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For every child, opportunity

Menstrual Health and Hygiene (MHH) is an essential aspect of health and hygiene for women between menarche and menopause. Menstrual Health and Hygiene implies that, adolescent girls and women can access accurate, timely, age-appropriate information as well as safe and friendly infrastructure and materials throughout their life-course. It also implies getting timely diagnosis, treatment and care for menstrual cycle-related discomforts and pain; free from stigma, discrimination, and psychosocial stress to enable menstruating women and girls to participate in education, cultural, economic, social, and political activities during all phases of the menstrual cycle. Globally, more than 300 million women between the ages of 15 and 49 years are menstruating on any given day.

Menstrual Health and Hygiene (MHH) is a crucial element for the fulfilment of girls’ and women’s rights, a vital objective of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and a component of gender-responsive WASH services. The SDG 6.2 acknowledges the right to MHH with the explicit aim to “achieve access to adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene for all and end open defecation, by 2030”. Women and girls’ access to MHH is also central to achieving other SDGs as lack of basic knowledge about puberty and menstruation may contribute to early and unwanted pregnancy; stress and shame that can negatively affect mental health. Lack of safe menstrual products and sanitation and hygiene services may lead to health risks (SDG 3). Girls might be absent or less attentive in school during menstruation due to lack of WASH facilities or support care from the school community, which affects quality of education as per SDG 4. Insufficient MHH services impacts women and girls' participation at work affecting their access to gender equity and equality on social and economic opportunities (SDG 5, 8, 12). Poor disposal systems for menstrual wastes can adversely affect the environment (SDG 15) and sustainability of cities and communities (SDG 11).

There has been significant progress on MHH in Tanzania, with increasing collaboration and action between diverse partners, who formed the Menstrual Health and Hygiene (MHH) Coalition. Parliamentarians have been engaged to become MHH Champions and MHH is increasingly discussed in Parliament. VAT on sanitary products was removed in 2018 and whilst it was put back on a year later, it was still a significant progress. There are a range of MHH related publications being used across sectors that provide guidance on MHH – including girls books; a National School WASH Strategic Plan and a National SWASH Guidelines and Toolkits; School Life Skills Guidelines; Safe School Program; MHH Coalition Strategy; National Accelerated Investment Agenda for Accelerated Health and Well-being; National Health Sector Strategic Plan; and National Strategy for Accelerating Sanitation and Hygiene for All (2020 – 2025).

Whilst significant progress has been made in raising MHH as a political agenda, barriers are still being faced in prioritization, budgeting, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation of MHH services thus calling for development of comprehensive MHH guidelines to address the challenges. In comparison to other East African countries, Kenya unlike Tanzania, has made a step forward in developing specific national policy, strategy, and guidelines for MHH. This has led to provision of free sanitary towels to all girls in public primary schools, and some secondary schools as well as removal of VAT and Excise Duty on sanitary pads and materials for making sanitary pads. Likewise, Uganda, developed a five-year national strategic plan for Menstrual Health and Hygiene in 2020 and has provided standards for manufacturing of MHH products.

The MHH report by NIMR on adolescent girls’ perceptions about the provision of MHH services in shcools, 2021 has revealed several MHH challenges in Tanzania including inadequate knowledge (72%), unaffordable commercial menstrual products (40%), inadequate handwashing facilities (70%), lack of disposal solution (75%), lack of changing rooms with basic amenities (83%), girls reported to miss school for at least 48 of school every year (17%)

Rationale

Despite having policies, strategies, guidelines, frameworks and ongoing programs in WASH and other related sectors, MHH has not been addressed comprehensively, thus limiting access and availability to better MHH information, services, and products. This has affected women and girls’ health, education, dignity, respect, and participation in social and economic activities. Furthermore, existing policies and guidelines have overlooked MHH’s importance as a determinant of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). The linkages between SRHR and MH are twofold: the biological associations between MHH and fertility, contraceptive use, reproductive tract infections, maternal health, and HIV are increasingly evident, while sociocultural barriers, including stigma, lack of knowledge, restrictive social norms and practices, gender norms, and structural barriers, also create bi-directional linkages between MHH and SRHR. These biological and sociocultural barriers result in girls, women and people who menstruate being ill-prepared to make and have agency over decisions related to sex, relationships, family planning, and health, thereby perpetuating the cycle of poor SRHR and broader development outcomes.

