Country: Senegal
Closing date: 26 Oct 2015
Background & Rationale
The Measles & Rubella Initiative (M&RI) is a global partnership committed to ensuring no child dies from measles or is born with congenital rubella syndrome. The M&RI provides technical and financial support to countries to implement disease control activities: mass vaccination campaigns, improving routine immunization systems as well as effective disease surveillance to guide program direction. Founded originally in 2001 as the Measles Initiative, it is led by the American Red Cross, the U.S. Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, UN Foundation, UNICEF and the World Health Organization. Since 2001, the partnership has invested over USD $1 billion to support 88 countries, delivering 1.1 billion doses of measles vaccine. This effort has contributed to raising measles vaccination coverage to 84% globally and reducing measles deaths by 78%. In order to attain the 2020 goals for the M&RI strategic plan, the Initiative requires effective messaging, country commitment and buy-in from communities and policy makers.
The Measles Strategic plan presents a five-pronged strategy to achieve measles and rubella elimination in at least five World Health Organization (WHO) regions by 2020. The strategies include: high vaccination coverage; monitoring spread of disease using laboratory-backed surveillance; outbreak preparedness and response and measles case management; communication and community engagement; and research and development.
Effective measles elimination remains a priority in the African region. Despite an 88% disease reduction in the AFR region, complacency, under-financed routine and/or delayed SIAs have led to major outbreaks in several countries. Increased efforts are required to ensure that AFR countries and EPI partners focus on implementing coordinated, high quality SIAs to achieve regional measles elimination targets. To this effect, many countries in the African region are developing multiyear measles elimination strategic plans with the support of immunization partners. Developing various tools are necessary to establish consistent standards including operational communications guidelines as a necessary tool for effective implementation of M/MR SIAs, measles second dose (MCV2/MSD) and rubella introduction. Vaccinating over 95% of the target population including disadvantage communities against measles and rubella requires well-conceived, professionally implemented communication strategies and aim for dialogue and engagement with communities, rather than one-way communication.
The 2014 Global Measles and Rubella Management Meeting recommended the development of communication guidelines in the area of Measles/MR SIAs, measles second dose introduction and rubella introduction. The need for developing communications guidelines for measles/rubella elimination has been reaffirmed at a separate regional technical meeting as a top priority.
In response to this express need, UNICEF proposes a consultant to develop these communications operational and technical guidelines and tools, working under the guidance of the Measles & Rubella Initiative’s Communication Specialist, and in close collaboration with WHO AFRO and UNICEF regional offices, Eastern and Southern African Regional Office (ESARO) and Western and Central African Regional Office (WCARO).
Purpose
The purpose of the communication operational and technical guidelines and tools is to assist immunization managers and communications staff at national, provincial and district levels effectively develop, implement and monitor local level communications and outreach plans to increase the uptake of measles/rubella vaccination. As well, the guidelines should include strategies to influence policy and opinion makers towards in-country support for measles control within the overall context of immunization strengthening.
Expected results: (measurable results)
The Consultant is expected to produce four key deliverables. Each deliverable will be evaluated and then revised with input provided by UNICEF, WHO and other relevant partners on a regular, scheduled basis as part of the collaborative process.
The Consultant is expected to develop the following deliverables:
· Inception report and detailed work plan;
· Situation analysis and summary report on the best practices and lessons learnt;
· Measles elimination communication draft operational and technical guidelines and tools; and
· Measles elimination communication final operational and technical guidelines and tools.
Developing Inception Report
The Inception Report is required to harmonize and detail the work plan activities to be implemented during this consultancy. The report should describe the approach, outputs and activities to be undertaken in the development of the guidelines. It should also define the methodologies, tools and techniques to be applied with a detailed schedule of deliverables within the three month time frame of this consultancy. This initial report must reflect the consultant’s understanding of the task and assist the partners’ monitoring of the development of the guidelines.
Developing Situation Analysis and Summary Report
This task includes analyzing the overall African Region situation including the identification of systems related, and evidence based behavioral factors, and to produce a summary report on best practices and lessons learnt. This task is expected to be undertaken primarily through desk review of pertinent documents and consultations with key actors as highlighted below.
· Desk review of existing best practices, Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) review, Post Introduction Evaluation (PIE), Knowledge Attitude & Practices (KAP) study and lessons learnt reports from countries in Africa region to be gathered by UNICEF and WHO measles/rubella regional focal points (quantified after agreement with WHO/African Regional Office (AFRO))
· Consultationwith communication specialists of WHO/AFRO, UNICEF/WCARO, UNICEF/ESARO and selected countries
Developing Draft Communication Guidelines
The Consultant is expected to develop draft operational communications guidelines and relevant annexes informed by, but not exclusively through:
· Collection of relevant documents from at least 6 countries TBD (i.e. KAP study reports, measles Supplementary Immunization Activities (SIAs) best practice reports, EPI review & PIE reports) for desk reviews
· Incorporating feedback on the inception/preliminary and summary reports from WHO, UNICEF and other partners for input
The draft guidelines will be shared with M&RI partners for input and feedback.
Developing Final Communication Guidelines
Final communication guidelines to be produced based on the feedback and revisions provided by partners on the draft guidelines.
Duty Station
The consultant will be based in Dakar, Senegal (WCARO) with frequent travel to Nairobi (ESARO) and selected countries.
Timeframe
Start date: 2 November 2015
End date: 31 January 2016
Key competences, technical background, and experience required Deadline
· Advanced university degree in communications, journalism, public/external relations, public affairs
· At least 7 to 10 years of Mid or Senior level progressive responsibility and relevant professional work experience in programme communication, community engagement including at least five years at international level
· Experience working with immunization and/or disease control programs
· Knowledge in management, communication strategies, advocacy and networking
· Knowledge of theories and practices in communication research planning and strategy
· Understanding of United Nations systems and international organizations in general; field/country experience an asset
· Fluency in English and excellent writing skills; working knowledge of French language is desirable
· Ample evidence of cross cultural awareness
How to apply:
How to Apply
Applicants are requested to send their submissions to pdconsultants@unicef.orgby 26th October 2015, 5:00PM EST.
Applications must include:
· Cover letter,
· CV, and
· P-11 form[1]
· Writing sample
· Indicate where you heard about this advertisement
Please indicate your ability, availability and daily/monthly rate (in US$) to undertake the terms of reference above. Applications submitted without a daily/monthly rate will not be considered.
NOTE: Files should not exceed 5.0MB limit
[1]*P 11 form can be downloaded from our website at*http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/P11.doc