Consultance nationale - Assistants de districts pour le projet Ezaka ho tomady (renforcement des soins de santé primaire)

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This call for applications is part of the implementation of the “EU Health – Ezaka ho Tomady” program, for which UNICEF is one of the main partners. Funded by the European Union with a budget of €32.5 million, the program aims to strengthen the Malagasy health system by improving access to quality services. It is structured around three main components:

Component 1 – Access to Medicines and Medical Products:
This component aims to expand access to quality medicines through the central supply agency SALAMA by strengthening its logistics and storage infrastructure, and accelerating digitalization. It is implemented in partnership with the French Development Agency (AFD).

Component 2 – Improvement of Health and Nutrition Services:
This component focuses on improving access to primary healthcare, particularly in rural and vulnerable areas, notably through the rehabilitation of health infrastructure, malnutrition prevention, and the integration of new health technologies such as e-health.

Component 3 – Health System Governance:
This component aims to improve the management of human and financial resources in the health system, increase the autonomy in managing health products, and ensure accountability. The French Research Institute for Development (IRD) will lead the implementation of this component.

The program will be implemented in synergy with the “Support Program for Mitigating the Effects of the COVID-19 Crisis in Madagascar and Crises Resulting from Climatic and Economic Events,” which aims to rehabilitate 40 Basic Health Centers (CSBs), 5 District Referral Hospitals (CHRDs), and 1 University Hospital (CHU), in collaboration with the Ministry of Health. These infrastructures will serve as the foundation for Component 2 of the “EU Health – Ezaka ho Tomady” program, also implemented by UNICEF and focused on improving health services.

To ensure effective implementation and rigorous monitoring of the project in the five priority health districts, UNICEF will recruit five National Consultants – District Technical Assistants (DTAs) to provide close support and monitoring to various health sector stakeholders at the district, health facility, and community levels.

As part of the implementation of the EU Health Project \"Ezaka ho tomady\", two types of technical assistants will be recruited at the district level: the National Consultant District Technical Assistant (DTA) and a Technical Assistant assigned to the District Referral Hospital (CHRD). The first, the National Consultant District Technical Assistant (DTA), will provide technical support to health districts, health facilities (HFs), coordination structures, and local authorities responsible for the health sector. Their role will be to strengthen planning, improve service quality, enhance governance, and promote community engagement in health matters. The DTA will offer professional expertise in technical assistance to support health districts and HFs in conducting in-depth and ongoing situational analyses, as well as in developing appropriate solutions. He/she will also support the organization of healthcare services and mobilize local authorities to ensure effective health sector management and equitable access to care for all. Meanwhile, the Technical Assistant assigned to the CHRD will be responsible for supporting the hospital’s technical and clinical teams in organizing and ensuring the quality of Emergency Obstetric and Neonatal Care (EmONC), training various categories of health professionals involved, monitoring and ensuring the functionality of technical platforms (including the availability of inputs), and organizing referral and counter-referral systems.

How can you make a difference? 

Under the supervision of the Project Manager and the Field Health Officer, and in close collaboration with the District Management Teams (EMAD) and Regional Management Teams (EMAR), the District Technical Assistant (DTA) will have the following responsibilities:

Support to the health district and Basic Health Centers (CSBs) in improving care practices, optimizing service organization, and ensuring an adequate and coordinated provision of Emergency Obstetric and Neonatal Care (EmONC) services (between CSBs and the District Referral Hospital – CHRD);

Training and support for district health officials and healthcare workers to improve the availability, accessibility, and quality of Basic and Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric and Neonatal Care (BEmONC and CEmONC). In coordination with other interventions in the project’s districts, particularly the PARN program, community actors may also be involved in these trainings to achieve the same objectives;

Identification of challenges in project implementation and facilitation of dialogue with field stakeholders to find and adopt effective, context-appropriate solutions;

Engagement of local authorities in the management of the health sector, and establishment of inclusive mechanisms and beneficiary monitoring systems to ensure equitable access to healthcare and the effectiveness of interventions.

This vacancy announcement is for the recruitment of 5 national consultants who will cover 5 different districts: AMBANJA, FARATSIHO, IKALAMAVONY, AMBALAVAO, VANGAINDRANO. Please indicate in your application the district of your choice and align your offers accordingly.

Detailed terms of reference can be found here:  TDR ATD Projet SSP_Ezaka ho tomady_Final-GCH1-TMS.pdf

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

The listed requirements will be used for the technical evaluation as part of the competitive selection process:
- At least 5 years of experience in managing and monitoring public health projects.
- Strong knowledge of the health system in Madagascar.
- Experience in training, mentoring, and capacity building.
- Strong planning and organizational skills, with the ability to work under pressure.
- Data analysis and report writing skills.
- Ability to work independently, as part of a team, and to coordinate with multiple stakeholders.
- Strong ability to meet deadlines.
- Excellent interpersonal communication skills, including negotiation and active listening.
- Proficiency in computer tools (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, email) is mandatory.
- Must have a functional laptop with internet access to carry out the assignment.
- Willingness to work in the field and travel frequently.
- Holder of a Category A driver’s license (for motorcycles).
- Able to travel by motorcycle in difficult terrain.

For every Child, you demonstrate… 

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS). 

To view our competency framework, please visit  here. 

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic background, and persons with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization. To create a more inclusive workplace, UNICEF offers paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements. Click here to learn more about flexible work arrangements, well-being, and benefits.

According to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), persons with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairments which, in interaction with various barriers, may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others. In its Disability Inclusion Policy and Strategy 2022-2030, UNICEF has committed to increase the number of employees with disabilities by 2030. At UNICEF, we provide reasonable accommodation for work-related support requirements of candidates and employees with disabilities. Also, UNICEF has launched a Global Accessibility Helpdesk to strengthen physical and digital accessibility. If you are an applicant with a disability who needs digital accessibility support in completing the online application, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). 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 based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

Remarks:  

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

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws. 

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.