Consultant for Youth Key Populations (YKP) Implementation Guidelines

Job Posting Organization:
UNICEF, established in 1946, operates in over 190 countries and territories with a mission to save children's lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential. The organization is committed to promoting the rights of every child and offers diverse opportunities for professional and personal development. UNICEF employs a passionate workforce dedicated to serving children and communities globally, and it emphasizes a culture of inclusivity and growth.

Job Overview:
The position involves producing a Somalia-specific implementation guideline for Youth Key Populations (YKP) that includes clear minimum service packages, delivery models, enabling environment measures, monitoring and evaluation (M&E) frameworks, and a roll-out package. The consultant will define age-appropriate service packages for different youth age groups, specify service delivery models, and address enabling environment factors such as confidentiality and safeguarding. The role also requires integrating safety protocols for YKP in criminalized contexts and developing operational annexes and a usable M&E framework. The consultant will work collaboratively with stakeholders to ensure the guidelines are practical and effective in addressing the needs of youth populations in Somalia.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The consultant will be responsible for the following duties:

• Develop a comprehensive workplan and stakeholder map for the project.
• Produce an inception report outlining the project’s objectives and methodology.
• Draft Somalia-specific implementation guidelines for YKP, including minimum service packages and delivery models.
• Create operational annexes such as SOPs and job-aid templates for various health services.
• Design a light M&E framework that includes age and key population disaggregation.
• Integrate findings from the HIV Gender Assessment into the guidelines.
• Facilitate consultations and gather feedback from stakeholders.
• Prepare a final guideline document and roll-out package, including training materials and endorsement from the Ministry of Health.
• Develop a phased roll-out plan and risk mitigation strategies.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced (master's) degree in Public Health, Epidemiology, Health Policy, or a related field. They should have at least 10 years of experience in HIV programming, specifically in developing guidelines and SOPs for key populations and youth-friendly service delivery. Additionally, candidates should have at least 5 years of experience working in fragile or conflict settings, with a preference for experience in the Horn of Africa. Strong skills in multi-partner facilitation, data protection, and ethics are essential, along with familiarity with WHO and UNAIDS guidelines.

Educational Background:
An advanced (master's) degree in Public Health, Epidemiology, Health Policy, or a related field is required for this position. This educational background is crucial for understanding the complexities of health programming and policy development, particularly in the context of youth and key populations.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 10 years of relevant work experience in HIV programming, with a proven track record in developing guidelines and SOPs for key populations and youth-friendly service delivery. Candidates should also have at least 5 years of experience in fragile or conflict settings, which is particularly valuable for understanding the challenges faced in such environments.

Languages:
Excellent proficiency in English is mandatory, while knowledge of Somali is considered an asset. Strong writing skills are essential, particularly in producing detailed and actionable consultancy reports that can effectively communicate complex information to various stakeholders.

Additional Notes:
The position is a consultancy role with specific deliverables and timelines outlined in the job description. Candidates are expected to submit an all-inclusive financial proposal along with their application. UNICEF promotes a diverse and inclusive workforce and encourages applications from all qualified candidates, particularly women and individuals with disabilities. The organization has a zero-tolerance policy for misconduct and is committed to safeguarding the rights of children. All selected candidates will undergo rigorous background checks and must meet medical clearance and vaccination requirements.