CONSULTANCY – SURVEY ANALYSIS

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS

CONSULTANCY – SURVEY ANALYSIS

UNAIDS Philippines, in behalf of the Department of Health – Epidemiology Bureau (DOH-EB), will recruit a consultant to do the Analysis of the 2018 Philippine Integrated HIV Behavioral and Serologic Surveillance (IHBSS) Datasets

Background

The HIV epidemic in the Philippines is largely driven by high-risk behaviors among key populations, including males having sex with males (MSM), injecting drug users (IDU), and female sex workers (FSW). Since the Philippines has an evolving concentrated HIV epidemic, the national surveillance system plays a key role in monitoring the HIV situation and proving information to improve the country’s response to the epidemic.

In 1993, the Epidemiology Bureau (DOH-EB) of the Department of Health initiated an active surveillance system to monitor the HIV situation in few localities. In 2005, the serologic and behavioral surveillances were integrated to become the Philippine Integrated HIV Behavioral and Serologic Surveillance (IHBSS) which aimed to provide in-depth information of the HIV situation in the country. It has been implemented every two years since then.

In 2018, the DOH-EB spearheaded the seventh round of the IHBSS in coordination with regional partners and local Social Hygiene Clinics (SHC). The surveillance populations are those most vulnerable to HIV transmission, namely males who have sex with males, female sex workers and people in closed settings. The groups, sampling methods and the number of sites included for this surveillance round are listed below:

Key Affected Population	Sampling Method	Number
		of Sites
Males and Transgender Women who have Sex with Males (MSM and TGW)	Time Location Sampling	13
Female Sex Workers (FSW)	Systematic Sampling	10
People in Closed Settings	Systematic Sampling	2

Data from the 25 surveillance activities were categorized into three different datasets according to surveillance population. Data gathered from this round will help monitor the country’s epidemic and evaluate current interventions. In addition, these data will be translated and utilized by both national and local implementers for program improvement. Thus, technical assistance in data analysis and capacity-building of the DOH-EB staff in carrying out such analyses will contribute in establishing a more robust HIV surveillance system that produces quality data for country policies and programs.

Purpose of the Consultancy

To provide technical assistance to the DOH-EB in the analysis and technical write-up of the 2018 IHBSS

Expected Outcomes

1.      Protocols and analytical framework for the 2018 IHBSS datasets developed

a.     Weighted and unweighted analysis of MSM datasets

b.     Analysis of FSW datasets

c.     Analysis of People in Closed Settings datasets

2.      Data analyses conducted using the protocols

3.      Data analysis workshop with DOH-EB staff and key local surveillance personnel conducted

4.      2018 IHBSS Technical Report for FSW and MSM written and finalized

Deliverables

1.     Inception Report with Gantt Chart (work plan) and Dummy Tables

2.     Protocols and analytical framework for the 2018 IHBSS datasets

3.     2018 IHBSS Technical Report for FSW and MSM

Duration of the Contract

The consultant will work 20 days level of effort (LOE) between the 22 April 2019 and 15 June 2019.

Qualifications/Experience

1.     Expertise in HIV epidemiology, especially among Males who have Sex with Males (MSM), Female Sex Workers (FSW) and People in Closed Settings

2.     Expertise in analyzing datasets that used Time Location Sampling

3.     Expertise in technical writing

4.     Completion of master’s degree in public health or public health-related field

5.     Good working track record with government, NGOs, and agencies

6.     Good research and communication skills

7.     Demonstrated experience in the field of HIV and AIDS and strong background and experience on MSM, TG and HIV related issues, an advantage

8.     Capacity to work in a team

Application

Send 1) Curriculum vitae and 2) Brief description of why the individual considers him/herself as the most suitable for the assignment, on or before 12 April 2019 to:

Ms Lourdes Ramos, UNAIDS Philippines, ramosl@unaids.org