The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) - The world's largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. 

POSITION : State Lead Consultant for Intensifying Adolescent HIV Programming, NOC

Description

• The work in Nigeria has gained global attention within UNICEF and attracted additional funding. 1.7 million dollars has been allocated to intensify Adolescent HIV programming in Nigeria with the aim of helping to identify and place 90% of the 200,000 ALHIV in Nigeria, ensure 90% of those identified are placed on treatment and 90% of those on treatment achieve viral suppression (UNAIDS 90-90-90 targets).
• The funds shall be utilized for four key intervention areas. One of the four areas is "Intensifying Adolescent programming in Benue and Kaduna states".

Specific required activities required to successfully rollout this intervention area include:

• Implementation of the "All In" plans in the 18 LGAs identified by the "All In" assessment in Benue and Kaduna states
• Intensive programming, engaging government, communities, young people
• Creating evidence (profiling positive ALHIV, contact tracing, pregnant adolescents, integration for youth friendly services, determinants of uptake of services, adherence, transition etc)
• Documentation, innovation (mHealth for increasing HCT, adherence of ART).
• Evidence generation and dissemination of lessons learnt to inform a learning collaborative to influence UNICEFs advocacy and convening for taking to scale, removing law barriers (eg age of consent).
• A State lead consultant is required to ensure a timely implementation of all planned activities and reporting of activities in the 2 states.

The Purpose 

• The Lead consultant shall be responsible for providing overall technical support and coordination of the project in the state, and provide direct support for implementation in 3-5 LGAs. (S) He will support and supervise the LGA consultant for implementation of the AYP interventions in the remaining LGAs in their state of assignment. The lead consultant shall ensure data collection and reporting to UNICEF on monthly and quarterly basis, organize feedback to relevant stake holders and also liaise with the research and documentation consultants for high quality documentation and research activities.
• The consultant will work closely with, and support government partners to ensure transparency and program accountability, and facilitate knowledge transfer to government partners and community members in all the LGAs

Assignment Tasks

• Support SACA in coordinating and monitoring the implementation of the LGA AYP plans;
  • Provide technical assistance to SACA to develop a AYP plan implementation monitoring plan
  • Support the strengthening of the State and LGA coordination mechanism
  • Participate as an ad hoc member of the Prevention TWG and AYP Subcommittee
• Work with the LGA consultant to support the LGA coordination and implementation of the LGA AYP plans;
  • Shall be directly responsible for the LGA implementation in 3-5 LGAs
  • Work with the LGA consultant to provide technical assistance to the LGAs for the development of and implementation of monthly activities from the respective LGA plans
  • Support facilitation of monthly LGA team review meetings
  • Provide technical support/supervision of the LGA Team regarding all aspects of adolescent HIV interventions in the assigned LGA
  • Undertake supervisory field visits to LGA and communities to assess progress, identify problems and propose remedial or alternative strategies or courses of actions to accelerate/improve quality of adolescent HIV intervention s in the assigned LGAs in collaboration with the LGA consultant.
• Provide supervision and support to the LGA consultant for AYP disaggregated data generation and use at state and LGA levels:
  • Work with the LGA consultant to support LGA M&E Officers to ensure timely data collection (monthly and quarterly) from Service Delivery Points (SDPs), and collation at ward and LGAs, and ensure transmission to state
  • Facilitate standardized 2-way feedback mechanism with SDPs and LGA & LGA and State
• Provide technical support to the review of the LGA plan:
  • Support biannual LGA Plan review meeting;
  • Support quarterly LGA feedback and advocacy meeting;
• Provide Technical support to the LGA consultant for the facilitation of community engagement and empowerment for sustainability;
  • Engage and work with new and existing community structures at all levels for increased community participation and ownership of AYP interventions and strengthen partnerships with key allies including Implementing partners, NGOs, CBOs, faith-based organizations, women and youth groups for effective use of networks to promote programme ownership and sustainability
  • Identify and advice the LGA and state on opportunities for further integration of AYP HIV services in to PHCUOR, SOML Initiative and other MCH platforms
  • Support LGA demand creation activities
• Facilitate, in coordination with UNICEF Field Office, the effective use of UNICEF funds for the intervention at the State and LGA levels.
• Submit monthly and quarterly progress reports aligned to time frames for documentation and Research consultants to UNICEF
• Any other duties required for the successful completion of the project as assigned by Supervisors or authority of UNICEF Field Office.

Expected Deliverables:

• Documentation plan/framework and templates
• Detailed Work plan
• Report of inception meeting with state stakeholders
• Monthly and quarterly reports (including data, dash board updates, inputs for documentation and research consults as on research and documentation plans)
• One final report (with various components as on documentation plan)

Qualifications 
Education:

• Advanced University Degree in Public Health, Medical Sciences, Development areas or related field.

Years of relevant experience:

• Five years or more experience in HIV and AIDS, gender, social protection or health programming, with proven record of working with adolescents and young people

Competencies 

• Communication- Speaks English fluently; presents information with skill and confidence; projects credibility; structures information to meet the needs and understanding of the intended audience; presents information in a well-structured and logical way. Fluency in local language is an added advantage
• Relating and networking - Easily establishes good relationships with external partners and staff; builds wide and effective networks; relates well to people at all levels.
• Drive for results - Sets high standards for quality of work; independently monitors and maintains quality of work; works in a systematic, methodical and orderly way; consistently achieves project goals; focuses on the needs and satisfaction of internal and external partners; accepts and tackles demanding goals with enthusiasm.
• Deciding and initiating action - Takes responsibility for actions, projects and people: takes initiative and works under own direction; initiates and generates activities and introduces changes into work processes; makes quick, clear decisions.