CONSULTANCY TO SUPPORT A COMPILATION OF A STATISTICAL COMPENDIUM (UN Children's Fund)- Employment, career opportunity in USA

Job Title: CONSULTANCY TO SUPPORT A COMPILATION OF A STATISTICAL COMPENDIUM (BOOK) FOR HIV AND AIDS ESTIMATES
Organization: UN Children's Fund
Country: United States of America
Deadline: 14th Oct 2013

TERMS OF REFERENCE

CONSULTANCY TO SUPPORT A COMPILATION OF A STATISTICAL COMPENDIUM (BOOK) FOR HIV AND AIDS ESTIMATES AND INDICATORS ON WOMEN, CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS, AND DATA COLLECTION, COMPILATION, ANALYSIS AND REPORT WRITING ON PREVENTION OF MOTHER-TO CHILD TRANSMISSION OF HIV (PMTCT) AND PAEDIATRIC HIV CARE AND TREATMENT

Background and rationale

Since 2005, WHO, UNAIDS and UNICEF developed and published a series of global progress reports on monitoring of countries’ efforts and progress in scaling up the health sector’s response to HIV and AIDS towards the goal of universal access (commonly known as the Universal Access Report to HIV services). These reports were based on data from national HIV and AIDS programmes, population-based household surveys, published scientific literature and country case studies to document progress towards universal access in the HIV and AIDS response. The reports comprised a descriptive summary of global, regional and country data, presented also in charts and statistical tables on key interventions, including on PMTCT and paediatric HIV care and treatment.

Since 2012, the Universal Access Report has not been published. Instead, in June 2013, WHO, UNAIDS and UNICEF launched the HIV treatment report at the International AIDS Society (IAS) Conference in Kuala Lumpur. This report was structured differently from the previous progress reports and focused on aspects related to the care and treatment of HIV, taking a “cascade” approach, starting from HIV testing through to achieving viral suppression among those on antiretroviral treatment (ART). UNAIDS, UNICEF and WHO also published a progress report on the Global Plan on elimination of new HIV infections among children and keeping their mothers alive. This report focused on the 21 of the 22 Global Plan focus countries in sub-Saharan Africa, excluding India, the only country in East Asia. The Global Plan summarized data specific to the 21 countries only, excluding regional and global averages.

In September 2013, UNAIDS and co-sponsors also published a report focusing on the 10 High Level Meeting targets on HIV and AIDS. This report provides an overview of progress in the different HIV interventions, without necessarily delving into details of any of the 10 targets. The report also includes some annexes on country specific data, but does not include all of the key indicators and HIV estimates pertinent to monitoring progress in the HIV response for children, adolescents and women.

Although more recent global progress reports serve specific needs, they have the following limitations:
• Current reports are not comprehensive and exclude pertinent information on the HIV response on children, adolescents and women
• Planning and launch of the documents is often based around big events and only partial information or statistics on children, adolescents and women can be found in them even though they are co-produced. This depends on the timing of the report (which is usually around special events (International AIDS meetings or World AIDS day)
• Launch dates for the reports vary from one year to another which could lead to confusion, as new and old data are often published in the same report.
There is a real need for a statistical compendium (‘one stop shop’) where complete and updated intervention coverage, behavioural and HIV and AIDS epidemiology data on children, adolescents and women can be found. The compendium should also have a fixed release date so that users of data know where and when to expect to get the latest numbers.

Although global reports with updates on the situation of the HIV and AIDS response are needed, it would be useful to have a document published each year at a fixed date compiling country, regional and global specific data for a core set of indicators that would also feed into the WHO’s Global Health Observatory, UNICEF’s Childinfo/Devinfo and UNAIDS’ AIDSinfo databases. This document will include relevant data on a core set of HIV/AIDS indicators to be released around World AIDS Day.

Furthermore, the joint UNICEF/WHO/UNAIDS annual Global AIDS Response Progress Reporting (GARPR) process will continue and UNICEF will collaborate with WHO and UNAIDS in data collection, review, analysis and reporting writing.

