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Qualifications

1.       Purpose of the Consultancy

This consultancy will support the Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MoHMS), through the Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) & HIV Unit, the National HIV Outbreak and Cluster Response Taskforce (N-HOCRT), and relevant technical working groups, to design, operationalise, and institutionalise a comprehensive, adolescent-responsive national approach to SRH, HIV, STI, BBV, and TB programming in Fiji, with particular attention to adolescents belonging to key populations.

The consultant will provide senior technical leadership, systems guidance, and targeted capacity building to strengthen and integrate adolescent-responsive SRH, HIV, STI, BBV, and TB services across SRH clinics, primary health care facilities, TB services, schools, and community-based platforms. This includes supporting the development of enabling policy, legal, and operational frameworks, strengthening multi-sectoral coordination with education, social services, and community stakeholders, and ensuring that all interventions are evidence-based, rights-affirming, and aligned with WHO and UNAIDS guidance, including AA-HA! 2.0.

A key function of the consultancy will be to mentor and twin with National Elimination of Vertical Transmission (EVT) and Adolescent Health Officer to strengthen national leadership, technical expertise, and sustainable programme management capacity beyond the consultancy period. The role will also contribute to the work of the Treatment, Care and Support (TCS) Committee and the N-HOCRT Secretariat, ensuring that adolescent-specific data, policy decisions, and implementation progress are systematically integrated into Fiji’s broader SRH, HIV, STI, BBV, and TB response.

2.       Background

The HIV situation in Fiji has changed in recent years, with more infections linked to new patterns of risk. Injecting drug use, especially with methamphetamine, has become more common, and many people who inject drugs share needles because there are no harm reduction services such as needle and syringe programmes. This gap has created a fast route of transmission in some communities. At the same time, many people are still being diagnosed late, testing does not always reach those most at risk, and stigma continues to discourage early care.

The national response from the Fijian government is focusing on broadening combination prevention interventions and revising its prevention approaches (through outreach, peer-led and facility-based programmes), revised approaches to diagnosis, improving access to treatment, care and support, strengthening surveillance systems and procurement and supply chain management. Community and peer groups now play a greater role in reaching people who do not access formal health services and are traditionally hard to reach. There is also continued work to better connect SRH, HIV, STI, BBV and TB services so that people can get what they need in one place and stay in care.

Adolescents (10-19 years) face extra barriers, including limited adolescent friendly services and concerns about privacy when seeking help. Many receive uneven or incomplete sexuality education, leaving gaps in their understanding of SRH, HIV, STI, BBV and TB, safer sex and the risks linked to drug use. Improving school-based education, establishing and expanding adolescent friendly clinics and supporting peer led outreach can help young people get accurate information, access testing earlier and remain connected to care when needed.

3.       Planned timelines

Start date: 1 February 2026

End date: 31 December 2026

4.      Deliverables

Output 1: Conduct a national situational analysis to strengthen the evidence base for adolescent-responsive SRH, HIV, STI, BBV, and TB programming in Fiji, with a specific focus on adolescents who belong to key populations.

·         Deliverable 1.1: Situational analysis report on epidemiological trends, service coverage, behavioural determinants, and enabling environments affecting adolescent-responsive SRH, HIV, STI, BBV, and TB outcomes.

·         Deliverable 1.2: Policy and programme gap analysis identifying linkages and inconsistencies across national SRH, HIV, TB, and BBV frameworks, with recommendations for harmonisation with AA-HA! 2.0, WHO, and UNAIDS guidance.

·         Deliverable 1.3: Updated adolescent-responsive SRH, HIV, STI, BBV and TB strategic framework and implementation roadmap outlining national priorities, responsible agencies, timelines, and monitoring indicators.

Output 2: Integrate adolescent-responsive SRH, HIV, STI, BBV and TB related health services across the three SRH Clinics, sub-divisional care teams (and other primary health care facilities), TB hospital and programme, and other clinical services (including government, NGOs, CBOs and FBOs), with linkages to the education and relevant stakeholders. As with Output 1, consider the needs of adolescents who belong to key populations.

·         Deliverable 2.1: Revised national service delivery guidelines that integrate adolescent-responsive SRH, HIV, STI, BBV, GBV, and TB pathways across SRH clinics, primary health care facilities, schools, and community platforms (NGOs, CBOs, FBOs).

·         Deliverable 2.2: Multi-sectoral coordination mechanism with clear Terms of Reference to strengthen joint planning, service referral, and reporting between the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education, and key stakeholders.

·         Deliverable 2.3: Standardised package of school- and community-based interventions for prevention, diagnosis, counselling, treatment (if possible) and referral of adolescents to appropriate health and psychosocial services.

Output 3: Build health workforce and system capacity to deliver adolescent-responsive (with a focus on adolescents who belong to key populations) SRH, HIV, BBV, STI, and TB services across SRH clinics (3 HUBs), primary health care facilities, the TB hospital and programme, and other clinical and community-based providers (government, NGOs, CBOs, and FBOs).

·         Deliverable 3.1: Develop an integrated training curriculum for health workers on adolescent-friendly SRH, HIV, BBV, STI, and TB services, including modules on early pregnancy care, gender-based violence, substance use, mental health, and inclusion of diverse sexual orientations and gender identities.

