International consultant to support CSO partner Kazakhstan in conducting TB stigma assessment within the project “EECA post UNHLM community watch to l At PAS Center

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 the June 28, 2023 the Stop TB Partnership launched the Challenge Facility for Civil Society Round 12 funding. CFCS Round 12 aims to organisations of people affected by TB and civil society organisations to champion ambitious and strong people-centered, human-rights based, gender-transformative national TB responses, advocacy and accountability efforts to End TB.

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: Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Benin, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Cote d’Ivoire, DR Congo, Ethiopia, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Malawi, Mongolia, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Ukraine, Uganda, Uzbekistan, Viet Nam, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
• Track 2: Global and Regional organizations 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, Global Level.

Center for Health Policies and Studies (PAS Center) together with the partners has been selected to implement the Project “EECA post UNHLM community watch to leave no one behind”. The project will work targeted in Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan for the proposed assessments on TB stigma and KVP size estimation and additional with Azerbaijan, Moldova and Ukraine for regional activities on post-UNHLM accountability and capacity building on CLR.

**Aim of the project:**To enhance post-UNHLM community monitoring and engagement through community empowerment for identifying TB stigma related barriers and burden of TB in KVPs in support to commitments to leave no one behind.

Objectives of the project:

1. Strengthening post-UNHLM regional advocacy in EECA;
2. Reduce stigma through institutionalization of TB stigma assessments as routine tool for TB stigma measurement;
3. Reduce the missing number of people with TB through focusing on KVPs for TB;
4. Increase community and civil society capacity for involvement in community-lead research.

The country partner in Kazakhstan, “Kazakhstan Union of People Living with HIV,” ALE: will hire national consultants for data collection and analysis, in the line with Stop TB Stigma assessment tool for collection and analysis of qualitative data, with the technical assistance from PAS Center.

ALE “Kazakhstan Union of People Living with HIV” will identify TB Stigma related barriers in its three dimensions; will organize stakeholders meeting as needed to present the findings and propose activities to reduce TB stigma in Kazakhstan, as well as advocate for implementation of those activities (inclusion in NSP, FR to GF, other funding opportunities).

Specific tasks of “Kazakhstan Union of People Living with HIV”, Association of Legal Entities (ALE):

1. Conduct simplified TB Stigma Assessment in Kazakhstan, by using Stop TB Stigma assessment tool for collection and analysis of qualitative data;
2. Identify TB Stigma related barriers in its three dimensions: self-stigma, stigma in the community and stigma in healthcare facilities;
3. Organize stakeholders meeting to present the findings and propose activities to reduce TB stigma in Kazakhstan.

Scope of work

In order to advance progress in addressing priority TB issues identified by TB affected communities within TB Stigma Assessments in the region, the project will hire an international consultant to ensure the revision of the methodology, methodological support and ensure smooth multistakeholder engagement for conducting TB stigma assessment in Kazakhstan with the local implementer ALE “Kazakhstan Union of People Living with HIV”.

Objectives of the assignment

The international consultant will provide technical support to ALE “Kazakhstan Union of People Living with HIV” to ensure prominence of TB stigma assessment and ensure smooth multi-stakeholder engagement by adapting the methodology, ensure methodological support and smooth multistakeholder engagement.

Specific tasks within the assignment

The consultant will:

• Review the Russian version of the TB stigma investment package (1 day);
• Develop the content and conduct a remote half-day training on TB stigma assessment implementation for the project team) (1,5 days);
• Provide methodological support to ALE “Kazakhstan Union of People Living with HIV” in organizing multistakeholder and validation meetings (0.5 days);
• Co-facilitate remotely, together with the national TB Stigma Expert, the multistakeholder and validation meetings (1 day);
• Provide methodological support to ALE “Kazakhstan Union of People Living with HIV” in finalizing the assessment protocol, preparing materials for training of data collectors (3 days);
• Provide methodological support in conducting FGD with representatives from the national and subnational TB programme, judiciary and legal communities, legislators, media workers and policy makers (2 days).
• Review data analysis and drafts of findings and recommendations (1 day);
• Develop the TB stigma costed Action Plan (3 days).

Expected deliverables

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

• Revised Russian version of TB stigma investment package.
• Training materials for the project team;
• Agendas and presentations for the multistakeholder and validation meetings;
• Assessment protocol;
• TB stigma report in Kazakhstan;
• Costed action plan for TB stigma reduction.

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:

• Minimum five years of experience in providing technical assistance in the area of public health, community, gender, stigma and human rights related to tuberculosis;
• Master level degree in public health, social science or other relevant field;
• Experience of working with international organizations and/or national agencies implementing externally funded programs and projects.

Adequacy for the assignment:

• Proven experience in undertaking assignments related to CRG issues, particularly within the context of TB and/or HIV in EECA region, especially in Kazakhstan;
• Strong knowledge of programs to reduce CRG-related barriers to accessing health services within the context of HIV and TB;
• Experience in working with key populations, community groups and community-based organizations, preferably in the field of TB response;
• Comprehensive knowledge the TB National Strategic Plans content and implementation and related documents;
• Proven understanding of the TB service delivery systems and people-centered model of TB care;
• Knowledge of major global and regional policy documents (UN, WHO, Global Fund, Stop TB Partnership, etc.) to meet End TB targets and to guide provision of people-centered TB care;
• Demonstrated experience in collaboration with NTPs, civil society and affected TB communities in the EECA region, especially in Kazakhstan;
• Capacity to collaborate with, and where needed build the skills of, civil society organizations in Kazakhstan;
• General experience in providing technical assistance.
• Capacity to conduct consultations with the multi-stakeholder teams;
• Analytic and strategic thinking skills.

Language and other qualifications:

• Excellent spoken and written English and Russian skills
• Excellent report writing skills.

Duration of the assignment

The consultancy will take place from June to November 30, 2024 with an estimated number of 13 days.

Payment schedule

The consultant will receive the payment, upon presentation of the deliverables. 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.