Summary
Date Posted: Tuesday, November 16, 2021 , Base Salary: Not Disclosed

JOB DETAILS:
Marie Stopes Zambia
Expression of Interest
"Project Implementation Research - Increasing Access to HIV Testing Services for Adolescents."
Background
Since 2008, Marie Stopes Zambia (MSZ) has provided access to high quality Sexual Reproductive Health (SRH) services in Zambia to support its vision of a world in which every birth is wanted' and mission children by choice, not chance". As a leading SRH provider, MSZ works with the Government to ensure the hardest to reach clients can access comprehensive SRH services. MSZ's service delivery is free from stigma, judgment, and discrimination MSZ provides all modern short-acting, long-acting, and permanent contraceptive methods, Post-Abortion Care, as well as cervical cancer screening and treatment, HIV testing, and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIS) testing, and treatment. In 2020, MSZ partnered with the United Nations Children and Emergency Fund (UNICEF) on a project aimed at Increasing access to HIV Testing Services for Adolescents in peri-urban areas of Lusaka and Ndola districts of Zambia

The Following are the Main Objectives:
• To improve comprehensive knowledge for HIV prevention among adolescents and young people in target districts
• To increase uptake of HIV testing services among adolescents and young people in target districts.
• To improve the responsiveness of integrated SRH/HIV Services to the needs of adolescents and young people in target districts
• To promote linkage to HIV prevention, care, treatment, and support services for adolescents and young people
Timeline: The project started in February 2020 and ends in March 2022 Implementation research shall be conducted in 5 weeks.

The project targets densely populated wards - four in Lusaka (Harry Mwanga Nkumbula, Kanyama, Mtendere, and Raphael Chota) and six in the Copperbelt provinces (Ndeke, Wusakile, Mushili, Chipulukusu, Ipusukilo, and Kwazi). The project uses a combination of static sites (community booths) and a mobile outreach service using mobile caravans. In both mobile caravan and community booths, the service delivery package includes HIV testing, comprehensive contraceptive counseling, PEP, and STI screening and treatment, referral to HIV treatment, care, and other support services

Scope of Work
Building on the implementation experiences of the previous implementation year, the program has continued with strategic interventions and similar implementation modalities and seeks to undertake implementation research, document best practices and lessons learned, and use the evidence to support the development of a service package for the outreach model. MSZ is seeking consultancy services to conduct implementation research on acceptability, user satisfaction, and the feasibility of implementing an integrated SRH/HIV program for young people in peri-urban areas in the Lusaka and Ndola districts. The consultant will carry out quantitative and qualitative research for evidence generation central to the current Programme

Among others, the Consultant will Carry out the Following Activities:
• Attend check-in with UNICEF and MSZ technical team in the first week to review initial processes, timelines, and deliverables.
• Work with the MSZ team to finalize and agree on the objectives and research questions for this research.
• Desk review of program documents and digital channels.
• Perform trend analysis of pre and post utilization of SRH services
• Conduct FGDs with peer educators, young people, relevant stakeholders, UNICEF and MSZ staff.
• Conduct semi-structured interviews with peer educators and SRHR providers.
• Based on data, document any promising practices and lessons learned in project implementation
• Identify human interest stories resulting from project implementation
• Attend selected site visits with UNICEF AND MSZ technical teams.
• Attend debrief meeting with UNICEF AND MSZ technical teams (discuss guidance around writing the reports)
• Production of research reports
• Provide recommendations mid-way data collection to allow for changes in implementation
• Undertake final round of data collection

Deliverables
• Inception report detailing approach to undertaking the assignment
• Implementation research study report
• Report on promising practices, lessons learned, and human interest stories
• Powerpoint presentation made to the technical committee and stakeholders

Technical Supervision
To support the consultant, carry out their task, MSZ and UNICEF will:
Facilitate introductions and communications with peer educators, relevant staff, and/or stakeholders
Avail relevant documentation to consultant i.e. Programme documents, budgets, access to service data, access to facilities, caravans, key policies and guidelines of the organization.

Consultant Requirements
Qualifications
A university degree at the postgraduate level in public health, development studies, research, statistics, or another relevant field of study
Experience
• Experience working with different organizations including youth organizations, NGOs, UN agencies, and government bodies. Prior experience working with UNICEF is an added advantage.
• Demonstrated experience in research design, implementation, and report writing.
• Experience in collecting and analyzing data (For example, surveys, focus groups).
• Must have extensive knowledge/experience in adolescent SRHR/HIV programming globally and locally (Zambian Context).
• Experience in leading multi-disciplinary teams to deliver quality products in high-stress and short deadline situations.

Skills / Technical Knowledge:
• Excellent written and presentation skills (English)
• Excellent analytical and report writing skills
• Strong communication skills
• Must be a self-starter and be able to work independently with excellent demonstrated teamwork, coordination, and facilitation skills.
• Ability to work in a multicultural team environment and to deliver under pressure/meet deadlines
• Ability to network with partners on various levels
• Comfortable with the necessary computer skills.

Language Requirements:
• Expert knowledge of English
• Proficient in Nyanja and Bemba languages
Assignment Location: Lusaka and Ndola districts of Zambia

Job Experience: No Requirements

Work Hours: 8

Level of Education: Bachelor Degree

Job application procedure
Consultants meeting the above criteria are invited to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) by email to: jobs@mariestopes.org.zm with the subject line "EOI for Implementation Research Consultant". Submissions should be made by 22 November 2021. The main body of the EOI should be a maximum of four pages and should include the following:
1. A (4-page max) cover letter including:
• Demonstrating an understanding of the requirements of the TOR
• Proposed approach to achieve the objectives of these TOR
• Financial Proposal for completing this work.
• Any recommendations or modifications related to the TOR.
• Qualifications and demonstrated experience in conducting gender policy design.
• Proposed schedule of availability.
• Consultant's daytime phone numbers and email contacts
2. A (3-page max) CV of the Consultant, outlining previous experience and accomplishments as it relates to the skills and knowledge needed to fulfill the requirements of the TOR
3. List of three referees who can attest to Consultant's experience and expertise as it relates to this Organization and TOR.

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