Country: Uganda
Closing date: 23 May 2018
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, a fair chance
Uganda is one of the over 190 countries and territories around the world where we work to overcome the obstacles that poverty, violence, disease, and discrimination place in a child’s path.Together with the Government of Uganda and partners we work towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals, the objectives of the Uganda National Development Plan, and the planned outcomes of the United Nations Development Assistance Framework.
Visit this link for more information on Uganda Country Office https://www.unicef.org/uganda/
How can you make a difference?
Under the supervision of the Health Specialist (HSS), the consultant will carry out the Child Days Plus Assessment which is expected to inform plans and policies to improve coverage of interventions delivered through Child Days Plus, and the activity is in fulfilment of the Government of Uganda – UNICEF Country Programme Action Plan 2016 - 2020. The assessment will determine the progress made on recommendations from the 2007 and 2010 studies on Child Days Plus, and will provide an updated list of recommendations to improve Child Days Plus implementation.
Background:
In 2004, after five years of implementing child health days with support from the World Bank, the Ministry of Health launched the Child Days Plus Strategy, which sought to deliver a range of health, nutrition, hygiene and sanitation services through biannual (May and November) outreach throughout the country. In all districts the services were to include vitamin A supplementation, deworming, catch-up immunization, tetanus immunization for women of reproductive age, early infant HIV/AIDS diagnosis, and promotion of healthy behaviours; such as breastfeeding, use of bednets, hygiene and sanitation. In selected districts, eye screening and treatment of neglected tropical diseases were also to be included in Child Days Plus. The provision of deworming tablets through child health days was shown to increase weight gain of young children in a randomized controlled trial. The impact of other services included in the child days package was not evaluated.
In 2006, the responsibility for planning and financing of Child Days was given to the districts, with overall coordination provided by the Ministry of Health. In 2007 UNICEF supported a review of Child Days Plus and a 2010 study supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation analysed the cost-effectiveness of the approach2. Common findings from the two studies were that the quality of implementation varied from district to district, and that under-compensation of health facility staff and volunteers was a main cause for some districts not achieving high coverage through CHDs2.The studies made a number of recommendations to improve the programme.
From 2012 to 2014, UNICEF piloted an expanded outreach in selected districts. The expanded outreach; called Family Health Days, included more services, utilized faith based organizations, and was implemented on a quarterly basis. Family Health Days were discontinued because the high cost was found to be unsustainable in a 2014 review, and in the same year UNICEF returned to supporting Child Days Plus.
According to the 2011 Uganda Demographic and Health Survey (UDHS), coverage of vitamin A supplementation and deworming among children under five years of age was 57% and 50% respectively,[1] indicating that Child Days Plus was not reaching many children in the country with some of its core services. Administrative data and household surveys show that there continues to be uneven coverage by district for services delivered through Child Days Plus, and this issue exists within UNICEF supported areas. For example, in Karamoja the percentage of children under five years of age receiving deworming varied from approximately 60% in Napak to 80% in Kaabong
Key Tasks:
1. Develop protocol for qualitative assessment of Child Days Plus (30 days).
a. Literature review on Child Days Plus, including strategies and standard operating procedures.
b. Analyze Health Information Management System data and household survey data to identify weak/strong performing districts with respect to coverage of interventions delivered through Child Days Plus.
c. Define qualitative approach and develop implementation tools and plan. The approach should include key informant interviews and focus group discussions at national and district levels of stakeholders and implementers; and focus on implementation with the last year. Selected districts shall include weak/strong performing districts, and districts within the UNICEF supported region of Karamoja shall be included. The assessment design should incorporate recommendations from previous reviews and studies.
2. Implement Assessment of Child Days Plus (54 days).
a. Organize and lead focus group discussions and key informant interviews.
b. Analyze qualitative data.
c. Develop Child Days Plus Assessment Report. The report should cover all activities necessary for implementation of Child Days Plus, including national level coordination, microplanning, transport, supply, social mobilization, supervision, and reporting. In addition to recommendations to improve activities, the report should include recommendations for improvement to Child Days Plus strategy, administrative structure, and operating procedures.
d. Finalize report based on feedback from stakeholders and facilitate a workshop to disseminate findings at the national level.
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Our core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.
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 technical 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.
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.
How to apply:
UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of our organization. To apply, click on the following link http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/?job=512850