This study seeks to track progress ahead of the 25th Anniversary of the Beijing Declaration 1995 and 10-year countdown to the SDGs by 2030 in relation to SRHR and reduction in EUP as they affect adolescent girls (aged 10–19 years) in the EAC and SADC Member States.
CPC is hoping to explore new ways to connect and to engage with children in times of quarantine, lockdown, and school closure. To that end, CPC is commissioning a consultancy about innovative, safe child participation.
The Union warns the COVID-19 pandemic must not divert attention from the needs of children and adolescents in TB-endemic African countries.
The EAC with support from RIATT-ESA is seeking the services of a consultant to develop a Minimum Package of Services (MPS) for Vulnerable Children and Youth in Eastern Africa and Psychosocial Support Framework - see attached Terms of Reference. If you are interested please submit your CV(s) and expression of interest indicating the capabilities, availability, estimated time and daily rate by Wednesday 23rd March 2016 to proposals@repssi.org
1. INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND
The East African Community (EAC) is a strategic and geopolitically significant regional intergovernmental organization composed of Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, United Republic of Tanzania and Uganda. The region has a population of about 145 million people, land area of 1.82 million km² and a combined Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita of $814. Article 118 of the Treaty for the establishment of the EAC calls for stronger regional cooperation in health and provides for among others, joint actions towards the control of communicable and non-communicable diseases and strengthening of sexual and reproductive health and rights and maternal child and adolescent health and HIV and AIDS, tuberculosis and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs). These areas are coordinated through five specialized units of the EAC Health Department namely Reproductive, Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health and Nutrition; Health Systems, Research and Policy; HIV & AIDS, Tuberculosis and STI; Medicines and Food Safety and Disease Prevention and Control.
There are several international, continental and regional conventions and policy guidelines on children and youth in general, and in particular those who are orphans and vulnerable, such as the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), the African Charter for the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACRWC), the African Youth Charter, The EAC RHNACH strategy, the EAC HIV and AIDS TB and STI Multisectoral Strategic plan and Implementation framework 2015 -2020, among others. At national level, most EAC Partner States have national policies on Orphans and Vulnerable Children, National Plans of Action and other supporting national policy instruments for the protection, care and support of orphans and other vulnerable children. The EAC does not have an equivalent at regional level.
2.0 Justification
The EAC Regional HIV and AIDS, TB and STI multisectoral Strategic plan and implementation framework 2015 – 2020 provides for the development of policies and strategies that promote access to comprehensive services and information for children and youth in the region. The EAC does not have a regional minimum package of services for vulnerable children and youth and yet they make up the biggest percentage of the population. With the foregoing, there is need to define a Minimum Package of Services which will provide policy and programmatic guidance to the EAC Partner States and other partners in the region on how best to provide such services in a coordinated and interdisciplinary manner. Psychosocial Support (PSS) is increasingly becoming a priority for Partner States hence the need to develop a regional framework that provides guidance and better understanding of the concept and its relationship to a comprehensive service delivery package for Vulnerable Children and Youth in the EAC region.
To this end, the East African Community Secretariat in collaboration with Regional International Interagency Task Team on Children and AIDs in Eastern and Southern Africa (RIATT-ESA) is seeking the services of a consultant to develop a Minimum Package of Services for Vulnerable Children and Youth (VCY) in the EAC Region. The consultant will use existing documents including the SADC Minimum Package of Services for Orphans and Vulnerable children and to other national documents as reference documents.
3.0 PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES OF THE CONSULTANCY
The purpose of this consultancy is to develop a Minimum Package of Services for Vulnerable Children and Youth (VCY) and a PSS Framework in the EAC Region.
Specifically, the consultant will:
4.0 Scope
With regards to the situation assessment and analysis, the consultancy will provide an overview of the context of VCY service delivery including psychosocial support interventions in the EAC region to inform both the
The regional Minimum Package of Services and the PSS conceptual framework through, among others;
In defining the Minimum Package of Services and the PSS framework, the Consultancy will, among others:
a) Provide the rationale for providing a minimum package of services to VCY;
b) Identify key elements for inclusion in a minimumpackage of services for VCY;
c) Outline the continuum of services within the minimum package of services for VCY, emphasizing interrelatedness of the services;
d) Recommend structures, processes and responsibilities for integrated service delivery;
e) Outline a monitoring and evaluation process;
f) Identify capacities and systems required for providing the Minimum Package of Services such as but not limited to legal and normative framework, human and financial resources, management coordination and referral mechanisms; and
g) Recommend a knowledge management strategy for the minimum package as well as for the conceptual framework for psychosocial support.
