Assessment on the Adolescent and Youth Health focusing on Sexual and Reproductive Health

Parent Sector : Field Office

Duty Station: Addis Ababa

Job Family: Education

Type of contract : Non Staff

Level : 

Duration of contract : From 1 to 6 months

Recruitment open to : External candidates

Application Deadline (Midnight Paris Time) : 26/11/2023

UNESCO Core Values: Commitment to the Organization, Integrity, Respect for Diversity, Professionalism

Only Candidates who are entitled to work in Ethiopia may apply to this post

Background

Ethiopia’s first Adolescent and Youth Reproductive Health (AYRH) Strategy was developed in 2006 through which a number of initiatives have been undertaken over the last decades. The government has made concerted efforts as part of the successive Growth and Transformation Plans (GTP) to respond to the needs of adolescents and youth. Moreover, there have been improvements in the policy and legal framework for adolescent and youth health and development, in the incidence and prevalence of HIV and STIs, and in the knowledge and attitudes towards Adolescent and Youth Sexual and Reproductive Health (AYSRH).

However, besides limitation in scope, the AYRH strategy was also challenged by lack of (1) multi-sectoral collaboration, (2) low stakeholders and youth involvement, (3) inadequate resources, and (4) persistent social and cultural barriers to AYSRH. As a result, limitations still exist and adolescents and youth continue to face particular challenges to their health and development. Thus, in 2016-2020 a comprehensive adolescent and youth health responsive strategy was developed. The preparation of the 2016 was informed by far reaching situational analysis of the trends in the mortality, morbidity, and the health system response to adolescent and youth health and development in Ethiopia. The analysis found that the health and development of adolescents in Ethiopia are determined by broad ranging health and health related behavioural conditions even though Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) and HIV remain the main concern.

The current National Adolescent and Youth Health Strategy (2021-2025) aims at reducing teenage pregnancy from 13 percent to 7 percent, raise median age at first marriage from 17 to 18 years and reduce HIV prevalence among young people to 0.1 percent. The - strategy like the previous strategy goes beyond SRH and comprising other important health dimensions of young people including nutrition, youth participation, substance abuse, non-communicable disease, and gender-based violence. The strategy gives special attention to the most vulnerable and hard to reach young people including those living with HIV, disability, and those living and working in fragile contexts. Thus, UNESCO in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, Ethiopia plan to conduct an assessment on the Status of Adolescent and Youth Health in Ethiopia with Particular focus on Sexual and Reproductive Health of in- school Youth.

Therefore, UNESCO Addis Ababa Office would like to hire an experienced consultancy firm with a team of experts that have quality experience in conducting assessment in areas of Sexual and Reproductive Health of in- school Youth. The team of experts in the firm need to have the required qualifications in the fields of education and health to execute the assignment and their CV should submitted together with the technical proposal.

Objective of the contract

The primary objective of this assessment is to obtain a comprehensive understanding of the status of adolescent and youth health in Ethiopia, with a specific focus on in-school youth SRH. The assessment will:

1. Identify the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of in-school youth regarding SRH.

2. Assess the availability, accessibility, and quality of SRH education and services in schools.

3. Identify barriers and challenges in delivering comprehensive SRH education and services to In-school youth.

4. Analyse existing policies, strategies, and guidelines related to adolescent and youth health, with a focus on SRH in schools.

5. Identify best practices and success stories in improving in-school youth SRH outcomes in Ethiopia or other similar contexts.

Duties/Tasks and Expected Outputs

Under the overall authority and supervision of UNESCO Addis Ababa Liaison Office and in close collaboration with Chief Education Sector of UNESCO Liaison Office the consultancy firm will conduct an assessment on the Status of Adolescent and Youth Health in Ethiopia with Particular focus on Sexual and Reproductive Health of in- school Youth.

The consultancy firm selected for this assessment will be responsible for producing the following deliverables:

1. Inception report, including a detailed methodology, work plan, and data collection tools (to be submitted within two weeks after the contract is signed).

2. Draft assessment report, including findings and recommendations for improving in-school youth SRH in Ethiopia (to be submitted within six weeks after data collection completion).

3. Final assessment report, incorporating feedback from stakeholders and addressing any additional comments or suggestions (to be submitted within two weeks after receiving feedback on the draft report).

Education

• Advanced university degree (Masters or higher level) in the fields of Health and Education or any other related discipline required for the team leader/ team members.

Work Experience / Team Leader/

• Experience in research and assessment related to Sexual and Reproductive Health of Adolescent and Youth  in particular with in school youth  and similar studies conducted in the health or  education.
• Experience on published papers, articles, or abstracts
• Experience in undertaking similar and other studies or research with the private sector
• Legally registered firm with a renewed license for the service with VAT and TIN Registration certificate
• High-level skills in research methodology (literature review, quantitative/qualitative research with specific skills on developing surveys).
• Proven experience working in Africa and knows the Ethiopian context, particularly in policy formulation and planning processes.
• Experience in   undertaking similar assignment related with health issues of the education sector.

Minimum requirements for team members:

The team should be composed of a minimum of 3 technical members with at least the following qualifications and skills:

• Advanced university degree (Masters or higher level) in the fields of Education, Public Health or any other related discipline.
• Deep understanding of the Ethiopian education and health sector.
• Familiar with Ethiopia   education and health sector policies and strategies on health education.
• Good communication and facilitation skills.
• Proven experience in research and data analysis.
• Proficient in oral and written English.

​​​Languages

• Excellent knowledge (oral and written) English

Other specifications

• The Consultancy Firm shall respect the time and technical specifications of the deliverables, shall ensure that the level of English in deliverables is of a high standard.
• The consultancy firm should be composed of a team of at least 3 members
• The consultancy firm should have at least 10 years of experience in consultancy services in the Education and Health Sector.

The consultancy firm should provide the following information with their proposal

• An expression of interest outlining how the consultancy firm meets the criteria, explain the firm’s interest, composition of consultancy firm’s team members, capability and qualifications of the respective team to perform the tasks.
• The firm should submit an up-to-date CV of team of consultants stating details of education qualifications, work experience and contact details by the submission deadline. Please highlight relevant prior experience.
• Proposed approach/method, vision on the assignment including a tentative work plan with periods.
• An example of similar pieces of work completed recently.
• Financial offer in Ethiopian Birr that indicates the all-inclusive fixed total contract price, supported by a breakdown of costs per activity and excluding any travel if necessary and DSA from the lump sum amount.

Note:  Please submit your application by midnight Ethiopia time on   24 November, 2023

Through  UNESCO Career Please indicate “ Assessment on the Status of Adolescent and Youth Health in Ethiopia with Particular focus on Sexual and Reproductive Health of in- school Youth’’ in the subject.

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