South Sudan: Call for CVs: Consultant for Review of Package of Services for men who have sex with men (MSM)

Title:Consultant for Review of Package of Services for men who have sex with men (MSM)

Post of Duty: Various, South Sudan

Duration: Consultancy, 2 months

Background information

The South Sudan Modes of Transmission Study (2014) estimates the adult HIV prevalence to be at 2.6%, which translates to 150,000 people living with HIV, of which 130,000 are adults and 20,000 are children below 15 years. Annually 0.31% of the adult population becomes infected – approximately 13,200 new adult cases of HIV occurred in South Sudan in 2013, translating to about 36 people infected each day. However, figures have largely remained constant owing to the low number of people newly initiated on treatment (averaging 800 annually). The epidemic is geographically differentiated, with the three Equatorial states: Eastern, Central and Western, found in the South of the country, accounting for 60% of new HIV infections. Communities close to urban centres, cross-border points and transport corridors tend to have higher prevalence than those in remote and inaccessible areas.

HIV prevalence is higher along the borders with Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda and in Juba, the capital city. This may be a result of neighboring countries having higher HIV prevalence rates than South Sudan. The country has a generalized HIV epidemic with pockets of high concentration among key populations. Sex workers, their clients, and peri-natal transmission (mother-to-child transmission), account for seven out of every ten new HIV infections.

General awareness of HIV remains low, and both awareness and social and behavioural change efforts are under-developed. The HIV prevention response to date has been insufficiently prioritized to populations at higher risk or geographically, and interventions have lacked the intensity, quality and focused coverage to turn back the epidemic, with little multi-sectoral focus and a Ministry of Health (MOH) that is seriously underfunded.

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) was recently selected as a Sub Recipient (SR) for the HIV/AIDS New Funding Model (NFM) Global Fund grant for prevention activities across South Sudan. Within the activities to be implemented is the development and strengthening of a Behavioural Change Communication (BCC) Strategy as well as review of existing Information Education and Communication (IEC) materials in collaboration with key stakeholders.

Within the activities to be implemented is the review of the current packages for services for men who have sex with men (MSM), in close collaboration with the Ministry of Health. This should lead to the development of a new package of services that MSM are expected to access and contribute to the reduction of HIV among the key populations.

IOM will work in partnership with the Principal Recipient (PR), Ministry of Health (MOH), South Sudan HIV/AIDS Commission (SSAC), the World Health Organization (WHO), Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and as well as other SRs and partners to achieve the goal and objectives of the NFM grants.

Objectives of the assignment

Working under the overall supervision of the IOM Migration Health Unit (MHU) Programme Manager in Juba, and the direct supervision of the Global Fund Project Officer, in close collaboration with the IOM sub-offices within the states across South Sudan, and in coordination with the SSAC, MOH, UNAIDS and other key stakeholders, the consultant will undertake a qualitative assessment of the current HIV prevention program for MSM in South Sudan and provide practical solutions to enhance its reach and effectiveness. The consultant will also review and assist in the development of BCC and IEC materials for MSM, in close collaboration with the overall consultant working on BCC/IEC materials development.

The BCC and IEC materials should raise awareness around HIV and other STIs, sexual and reproductive health (SRH) issues and promote HIV prevention strategies such as HIV Testing and Counselling (HTC), Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) services, Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) syndromic management and practising safer sex, including condom and lubricants use.

Tasks and activities:

The scope of work includes, but is not limited to the following:

• Desk review of best and promising practices regarding MSM programming in the region and similar contexts elsewhere,

• Review relevant documents related to provision of HIV prevention services to men having sex with men (MSM),

• Review current minimum quality standards for HIV-prevention services among MSM in South Sudan and the region and provide recommendations for improvement,

• Assess the relevance, strengths, shortcomings and weaknesses for the current HIV prevention program for MSM and its coverage,

• Assess the capacity of local MSM organization(s) to provide community-based HIV prevention services to MSM, their experiences, their networks and their ability to connect with diverse sub-groups of MSM and recommend strengthening measure,

• Review the existing package of HIV-prevention services for MSM in collaboration with MOH and propose an optimal spectrum of services to support HIV prevention among MSM in both virtual and physical spaces,

• Conduct stakeholder consultative meetings with key stakeholders and a validation meeting after completion,

• Identify effective approaches in reaching MSM, and also diverse subgroups of MSM, including non-self-identified MSM with HIV prevention services,

• Provide practical solutions for the community based organizations that provide services to MSM to increase reach of new beneficiaries and extend the target group to diverse subgroups of MSM, including non-self-identified MSM,

• Work closely with the HIV/AIDS BCC IEC Consultant in the review and development of BCC and IEC materials for MSM.

Key deliverables and milestones: The following are the expected key deliverables for this assignment;

1. Inception Report, after initial consultative meetings

2. Desk review report, with tools to be used for primary data collection.

3. Draft report, documenting constraints, shortcomings and weaknesses of the current HIV prevention program for MSM and its coverage and proposed ready to use package of solutions to enhance reach and effectiveness of HIV-preventive services for MSM.

4. Data Analysis and final consolidated report

NB: Formats and components of the reports will be discussed during the course of the consultancy.

Consultant profile

a) Languages Skills

· Excellent spoken and written English, knowledge of Arabic an asset

b) Education

· Postgraduate degree (s) in development studies, public health, or related field

· Postgraduate qualification in research

c) Experience

· A minimum of 3 to 5 years’ experience in research with expertise in HIV, sexual and reproductive health (SRH), behaviour change communications (BCC), key populations programming and research

· Experience developing research methodology and tools and managing research teams

· Experience working in South Sudan or similar conflict and insecure environments is a must.

d) Skills and Competencies

· Computer literate and ability to analyse qualitative and quantitative data

· Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal

· Exceptional writing skills (proof required)

· Ability to work under time constraints and deadlines in challenging settings

· Ability to work in multicultural and multi-ethnic environments

· Ability to work independently, with flexibility

Timeframes: September to December 2016 with 45 days of consultancy days

Assignment timeline: Final report delivered by 15 December 2016

Interested candidates are required to submit a letter of motivation, detailed curriculum vitae, technical proposal, financial proposal detailing personnel fees and payment terms and proof or previous related work (two reports or traceable recommendation letters) to below email.

E-mail: vss@iom.int

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.