Recrutement de 01 National consultant to support data collection to improve COVID-19 vaccine uptake, Nairobi, Turkana, West Pokot

Recrutement de 01 National consultant to support data collection to improve COVID-19 vaccine uptake, Nairobi, Turkana, West Pokot
Niveau d'études: Non précisé
Expérience: 8 ans
Expire le: 03-10-2022

UNICEF
Nairobi, Kenya
Humanitaire (ONG, Associations, ...), Projet/programme de développement
National consultant to support data collection to improve COVID-19 vaccine uptake, Nairobi, Turkana, West Pokot, Kenya

Job no: 554720
Contract type: Consultant
Duty Station: Nairobi
Level: Consultancy
Location: Kenya
Categories: Social and Behavior Change

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TERMS OF REFERENCE

Background
Kenya’s COVID-19 index case was reported on 12th March 2020. To protect its population, Kenya has received 27.8 million doses and administered over 21 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines to date with an aim of fully vaccinating 27 million people by the end of 2022. However, the uptake of COVID-19 vaccine has been slower than anticipated with gender parity observed in some counties.
According to the MOH update dated 24 August, an average of 34.4% of adult population are fully immunized with COVID-19 vaccine with lower uptake in remote areas such as Turkana (21.8%) and West Pokot (14.6%). To boost the coverage, MOH has conducted with UNICEF support the phase 1 vaccination campaign in July 2022 covering 27 counties. Phase 2 campaign is being planned for the remaining counties.

Empirical research reveals that global immunization rates are affected by the agency, education, and empowerment of women, as well as the gender norms in the society people belong to. Recent KAP survey indicates that access to quality services is particularly an important factor for COVID-19 vaccine uptake.

Global leaders have called for an urgency in achieving immunization coverage and equity goals. This includes a call for better use of data and analysis to target support and measure progress, increased innovation, and accelerated adoption and dissemination of successful strategies. In addition, UNICEF’s Gender Action Plan (2018-2021) articulates the organization’s emphasis on equity as it relates to gender, especially as the deprivations women and girls face increase multi-fold when they are also disadvantaged by poverty, ethnic identity, geographic location, disability, and/or fragile and crisis conditions.

To this end, UNICEF has developed a practical guide to analyze gender barriers in the immunization programme

UNICEF Regional Office for South Asia Immunization and Gender: A practical guide to integrate a gender lens into Immunization Programme

Justification
Recognizing the need to accelerate COVID-19 vaccination in the counties with low vaccine coverage, and in response to the request from the Turkana and West Pokot counties, the consultant is required to provide technical assistance to conduct the programme assessment at the national level (e.g. policy) and county level (e.g. administrative system and communities). Kenya is a diverse country with different social-economic practices. Successful vaccine communication activities will require understanding of local social context, including gender dynamics, nomadic population, religious practices and preferred means of communication, as well as careful coordination with the County Health Management Team to ensure timely vaccine supply and social mobilization, continuity of essential services, partnership with local leaders, continuous social listening and rumour tracking to understand the main triggers to accelerate the vaccine uptake.

This will require a close collaboration and consultation with MOH and County Health Management Team. It is critically important for the consultant to dedicate full availability, demonstrate the expert knowledge of the subject matter and expertise to conduct the assessment to establish trust with the stakeholders.

Activities and tasks
The purpose of this assignment is to identify evidence on the key obstacles to COVID-19 immunization coverage and equity relating to gender. The consultancy will follow the five-point gender analysis framework put forth in the practical guide mentioned above (see the figure below). The information gained from this work will be reviewed and endorsed by key partners to create a set of practical recommendations to improve the gender equality in the relevant counties.

Expected Results: (Measurable Results)

The Consultant will perform the following tasks:
1. Refine the gender framework for key drivers of obstacles to COVID-19 immunization coverage and equity relating to gender in the two counties. This will involve briefing with MOH (Division of Health Promotion), UNICEF C4D, and health professionals. The consultant will present an inception report shoring the study methodology and dated work plan.

