Health SRHR Specialist

STATEMENT OF WORK

Job Title: Health SRHR Specialist

Position Type: Consultancy (up to 21days per month)

Duration: March 2024 to February 2025

Position Location: Nairobi, Kenya

Application Deadline: 22nd February 2024

Start Date: 1st April 2024

Assignment Duration: 1 year with an option to renew.

SUMMARY OF THE PROJECT

The Field Support Services Project (FSSP) is a two-year initiative (November 2023 to October 2025) funded by Global Affairs Canada (GAC) and implemented by Cowater International. It offers administrative, financial, procurement, and logistical support, along with technical expertise, to GAC’s development programs in Kenya, Somalia, and South Africa. The project assists GAC in procuring and managing local development initiatives in Kenya (and its accredited countries which include Uganda, Rwanda, and Burundi), South Africa (and its accredited countries) and Somalia.

BACKGROUND

Canada’s vision for international assistance is rooted in its Feminist International Assistance Policy that seeks to eradicate poverty and build a more peaceful, more inclusive and more prosperous world by promoting gender equality and empowering women and girls. Canada focuses on gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls in a manner that is both targeted and crosscutting. A targeted approach to gender equality includes a focus on initiatives that fight poverty and inequality by supporting gender equality and defending the rights of women and girls, particularly their sexual health and reproductive rights. A simultaneous crosscutting approach to gender equality means that all of Canada’s international assistance initiatives, across all action areas, are developed and implemented in ways that improve gender equality and empower women and girls. This dual approach requires that all of Canada’s implementing partners must consult with women and involve them in needs assessments, decision making and planning of initiatives, as well as in the implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of projects.

SUMMARY OF THE POSITION

Cowater International through its FSSP is supporting the Canadian High Commission to recruit a Health SRHR Specialist. Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) Specialist will play a crucial role in ensuring the successful implementation of Canadian-funded SRHR projects in Kenya and Somalia, as well as Uganda, Burundi, and Rwanda, when required.

Canada works to close persistent gaps in SRHR for women and girls and has joined global partnerships that focus on programs and projects that put gender at the heart of the efforts to improve health care. To achieve this goal, Canada supports breaking barriers and facilitate an increased access to a full range of SRHR health services that include family planning and modern contraception; comprehensive sexuality education; safe and legal abortion, and post-abortion care; prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted infections.

The overall objective SRHR and health specialist role is to support and strengthen the delivery of Canada’s SRHR international assistance programs in Kenya and Somalia and the countries that fall under the Canadian High Commission in Kenya when required. This will be through provision of field level advice, technical support and policy input related to Canada’s health and SRHR programs.

The role requires a deep understanding and experience of sexual and reproductive health sector issues in Kenya and Somalia. Due to the multi-sectoral nature of SRHR, a gender-responsive, rights-based approach is needed with linkages to the wider suite of human rights and gender equality issues which can include economic and education status; sexual and gender-based violence; harmful cultural practices such as early forced child marriages and female genital mutilation (FGM) among others.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Program Coordination:

• Monitor MNCH and SRHR sector trends and emerging issues and disseminate relevant info to GAC and provide expert advice to GAC on the same in Kenya and Somalia and others when required.
• Provide guidance on synergies and opportunities for further efficiencies in health and related gender equality and women’s rights programs.
• Provide subject matter expertise to support on program and project planning and design.

2. Stakeholder Engagement:

• Establish, monitor, and maintain contacts with key stakeholders, partners, donors, civil society organizations, academia, private sector etc. and keep apprised of sector-specific engagements on health.
• Collaborate with project stakeholders, local communities, and government agencies to address mutual challenges.
• Establish and maintain a list of contacts within relevant ministries, development partners, private sector, civil society actors, and other key stakeholders to support advancement of GAC objectives.
• Support to Canada’s engagement with relevant stakeholders.
• Identify opportunities to showcase and leverage Canada-funded health programs.
• Participate as an observer and provide back to office reports from various sector meetings or other such meetings organized by GAC or implementing partners.

3. Capacity Building:

• Provide technical assistance inputs and capacity building support to government and partner organizations on national policies, strategies and frameworks related to SRHR.

4. Reporting and Documentation

• Review and provided comments on project documents including proposals, performance frameworks, reports, etc.
• Prepare and submit preparatory reports for working group committees as required.
• Review and analyze current news, events, trends that impact sector specific GAC programming and interests on a weekly basis.
• Analyse and provide expert advice and guidance on documentations produced by the Ministries of Health, Development Partners and those by other health sector stakeholders that could contribute to the effective implementation of the GAC programs.

