Duration: Starting April 01 to December 31, 2023) with the possibility of further extension based on performance and fund availability.
No. of Consultant: One
Start Date: 01 April 2023
Reporting to: Health Specialist/Health Officer UNICEF Amhara Field Office Zonal Health Office
Background
The conflict in Northern Ethiopia and another part of the country resulted in damage and vandalization of health facilities and the health system. Following the expansion of the Tigray conflict to the Amhara region, a total of 453 health centers; 1850 health posts, and 40 hospitals were damaged in Amhara based on an initial assessment conducted in November/December 2021 by respective RHB. Most of the damaged health facilities are non-functional and not providing health services and restoring the basic health service will be a priority. Maternal Newborn and child health services are the most critical ones for the restoration of essential health services. Besides, Following the conflict, the scale of the conflict and the subsequent internal displacement is increasing in the region and the humanitarian situation across the region continues to deteriorate, and there is a high demand for humanitarian response to reach the needs of displaced and vulnerable persons.
Given the large geographic coverage and large population (about 23 million) and large-scale damage and looting of 52 percent of the health facilities in the region, health services restoration is challenging and difficult to deal with the existing human resource only. Hence, there is a critical need for a dedicated health emergency technical assistant in support of the field office team to run health emergency response and restoration of health service.
The consultant will assist the overall health emergency responses and restoration of health infrastructure and MNCH services in particular, through providing support in the coordination, planning, implementation, training/mentorship, rehabilitation and ensuring distribution of supplies and equipment to targeted health facilities in N/Gonder zone.
Justification
UNICEF as a humanitarian organization has been supporting the region's emergency response and restoration of health services technically (assessment, planning, coordination, risk communication, and community engagement), financially, and by availing and ensuring supplies for a timely Emergency response. Given the large geographic coverage and population of the region and the rapidly increasing number of internally displaced people (IDPs) in the region; scaling up of IDP response activities and restoration of health facilities is challenging and demanding. The extent of the emergency situation and its impact on essential health services has doubled the burden and widened the existing capacity gaps, especially at zone and woreda level for the increased supply and logistics management, monitoring, technical support, and guidance in responding to the emergency situation time and appropriately.
In addition, to strengthen essential health service coordination platforms at zonal and woreda levels, to ensure continuous monitoring of the situation and health service restoration and supply end-user monitoring, a dedicated health emergency consultant is highly required to provide the required field-level support. Thus, the consultant will help to provide technical support to the implementation of quality high impact and cost-effective UNICEF planned emergency interventions, health service restoration activities, and monitoring and reporting of UNICEF’s health emergency response with sustained and system thinking approach linking to ongoing development programs.
Objective
To provide technical support to the Amhara Regional Health Bureau and Amhara Region Public Health Institute and N/Gonder zonal health office on health emergencies response ensuring continuity of essential health services restoration for IDPs and host communities including Supply and logistics management focusing on a health facility and woreda level support.
Main duties and responsibilities
Under the overall guidance of the Amhara Field Office, Amhara regional Health Bureau, and N/Gonder zonal health department, the incumbent will work closely in collaboration with relevant technical officers in the field office, the Regional Health Bureau, and Amhara Region Public Health Institute. He/she has first-line responsibility for promoting and implementing effective emergency response strategies with a focus on UNICEF-supported thematic areas of IDP response, supply and logistics, and essential health service. He/she will base in the North Gander zone which is hugely impacted by the current conflict to support the government in the provision of essential health services for women and children.
The main duties and responsibilities are here:
Monthly written report on the emergency response and health service restoration activities implementation progress to UNICEF FO Health Specialist/ Officer and zonal health office
Expected background and Experience and Competencies
General condition