Purpose of consultancy: To develop Integrated Sexual and Reproductive Health guideline and Manual Implementation of Integrated SRH Services
Background:
TL has adopted WHO recommendations to have the integration of SRH components such as maternal and child health, family planning, infertility, HIV/AIDS, sexually transmitted diseases, adolescents' needs, sexual health, and gender based violence. WHO further emphasises the importance of linking sexual and reproductive health and rights for women, adolescent girls and young women to address the issues during contact with the health system.
According to global data, in 2019, out of 1.9 billion women of childbearing age (15–49 years), 1.1 billion of them need family planning services and around 270 million have unmet needs of contraceptives. Meanwhile, there has been an increase in HIV and STI infections among the population, especially female sex workers, resulting in unwanted pregnancies and unmet needs of contraceptives.
According to DHS 2016 the ANC-1 is 86%, and ANC-4 the percentage is only 60%, the number is reduced significantly at the time of delivery, where only 49% women give birth in health facilities. The same survey also revealed that mCPR is 24% with unmet need for FP 25%.
Data from DHS 2016 indicates that 24.8% of women in reproductive age (19-49) are undernourished on the other hand there are 9.3% of women in the same age group who are overweight/obese. Younger women aged 15-19 years are more likely to be undernourished than women in older age groups.
Although the facilities built by the government have all components of SRH services, especially at Community Health Centres and BEmONC centres, nevertheless, each component of SRH services are not integrated as expected. For instance, a mother who visited antenatal clinic and found that her Upper Arm Circumference (UAC) is less than 18,5 supposedly being refer to the nutrition program for nutrition intervention so that she can catch up her nutrition status throughout her pregnancy and can avoid complications during labour, however, this is not in current practice.
The Ministry of Social solidarity, under a scheme of social protection, has established a mean of nutritional support to pregnant mothers and their children, through a program called; Bolsa da mãe da nova Geração (Mothers purse for new generation) to improve the nutritional status of the mother and their unborn babies and children. This is integrated as well in a part of health services delivery, especially during antenatal and postnatal visits.
These issues could have been addressed well if there is a guideline and operational manual on how to integrate the services in a horizontal manner in all health facilities.
To fill the gap, UNFPA seeks this opportunity by supporting MoH to develop Integrated SRH Guideline and Manual for Implementation to ensure that all components of SRH services are integrated in a horizontal manner and refer to the higher level based on the existing protocols.
Purpose of the consultancy:
The objective of this consultancy is to develop an Integrated Guideline with an Implementation Manual for Integration of SRH services.
Scope of work
The consultant will work under overall guidance from the Program Coordinator (Assistant Representative) and work closely with RH Analyst. The consultant is expected to conduct the following tasks
- Desk review of relevant documents (FP policy), strategy (RMNCAH strategy, nutrition strategy, HIV Guideline), basic intervention SRH package, ANC guideline, EmONC training package, Protocols of Intrapartum and Immediate Postpartum Care, FP training package policy of Bolsa da Mãe.
- Field visit to different levels of health facilities to obtain information on current practices of service integrations.
- Selection of best practice examples from country teams and incorporation into the guideline
- Outlined draft of the strategy and manual implementation of Integrated SRH Services
- Present the outline to the TWG
- Present first draft in a national consultative workshop
- Finalise the draft based on the inputs from national consultative workshop
- Submit the final document
The document must have a clear algorithm of each program and mechanism of referral horizontal as well as to the vertical lines for the following:
- SRH Rights of women and girl
- SRH services
- Family Planning
- Maternal and Newborn Health
- STI and HIV/Aids
- Infertility
- Prevention and management of cancer of the reproductive system
- Adolescents and youth
- Gender Based Violence
Deliverables:
|
Descriptions |
Duration |
Percentage of payment |
|
20 days |
30% |
|
30 days |
40% |
|
10 days |
30% |
Duration and working schedule: 60 days starting from the signing of the Consultancy contract.
Place where services are to be delivered: Dili
Delivery dates and how work will be delivered
• UNFPA will organise an initial meeting with the consultant prior to commencement of work in order to fine-tune deliverables and needs.
• Consultant is expected to submit deliverables in time, within the consultancy period, by email and hard copy addressed to UNFPA CO, for UNFPA to review and provide comments.
• All documents should be developed in both Tetum and English.
Monitoring and progress control, including reporting requirements, periodicity format and deadline:
Monitoring of activities will be done by UNFPA, in collaboration with the MCH department of the Ministry of Health.
The consultant will report to the UNFPA Assistant Representative. Approval of consultancy deliverables is done by UNFPA.
Supervisory arrangements:
The consultant will work under the overall guidance of the UNFPA Representative with direct supervision from UNFPA Assistant Representative and in close liaison with the RH Analyst of UNFPA. S/he is expected to regularly brief the UNFPA and will work according to an agreed time bound plan. He/she will undertake field visits and when necessary he/she will participate in the dissemination meetings.
Expected travel:
Expected travel to the municipality to gather information on current practices of service integrations in community health centres.
Required expertise, qualifications and competencies, including language requirements:
• Advanced University degree in Public Health, Medicine, Social Sciences, or related field, with at least 5 years of relevant demonstrated experience; or Bachelor’s degree in Public Health, social sciences, or related field, with at least 7 years of relevant experience;
• Relevant experience in SRH, FAMILY PLANNING and GBV services
• Good knowledge of UNFPA’s mandate and the Health sector in Timor-Leste is an advantage;
• Excellent ability to work autonomously, in a challenging and changing environment, around sensitive issues; flexible and positive collaborative attitude;
• Good communication, presentation and analytical skills, ability to work efficiently with governmental and non-governmental institutions;
• Fluency in English, both oral and written is required, speak Tetum is an asset
Inputs / services to be provided by UNFPA or implementing partner, if applicable:
UNFPA will be responsible only to facilitate access to stakeholders and individuals for consultations/interviews and relevant documentation. UNFPA will also be responsible for the payment of data collectors, training costs and mission costs to the different municipalities for data collection.
Interested candidates should submit an application (e.g. cover letter, and P11 to the following
email: timor-leste.office@unfpa.org).
Closing date: 18 May 2023
We are no longer accepting applications for this position.
