International consultant for post-UNHLM advocacy activities according to the Regional Advocacy Roadmap EECA for TB UNHLM 2023

Background

Supported by USAID and the Global Fund Strategic Initiative to find the Missing People with TB, the Challenge Facility for Civil Society (CFCS) is the Stop TB Partnership grant mechanism for TB affected community and civil society grassroot organizations to transform the TB response so that it promotes and protects human rights and gender equality. Strengthening community and civil society responses is an ethical and programmatic imperative in this pursuit.

On 9 February 2022, the Stop TB Partnership launched the Challenge Facility for Civil Society Round 11 funding. The call for proposals, in alignment with the United Nations Political Declaration on TB and the Global Plan to End TB, is to augment and embed community, rights and gender (CRG) in the TB response for an equitable TB response and to scale up political engagement, demand generation and accountability.

Applicants working in any of the following countries or regions were eligible to apply for Challenge Facility for Civil Society funding.

• Track 1: The following countries could apply; Bangladesh, Cambodia, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Malawi, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, South Africa, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Ukraine, Uganda, Uzbekistan, Viet Nam, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
• Track 2: Regional proposals from the following regions could apply; Anglophone Africa, Francophone Africa, Middle East and North Africa, Asia and the Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean, and Eastern Europe and Central Asia.

Aim: To address CRG barriers in TB care using the evidence generated by CRG assessments to influence policy decisions and practical program implementation, driving towards UN HLM 2023 targets, while also monitoring their implementation.

Objectives:

• To advocate for inclusion of TB CRG CAPs activities in the national strategic documents to secure TB financing
• To engage in various TB advocacy and accountability initiatives at regional and global levels with particular focus on UNHLM TB 2023
• To support TB advocacy and accountability initiatives at national level with particular focus on UNHLM TB 2023
• To engage regional partners in aligning actions and asks for UNHLM TB 2023 and ensure the post-UNHLM follow-up
• To meaningfully engage communities and civil society in human-rights driven TB response, including through attendance of UNHLM 2023 related events

Principles

The following principles must be embedded in the grant:

• Inclusivity: Affected communities must be at the centre of all grant activities.
• Strategic engagement and partnership: when and where possible, inform and engage National TB Programs, National TB Partnerships, National TB Caucuses, Global Fund Country Coordination Mechanisms, USAID missions etc and contribute to national and global accountability efforts including for United Nations High Level Meeting on TB, Global Fund New Funding Model IV proposal development, governance reports (e.g. STP Governance of TB Progammes report), legal and guideline score cards (e.g. Step Up for TB), and input into the Deadly Divide report.
• Communication: The Grantee will organise and/or participate in World TB Day 2023 activities in line with the Stop TB Partnership theme and advancing grant activities, the work of the Stop TB Partnership and work supported by the STP Community and NGO Delegations, such as the Deadly Divide communities report Areas for Action.
• Coordination: Alignment and complementarity across various Challenge Facility for Civil Society, country level STP platforms and other TB stakeholders to maximise reach, efficiency and impact.

Scope of work

In order to increase national, regional and global participation of TB affected community and TB civil society in TB related governance and advocacy for accountability regarding UNHLM on TB targets and commitments, during the Regional civil society Forum in EECA “Building partnership for a resilient TB response in Central Asia and Eastern Europe towards UNHLM 2023 and beyond”, held in Dushanbe, Tajikistan on May 16-18, 2023 within this project, a draft advocacy roadmap has been developed. The roadmap includes specific post-UNHLM accountability activities and the consultant will provide approaches for implementation and will coordinate those to be instrumental for EECA countries in their post-UNHLM 2023 advocacy.

Objectives of the assignment

The international consultant will coordinate, produce templates and guide the EECA countries in the implementation of the post-UNHLM 2023 activities.

Specific tasks are the following, but not limited to, depending on the change of the global context and the proposals from the Consultant on the work approach:

1. Inform the public about the results of the UN HLM on TB and the commitments made by the country, in accordance with the adopted Political Declaration.
2. Carry out a regional communication campaign to raise public awareness of the UN HLM on TB and the commitments made by countries in accordance with the adopted Political Declaration.
3. Inform the public about the results of the UN HLM on TB and the commitments made by the country, in accordance with the adopted Political Declaration.
4. Draw the attention of decision makers to the importance of building accountability systems, based on the results of the UN HLM on TB among the relevant governmental bodies.
5. Facilitate initiation of country dialogue on the need to build accountability systems for UN HLM TB outcomes and the importance of involving civil society/communities in the implementation and monitoring of commitments in line with the Political Declaration, especially in the areas of human rights, equity, multisectoral engagement and accountability, in order to achieve the agreed goals.
6. Hold regular regional events to raise awareness among CSO/communities’ representatives and other stakeholders about the results of the UN HLM on TB and further advocacy steps.
7. Conduct personal consultations with country CSO/communities’ representatives.
8. Inform about events and informational materials of international organizations.
9. Reach the international organizations (WHO, STOP TB Partnership) for help, in order to develop country-specific indicators within the framework of global commitments and goals.
10. Collect information from countries in the region on lessons learned from preparing for and participating in the UN HLM on TB.
11. Prepare a summary of the lessons learned at the regional level from the preparation and participation in the UN HLM on TB.

Expected deliverables

The consultant is expected to contribute to producing the following deliverables:

• Proposed activities for the above mentioned tasks – 5 days after contract signing.
• Monthly reports on time dedicated and awareness materials produced.

Reporting requirements

The consultant will work under the guidance and direct supervision of the Program Coordinator of the PAS Center and present the deliverables produced within the required timeline.

Qualification requirements and basis for evaluation

General qualifications:

• Advanced University degree in communications, journalism or related field;
• Minimum 15 years of progressive experience in advocacy and communication activities, including development of organizational advocacy policies, media materials.

Adequacy for the assignment:

• Strong knowledge of processes related to TB UN HLM, advocacy steps needed and previous experience in involvement in advocacy activities for UN HLM on TB (2018);
• At least 10 years of professional experience in managing advocacy or community communication work in public health, experience in communicable diseases area (TB, HIV, Hepatitis) will be an asset;
• Practical experience in developing and implementing communication strategies and advocacy policies interventions;
• Proven ability to develop approaches and materials for diverse target audiences, including different levels of authority and decision-making;
• A thorough understanding of the development landscape in general, and especially current development topics and issues in EECA region;
• Demonstrated experience implementing advocacy strategies and action plans;
• Proven ability to develop approaches and materials for diverse target audiences;
• Demonstrated experience working with community organizations and networks on national and international level.

Language and other qualifications:

• Demonstrated ability to work harmoniously with persons of different national and cultural backgrounds and of different level of authority;
• Ability to work as a member of a team as well as work autonomously;
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills;
• Proficiency in Russian and/or English languages.

Duration of the assignment

The consultancy will take place from November 2023 to mid-March 2024 with an estimated workload up to 25 days. The contract can be extended till the end of 2024 upon the availability of funds within the CFCS R12 project.

Payment schedule

The consultant will receive the payment upon the presentation of monthly reports on time dedicated and tasks accomplished. Consultant will be solely liable for payment of any taxes or contributions as required by applicable laws, rules and regulations on her/his country of residence.