International Consultant to support RBC/IHDPC in Development of National Elimination Plan for Mother-to- Child Transmission of HIV, Rwanda

International Consultant to support RBC/IHDPC in Development of National Elimination Plan for Mother-to- Child Transmission of HIV, Rwanda

International Consultant to support Development of an EMTCT national Plan

Level: L4
Duration: 35 Days


BACKGROUND

As the world gears up for the last push toward attaining the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015, National Governments and global leaders have publicly reaffirmed their commitment to the elimination of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV (MTCT).

A global framework for EMTCT was developed in November 2010 by all the stakeholders and countries in the Eastern and Southern Africa region (ESAR) to support countries in their efforts to improve the access, quality and uptake of PMTCT services. The framework recognizes the importance of PMTCT to achieving MDGs 4, 5 and 6. Further, the renewed efforts to ensure equity focused programming is an opportunity to refine PMTCT programme approaches to hard to reach communities, women and children. This unprecedented support provides a unique opportunity to move the country's agenda of MTCT elimination forward. It is therefore critical for Rwanda to seize these opportunities not only to support EMTCT, but also to use PMTCT programs as a vehicle for strengthening reproductive, maternal, neonatal health and nutrition services provision.

In Rwanda, it is estimated that around 6,300 children are newly infected with HIV each year in Rwanda. This estimate is based on an HIV prevalence rate of 4.3 per cent among pregnant women, and up to 16 per cent among pregnant women in the City of Kigali. And if no interventions were provided to prevent MTCT, during pregnancy and delivery to reduce the risk of HIV transmission to their children, about 20 per cent of children would be born with HIV. Furthermore, 5-20 per cent additional risk of transmission occurs during prolonged breastfeeding with no prophylaxisThe cost of inaction is high—most HIV-infected children die within their first two years of life. In addition, children born to mothers with advanced HIV are also more likely to die, even if they are not infected. There is also evidence that strengthening of Maternal Neonatal and Child Health (MNCH) services is a cornerstone to ensure that PMTCT programs reach women and their infants with multiple health interventions at points of contact with the health system.

The United Nations (UN) four prongs strategy for the prevention of MTCT (PMTCT ) includes (1) primary prevention of HIV infection among women of childbearing age; (2) preventing unintended pregnancies among women living with HIV; (3) preventing HIV transmission from a woman living with HIV to her infant; and (4) providing appropriate treatment, care and support to mothers living with HIV and their children and families. In 1999, the Government of Rwanda successfully piloted first PMTCT interventions at Kicukiro health centre, and subsequently developed a national program for PMTCT in 2001 (based on the single dose nevirapine regimen). The geographic coverage of PMTCT sites rapidly increased to reach 33%, 57%, 75% and 72% respectively in 2005, 2007, 2008 and 2010.

The Government of Rwanda and its partners in the fight against HIV are committed to achieve elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV (MTCT) by 2015. Yet, this goal might be out of reach if Rwanda does not move dramatically on all the 4 prongs together.

In order to reduce MTCT below 5% by 2015, UNAIDS estimates that Rwanda should further:  Reduce HIV incidence among reproductive aged women by more than 50% between 2010 and 2015  Reduce unmet need for family planning by 100% between 2010 and 2015  Increase coverage of most efficacious ARV prophylaxis or ART for HIV positive pregnant women to more than 90%  Provide more than 90% of HIV positive breastfeeding women with triple ARV throughout breastfeeding. Thus, in this context, RBC/IHDPC proposes to develop a national EMTCT plan 2011-2015 in order to guide the intervention and reach the goal of reducing 18-month MTCT rate to 2% in 2015.

OBJECTIVE OF THE CONSULTANCY

The overall purpose of this consultancy is to support RBC/IHDPC in the development of National Elimination Plan for Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV for the period of 2011 to 2015 aiming to reduce the MTCT late at 2%.

TASKS

Under the supervision of RBC/IHDPC, the incumbent will: 1. Conduct a comprehensive equity-focused strategic analysis of the PMTCT program to inform the development of a national plan for Elimination of MTCT by 2015 and determine targets of different indicators; 2. Facilitate and participate in national workshop to formulate strategic orientations that will strengthen all the four prongs of the PMTCT program, as part of the national plan 2011-2015 to achieve a reduction of 18-month MTCT rate below 2%; 3. Develop a costed operational plan and M&E plan for EMTCT (2011-2015); 4. Produce a National Elimination plan for Mother –to- Child Transmission of HIV (2011-2015);

DELIVERABLES

A report describing the equity focused strategic analysis of the PMTCT program (2010) is available.
A national EMTCT plan (2011-2015) is available including strategic orientations that will strengthen all the four prongs of the PMTCT program, target and its logical Framework;
An operation plan with budget for the period 2011-2015 is available;
An M&E plan for national MTCT elimination plan is available.

QUALIFICATION AND COMPETENCIES REQUIRED

Advanced university degree in Public Health (MPH or PhD). Medical background is an asset.
Five years or more experience in programme design, planning, monitoring and evaluation in the field of HIV&AIDS and PMTCT
Fluency in English and French required.
Analytical and conceptual ability; communication skills.
Competencies in strategic thinking programme planning and costing.
Skills in operational research methodology and statistical analysis.
Demonstrated ability to work in multi-cultural environment.

REQUIRED COMPETENCIES FOR THE POSITION

Core values and core competencies: Commitment, Integrity, Diversity and Inclusion, Communication, Networking, technical knowledge, and drive for results.

Functional: Applying technical expertise, conduction needs assessment, exercising analytical skills, planning and organizing, formulating strategies and recommendation, developing proposals.

TERMS, CONDITIONS AND FINANCING OF THE ASSIGNMENT

To be discussed

AJS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS AND AJS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON BANK ACCOUNTS. SOME EMPLOYERS MAY ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR APPLICATION.