International Consultancy - End-term review of the UNICEF ESAR and Global Fund AGYW SI Partnership at UNICEF

Scope of Work

The purpose of this assignment is to determine the achievements, strengths and lessons of the Adolescent Girls and Young Women Strategic Initiative technical assistance Partnership between the Global Fund and UNICEF ESA Region. More specifically, the consultant will:

• Review, and determine strengths and challenges in the following -
  • approaches and processes for identification, operationalization, implementation, and finalisation of the technical assistance, including implementation support plans (ISPs)
  • operationalisation of the quality assurance mechanisms and project agreement
  • the south-2-south activities
• Articulate the strengths and the challenges of the partnership arrangements
• Define the opportunities, recommendations and lessons learned from the technical assistance support partnership, including to strengthen the ownership and absorption of outcomes.

Working relationship

• The consultant will report to the UNICEF Regional Adolescent and HIV/AIDS Specialist in close collaboration with the HIV/AIDS Specialist and the Regional HIV Adviser. The consultant will also interact with the AGYW SI secretariat and Global Fund AGYW Advisor, PRs/SRs, line ministries, national aids councils and coordination mechanism colleagues, and in-country stakeholders as relevant to the UNICEF and Global Fund AGYW SI Partnership

Activities and Expected Deliverables

Under the overall guidance of UNICEF’s Adolescent and HIV Specialist, the consultant will deliver the following:

• Provide summary minutes of the inception meeting with key partners engaged in the UNICEF and Global Fund technical assistance partnership
  • Attend a kick-off call with UNICEF to discuss the partnership and to plan for an inception meeting with key partners engaged in the technical assistance partnership, including UNICEF country and regional offices, Global Fund secretariat and AGYW advisors
  • Present and discuss the intended approach at the inception meeting and take notes on significant points of discussion and actions agreed.
• Prepare and inception report detailing the proposed scope, methodology and key questions for meeting the deliverables of this consultancy, including workplan and relevant data gathering and reporting tools e.g., interview/ consultation guide and list of key stakeholders to be interviewed, report outline etc.
• Conduct a desk review of documentation relevant to the partnership, including technical assistance reports, implementation support plans, south 2 south plans and products, quality assurance plan, project annexes etc. Desk review materials to be provided by UNICEF ESARO and the Global Fund.
• Review the current partnership arrangements and mechanisms to determine their contribution in the development and delivery of TA
• Using qualitative and quantitative methods, undertake consultations with key stakeholders, including UNICEF, Global Fund, Principal and sub recipients (PRs/SRs), other SI component and national partners and TA consultants on the operationalization, implementation, achievements, learnings and partnership arrangements for this technical assistance
• Provide a findings report on the key findings from the interviews and consultations
• Develop a draft review report and PPT for UNICEF and partner inputs, including
  • Key findings from the desk review, partnership arrangements, data collection and analysis
  • Synthesis of lessons learned and achievements from the partnership
  • Recommendations and opportunities with regards to:the absorption and use of TA outcomes to improve GF investments
  • strengthening future strategic initiatives and provision of technical assistance  

Finalize report and PPT including key findings and recommendations, with partner inputs incorporated.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have… 

• Education: Advanced university degree in public health, paediatric/adolescent health, social sciences, epidemiology or related field 
• Experience: A minimum of 8 years knowledge and expertise on HIV and adolescent and young people’s health and development context across ESA; Knowledge and experience of programme reviews and/or evaluations in the field of development for UN agencies and Global Fund, with Adolescent HIV programming. Experience of technical assistance reviews would be an added advantage.  
• Strong analytical skills with sufficient understand of qualitative/quantitative methods  
• Understanding of / working experience with the Global Fund and /or UNICEF is an added advantage  
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset. 

Administrative issues 

• The consultant is expected to be home based/virtual working. UNICEF will regularly communicate with the consultant and provide feedback and guidance and necessary support so to achieve objectives of the work, as well as remain aware of any upcoming issues related to the quality and completion of work. 
• The consultant will use their own equipment including computer and internet to produce deliverables. All communications shall be done through available, and UNICEF recommended virtual platforms