1. Background
The importance of linking sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and HIV is firmly established. Most HIV infections are sexually transmitted or are associated with pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding. Sexually transmitted infections may increase HIV acquisition and transmission. In addition, sexual and reproductive ill-health and HIV share root causes, including poverty, limited access to appropriate services and information, gender inequality, cultural norms and social marginalization of the most vulnerable populations.
In order to ensure that funding from the Global Fund has the greatest sustainable impact on the health system as a whole, this initiative will focus on strengthening health systems, with a particular focus on the integration of RMNCAH within Global Fund grants. The synergistic relationship between funding for disease-specific programmes and funding cross-cutting aspects of health systems is the cornerstone of the Global Fund’s approach to ensure effectiveness at the country level.
The Integration for Sustainability (I4S) initiative will support Global Fund eligible countries to build comprehensive and resilient systems for health by strengthening the integration of RMNCAH within the health systems component of Global Fund programmes in both the implementation phase and concept note development phase of Global Fund grants under the New Funding Model. This will include supporting the Global Fund Secretariat (particularly the HSS team) with identifying what is working, where the gaps are and developing/updating related Global Fund guidance documents. National engagement of RMNCAH actors at national and community level will also be strengthened throughout the grant lifecycle of the New Funding Model to ensure they are strongly evidence based and well implemented.
A first step in the I4S initiative is to identify what is currently working and where the gaps are in the integration of RMNCAH and HIV. Therefore a national situation analysis will be conducted in each of the project countries which will be led by an assessment team implementing a number of assessment tools which utilize a number of different data collection modalities such as desk (data) review, key informant interviews, and focus group discussions.

2. Purpose of the Consultancy
IPPF Africa Regional Office is seeking a resource person to undertake a short consultancy. The assignment involves development of tools for assessment of the level of and gaps in RMNCAH/HIV integration in four countries.
In order to best identify what is currently working and where the gaps are in the integration of RMNCAH (reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health) and HIV, a national situation analysis will be conducted in four countries in order to inform Global Fund programming in the country. The consultant will be responsible for developing the state of the art tools that will assess the integration of RMNCAH and HIV Linkages as well as developing and providing a training of trainers workshop on use of the tools. The tools will include: a stakeholder mapping; an assessment of country progress towards SRHR and HIV Linkages; and a Facility and community needs assessment.

3. Key deliverables
The consultant will be responsible for developing the assessment tools which will be used in country as well as providing a training of trainers on their utilization. The tools will include:
• Stakeholder mapping: A stakeholder mapping of which stakeholders have been involved in the NFM process to date – particularly those who are working on HSS and RMNCAH integration – and their (proposed) role in implementation. This stakeholder mapping will also highlight any gaps – particularly at the community level.
• National assessment of current progress: SRHR and HIV Linkages Tools recently developed by IPPF and UNFPA – under the auspices of the IAWG on SRH and HIV Linkages – will be used to map current progress towards RMNCAH and HIV Linkages at the national level and identify current gaps and bottlenecks. These tools include the HIV and SRHR Linkages Infographic Snapshots, the SRH and HIV Linkages Index and the Rapid Assessment Tool for SRH and HIV Linkages.
• Facility and community needs assessment: In order to better understand the bottlenecks faced by CSOs and Community Based Organisations, an assessment will be conducted to assess the quality, availability and efficiency of the existing integrated services provided from the facility, community, client and provider perspectives. This assessment will be developed using tools from the Integra Initiative as well as the Joint UNFPA/UNAIDS project on SRHR and HIV linkages in Southern Africa.

As part of the tool development and training the consultant will need to do the following:
1. Tools development – based on a review of existing resources, the consultant will develop draft versions of each of the above tools. The consultant will then train national consultants and MA focal staff on the tool and pilot test them with the team in one IPPF Member Association (Togo).
2. Tools refinement – based on feedback from the pilot testing, the tools will be revised and finalised, during the workshop with the national consultants and MA focal points.
3. Training on tool utilisation – a three day training of trainer’s workshop will be developed which will cover the basics of SRHR and HIV Linkages and how to use the tools. One central workshop will then be held to train the project leads in each of the countries on use of the tools.
4. Technical backstopping – the consultant will be required to provide guidance to country assessment teams virtually particularly where clarification is required on the tools.

4. Level of Effort
1. Tool development: 25 days
2. Tool refinement: 5 days
3. Training on tool utilisation: 15 days
Total: 45 days

5. Duration/period**
The assignment will be conducted between October, 2016 and December 2016.

6. Location
This consultancy can be provided remotely. Availability for teleconferences, as necessary.
Travel will be required to support the induction workshop on tool utilisation. Travel and accommodation will be covered.

7. Key competences, technical background, and experience required**
• Masters in social sciences or bio-medical science or equivalent standard of education.
• Excellent technical knowledge in linking sexual and reproductive health and HIV.
• Direct country experience in providing training/supporting national level scale-up of SRHR and HIV Linkages.
• Demonstrated initiative and creativity in developing tools on SRHR and HIV Linkages.
• Knowledge and understanding of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria is desirable.
• Excellent communication skills, verbal and written.
• Excellent attention to detail.
• Good time management and organisational skills.

HOW TO APPLY:
To apply, please submit the following:
• A short cover letter (1-2 pages) outlining how you fit the key competencies outlined above, your daily rate and an indication of your availability for this consultancy;
• A CV;
• To hroffice@ippfaro.org by 27th October 2016.