Cholera Information Management Consultant at United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)

This consultancy aims at supporting the implementation of the 'information management and monitoring' pillar which focuses on establishing functional information management systems across targeted countries and at regional level.

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, Health

How can you make a difference?

TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR INDIVIDUAL CONTRACTORS/ CONSULTANTS

PART I

Title of Assignment

Cholera Information Management Consultant

Section

WASH

Location

Nairobi, Kenya

Duration

11 months

Start date

From: 01/07/2019

From: 31/05/2020

Background and Justification

Cholera is contracted by consuming food or water contaminated with toxigenic Vibrio cholerae or by direct inter-human exposure, such as contact with hands contaminated with faeces from a cholera patient. This ancient disease is a major public health issue in East and Southern Africa Region (ESAR), where it is now endemic in at least half of the region's countries. Moreover, the Global taskforce for cholera control acknowledges that the cholera burden is underestimated due to limited capacity for disease surveillance in some countries, as well as a disinclination to report in others.

Cholera is not only a health problem but also a direct consequence of poor quality and quantity of water, poor sanitation, inadequate hygiene, and various environmental, climatic, and socio-economic situations. This calls for a multi-sectoral approach, including the development and implementation of cholera plans. A rapid analysis indicates that some countries which are currently experiencing new outbreaks lack comprehensive multi-sectoral plans , while those that have them are held back by weak monitoring and evaluation systems. Other challenges include: weak capacity for response; inadequate long term strategies for social and behaviour change to prevent and/or limit the spread of cholera, including the engagement of social movements. Additionally, population movement within the region is a major cause of cross border outbreaks, yet systems for monitoring epidemic prone diseases in cross border areas are weak or non existent. As more countries continue to report new outbreaks as compared to the beginning of 2017, there is need to continue to monitor these outbreaks in the region.

A good understanding of IDSR system bottlenecks and strategies to strengthen the system, will contribute to enhancing real-time information generation and systems. This would include understanding information management capacities that contribute to IDSR processes (such as management of the cholera information cycle from data collection, analysis and reporting to use for public health action). This would require the involvement of Ministries of Health, WASH and Health sector/cluster partners in focus countries to develop National IM capacity building plans. Identification of cholera hotspots in the region will also be very key for targeted emergency and prevention programs.

The UNICEF regional office for East and Southern Africa has developed and is currently implementing a cholera strategy. The strategy is focused on preventing, preparing for and responding to cholera better and faster, for reduced likelihood of cholera outbreaks and greater success with response. It is also designed to improve the added value of each partner's contributions and geographic scope, and to engage wider society in a call to end cholera. The strategy aims to achieve three things: ensure the timely containment and control of all outbreaks, in all contexts, effectively and efficiently; significantly reduce the burden on communities and public health systems; and stop the spread of cholera across borders. This is being achieved through the deployment of 7 major pillars:

• National Plans development
• Capacity building
• Social and behaviour change communication
• Information Management and monitoring
• Regional Coordination and Cross-border Collaboration
• Knowledge Management and operational Research
• Advocacy and harnessing social movements to end cholera

This consultancy aims at supporting the implementation of the 'information management and monitoring' pillar which focuses on establishing functional information management systems across targeted countries and at regional level.

Scope of Work

• Goal and Objective : Under the supervision of the WASH in Emergencies specialist, the consultant will support cholera information management systems across targeted countries and at regional level.
• Provide details/reference to AWP areas covered: This consultancy pertains to 240R/A0/10/801/004/011 which consists of ‘Health Emergencies: Provide technical assistance, capacity development, oversight and quality assurance to COs for health emergencies, including the implementation of the regional cholera framework’.
  