5.0 METHODOLOGY AND TIMEFRAME
6.0 Expected Deliverables
i) Inception report to the EAC Secretariat clearly outlining the methodology to be used
ii) A detailed report on the existing Minimum Package of Services for VCY including Psychosocial Support in the EAC region, which are being implemented by the Partner States;
iii) A Minimum Package of Services for VCY and PSS conceptual framework for use by EAC Partner States and all stakeholders in the region.
iv) Submission of an electronic PDF, word, and power point presentation of a regional Minimum Package of Services for VCY for EAC Partner States.
7.0 Duration of the assignment
The maximum number of days allowable for this consultancy shall not exceed ty twenty five (25) consultancy days that will be spread over two months. The Assignment must be finalized on or before 31 May 2016. The consultant must be ready to start work immediately upon appointment.
Specifically the following mile stones are important and will be followed:
i) Inception report: one week from signing of the contract
ii) Draft report: three weeks from submitting the inception report
iii) Validation work shop: one week after submitting the draft report
iv) Final report : one week after the validation workshop
8.0 Indicative Timeframe:
a. Submission of Inception report to Technical Working Group one week from signing of or issue ofthe contract;
b. First draft of the situation analysis on interventions on the provision of minimum package of services including psychosocial support for OVCY submitted by mid-April 2016
c. First draft of the conceptual framework for psychosocial support and the minimum package of services document by early May 2016
d. Facilitate at the regional stakeholder consultative forum by End May 2016
i. Share and validate situation analysis report;
ii. Facilitate review of the draft conceptual framework for psychosocial support.
iii. Facilitate review of draft minimum package document.
e. Incorporating stakeholder input and comments and finalizing the situation analysis report, the conceptual framework for psychosocial support and the minimum package documents by end May 2016.
9.0 MANAGEMENT ARRANGEMENTS AND CONDUCT OF WORK
i. Consultants will report to the Secretary general of the East African Communitythrough the Principal HIV and AIDS Officer,
ii. The EAC Technical Working Group on HIV and AIDS, TB and STIs, will meet with consultants to review and approve quality of work at intervals as it will deem necessary.
iii. The consultant will be expected to work from own offices using own facilities.
10.0 COMPETENCIES OF CONSULTANTS
The consultant should have proven and demonstrated consultancy experience of not less than six (6) years.
i. Master’s degree in a relevant field with proven and demonstrated consultancy experience of not less than five years,
ii. Previous experience in conducting similar assignments in developing packages and frameworks for projects and programmes, and developing health sector Strategic plans;
iii. Understanding of HIV and AIDS landscape in the Region
iv. A good understanding on current issues related to vulnerable children and youths;
v. Demonstrate excellent research and practical experience particularly in the area of psychosocial support, HIV and AIDS, orphans, vulnerable children and youth and social welfare systems;
vi. Excellent analytical and writing skills; and
vii. Previous experience working with EAC, UN Agencies, donors, Civil Society Organizations, Private sectorand other stakeholders will be an added advantage
viii. Sound understanding of development challenges and priorities in the EAC region; and
ix. Fluency and proficiency in written and spoken English. Competencies in French will be an added advantage
11.0 Response to call for Proposal
Interested consultants should submit a technical and financial proposal not exceeding 15 pages outlining the following:
i) An understanding and interpretation of the Terms of Reference
ii) Methodology to be used in undertaking the assignment
iii) Time and activity schedule
iv) Budget including consultant’s daily rate in US$ and indicating travel costs
v) Application and detailed Curriculum Vitae (CVs)
12.0 How to apply
Qualified and interested persons should submit their applications to the following address: Deadline is 23 March 2016.
The Programme Manager
Regional Interagency Task Team on Children and AIDS in Eastern and Southern Africa (RIATT-ESA)
Email: proposals@repssi.org
The Regional Inter Agency Task Team on Children & AIDS in Eastern and Southern Africa (RIATT-ESA) seeks the services of an experienced consultant to conduct a comprehensive appraisal of the literature in order to inform the strategic direction of its advocacy programme on the viability of child sensitive social protection mechanism in Eastern and Southern Africa.
