SSA for the Preparation of Adolescent and School Health Policy and Strategy

Summary

Purpose To support UNICEF Sudan in the development of Adolescent and School Health Policy and Strategy Expected fee P-4
Location Khartoum Duration 45 working days Start Date As soon as possible Reporting to Youth Programme Manager

Background Totaling 23.5 % of Sudan’s inhabitants, adolescents constitute a major population segment and warrant special attention. This period –“adolescence”- represents a stage of life characterized by significant biological, psychosocial, and cognitive development; a stage of transference from childhood to adulthood. Recently, Sudan has adopted the 6–19 years category as its official age group for adolescents. In support of their commitment to adolescent health, the Ministry of Health (MOH) together with the different partners conducted a situation analysis to fill the information gaps for policy development. The main problems facing adolescents were invariably general health-related issues, namely: Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), including HIV&AIDS and other STDs; early and unprotected sex; early marriages and unwanted pregnancies; sexual, substances abuse; violence; unsafe cultural practices; and mental health problems; nutritional problems, life style: smoking, lack of exercise and addiction, and injuries. Furthermore, the findings reflected the huge information gap among this age group, in addition to the absence of a coordinated effort between the different sectors. The lack of age specific data is an additional deterrent to policy making and strategic guidance.

Purpose To provide technical support to the Government of Sudan in the preparation of adolescent and school health policy and strategy.

Tasks: Preparatory phase: (15 working days) - To review existing studies, research and available data in the area of adolescent and school health and identify gaps that need to be addressed. - To review existing policies and strategic plans that relate to adolescent and school health and analyze relevance to the priorities and rights of adolescents. - To have orientation meetings with staff and policy makers working in the area of adolescent and school health to better understand the existing services system available for adolescents in Sudan. - To provide guidance to the Ministry of Health team and members of the Technical committee on the scope that the adolescent and school health policy should cover, components that the policy should include and the process that needs to be followed to develop a comprehensive policy and an operational strategy.
- To share experiences and lessons learned from other countries with functional adolescent and school health policy or strategy and apply the good practices that could be relevant to Sudan. - To design and facilitate one-two day consultation workshop with the various stakeholders to mobilize interest in the process of development of the adolescent and school health policy and identify the key policy components.
- To prepare a framework for the adolescent and school health policy based on existing information and on the results of the consultation done with the various stakeholders and present to the members of technical committee. - To prepare a roadmap or a workplan for the process of development of Adolescent and School Health Policy and Strategy including the various stages, partners and responsible parties- and present to the technical committee. - To provide guidance to the MOH on the role that the Department of the Adolescent Health and School Health should play in the process of development and implementation of the Adolescent and School Health policy and strategy.

Development and Consultation Phase: (20 working days) - To provide guidance to the Ministry of Health in the process of preparation of the adolescents and school health policy and strategy including guidelines and tools that can be used during the consultation processes with young people and service providers. - To participate and attend few of the consultation meetings with young people and service providers.
- To follow-up with the national consultant on progress in the implementation of the consultation process and provide guidance as needed.
- To compile the outcome of the consultation processes into an Adolescent and School Health Policy and Strategy.

Verification Phase: (10 working days) - To present the adolescent and school health policy and strategy to the technical committee and revise as per feedback. - To design and facilitate with the support of the local consultant a national verification meeting/workshop with policy makers, service providers and young people where the draft adolescent and school health policy and strategy is presented and reviewed. - To finalize the Adolescent and School Health Policy and Strategy as per the results of the verification meeting/workshop.

Expected Deliverables
- A framework for the Adolescent and School Health Policy and strategy that highlights outline, scope and components (end of week 3). - A roadmap/ workplan that outlines the process that needs to be followed in the development of adolescent and school health policy and strategy including the various stages of preparation, responsible parties and outcomes (end of week 3). - Tools to be used during the process of preparation of the adolescent and school health policy and strategy (end of week 5). - A draft adolescent and school health policy and strategy (end of month 3). - A final adolescent and school health policy and strategy (end of month 4) - A mission report summarizing outcomes and recommendations on the way forward (following each mission).

(The tasks maybe adjusted if needed upon the preparation of the detailed workplan for the process of preparation of the Policy and Strategy)

Time schedule: Activity Timeframe Preparatory phase March 2013 Consultation and development phase April-mid May 2013 Verification phase Mid May– 30 June 2013

Duration: 45 working days (two travel missions are planned for Khartoum)

Expected background (Qualification) and Experience Education: At least a Master’s degree in social studies or any other related field. Skills and experience: - At least 8 years of practical experience in the field of adolescent and school health with focus on policies and strategies - Experience in preparing participatory policies and strategies - Gender sensitive - Strong and effective communication skills and proven ability to negotiate and influence change. - Ability to work in a diverse, multi-cultural setting with sensitivity to the local context. - Very good analytical skills. - Arabic language is an asset

General Conditions:
 The consultant will be required to provide his/her own laptop.  The consultant will be based at the Ministry of Health offices.  No contract may commence unless the contract is signed by both UNICEF and the consultant or Contractor.  The consultant will be remunerated based on deliverables.  The payment should be finalized based upon presentation of certified invoice.  UNICEF will provide expenses payments for travel in the field based on UNICEF procedures.  The consultancy fee covers all other costs of the consultancy.  No consultant may travel without a signed travel authorization prior to commencement of the journey to the duty station.  Unless authorized, UNICEF will buy tickets, within Sudan, for the consultant. In exceptional cases, the consultant may be authorized to buy their tickets and shall be reimbursed at the most economical and direct route but this must be agreed beforehand.  The Consultant will not have supervisory responsibilities or authority on UNICEF budget.  The Consultant will be required to sign the health statement for consultants/Individual contractor prior to taking up the assignment and to document that they have appropriate health insurance.  The form “Designation, change or revocation of beneficiary” must be completed by the consultant upon arrival at the HR section.  The consultant will not be paid for weekends or public holidays.  The consultant will be paid perdium according to the DSA standard rates in UNICEF.  Internal flight costs will be covered by UNICEF.  The consultant is not entitled to payment of overtime. All remuneration must be within the contract agreement and against the agreed deliverables.  UNICEF will provide security arrangements based on UNICEF procedures.  Copyright for all materials produced under the terms of this agreement rests with UNICEF.

How to apply:

Interested candidates should submit their application, updated CVs and completed UN personal history form (which can be downloaded from www.unicef.org/employ) to sudanhrvacancies@unicef.org,