  

3 . Activities And Tasks

• Collect, control and store in a web-based common repository geographical data sets of interest (background layers; hydrology, infrastructure, elevation, administrative and health units) at national and regional data as well as non-geographical data (i.e. place names in tabular format).
• Conduct information harmonization in order to integrate epidemiological and geographical data (i.e. administrative units, health districts) supporting epidemiological and geographical analysis.
• Create cartographic outputs with incidence, epidemiological and background information
• Support UNICEF Cholera TA staff in mapping WASH data in hotspots in two countries;
• Produce a bi-monthly (two per month) cholera situation report for the Region;
• Conduct mapping of epidemiological basins and hot spots, based on available information from the Region and participating country offices;
• Update the Africa cholera web platform in collaboration with the West and Central Africa Regional Office
• Contribute to various Regional reports on cholera when required and produce maps and graphics as needed;

• Work relationships: Within UNICEF, the consultant will work closely with the regional office health and C4D sections, the UNICEF ESAR Cholera TA staff, as well as with cholera focal points in country offices. The consultant will also engage with relevant external partners such as WHO, IFRC, CDC and National Ministries of Health.
• Outputs/Deliverables:
  
  

Deliverables

Duration

(Estimated # of days or weeks)

Deadline

Schedule of payment

Percentage of payment

• Two Cholera bulletins for July 2019
• Mapping of WASH data in hotspots in one country in collaboration with UNICEF cholera TA staff
  
  

4 weeks

July 31 st , 2019

1 week later

11 %

Two Cholera bulletins for August 2019

4 weeks

August 31 st , 2019

1 week later

8 %

• Two Cholera bulletins for September 2019
• Mapping of cholera hotspots of Great Lakes in collaboration with epidemiological institute
  
  

4 weeks

September 30 th ,2019

1 week later

11 %

Two Cholera bulletins for October 2019

4 weeks

October 31 st ,2019

1 week later

8 %

Two Cholera bulletins for November 2019

4 weeks

November 30 th ,2019

1 week later

8 %

Two Cholera bulletins for December 2019

4 weeks

December 31 st ,2019

1 week later

8 %

• Two Cholera bulletins for January 2020
• Mapping of WASH data in hotspots in one country in collaboration with UNICEF cholera TA staff
  
  

4 weeks

January 31 st , 2020

1 week later

12 %

Two Cholera bulletins for February 2020

4 weeks

February 28 th , 2020

1 week later

8 %

Two Cholera bulletins for March 2020

4 weeks

March 31 st , 2020

1 week later

8 %

Two Cholera bulletins for April 2020

4 weeks

April 30 th , 2020

1 week later

8 %

Two Cholera bulletins for May 2020

Final Consultancy Report

4 weeks

May 20 th , 2020

1 week later

5 %

Cholera Website is updated in collaboration with WCARO

Throughout

Throughout

Embedded in monthly payments

N/A

Payment Schedule

Payments will be made in eleven (11) instalments upon completion of deliverables as shown in the table above.

Administrative issues

The consultant will work under direct supervision and guidance of the WASH in Emergencies Specialist and in coordination with the Health and C4D emergencies specialists.

The consultant will be home based with a one day per week spent in the UNICEF ESARO premises in Nairobi, Kenya

Conditions

The consultant will be provided with office space but will be expected to bring his/her own equipment at the ESARO office in Nairobi.

As per UNICEF DFAM policy, payment is made against approved deliverables. No advance payment is allowed unless in exceptional circumstances against bank guarantee, subject to a maximum of 30 per cent of the total contract value in cases where advance purchases, for example for supplies or travel, may be necessary.

The candidate selected will be governed by and subject to UNICEF’s General Terms and Conditions for individual contracts

Risks

There are limited anticipated risks for this consultancy as realistic and concrete deliverable have been identified against a clear timeline.

How To Apply

Qualified candidates are requested to submit their expression of interest through the UNICEF Talent Management System. Applicants must submit a financial proposal including professional fee.

Applications submitted without a fee/ rate will not be considered.

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

Desired Competencies, Technical Background And Experience

• Advanced university degree or equivalent experience in library or geographic sciences, including information technology and statistics. A first level university degree with a relevant combination of academic qualifications and additional two years of experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• Minimum five years of progressively responsible professional work experience in humanitarian aid/development including several years in developing countries.
• Minimum 2 years’ experience in the management of spatial and non-spatial databases, preferably with either the UN and/or NGOs
• Ability to develop systems and tools to present information in multiple formats, including mapping tools such as GIS
• Preferred knowledge on the multi-sectorial strategies on cholera in terms of preparedness, response, prevention and risk reduction
• Fluency in English (verbal and written).

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

The competencies required for this post are….

View our competency framework at

http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

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, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.

Remarks

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

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