JOB OFFER – UNFPA – United Nations Population Fund, Cameroon: NATIONAL REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CONSULTANT, Yaounde

RECRUITMENT OF A NATIONAL CONSULTANT EXPERT IN REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH TO SUPPORT THE MONITORING OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROJECT TO SUPPORT THE ELIMINATION OF MOTHER-CHILD TRANSMISSION OF HIV AND CARE OF HIV AIDS IN CAMEROON

Office:

UNFPA Cameroon

Subject of the consultancy:

The 8th program of UNFPA Cameroon devotes a specific product to the strengthening of national capacities to increase the knowledge and skills, leadership and participation of adolescents and youth in age-appropriate reproductive health, voluntary family planning, family life education, HIV and gender-based violence prevention, and their resilience to social, economic and environmental shocks.

In Cameroon, the HIV epidemic remains very generalized despite a national prevalence which fell by 1.6 points between 2011 and 2018, from 4.3% in 2011 to 2.7% in 2018 among 15-49 year olds.

The National Strategic Plan for the fight against HIV, AIDS and STIs 2018-2022 aimed to: reduce new infections among adults; adolescents and children; elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV; reducing HIV-related mortality; support for improving the quality of life of people infected and affected by HIV; respect for human rights; the fight against all forms of discrimination as well as the effectiveness of governance through an efficient response. The National strategic plan for the fight against HIV, AIDS and STIs 2021-2023 has been anticipated to take into account the orientations of the “global strategy to fight AIDS 2021-2026, put an end to inequalities, put an end to AIDS », as well as new priorities for new funding from the Global Fund. Thanks to this strategic vision, Cameroon aims to participate in the global effort to contribute effectively to ending the HIV epidemic by 2030.

The generalization of option B+, the free management of HIV cases and the decentralization of Antiretroviral Treatment (ART) in all health facilities and communities are the main factors that have contributed to this progress.

Despite the aforementioned progress, HIV prevalence is higher among women at 3.4% compared to 2.7% among men. Among women, it increases with age, from 3.4% for 20-24 year olds, 3.7% for 25-29 year olds, 4.1% for 30-34 year olds, to 6.5% for 35-39 year olds. The South, East and Adamaoua regions have the highest HIV prevalence rates: 5.8%, 5.6% and 4.1% respectively. Teenage girls aged 15 to 24 are particularly vulnerable and have an incidence 9 times higher than boys in the same age group.

Many bottlenecks persist and impede the acceleration of progress towards ending the HIV epidemic in general, and the elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV in particular. These include insufficient stimulation of demand for services for pregnant/breastfeeding women, including young and adolescent girls, their partners and children, insufficient appropriate skills for the supply of the integrated quality package for mothers, children, adolescents and men in their specificities, and the very insufficient mobilization of resources for the priority targets of adolescents and men.

The PETVISIDAME project is a practical response to the operational plans of e-TME 2016-2020, then 2021-2023 of the MINSANTE.

Tasks

(Description of services, activities or results)

General objective

The expert will provide technical support for the implementation of PETVISIDAME and in the management of interventions

At the end of this consultation, the consultant must produce the following deliverables in relation to the project:

A framework for monitoring the implementation of the project;
An activity planning framework linked to the project and integrated into the SR cluster;
A policy dialogue plan for strengthening midwifery education and accreditation of midwifery schools;
A consolidated report of the evaluation of schools of midwifery and state-certified nurses;
A plan to strengthen the training of midwives and state-certified nurses;
A quarterly national SONU monitoring report;
A weekly updated framework for monitoring the actions of the SR cluster;
A monthly report monitoring the implementation of the project;
Project concept notes resulting from implementation and adapted to funding opportunities that arise;
Documentation of lessons learned during project implementation in the form of reports and publications;
A final consultation report taking into account an extension and/or sustainability plan for the project.

Terms of the consultancy:

The work will be carried out for a period of eleven (11) months.

Place of execution of the tasks

The consultant will be based in Yaoundé, with descents outside Yaoundé if necessary

Monitoring and

control of the progress of the work,

including requirements,

reporting requirements, periodicity, the format and deadline:

The consultant must submit the above-mentioned deliverables in the form of documents in paper format (except for electronic data) and in electronic version sent to the UNFPA Country Office.

Supervision arrangements

The consultant will be under the direct supervision of the Reproductive Health Specialist and under the general supervision of the Deputy Representative of UNFPA

Travel:

The Consultant’s travel plan will be validated in agreement with the supervisors and the support of UNFPA for the logistical preparation of the trips.

Required expertise,

qualifications and

skills,

including

linguistics

Profile sought:

Being a doctor;
Master in Public Health;
Have professional experience of at least two (02) years in the field of reproductive health, in planning and monitoring/evaluation in RMNCEA;
Be familiar with common computer software;
Mastering Cameroon’s health system.
Fluent in French and English;
Have a good sense of teamwork and be able to work under pressure and in a constraining multicultural environment;
Have a very high sense of personal commitment, great interpersonal skills;
Have a good knowledge of the national health context;
Have skills in the field of results-based management;
Familiarity with UN environment would be an asset

Inputs/services to be provided by UNFPA or implementing partner (e.g. support services,

office space, equipment), if applicable:

Workspace for /the consultant:

The consultant will work face-to-face at the UNFPA Cameroon office.

Other information

specific information or conditions, if applicable:

UNFPA is an organization that actively promotes equal opportunity and gender.

There are no fees to pay, either at the time of application or after.

Application files

Application files (in French or English) must bear the title of the position and be sent by email to consultantcmr@unfpa.org no later than August 08, 2023 .

They must be complete and contain a cover letter, a curriculum vitae, copies of diplomas and certificates.

Said files must be sent as a single attachment (PDF format only).