Purpose of Activity/Assignment:
The recent mass campaign for the distribution of Long-Lasting Insecticidal Nets (LLIN) in South Sudan, executed at the household level by service vendors and digitally recorded in the District Health Information System 2 (DHIS-2), represents a critical step in the fight against malaria in the region. The campaign’s success is pivotal for improving public health outcomes and requires a comprehensive analysis and documentation to inform future initiatives and policy directions.

Objective
The primary objective of this consultancy is to support the preparation of a final technical report detailing the processes, achievements, challenges, and lessons learned during the LLIN distribution campaign including recommendations for future campaigns. This document will serve as a crucial resource for stakeholders, including the government, non-governmental organizations, and the donor community, in understanding the impact of the campaign and guiding future interventions.
Scope of Work:

The consultant will be responsible for the following tasks:
1. Review of Campaign Documentation: Analyze all relevant campaign documentation, planning documents, implementation reports, and monitoring and evaluation data, including digital records in DHIS-2.
2. Stakeholder Engagement: Conduct interviews and discussions with key stakeholders involved in the campaign, including government officials, service vendors, community leaders, and beneficiaries, to gather insights and perspectives on the campaign’s implementation and outcomes.
3. Data Analysis: Perform a comprehensive analysis of the distribution data recorded in DHIS-2 to evaluate the coverage, efficiency, and challenges encountered during the campaign.
4. Report Writing: Develop a final technical report that includes:
• An executive summary
• Background and objectives of the LLIN distribution campaign
• Methodology of the campaign and the consultancy
• Analysis of campaign achievements against targets
• Challenges and solutions implemented
• Lessons learned and best practices identified
• Recommendations for future distribution campaigns
• Appendices with relevant data, charts, and stakeholder testimonies
5. Communications Strategy and Key Messaging:
• Support a comprehensive \communications strategy for the Health Sector Transformation Project.
• Tailor key messaging to resonate with diverse audiences, including donors, government officials, and the public.
• Ensure that messaging effectively communicates the project’s goals, impact, and importance.
6. Press Releases and Public Communication:
• Write press releases and other public communication materials to highlight project achievements, events, and key milestones.
• Liaise with media outlets to ensure wide dissemination of project-related news.
7. Event Coordination:
• Plan and coordinate events related to the Health Sector Transformation Project, including workshops, conferences, and awareness campaigns.
• Manage logistics, invitations, and participant engagement to ensure successful events.
8. High-Level Meeting Coordination:
• Coordinate high-level meetings involving government officials, UNICEF leadership, and other stakeholders.
• Prepare meeting agendas, briefing materials, and follow-up actions to ensure productive discussions.
9. Coordinate field visits:
• Lead on coordination of high-level field visits to project sites.
10. Advocacy and Reporting:
• Advocate for the rights of children and the importance of the Health Sector Transformation Project within the South Sudan context.
• Prepare comprehensive reports and documentation that showcase the project’s impact on children’s health and well-being.
11. Capacity Building:
• Provide training and capacity-building support to project staff and partners in the area of reporting, communications, and advocacy.
• Ensure that team members can effectively contribute to project goals.

Methodology and deliverables
The consultant is expected to deliver the following within 198 working days from the commencement of the consultancy:

1. Initial Assessment and Planning
• Stakeholder Mapping: Identify and categorize key stakeholders involved i, including government bodies, donor agencies, community leaders, and the general public.
• Needs Assessment: Conduct a detailed assessment to understand the current status of LLIN distribution and, including successes, challenges, and gaps.
2. Data Collection and Analysis for LLIN Reporting
• Quantitative Data: Gather and analyze quantitative data on LLIN distribution, such as coverage rates, distribution challenges, and utilization rates among target populations. This involves reviewing DHIS-2 records and any other relevant databases.
• Qualitative Data: Conduct interviews, focus groups, and surveys with stakeholders and beneficiaries to gather insights on the perceived effectiveness of LLIN distribution, barriers to utilization, and suggestions for improvement.
• Data Synthesis: Combine quantitative and qualitative findings to create a comprehensive picture of the LLIN distribution efforts’ outcomes, challenges, and impact.
3. Development of Communications Strategy
• Key Messaging: Based on the HSTP project objectives, develop key messages tailored to different stakeholder groups, emphasizing the project’s goals, achievements, and impact on public health.
• Channels and Tactics: Identify the most effective communication channels and tactics for reaching each stakeholder group, including press releases, social media, community meetings, and high-level advocacy.
• Content Creation: Develop a variety of content formats (e.g., reports, infographics, videos) to communicate key messages and findings, ensuring cultural and linguistic appropriateness.
4. Implementation and Monitoring
• Launch Plan: Execute the communications strategy according to the planned timeline and channels, beginning with internal stakeholders to ensure alignment and support.
• Monitoring and Evaluation: Establish metrics and KPIs to monitor the effectiveness of communication efforts, including reach, engagement, and changes in stakeholder knowledge or perceptions.
• Feedback Loops: Create mechanisms for collecting feedback on communications efforts, allowing for real-time adjustments and improvements.
5. Reporting and Advocacy
• Comprehensive Reporting: Compile and present detailed reports on both LLIN distribution outcomes and the communications strategy’s effectiveness, including lessons learned and recommendations for future initiatives.
• Advocacy Efforts: Use the findings and success stories from the project to advocate for sustained or increased support for LLIN distribution and the Health sector transformation project, targeting key decision-makers and donors.
6. Capacity Building
• Training and Support: Provide training and resources to project staff and partners on effective communication strategies to ensure sustainability and continuity of efforts.