The Consultant will be required to conduct a comprehensive review of existing literature (published, programme documents and grey literature) on issues (psychological, social and economic) related to social protection in children. The Consultant will be further required to document the potential role of social protection with regard to access to HIV treatment and ART adherence in children, synthesizing key issues in the literature and also documenting existing knowledge gaps in the field.
The contract will be for the period (1 September - 4 December 2015).
Click here to download the full terms of reference.
Qualified candidates are requested to submit a research proposal with CV, cover letter, indicative budget and work plan to proposals@repssi.org by Monday 24 August 2015.
The Regional Inter Agency Task Team on Children & AIDS in Eastern and Southern Africa (RIATT-ESA) is a unique, multi-sectoral partnership of organizations focusing on the care and support for children affected by AIDS in eastern and southern Africa.1 With child participation and human rights as one of its core strategic areas, RIATT-ESA advocates for policies and programmes that improve the well-being of children. Advocating for child sensitive social protection policies that foster the wellbeing of children especially in high burden HIV contexts is key strategic objective of RIATT-ESA.
Meeting Needs of Children, Adolescents and Families Critical to Defeating AIDS in Eastern & Southern Africa
New Call to Action Outlines Action Steps Needed to Prioritize Children Affected by AIDS in the era of the Sustainable Development Goals
July 20, 2015, Vancouver, British Columbia – Today, at the 2015 Conference on HIV Pathogenesis, Treatment & Prevention, the Regional Inter Agency Task Team on Children & AIDS (RIATT-ESA) and the Coalition for Children Affected by AIDS, launched a new, evidence-based, call to action outlining the urgent steps needed to prioritize children affected by HIV and AIDS in the post-2015 development agenda. The call to action, titled Time to Step Up, highlights the pressing need to reach children, adolescents and those who care for them with necessary care and support.
"Though great progress has been made in the fight against HIV and AIDS globally, advancements for children are lagging behind," said RIATT-ESA Chair Noreen Huni.
In 2013, only 42 percent of HIV exposed infants received early diagnostic services within the first two months of life. In addition, 190,000 children under the age of 14 died of AIDS-related causes due to lack of treatment. At the same time, meeting the needs of children, adolescents and their families — particularly in eastern and southern Africa, the regions of the world with the highest levels of HIV prevalence — is critical to defeating the disease.
But it is not just treatment and prevention that must be addressed.
“Treatments and cures won’t bring a deceased parent back to life; the long-term effects of the disease will still be felt,” said John Miller, Director of the Coalition for Children Affected by AIDS. “We must better integrate the needs of children, adolescents and those who care for them into regional and national plans, and provide help to ensure optimal child and adolescent development.”
The call to action outlines eight critical action steps needed to provide children, adolescents and carers with the focused attention required to turn the tide on HIV and AIDS:
“Children are the most vulnerable among us and unable to advocate for themselves,” said Huni. “We must take swift action, putting the proper policies and programmes in place to ensure we reach all children affected by HIV and AIDS.”
The full call to action can be accessed here.
###
About the Regional Inter-Agency Task Team on Children & AIDS in Eastern & Southern Africa (RIATT-ESA)
RIATT-ESA is a unique, multi-sectoral partnership of organisations focusing on the care and support for children affected by AIDS in eastern and southern Africa. RIATT-ESA works to support the UNGASS declaration of commitment to universal access for children to prevention, care, treatment and support in the context of HIV and AIDS, by harnessing the power of a multi-sectoral joint response within the eastern and southern African region.
For more information about RIATT-ESA, please go to www.riatt-esa.org
About The Coalition for Children Affected by AIDS
The Coalition for Children Affected by AIDS (The Coalition for Children) brings funders and technical experts together to advocate for the best policy, research, and programmes for children because children are a vulnerable population that has too often been overlooked.
For more about the Coalition for Children, please go to www.ccaba.org.
Contact:
Noreen Huni
REPSSI CEO/RIATT-ESA Chair
+27 11 998 5820
Naume Kupe
RIATT-ESA Programme Manager
+27 11 998 5820
