Zimbabwe Vacancy 2015 – UNFPA supported ASRH interventions implemented by MOHCC and ZNFPC

Zimbabwe has a young population with a third being between the ages of 10-24 years. These young people face a myriad of challenges related to their development. These include unemployment, gender based violence, child marriage, HIV infection and other negative reproductive health outcomes. Young women in particular are exposed to the risk of unintended pregnancies, unsafe abortions and sexually transmitted infections. According to the 2010/11 Zimbabwe Demographic Health Survey (ZDHS), the adolescent fertility rate is higher in rural areas than in urban areas (144 and 70 births per 1,000 women aged 15 to 19, respectively). HIV prevalence is higher among women aged 15 to 24 (7.3 %) than among men the same age (3.6 %). The plight of young people is compounded by their limited access to information and services.

UNFPA supported the MOHCC and ZNFPC to implement ASRH Interventions in healthy facilities and a peer education programme. The programme’s aim was to increase the Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) knowledge of young people, create demand for young people to access reproductive health services and increase the youth friendliness of health facilities in offering information and clinical SRH services.

PURPOSE OF CONSULTANCY

In order to foster evidence based programming and effective use of resources, a review and evaluation of the ASRH interventions supported by UNFPA and being implemented by MOHCC and ZNFPC from 2010 – 2014 in Zimbabwe will be conducted. This will assess the cost-effectiveness of the interventions, and provide recommendations for future implementation of interventions aimed at ensuring increased uptake of SRH services by adolescents and young people.

QUALIFICATIONS OF CONSULTANTS

A consulting team must possess the following qualifications and experience:

· Experienced Social Scientists with public health experience and proven research background and experience;

· Demonstrable experience in quantitative and qualitative research; samples of previous work for both methodologies must be submitted with the proposal;

· Demonstrable experience in developing and conducting programme evaluations and/or operations research; samples of previous work must be submitted with the proposal;

· Strong appreciation of Adolescent Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights and HIV programming (including community interventions);

· Experience in working in ASRH and previous training in ASRH will be an added advantage

· Experience in attaining appropriate ethical clearance for evaluations (preferably operations research or a similar approach);

· Excellent evidence-based report writing skills

· Very good communication skills

· Experience in Zimbabwe and/or other countries in the region

· Good interpersonal skills