Deliverables

Inception Report- Initial report outlining methodology and work plan. 1st April – 30th 2024

Draft Technical Report- Draft report for review by stakeholders, with the work commencing immediately after the inception report is approved.

Final Technical Report- Complete draft report addressing different comments of the individual sections
Presentation- Preparation and delivery of a presentation summarizing key findings and recommendations, to be conducted on the final day.

Finalization and approval of report (2 days)-Final report shared, addressing comments from validation workshop. UNICEF/NMCP to approve if report addresses all key components/recommendations.
Communications Strategy and Key Messaging

Share Revised comprehensive communications strategy document that outlines objectives, target audiences, key messages, channels, and a timeline for implementation. This document should be completed and approved by the end of July 2024.

Share key messaging guide that includes tailored messages for different audience segments (donors, government officials, the public), ensuring relevance and impact. The guide should be ready for distribution by mid-July 2024

Develop and share comprehensive Brochure summarizing the HSTP -1st May – 31st May 2024 (22 days)
Press Releases and Public Communication and report writing.

Produce and distribute press release highlighting significant project achievements, events, and milestones, in preparation of the commencement of the project on 1st July 2024 and working with the communications team ensure broad dissemination of project news across various platforms.

Compile and Edit Biannual report for existing World Bank funded projects exiting in collaboration with the technical team 1st – 30th June 2024 (22 days)
High-Level Meeting Coordination

Coordinate and facilitate Implementation support Mission and high-level donor visit with project stakeholders and share mission report. Support UNICEF preparation including facilitating thematic presentations; meeting pre-defined objectives, a detailed agenda, and expected outcomes.

Share Meeting minutes and action items documented and circulated to all participants within one week of each meeting. 1st July – 31st July 2024 (22 days)
Capacity Building

Facilitate and Share report on capacity-building workshop for project staff, PMU and implementing partners focused on reporting, communications, and advocacy skills.

Develop a training materials repository accessible to all project staff and partners, ensuring sustainability of the knowledge and skills imparted. 1st – 31st August 2024

Coordinate Field Visits and Advocacy and Reporting

Facilitate and share report on High-level field visits to project sites, showcasing project interventions and their impact on the community.

Field visit reports detailing observations, stakeholder interactions, and recommendations for project improvement and report shared with relevant stakeholders within two weeks of visit.

Share advocacy opinion pieces for social media campaigns, presentations at relevant forums highlighting the project’s contributions to children’s health in South Sudan-1st – 31st October 2024 (22 days)

High-Level Meeting Coordination-Coordinate and facilitate Implementation support Mission and high-level donor visit with project stakeholders and share mission report. Support UNICEF preparation including facilitating thematic presentations; meeting pre-defined objectives, a detailed agenda, and expected outcomes.

Share Meeting minutes and action items documented and circulated to all participants within one week of each meeting. 1st – 30th November 2024 (22 days)
Capacity building Refresher and Reporting-Facilitate follow-up capacity building and Share report for project staff, PMU and implementing partners focused on reporting, communications, and advocacy skills.

Compile and Edit Biannual report for existing World Bank funded projects exiting in collaboration with the technical team 1st – 31st December 2024 (22 days)

Qualification

•Advance University degree in one of the following fields is required: public health, management, family health, health research, global/international health, health policy and/or management, environmental health sciences, biostatistics, socio-medical, health education, epidemiology, or another relevant technical field.
•A minimum of 8 years of relevant professional experience in resource mobilization, public health coordination and technical expertise in fund raising, preferably with a track record of successful grant acquisition. Experience in health program/project development in UN system agency or organization is an asset.
•Experience working in similar context.
•Knowledge of the duty station is considered as an asset for this consultancy.
•Diplomacy, conflict management, flexibility, understanding of local cultural and social practices are key success factors for this consultancy.

A range of specialized skills:
•Excellent oral and written communication skills and report writing.
•In-depth analytical and problem-solving skills.
•Excellent facilitation skills, training skills and ability to organize and implement training.
•Ability to work in a multi-cultural environment and proven interpersonal skills.
•Experience in building successful relationships with government counterparts, UN agencies, CSOs and other relevant stakeholders.
•Ability to cope with hardship conditions.
•Knowledge of computer management skills including Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint software.

All candidates MUST submit applications with detailed technical and financial proposal

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS).

To view our competency framework, please visit  here.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

Remarks: 

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws.

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.