I: General Information
Title of Consultancy: Rapid Assessment on Sexual & Reproductive Health and HIV Linkages Type of Contract: SSA – Standard Service Agreement Duration of the assignment: 2 Months Duty station: Hargeisa (with travel to regions) Expected places of travel: Borama, Burao, Berbera and Erigavo Supervisor: UNFPA Head of Hargeisa Office Anticipated presence at UNFPA
2: Background to the Somaliland HIV response
Information on HIV epidemiology in Somaliland populations is very limited; available data indicates that the Somaliland HIV epidemic is relatively higher in the port cities and the towns along the major transport corridors. Among the three zones of Somalia, relatively higher prevalence was reported from Somaliland (1.4%), followed by Puntland (0.5%), and South Central Somalia (0.3%), during the ANC surveillance done in 2004. There is no sero-surveillance data to assess prevalence levels in the general population or any of the populations considered most-at-risk to HIV infection (HIV SF2009-2013).
Gender inequalities both fuel and are exacerbated by the epidemic, affecting primarily women and girls but involving men and boys as well. Majority of women surveyed through a social mapping done in 2007 reported lack of means of support for themselves and their families, a situation they reported forces the women and girls to engage in high-risk coping strategies, which dramatically increased their vulnerability to HIV infection. Women living with HIV may loose their homes and livelihoods, engaging in more risky behaviour to provide for basic needs for themselves and their children
The Somaliland HIV epidemic is heterosexually driven and great cause for concern especially amongst young people. Data from ANC surveillance, STI clinics, and mapping amongst most-at-risk populations all indicate towards potentially concentrated epidemic among most-at-risk populations, with a potentially generalized epidemic in the general population (HIV SF2009-2013).
Utilization of health services in Somaliland is generally very low, with even lower use of services for PMTCT, ART or TB and HIV collaborative services, condoms programming, STI care, counseling and testing services. There is need to rapidly increase access to and use of SRH and HIV services and information that are friendly to women and girls, including unmarried mothers, widows, or women separated from family units for various reasons. Carefully targeting prevention messages to promote protection of women and girls, using culturally appropriate approaches and media. MCH and HIV policies, services, and operational programs need to be linked to ensure collective outcomes, including effective referrals from one service to another, to offer comprehensive services by different providers at different times in a well-coordinated health system. Similarly MCH and HIV policies, services, or operational programs need to joined together to ensure comprehensive services, including cross-training health providers to provide multiple services in one location, or supporting multiple providers to provide services in one location(UNFPA). The health of women of reproductive age, their infants and children, and families (including fathers), starts with a healthy pregnancy for the mother, through birth of an infant and addressing the health needs of the child with appropriate care. This can only be achieved through a comprehensive well linked and integrated RH and HIV intervention (UNICEF 2010) UNFPA Somaliland has been allocated funding to implement Sexual Reproductive Health (SRH) and HIV linkage under IPTCS Component of Halting and reversing the spread and reducing the impact of HIV in Somaliland under the GF R8 grant. UNFPA Somaliland therefore wishes to hire consultant to conduct an assessment of SRH and HIV linkages in Somaliland looking bi-directional linkages at the policy, systems, and service-delivery levels, gaps between HIV and SRH linkages at all levels and developing a Somaliland specific action plans to strengthen these linkages. 3: Objectives of the assignment
The objective of the consultancy is • To conduct a rapid assessment of SRH and HIV linkages in Somaliland using UNFPA Generic assessment tools for SRH and HIV linkages. 4: Scope of work The consultant will provide the following services to UNFPA : 1: Conduct a rapid assessment of SRH and HIV linkages in Somaliland using UNFPA Generic assessment tools for SRH and HIV linkages. The following will have to be covered by the assessment
1. Identify the HIV and SRH bi-directional (correlation) linkages at the policy, systems, and service-delivery levels. 2. Identify gaps between HIV and SRH linkages at all levels: policy, systems, and service-delivery levels. 3. Contribute to the development of country specific action plans - to forge and strengthen these linkages of HIV and SRH services in Somaliland 3: Methodology of Assessment
The consultant will carry out Cross-sectional descriptive survey. Where data will be collected from randomly selected MCH sites and all IPTCS centers. Interviews with key policy-decision makers and program planners working with SRH and HIV services will be done. Interviews with SRH and HIV service providers & clients and supervisors of SRH and HIV service delivery points will be conducted.
Meeting with the MOH,SOLNAC and IPTCS partners and PLHIV will be held to review Assessment tools for cultural appropriateness, clarity and ease of understanding
4: Monitoring and Progress
The consultant will report to the UNFPA Hargeisa Head of office with functional contact to the Deputy Representative (Head of Programmes) and will work under the technical guidance and supervision of the UNFPA HIV programme Officer. The consultant will attend the HIV, Health Systems, General Health and Health Sector Committee meetings to give Feedback to.
Draft training and assessment report and tools will be provided to UNFPA and the IPTCS partners prior to conclusion of contract for their review and discussion. 5. Final deliverable
- SRH and HIV linkages rapid assessment report in place
- Country specific Action plan on SRH and HIV linkages developed for Somaliland 6: Review/approval time
A draft of the final deliverables will be provided to UNFPA Hargiesa Head of Office and head of Programme, SOLNAC, the HIV IPTCS partners and HIV working group for review prior to the end of the contract to clarify and incorporate feedback. 7: Qualifications Education: Advanced University Degree in Medicine, Nursing and public health
Experience: • At least 6 years working experience in the field of Public Health with special focus on SRH and HIV in a crisis and post conflict context.
• Experience in conducting SRH and HIV Assessments
• Excellent drafting/writing skills. • Excellent training skills • Knowledge of the Somali implementation environment is an additional asset • Fluency in spoken and written English, ability to speak Somali is an additional asset Language Requirements: Excellent written English skills. Knowledge of Somali language is desirable
Please send a completed UN P-11 form and curriculum vitae, marked “Rapid Assessment on Sexual & Reproductive Health and HIV linkages Consultant” by 18th Sept 2011 to: UNFPA- Hargeisa, UN Compound or e-mail to: recruit.unfpasom@unfpa.org. UNFPA will only be able to respond to those applications in which there is further interest. Women and Somali Diasporas are strongly encouraged to apply. For more information on UNFPA please visit the site http://www.unfpa.org.
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