***Overall and specific objectives
The consultant will support the GARPR process in collaboration with WHO and UNAIDS, and will also compile relevant HIV and AIDS related data and statistical tables on children, adolescents and women in a compendium or booklet to be published online and limited printed copies, mainly for country offices. More specifically, the consultant will have two-fold key deliverables according to the following tasks and order of priority:

***Statistical Compendium/Booklet
1. Compile data in the form of statistical tables for relevant indicators from the following sources: Global AIDS Progress Response Reporting (GARPR), population-based surveys such as MICS and DHS, and UNAIDS/WHO HIV and AIDS estimates
2. Calculate regional and global averages for the indicators, where applicable, and as part of the statistical tables.
3. Prepare regional and global charts for select indicators
4. Prepare country-specific charts, where applicable – particularly to show progress in focus countries for key initiatives such as the Global Plan.
5. Compile indicator definitions and data sources for each of the indicators
6. Prepare notes on the statistical tables such as on differences in indicator definitions and methods of data collection, and how to use and interpret data from various sources.

GARPR Process
1. Collaborate with WHO and UNAIDS on the GARPR process – data collection, data review and follow up queries with countries, in case of data discrepancies
2. Compilation and analysis of data into one document summarizing progress on key HIV intervention coverage indicators at global, regional and country levels, and in relation to PMTCT and paediatric HIV care and treatment
3. Follow up on any other PMTCT and paediatric HIV care and treatment programme and epidemiological data related issues with WHO and UNAIDS and countries
4. Draft a report on progress in key PMTCT and paediatric HIV intervention coverage indicators

Approach
The consultant will lead and work with UNICEF staff in-charge of HIV/AIDS monitoring and statistics in the Data and Analytics Section (D&A) and programme staff in the HIV/AIDS Section to address the above objectives, including:
a) Draft an outline of the compendium
b) Present and discuss a preliminary draft with UNICEF staff as necessary
c) Revise the draft compendium and finalize based on feedback from UNICEF staff
d) Work with a designer and layout company to finalize the document.
e) Participate in the GARPR data collection and review process with WHO and UNAIDS, and follow-up queries with countries on PMTCT and paediatric HIV care and treatment
f) Participate in the GARPR data analysis of PMTCT and paediatric HIV care and treatment
g) Participate in the GARPR report writing on PMTCT and paediatric HIV care and treatment

***Expected Deliverables
1. Draft outline of statistical compendium
2. Meeting with UNICEF staff to discuss draft statistical compendium
3. Final edited and layout statistical compendium
4. GARPR data collected, reviewed, and follow up queries with countries completed
5. GARPR data analysis and report on PMTCT and paediatric HIV care and treatment finalized

***Qualifications and Professional Experience Required:
• Postgraduate degree or training in statistics, epidemiology, public health, demography, or a related social science and monitoring and evaluation field
• At least 5-8 years of work experience and use of statistical tables at national or international levels
• Familiarity with monitoring and evaluation, programme statistics, statistical modelling, data management, social statistics, survey research and survey data collection and analysis, and report writing.
• Previous experience in performing analysis using MICS and/or DHS data preferred
• Previous experience in reviewing and developing indicators, preferably indicators on HIV and AIDS, including HIV prevention, PMTCT, HIV treatment and orphans and vulnerable children.
• Other skills and attributes: Computer skills in advanced Excel, Access, Word, PowerPoint, and other graphical software, as well as manipulation and analysis of data, preferably using STATA or SPSS. Ability to learn and use DEVINFO for map production would be an added advantage.
• Excellent interpersonal and presentation skills
• Languages: Ability to speak and write fluently in English is required; in addition, a good working knowledge of French or Spanish will be an asset.
• EXPERIENCE WITH WORKING ON HIV/AIDS PROGRAMMES IS A MUST.

***Duration and Fees: Six months starting o/a October 15, 2013 to March, 2014
Payment will be commensurate with the consultants experience and qualifications and made based on satisfactory submission of deliverables (see above). The contractual procedures and payment will be according to UNICEF rules and regulation

***Supervision
The consultant will work closely with staff at UNICEF New York as specified above.

Duty Station
This is a full-time office-based consultancy. The consultant will be based at UNICEF New York office.

