National Individual Consultant : Case Study On The Implementation Of The Red Strategy In Urban [...]

Unicef; Pretoria; On-site; ZAR 300 000 - 400 000; Part time

Job summary

A prominent international children's organization is looking for a consultant to conduct a mixed-method case study on the implementation of the RED Strategy aimed at reaching zero-dose and under-immunised children. This role involves significant stakeholder engagement, data analysis, and generating actionable insights to improve immunisation services within urban settings in South Africa. Candidates should have a relevant Master's degree and experience in public health or related fields.

Benefits

Flexible work arrangements

Professional development opportunities

Qualifications

• Master's degree in Public Health or related field.
• Experience in conducting mixed-method research.
• Knowledge of immunisation programs and health systems.

Responsibilities

• Conduct a mixed method case study on the RED Strategy implementation.
• Engage with stakeholders to generate actionable insights.
• Analyze health data and produce synthesis reports.

Skills

Research methodology

Data analysis

Health systems knowledge

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Relevant Master's degree

Tools

Data collection software

Job description

UNICEF works in over countries and territories to save children's lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

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Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

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We offer our staff diverse opportunities for professional and personal development that will help them reinforce a sense of purpose while serving children and communities across the world.

We welcome everyone who wants to belong and grow in a diverse and passionate culture.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child,the right to Immunisation.

UNICEF South Africa- committed to realising the rights of all children to help them build a strong foundation and have the best chance of fulfilling their potential.

South Africa has made significant progress in expanding immunisation services to reach its population, including the most vulnerable, yet persistent inequalities remain.

This is most evident in urban and peri-urban areas where data shows thousands of children are not reached with routine immunisation and other essential health and social services.

Children who have not received any vaccinations, termed 'zero-dose', and children who have not received the complete schedule of vaccines, termed 'under-immunised' children, are at a higher risk of vaccine preventable diseases, and also likely to be malnourished, lack access to early childhood development programmes, and to documentation, and to be exposed to neglect and abuse Studies globally indicate a substantial proportion of zero-dose and under-immunised children live in informal settlements, many of which are in urban / peri-urban environments, where they face multiple challenges accessing other health and social services.

Zero dose and under-immunised children therefore also serve as an indicator of the health system's capacity to reach all vulnerable populations.

To address these gaps, UNICEF supported the South Africa National Department of Health (NDOH) to contextualise and adapt the WHO Reaching Every District (RED) Strategy for South Africa.

This adaptation included the development of a RED Strategy Guideline, training materials, and tools to strengthen the Expanded Programme on Immunisation and support microplanning, community mapping and engagement, outreach planning and data monitoring at the facility and other levels of the health system.

With funding from the Elma Foundation, UNICEF then supported the NDo H to implement the adapted RED Strategy in four priority metropolitan districts, three in the Gauteng Province (Johannesburg, Tshwane and Ekurhuleni) and one in Kwa Zulu Natal (e Thekwini), to identify and reach zero-dose and under-immunised children.

This multi-component intervention aimed to strengthen EPI and improve equity in vaccine access.

UNICEF trained health workers associated with the EPI programme at all levels on the five components of the RED strategy, to enable them to map and address factors associated with poor vaccine uptake, and to design tailored strategies to reach zero dose and under immunised children in an urban area context.

Additionally, UNICEF integrated its Journey to Health framework, a tool based on human-centred design approaches, to help teams with analysing and addressing barriers to vaccine uptake, including social and behavioural drivers.

The RED Strategy intervention was intended to improve all aspects of the routine immunisation system and ultimately reduce the number of zero-dose children in high-risk communities in the selected sub-districts.

Internal analysis of routinely available data shows a significant slow down in the rate of increase of zero dose children in Elma project districts.

Requests to provide similar training and support across the country have been increasing, and UNICEF therefore requires in-depth insight into the operational effectiveness of applying this multi-component approach.

A qualitative case study methodology is best suited to this need, as it would explore the lived experience of health workers implementing the RED Strategy and generate an in-depth understanding of what worked and what did not.

Case studies allow for in-depth exploration of health systems within their real-life contexts, and can 'track and examine complex relationships, contexts, and systems as they evolve'.

The research would include examining the barriers and facilitators of adopting and implementing the strategy in daily practice, and how the implementation could be strengthened to improve outcomes and reduce disparities.

This consultancy will support work under Outcome 1, Child Health and Wellbeing, Output 2, relating to improving the capacity of sub-national institutions and systems to provide comprehensive, coordinated child health services.

How can you make a difference?

Under the supervision of the Health Officer, supported by the Social and Behaviour Change Manager, the consultant will undertake a mixed method case study on Elma-funded implementation of the RED Strategy with the National Department of Health, the Gauteng, Kwa Zulu-Natal and Eastern Cape Provincial Departments of Health, and selected district health teams, to strengthen the EPI programme, and develop tailored strategies to reach zero dose and under immunized children.

The objective of the assignment is to explore and describe the operational effectiveness, barriers, facilitators, and outcomes of the RED Strategy implementation in selected urban districts, and to generate actionable insights for scaling and strengthening immunisation services.

In addition to UNICEF, the proposed audience for the research findings includes the South African Department of Health, all provincial and district health offices, as well as regional and global stakeholders interested in identifying zero-dose and under-immunized children in urban settings.

Scope of work

The consultant will undertake a mixed method case study on Elma-funded implementation of the RED Strategy in selected districts to generate actionable insights to improve the capacity of the health system to provide routine immunisation and integrated child health services in settings with high numbers of zero dose and under immunized children.

The case study will involve a combination of documentary review, sub-district and facility level analysis of DHIS data, key informant interviews and focus group discussions, e.g. with implementers.

Project Phases and Tasks

• Inception Phase
  Develop a detailed workplan and methodology
  Conduct initial consultations with UNICEF and key stakeholders
  Submit an inception report
• Desk Review
  Review existing documentation, including RED strategy guidelines, training materials, implementation reports, and sub-district and facility level analysis of DHIS data comparative analysis of routine immunisation data to compare ELMA and non-ELMA districts over time.
  Produce a synthesis report highlighting key themes and gaps
• Research Design & Ethics
  Develop a comprehensive research proposal including objectives, methodology, and tools
  Submit for ethics clearance through a registered Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC), and for administrative approval from the Do H, at national, provincial and district level.
  Finalize interview guides and consent forms
• Data Collection
  Extract relevant DHIS data
  Conduct Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) and focus group discussions across multiple levels, in Cities of Jhb, Tshwane and Ekurhuleni, and in e Thekwini : Provincial : EPI managers, district support teams, health promotion coordinators, CHW programme leads, pharmacy, training centers, surveillance and data managers District / Sub-District : MCH / EPI managers, CDC, pharmacists, health promotion coordinators; CHW / Outreach Team Leads Facility : Operational managers, Data capturers, EPI nurses, health promotion officers Ensure ethical standards and informed consent procedures are followed
• Data Analysis
  Analyse comparative data between Elma and non-Elma districts and priority facilities, over time
  Transcribe and code qualitative data
  Identify themes, patterns, barriers, and facilitators
  Draft preliminary findings
• Reporting & Dissemination
  Prepare a draft report for review
  Incorporate feedback from UNICEF and stakeholders
  Submit final report, presentation materials Publication in agreed academic journal
  Develop draft journal article for review
  Submit final journal article for publication

Work Assignment Overview / Tasks Deliverable / output Timeline / deadline Estimated budget /