2. Conduct a scoping review of the evidence on key interventions and policies designed to close disparities in immunization coverage and equity including removing barriers/ promoting equity of access and utilization of immunization services. This will involve desk review, Focus Group Discussion and key informant interviews with community opinion leaders and/or women’s groups facilitated by UNICEF Lodwar Zone Office and Ministry of Health.
3. Identify key evidence gaps in obstacles to immunization coverage and equity relating to gender, including measurement of gender equity and propose a prioritized implementation research agenda in response to these gaps. Document and quantify available evidence/ obstacles to immunization equity to highlight the gaps. This is in addition to the policies and interventions as outlines in bullet 2 above.
4. Conduct a field visit to the two counties to collect the missing evidence to enable a programmatic assessment, as well as to shape practical recommendations to the two counties and MOH.
5. Convene a workshop with key partners to review and endorse the products above.

Throughout the assignment, the Consultant will receive guidance from her/his supervisor, and health specialists at UNICEF Kenya.

Expected deliverables

The consultant will provide the following deliverables:
a) Work plan with refined gender framework
b) Report summarizing the result of scoping showing the evidence on key interventions and policies
c) Detailed study plan
d) Draft programme assessment report and presentation
e) Final consultancy report, final programme assessment report and presentation.


Work Assignment Overview

Tasks/Milestone:

Deliverables/Outputs:

Timeline

Refine the gender framework for key drivers of obstacles to COVID-19 immunization coverage and equity relating to gender in the two counties

a) Work plan with refined gender framework

5 days

Conduct a scoping review of the evidence on key interventions and policies. Consultant to present a report indicating evidence based key interventions designed to close disparities in immunization coverage and equity including removing barriers/ promoting equity of access and utilization of immunization services.

b) Report summarizing the result of scoping showing the evidence on key interventions and policies

12 days

Propose a study plan showing: 1) key evidence gaps in obstacles to immunization coverage and equity relating to gender and 2) proposed approach and methodology for data collection in the relevant counties.

c) Detailed study plan

12 days

Conduct a programme analysis including review of existing outpatient data and qualitative study in the two counties. Collate and analyze data.

27 days

Draft report and presentations for partner workshop

d) Draft programme assessment report and presentation

10 days

Conduct the validation workshop with two counties



4 days

Brief (5-10 page) report summarizing Workshop conclusions and recommendations

e) Final consultancy report, final programme assessment report and presentation.

10 days



Minimum Qualifications and Competencies
Advanced university degree in Public Health, Behaviour Science, Social Science, Epidemiology and other relevant areas. Preferably a higher degree encompassing knowledge of epidemiology, statistics.
Able to promote collaboration among key stakeholders in the face of pressures and tensions among stakeholders.
Strong analytical skills to understand data, anticipate changing priorities and identify solution, openly sharing knowledge, insights and effective practices.
Excellent oral and written communication skills in English and Swahili; fluency in the local language of Turkana and assessment of evidence and/or data and research methods.

Work experiences:
• Experience conducting gender analysis or similar social and behavioural analysis with capacity to identify key barriers and bottlenecks (ex: systemic, cultural and social norms, supply, demand)
• 8 years of relevant professional work experience with clear responsibilities; experience conducting reviews of the literature; documented knowledge of research relating to gender, implementation research and maternal, newborn, child and/or adolescent health programming.
• Solid knowledge of immunology, vaccine delivery and key characteristics of COVID-19
• Prior experience in working with the government is an asset

For every Child, you demonstrate…
UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA).

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

  How to Apply

Interested candidates should apply online using the button below. As part of their application, candidates should provide:
1. A cover letter that specifies how you meet the desired competencies, technical background and experience (no more than 2 pages)
2. A short CV (no more than 4 pages)
3. Interested candidates to indicate availability and daily rate expressed in KSH to undertake the terms of reference. Applications submitted without a fee/ rate will not be considered.
4. Three (3) Referees.

Deadline: 03 Oct 2022 E. Africa Standard Time