhD in public health or related field
• A minimum of 8-10 years of progressively responsible experience in planning and implementing health and nutrition emergency programmes  with either the UN, International Organizations, and/or NGO
• Proven experience of integration of disaster risk reduction into humanitarian and development health  programming
• Experience developing guidance and tools.
• Fluency in English (verbal and written). Knowledge of another UN language an asset.
• Availability for travelling if required (1 or 2 countries during the 6 months assignment)