General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants / Individual Contractors
1. Legal Status
The individual engaged by UNICEF under this contract as a consultant or individual contractors (the “Contractor”) is engaged in a personal capacity and not as representatives of a Government or of any other entity external to the United Nations. The Contractor is neither a “staff member” under the Staff Regulations of the United Nations and UNICEF policies and procedures nor an “official” for the purpose of the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations, 1946. The Contractor may, however, be afforded the status of “Experts on Mission” in the sense of Section 22 of Article VI of the Convention and the Contractor is required by UNICEF to travel in order to fulfill the requirements of this contract, the Contractor may be issued a United Nations Certificate in accordance with Section 26 of Article VII of the Convention.

    Obligations
    The Contractor shall complete the assignment set out in the Terms of Reference for this contract with due diligence, efficiency and economy, in accordance with generally accepted professional techniques and practices.
    The Contractor must respect the impartiality and independence of UNICEF and the United Nations and in connection with this contract must neither seek nor accept instructions from anyone other than UNICEF. During the term of this contract the Contractor must refrain from any conduct that would adversely reflect on UNICEF or the United Nations and must not engage in any activity that is incompatible with the administrative instructions and policies and procedures of UNICEF. The Contractor must exercise the utmost discretion in all matters relating to this contract.
    In particular, but without limiting the foregoing, the Contractor (a) will conduct him- or herself in a manner consistent with the Standards of Conduct in the International Civil Service; and (b) will comply with the administrative instructions and policies and procedures of UNICE relating to fraud and corruption; information disclosure; use of electronic communication assets; harassment, sexual harassment and abuse of authority; and the requirements set forth in the Secretary General’s Bulletin on Special Measures for Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse.
    Unless otherwise authorized by the appropriate official in the office concerned, the Contractor must not communicate at any time to the media or to any institution, person, Government or other entity external to UNICEF any information that has not been made public and which has become known to the Contractor by reason of his or her association with UNICEF or the United Nations. The Contractor may not use such information without the written authorization of UNICEF, and shall under no circumstances use such information for his or her private advantage or that of others. These obligations do not lapse upon termination of this contact.

    Title rights
    UNICEF shall be entitled to all property rights, including but not limited to patents, copyrights and trademarks, with regard to material created by the Contractor which bears a direct relation to, or is made in order to perform, this contract. At the request of UNICEF, the Contractor shall assist in securing such property rights and transferring them to UNICEF in compliance with the requirements of the law governing such rights.

    Travel
    If UNICEF determines that the Contractor needs to travel in order to perform this contract, that travel shall be specified in the contract and the Contractor’s travel costs shall be set out in the contract, on the following basis:

(a) UNICEF will pay for travel in economy class via the most direct and economical route; provided however that in exceptional circumstances, such as for medical reasons, travel in business class may be approved by UNICEF on a case-by-case basis.

(b) UNICEF will reimburse the Contractor for out-of-pocket expenses associated with such travel by paying an amount equivalent to the daily subsistence allowance that would be paid to staff members undertaking similar travel for official purposes.

    Statement of good health
    Before commencing work, the Contractor must deliver to UNICEF a certified self-statement of good health and to take full responsibility for the accuracy of that statement. In addition, the Contractor must include in this statement of good health (a) confirmation that he or she has been informed regarding inoculations required for him or her to receive, at his or her own cost and from his or her own medical practitioner or other party, for travel to the country or countries to which travel is authorized; and (b) a statement he or she is covered by medical/health insurance and that, if required to travel beyond commuting distance from his or her usual place or residence to UNICEF (other than to duty station(s) with hardship ratings “H” and “A”, a list of which has been provided to the Contractor) the Contractor’s medical/health insurance covers medical evacuations. The Contractor will be responsible for assuming all costs that may be occurred in relation to the statement of good health.