·         Deliverable 3.2: Conduct training-of-trainers (ToT) sessions and accredit facilitators to cascade training across HUBs, sub-divisional health teams, and partner service providers.

·         Deliverable 3.3: Develop supportive supervision tools, mentorship frameworks, and a quality assurance checklist to strengthen and monitor adolescent service delivery standards.

·         Deliverable 3.4: Produce a system strengthening report identifying workforce, data, supply chain, and service readiness needs for scaling up adolescent-responsive SRH, HIV, BBV, STI, and TB services nationally.

Output 4: Promote meaningful adolescent (adolescents who belong to key populations) participation in the planning, implementation, and accountability of SRH, HIV, BBV, STI, and TB programmes to ensure services are responsive, rights-based, and evidence-informed.

·         Deliverable 4.1: Adolescent engagement framework defining roles for adolescents in programme design, monitoring, and accountability across health and community system

·         Deliverable 4.2: Establishment or strengthening of an adolescent advisory group linked to the national SRH, HIV, BBV, STI, and TB response, ensuring representation from diverse adolescent groups.

·         Deliverable 4.3: Documentation of adolescent-led consultations, highlighting key priorities raised and how these informed national and sub-national planning and service delivery.

·         Deliverable 4.4: Monitoring report demonstrating increased adolescent engagement and influence in programme governance, service design, and decision-making processes.

Output 5: Build national and sub-national capacity to design, implement, and sustain adolescent-responsive SRH, HIV, STI, BBV, and TB programmes through a structured twinning and mentorship approach.

·         Deliverable 5.1: Develop and implement a capacity development plan for the national adolescent SRH and HIV focal person and key programme officers, focusing on adolescent-centred programme design, coordination, and implementation.

·         Deliverable 5.2: Provide ongoing mentorship and technical support to strengthen national leadership in adolescent health programming, including integration across SRH clinics, primary care, TB services, and community-based partners (NGOs, CBOs, FBOs).

·         Deliverable 5.3: Facilitate training sessions and coaching for divisional and sub-divisional teams on adolescent-responsive service delivery, outreach models, and rights-based engagement.

·         Deliverable 5.4: Develop a sustainability and transition plan outlining how national systems and staff will continue to implement and scale adolescent-focused SRH, HIV, STI, BBV, and TB services beyond the consultancy period.

·         Deliverable 5.5: Produce a mentorship summary report documenting key capacity gains, lessons learned, and recommendations for institutionalising adolescent-responsive programming within the Ministry of Health and Medical Services.

5.       Qualifications, expertise, skills and languages

Educational Qualifications

·      Essential:  Bachelor's degree in medicine, public health or another related field.

·      Desirable: Postgraduate qualification in one of the above fields.

Experience

·         Essential: A senior public health professional with at least seven (7) years of progressive experience in adolescent and youth health, with specific expertise in adolescent-responsive SRH, HIV, STI, BBV, and TB programming. Demonstrated experience supporting governments to adapt to global best practices such as AA-HA! 2.0 and WHO adolescent health standards) to national and sub-national contexts, including strengthening health systems, policy frameworks, and workforce capacities. Proven ability to work in resource-constrained settings, supporting country teams to build sustainable, integrated, and rights-based service delivery systems for adolescents.

·         Desirable: Experience working within the UN system, and familiarity with Pacific Island or similar regional health contexts.

Skills / Technical skills and knowledge

·         Essential: Strong technical expertise in adolescent-responsive SRH, HIV, STI, BBV, and TB programming, aligned with AA-HA! 2.0 and WHO guidance. Proven experience in policy and strategy development, including multisector action plans and frameworks. Demonstrated capacity to design and implement training, mentoring, and supportive supervision for health workers and programme officers. Strong skills in multisector coordination, particularly linking health, education, and community systems. Experience facilitating meaningful and inclusive adolescent and youth engagement in programme planning and monitoring. Excellent analytical, communication, and report writing skills, including preparation of assessments, policy briefs, and technical guidance.

·         Desirable: Experience in health systems strengthening, quality improvement, and programme evaluation. Knowledge of mental health, gender-based violence, substance use, and PIDSOGIESIC inclusion within adolescent health programming. Prior work in HIV, SRH, or communicable disease programmes in the Pacific region or comparable settings.

Languages

·         Essential: Expert knowledge of English

6.       Competencies

·         Building and promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond

·         Teamwork

·         Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences

·         Promoting WHO’s position in health leadership

7.       Location

The consultancy will be in Fiji for eleven months.

8.       Medical clearance

The selected Consultant will be expected to provide a medical certificate of fitness for work.

9.       Travel 

The Consultant is expected to travel to Fiji.

10.       Remuneration and budget:

·         Remuneration: Band level B (Daily wage rate USD 350 – 499)

·         Living expenses: A living expense is payable to on-site consultants who are internationally recruited based on the daily subsistence allowance for Suva, Fiji.

·         Expected duration of contract:  11 months.

11.   Technical Supervision

The selected Consultant will work under the supervision of: