EPI SOCIAL MOBILISATION AND ADVOCACY

Terms of Reference for Consultancy
EPI SOCIAL MOBILISATION AND ADVOCACY
FOR ACEH AND NORTH SUMATERA

Background & Purpose:

Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam and North Sumatera Provinces of Indonesia, were hit by massive natural disaster which caused enormous damage. The resulting physical and human losses have had a major impact on all aspects of immunisation service delivery. Even before the earthquake, Aceh and Nias’ performance in health sector was poor compare to other provinces of Sumatra. Overall the immunization coverage was low and Cold chain equipment in much was in poor state and badly maintained. The capacity of EPI staff in general is low and ineffective in many locations, in some of which it seems likely that effective government health services have not functioned for some time.



The Health and Nutrition Section of UNICEF Indonesia has been implementing response and recovery activities in Aceh and North Sumatera since 2005. UNICEF has been the lead agency for immunization field and in partnership with the provincial health offices in Banda Aceh, Medan and their DHOs, has completed series of major immunisation campaign to prevent further health deterioration and improve the immunity status of children and women.

Provision of immunization logistics and equipment, along with physical reconstruction of the area has been initiated, while staffs from various areas were deployed to revitalize the public health programming in the two tsunami-ravaged provinces. The revitalization effort still faces many challenges though, partly due to lack of suitable manpower at the province and district level. The current health workers are mostly new recruits without prior experience in immunization programming and standard operation procedure that more interventions are needed to restore the routine immunization program into an appropriate level of quality.

Given that ensuring continued implementation of the EPI communication, social mobilisation, community engagement and advocacy activities in provincial and district levels is critical, Health and Nutrition Section consider the imminent need to engage individual consultant, to provide assistance to UNICEF-GoI Communicable Disease Control initiatives, especially on Routine Immunisation
Programme Area & Specific Project of Annual Work Plan (AWP):
Programme area: Health and Nutrition
Specific Project: Provision Of Primary Health Care Services & Supplies Aceh/North Sumatera, Activity 2.3.1 .Support for advocacy, social mobilisation and IEC activities and monitoring of routine immunization services as well as PATH conducted trainings (coordination)

Duty Station:
Banda Aceh with periodically visit to Aceh and North Sumatera districts.

Supervisor:
The proposed consultant will work closely with the health and nutrition team in Banda Aceh and Nias. The consultant will be supervised (technical supervision) by Health Specialist UNICEF BA with administrative supervision by the H&N Section Chief, UNICEF Banda Aceh.

5. Major Tasks To Be Accomplished:
Support for advocacy, social mobilisation and IEC activities and monitoring of routine immunization services as well as PATH conducted trainings (coordination) , by providing:


Technical assistance, facilitating and monitoring of EPI project implementation and partner liaison at province and district level.
Collect, update and analyse all data and information related to the EPI IEC coverage through, direct communications, printed materials, radio and newspaper for monitoring and evaluation.
· Assist with overall implementation of communication component and coordination with PATH’s Revitalisation of Immunisation Services main activities in the AWP 2007 for Aceh and North Sumatera. This project has specific attention to strengthening management skills of EPI Managers and Officers, and also supportive supervision of immunisation staff at health centre. EPI Social Mobilisation and Advocacy will focus on social mobilisation and community engagement, also by building trust to GoI’s immunisation programme measures.
· In particular, to ensure effective review, planning, implementation, coordination and monitoring of the EPI social mobilisation programme especially during MNTE campaign in selected districts in Aceh province.
· Provide programmatic support in the development of IEC initiatives to increase demand and utilisation of immunisation services by children and women in Aceh and North Sumatera provinces by maintaining linkages with provincial and district counterparts, PATH, NGOs, UN agencies and donors implementing IEC activities in health.
· Support the review process of HACT proposals and follow-up and liquidation of cash assistance to government, preparation and monitoring of supply component of the EPI programme including day-to-day operations on EPI programme in the Field Office
· Assist GoI and other partners in planning and organizing social mobilisation and advocacy activities with special attention to MNTE campaign and routine immunisation. Identify field training needs and objectives for the purpose of capacity building, programme sustainability, as well as promotion and advocacy
· Help the local health promotion team to adapt and plan an EPI advocacy and communication within the assigned districts based on social and epidemiological data and nationally agreed upon immunisation key messages supplied by UNICEF Aceh and UNICEF Jakarta.
· Maintain partnerships with key stakeholders, donors and institution at the province level – PATH, PHO, religious leaders, NGOs, academic institutions, unions, women’s groups, media, artist and traditional leaders and monitor their subsequent engagement with immunisation issues.
· Contribute to monitoring and evaluation efforts, especially in EPI programme and vaccine data collection and assessing the receipt and understanding of EPI information, the process and results of collective action and the visibility & persuasiveness of communication and social mobilisation activities and materials on monthly basis for emerging vaccine-preventable diseases in general
· Prepare briefing notes and updated progress report on Complete Immunisation Coverage and Vaccine-preventable Disease Epidemiology and Social Data of Aceh

Deliverables:

1. Jan – June 2008: Submission of progress report on implementation and supervision of PATH monitoring EPI SocMob and Communication activities and submission of MNTE liquidation documents.
2. July 2008: Submission proposal from counterparts on EPI socmob activities as of AWP are submitted to UNICEF Aceh to be conducted in 2009 at province and district level.
3. August 2008: Submission of progress report on the implementation/ progress of the proposed activities to be conducted in 2008 at province and district level.
4. September 2008: Submission of liquidation on completed activities to UNICEF Aceh.
5. October-November 2008: Submission of Final report on implementation and supervision of PATH completed activities and submission of plan of action for EPI socmob and communication activities for year 2009
Estimated duration of contract:
Estimation duration of contract is 1st Jan – 30th November 2008.
The consultancy will be for 11 month. Submission of final report on 30th November 2008.

Official travel involved:
Official travel to districts in Aceh and North Sumatera provinces when necessary.

Qualifications & Experience required:

§ Educational Background: Advance Degree in Health or equivalent background in Medicine or Nursing or Social Sciences or related technical field.
§ Minimum 3 years of progressive provincial and district level experience in health capacity building, promotion, immunisation, preferably working with implementation and monitoring, technical supports, and trainings.
§ Clinical experience, medicine, nursing, midwifery, epidemiology or equivalent background an asset
§ Training in inter-disiplinary approach to health issues.
§ Proven ability to work with and motivate partners.
§ Understanding of local government policies, guidelines, legislation, and strategies on health development is a must
§ Understanding on UNICEF Business Process, Programme Policies, goals, strategies, guidelines and approaches in health
§ Knowledge of computer management skills, including internet navigation and various office applications.

Budget details:

Consultancy proposed at NO-A level of assignment with monthly payment, DSA on duty travel provision and expenses


For interested applicants please send cover letter, updated CV and P-11 form using the attached format, as e-mail attachment to:

Chief Health and Nutrition, UNICEF Banda Aceh
E-mail: health.unicefnad@ gmail.com
By the latest 9th December 2007

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for interview