    Insurance
    The Contractor is fully responsible for arranging, at his or her own expense, such life, health and other forms of insurance covering the term of this contract as he or she considers appropriate taking into account, among other things, the requirements of paragraph 5 above. The Contractor is not eligible to participate in the life or health insurance schemes available to UNICEF and United Nations staff members. The responsibility of UNICEF and the United Nations is limited solely to the payment of compensation under the conditions described in paragraph 7 below.

    Service incurred death, injury or illness
    If the Contractor is travelling with UNICEF’s prior approval and at UNICEF’s expense in order to perform his or her obligations under this contract, or is performing his or her obligations under this contract in a UNICEF or United Nations office with UNICEF’s approval, the Contractor (or his or her dependents as appropriate), shall be entitled to compensation from UNICEF in the event of death, injury or illness attributable to the fact that the Contractor was travelling with UNICEF’s prior approval and at UNICEF’s expense in order to perform his or her obligations under this contractor, or was performing his or her obligations under this contract in a UNICEF or United Nations office with UNICEF’s approval. Such compensation will be paid through a third party insurance provider retained by UNICEF and shall be capped at the amounts set out in the Administrative Instruction on Individual Consultants and Contractors. Under no circumstances will UNICEF be liable for any other or greater payments to the Contractor (or his or her dependents as appropriate).

    Arbitration
    (a) Any dispute arising out of or, in connection with, this contract shall be resolved through amicable negotiation between the parties.

(b) If the parties are not able to reach agreement after attempting amicable negotiation for a period of thirty (30) days after one party has notified the other of such a dispute, either party may submit the matter to arbitration in accordance with the UNCITRAL procedures within fifteen (15) days thereafter. If neither party submits the matter for arbitration within the specified time the dispute will be deemed resolved to the full satisfaction of both parties. Such arbitration shall take place in New York before a single arbitrator agreed to by both parties; provided however that should the parties be unable to agree on a single arbitrator within thirty days of the request for arbitration, the arbitrator shall be designated by the United Nations Legal Counsel. The decision rendered in the arbitration shall constitute final adjudication of the dispute.

    Penalties for Underperformance
    Payment of fees to the Contractor under this contractor, including each installment or periodic payment (if any), is subject to the Contractor’s full and complete performance of his or her obligations under this contract with regard to such payment to UNICEF’s satisfaction, and UNICEF’s certification to that effect.

    Termination of Contract
    This contract may be terminated by either party before its specified termination date by giving notice in writing to the other party. The period of notice shall be five (5) business days (in the UNICEF office engaging the Contractor) in the case of contracts for a total period of less than two (2) months and ten (10) business days (in the UNICEF office engaging the Contractor) in the case of contracts for a longer period; provided however that in the event of termination on the grounds of impropriety or other misconduct by the Contractor (including but not limited to breach by the Contractor of relevant UNICEF policies, procedures, and administrative instructions), UNICEF shall be entitled to terminate the contract without notice. If this contract is terminated in accordance with this paragraph 10, the Contractor shall be paid on a pro rata basis determined by UNICEF for the actual amount of work performed to UNICEF’s satisfaction at the time of termination. UNICEF will also pay any outstanding reimbursement claims related to travel by the Contractor. Any additional costs incurred by UNICEF resulting from the termination of the contract by either party may be withheld from any amount otherwise due to the Contractor under this paragraph 10.

    Taxation
    UNICEF and the United Nations accept no liability for any taxes, duty or other contribution payable by the consultant and individual contractor on payments made under this contract. Neither UNICEF nor the United Nations will issue a statement of earnings to the consultant and individual contractor.

How to apply:

Qualified candidates are requested to submit a cover letter, CV and P-11 form (which can be downloaded from our website at http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/index_53129.html) to pdconsultants@unicef.org by October 14, 2013 with the subject line: Consultancy to support Compilation of a statistical compendium (book) for HIV and AIDS estimates and indicators on children, adolescents and women, and data collection, compilation, analysis and report writing on PMTCT and paediatric HIV care and treatment.
Please indicate your availability and expected daily fee/monthly rate to undertake the terms of reference above.
An application of two or more individuals is not accepted.