In response to these MHH observations, which are multisectoral, the Ministry of Health (MoH) plans to develop a Comprehensives National MHH guidelines that will guide key policy and decision-makers, Development Partners, technical experts, teachers, implementing partners and other stakeholders on provision of standard and quality MHH services. The Guideline will assist stakeholders in providing MHH education, conducting community awareness programs, providing friendly MHH services, including a safe disposal mechanism, and emphasising the use of standards for manufacturing and importing disposable and reusable menstrual materials. The Guideline, therefore, aspires to strengthen and guide stakeholders' engagement in MHH responsive programs to provide inclusive and sustainable services to women and girls in Tanzania.

How can you make a difference? 

Broad objective

The main objective of this assignment is to develop comprehensive National Menstrual Health and Hygiene Guidelines and its toolkits that will guide implementers at National, Sub-national and Community levels on MHH education and awareness creation programs, provision of friendly MHH facilities and services, quality supplies, distribution of menstrual materials/products and use of strategic SBCC approaches to raise awareness and transform negative social cultural norms and taboos.

Specific Objectives:

• To provide requirements and specifications for inclusive MHH facilities such as latrines/changing room with basic amenities, waste collection and safe disposal mechanism, at various settings including school, healthcare facilities, households, and public places (markets, bus terminals, hotels, offices etc.).
• To provide guidance on menstrual materials/products supply chain including specifications for importation, certification process, production, handling, and safe disposal.
• To provide key gender transformative and SBCC approaches for positive MHH results at different levels and different population groups/characteristics
• To provide guidance for delivering integrated MHH-SRH education and services at different levels
• To provide implementation framework and sustainable coordination mechanism at sub-national and community level including mainstreaming MHH into existing structure, policies, guidelines, and key ministries for prioritization and budgeting  in MTEFs
• To provide MHH monitoring and evaluation framework with key priority indicators for Tanzania
• To develop simplified tool kits for MHH implementation at different levels.

 Scope of Work

The assignment will involve the following set of tasks.

1.     Inception report to include:

1.1.   MHH situation analysis globally, regionally, and nationally

·       MHH best practices at Households; Institutions (e.g., schools, Healthcare Facilities, Working places) and public places (hotels, highways, bus terminals, markets, emergency camp sites, etc.)

·       Number of women/girls at reproductive age in Tanzania including women/girls with disabilities

·       Number of menstrual products/materials imported in Tanzania in the past five (5) years

·       MHH Programming Best practices in Nationally, Globally and Regionally that managed to break Systemic and Community barriers

·       Best MHH coordination practices especially at Sub-national and community level and suggest mainstreaming approach within existing structure

·       Knowledge and perception of MHH in rural and urban areas and among different population groups.

·       Existing MHH infrastructure and services in communities, institutions, and public places (e.g., Churches, markets etc.)

·       Nutrition needs for menstruating girls and women

1.2.   MHH stakeholders mapping at National level (including key government actors, geographical coverage, and their roles and responsibilities).

1.3.   MHH policy landscape and existing guidelines in Tanzania including review of the status on how MHH is integrated in education, work, and health policies.

1.4.   Overall methodology, guideline outline and timeline to achieve expected results (deliverables)

2.     To develop national MHH guidelines with details on:

2.1  MHH infrastructure, services and best practices in institutions and public places (e.g., schools/ HCF/ Workplaces)

2.2  MHH best practices at Household level (urban and rural)

2.3  MHH services and best practices for people with disabilities and other vulnerable groups (e.g., last mile, mobile population etc...)

2.4  MHH services and best practices for out-of-school adolescent girls/youths.

2.5  MHH products/materials and supplies standards (including information on quality, importation, distribution, certification process, production, handling, disposal etc.)