5. Monitoring and Evaluation

• Implement systems for monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of GAC programs in the health sector.
• Prepare and submit regular reports on performance and compliance concerning projects and programs.
• Monitor trends and emerging issues and provide expert advice.
• Identify capacity gaps and opportunities for government and partner agencies’ engagement.
• Undertake field monitoring visits to assess and conduct technical reviews and audits as required.

JOB REQUIREMENTS

Education:

• A master’s degree in health or a health-related field, or an equivalent of 10 or more years of relevant work experience.

Minimum Experience:

• Minimum 10 years of experience in the public health sector with at least 5 years’ experience working on SRHR issues in Kenya or Somalia or both.

QUALIFICATIONS

The Specialist is expected to possess the following qualifications and experience:

• Relevant and demonstrable working experience in providing SRHR advice to international donor agencies on large international development projects, including cooperating with key stakeholders in Kenya and Somalia (i.e. donors, UN agencies, International Financial Institutions (IFIs), Governments of Kenya’s and Somalia’s line ministries and agencies).
• In-depth knowledge demonstrated experience and understanding of sexual and reproductive health sector issues in Kenya and Somalia, and the human rights violations of SRHR which can include sexual and gender-based violence, early forced child marriages and other harmful traditional practices.
• Experience providing analysis, advice, and drafting reports, briefing materials, speeches and other communication materials for diverse audiences, including senior officials.
• Demonstrable knowledge of how to apply a human rights-based approach and gender equality concepts, analytical and programming tools to international assistance.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English and Swahili.
• Capacity to work independently and under tight deadlines.
• Mastery of basic office software, such as Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint.

The following skills and experience will be an asset:

• Excellent oral and written communication skills in Somali language.
• Demonstrable knowledge and experience working with result-based management frameworks.

Language Requirements: Excellent English language skills, as most of the reporting will be written in English.

Working arrangements:

• The Health SRHR Specialist will attend meetings virtually and in-person. All travel expenses will be subject to prior approval by FSSP manager.
• The specialist will report to the Project Manager, Field Support Services Project (FSSP) and work closely with Canadian High Commission specifically the development team. They will also liaise with relevant government agencies, local authorities, partner organizations, likeminded donors, local communities, as necessary.

Ownership of Intellectual Property:

• Documentation produced by the Specialist in the performance of the work under the contract shall remain the property of the Canadian High Commission.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Interested applicants must include the following documents:

1. CV indicating past experience from similar projects, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate and at least three (3) professional references.
2. Cover Letter indicatingwhy the Candidate considers him/herself as the most suitable for the assignment.
3. Financial Proposal The financial proposal should specify an all-inclusive daily rate (including taxes, time-off benefits, all statutory contributions, social contributions, and insurance). The daily rate should consider a maximum working day of 7.5 hours.
4. Applications must be submitted by 22nd February 2024 by 5:00 p.m. Apply here: Cowater International Career Opportunities – Cowater International with the subject:Health SRHR Specialist. Any applications received after this time will not be considered.

Evaluation of Applications.

The proposals that achieve a minimum of 70% in the technical desk review shall be further considered for interviews and written tests. The award of the contract shall be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

a) responsive/compliant/acceptable; and

b) having received the highest score out of set of weighted technical criteria (70% – Comprising of 15% scores of desk review, 25% written test, and 30% scores of interviews) and financial criteria (30%).

The Financial score shall be computed as a ratio of the proposal being evaluated and the lowest priced proposal received by FSSP for the assignment.

Technical Score (70%)

Financial Score (30%)

1. Based on Qualification (desk review) (15%)

2. Written test (25%)

3. Interview (30%)

NB: Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 70 points (70% of the desk technical review) will be considered for the Financial Evaluation.

Cowater International is an equal opportunity employer, basing employment on merit and qualifications as they relate to professional experience and position expectations. Cowater does not discriminate against any employee or applicant on the basis of race, religion, sex, gender identity, disability, age, or any other basis protected by law.

We thank all applicants, however only those shortlisted will be contacted.

ABOUT US

With more than 35 years’ experience, Cowater International is Canada’s global leader in management consulting services specializing in international development and has managed the implementation of over 800 projects in more than 80 countries around the globe. We work with governments, partner organizations, communities and civil society to design and implement sustainable solutions that generate lasting social, financial and environmental impacts. Our adaptive approach to management has led to our award-winning work and recognition as one of Canada’s Best Managed Companies in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021. Headquartered in Ottawa, Canada, Cowater International also has corporate offices in Montreal, Quebec; London, United Kingdom; Nairobi, Kenya; and Brussels, Belgium, in addition to project offices in a wide variety of other locations across Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia.

We thank you for your interest in building a better tomorrow with Cowater International.