Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn Child & Adolescents Health and Nutrition Strategy for South Sudan – Grade NOC
JOB DETAIL
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Qualifications
1. Area of expertise:
(RMNCAH&N) Reproductive Maternal Newborn Child Adolescent Health and Nutrition
2. Purpose of consultancy
To provide technical support to the Ministry of Health and the Reproductive Health stakeholders to review and update a costed Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health and Nutrition (RMNCAH&N) strategy focused on progressive attainment of Universal Reproductive Health Coverage in South Sudan.
3. Background
South Sudan has made some progress in improving its Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health (RMNCAH) indicators over the past decade. Adolescent birth rate decreased from 111.5 births per 1000 women aged 15- 19years in 2015 to 97.4 births in 2022; births attended by skilled health workers increased from 19.4% in 2010 to 39.7% in 2020; neonatal mortality rate declined from 40.1 per 1000 livebirths to 39.4.[1] However, other RMNCAH indicators have remained alarmingly poor, and the Country is unlikely to realize the related SDG targets. For example, maternal mortality ratio is still one of the highest in the world at 1223 deaths per 100,000 live births, 10% of these deaths are due to unsafe abortions. The health sector faces challenges, including fragmentation, workforce shortages (7.6 health workers per 10,000 people), and inadequate infrastructure (1.4 health facilities per 10,000 people). Government health funding is less than 2% of the national budget, underscoring the need for increased investment.
The period for the existing national Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health and Nutrition (RMNCAH & N) strategy expired in 2024. Although the extent of implementation of this strategy and the outcomes was not formally evaluated, it significantly contributed to some of the improvements noted above. The document provided strategic direction and set out priorities to achieve results in delivering RMNCAH services. It was an important instrument that defined a package of high impact integrated interventions to be delivered; it provided for a strengthened institutional and managerial capacity; it also acted as a tool for enhancing capacities for resource mobilization, health management information mechanisms and facilitated documentation and sharing of experience through joint reviews. To address the above challenges and accelerate improvements in health outcomes for women, children and adolescents, the Ministry of health is in the process of updating the national RMNCAH&N strategy and has requested technical assistance from WHO.
The guiding principles for the review of RMNCAH&N strategy
a) The process will be as consultative and participatory as possible, involving all key stakeholders including beneficiaries.
b) The development of the strategy will be based on evidence.
c) The entire process will be clearly documented, including the methodologies described above.
d) The document will be reviewed and validated by a broader stakeholder base.
Description of activities
Under the overall guidance of the WHO Representative to the South Sudan Country Office and direct supervision of the WHO Country Office Team Lead for UHC- Life Course cluster, the incumbent will work with the Ministry of Health and other relevant stakeholders to:
- Carry out a comprehensive situational analysis using a desk review and generate a report to inform the review process and produce a concise inception report.
- Outline: a) the proposed approach to the whole exercise; b) develop a detailed activity plan consisting of timeline, mode of engagement, activities, tasks, and deliverables; c) propose outline of the final RMNCAH&N strategy.
- Complete the first round of consultations to inform identification of priorities and the comprehensive strategy development.
- Identify, draft, review, and validate key priority issues to be addressed by the strategy and facilitate a dialogue/consultative meeting for the review of RMNCAH&N strategy.
- Draft and finalize a costed RMNCAH&N strategy in line with WHO recommendations and international standards.
- Conduct validation workshop
- Incorporate feedback and share the final draft
Deliverables
The deliverables of this consultancy will be submitted in electronic copies as follows:
1. Inception report along with detailed activity plan and proposed outline of the final product
2. A report on the assessment of the current state (global and local) and questionnaire/guidelines for the first round of stakeholder consultations
3. Zero draft of the RMNCAH&N strategy following stakeholder consultations
4. A report of the in-person stakeholder consultation (validation workshop)
5. A final comprehensive RMNCAH&N strategy 2025- 2030
6. Launch the finalized strategy
7. End of consultancy report
4. Qualifications, experience, skills, and languages
Required academic qualifications
Essential
· First university degree in public health, medicine, international health, management or related field.
· At least 5 years of experience in programme management, focusing on reproductive health programme policy, plans and management.
Desirable
· Additional training in strategic planning, investment planning, monitoring and evaluation, or strategic information, especially focusing on RMNCAH programme areas will be an added advantage.
Required experience
The consultant should have:
· Clear understanding of current global architecture in RMNCAH programmes and programming.
· Practical experience in development of strategic plans, roadmaps, or investment plans for RMNCAH&N programmes.
Knowledge and skills
· General knowledge of UN system policies, rules, regulations, and procedures governing administration
· Understanding of South Sudan country context will be an advantage
· Excellent written and oral communication skills
· Experience in doing similar assignments at national level in the region or in countries with similar health situations as those of South Sudan.
· Computer skills including word processing and publisher, spreadsheet and other standard software packages and systems
Languages and level required (Basic/Intermediate/Expert):
Essential: Excellent knowledge of English.
Desirable: Working knowledge of English and any other UN Language.
5. Location
Juba – WCO South Sudan
State WHO offices – 40%
6. Travel
There will be 40 % travel to the field
Additional Information (For HR use only):
· This vacancy notice may be used to identify candidates for other similar consultancies at the same level.
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- A written test may be used as a form of screening.
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