2.6  Strategic SBCC approaches (across the social ecological model)  to address negative social and cultural norms and disparities between communities and individuals

2.7  Provision of integrated MHH-SRH education and services

2.8  Gender Based Violence (GBV), Sexual Exploitation and Abuse, Online Child Exploitation and Abuse and stigmatization related to MHH

2.9  Nutritional needs for menstruating girls and women

2.10              Best practices and platforms for men and boys’ engagement in MHH

2.11              MHH inclusive infrastructure designs, amenities, and Operation and Maintenance Framework

2.12              Service directory, roles, and responsibilities of stakeholders at national and sub-national level and sustainable coordination mechanism

2.13              MHH M&E framework

2.14              Sustainability framework for MHH interventions/services

3.     To develop simplified tool kits on:

3.1  MHH Training manual for schools, community, public places, and other relevant  institutions

3.2  Construction of standard MHH changing rooms, incinerator, amenities, and Operation and Maintenance

3.3  Strategic SBCC across the social ecological model to transform norms, change taboos and improve overall awareness.  (Awareness, community engagement, advocacy, social mobilization, and coordination)

3.4  MHH-SRH education and services delivery toolkit

3.5  M&E (Checklists and tools for supervision)

3.6  Menstrual materials, products and supplies standards, importation, certification process, production, handling, and disposal (including components of Menstrual kit).

DELIVERABLES AND TIME FRAME   

PAYMENT SCHEDULE.
Payments will be made upon submission and acceptance of the specified deliverables in the table above under section TASKS, DELIVERABLE AND TIME FRAME. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold all or portion of payment if performance is unsatisfactory, if work/output is incomplete, not delivered or for failure to meet deadlines. 

ASSESSMENT / SELECTION PROCESS AND METHODS

• Evaluations: The applicant should submit both technical and financial proposal which clearly stipulate how the work will be conducted. The Financial Proposal should include all costs of this assignment including fee, travel costs, accommodation as UNICEF will not pay any DSA.
• Proposals will be both technically and financially evaluated. The technical part will carry a weight of 75%, in which the consultant will put clear his/her technical approach to ensure quality attainment of each deliverable and the consultancy in totality. The financial part will carry 25% showing the proposed budget breakdown of consultancy cost for each deliverable (fees, travels and accommodation) and eventual total consultancy cost.
• Technical proposal will be evaluated on the following the criteria:
  • Years of expertise experience
  • Academic qualifications
  • Specialized expertise
  • Relevant Experience

MEDICAL EVACUATION COVERAGE.
The consultant will be required to submit the proof of medical/Health Insurance with medical evacuation coverage.

REPORTING

The consultant will report to Directorate of Preventive Services at Ministry of Health (MHH unit lead) together with UNICEF and will work in close collaboration with MHH coalition secretariat and partners at large.

LOCATION, DURATION & LOGISTIC
The consultant will execute the tasks in his/her own town and in Dar es Salaam, Dodoma and Morogoro as required and guided by the Directorate of Preventive Services at Ministry of Health. The Consultant will provide his own workspace and facilities and organize his own transport to meeting locations.

This consultancy is expected to travel for a minimum of 21 days. All the cost should be included in your financial proposal.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have… 

MoH is looking for an expert in MHH and who has an immerse and extensive knowledge on public health guideline development. The consultant must have:

• Masters’ degree and above in public health, sociology, community development, anthropology, social welfare, gender and development or any other relevant field.
• Minimum of ten (10) years’ work experience in public health, MHH, SRH, WASH and SBCC
• Evidence of prior experience in developing national guidelines and technical capacities on key pillars by presenting at least two sample writings (e.g., WASH, SBCC, SRHR, M&E, Supply chain/ social marketing)
• Extensive experience in coordination multisectoral programs with close collaboration with the government.
• Thorough knowledge of the MHH agenda from global, continental, regional and national level
• Analytical and writing skills in English
• Understanding of the Tanzania context and cultural diversity.

For every Child, you demonstrate… 

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS).  

To view our competency framework, please visit here.  

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

Remarks: 

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws.

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.

UNICEF only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at http://www.whed.net/.

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Qualified persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply for UN vacancies and are protected from discrimination during all stages of employment.”