Justification and Purpose of Consultancy:
Introduction
Condom kiosks increase accessibility to condoms and are an important addition to Rwanda’s prevention strategy. The initiative started in 2016, in collaboration with Rwanda Biomedical Center (RBC) with initial kiosks in 5 high-risk areas in Kigali, targeting key populations (KP) including young people and sex workers (SW); In 2017, the project expanded to 3 new areas.
Context and Justification
The Rwanda national policy on condom promotion and distribution has been developed considering all those threatened by HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections or unwanted pregnancies. When combined with education and behaviour change, condoms can be a powerful and cost-effective antidote to HIV/ADS. Condoms are the only technology available to prevent the sexual spread of the HIV virus. Condoms expand the t family planning purposes and choices as they don’t have any medical side effects and provide dual protection.
Current statistics show that among women and men who had two or more partners in the last 12 months, only 31% of men and 48% of women reported the use of condoms during sexual intercourse.” (DHS 2015).
In 2014, the Government of Rwanda through the Ministry of Health, in partnership with the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) and the City of Kigali (CoK), launched a new effort, an innovative approach to ensuring easy access to condoms in HIV hotspots in the capital city of Kigali. The innovative approach consists of installing kiosks in different areas through which condoms are distributed freely in the community.
The kiosks have been strategically placed throughout the cities in districts frequented by those at a higher risk of HIV infection, such as young people and commercial sex workers. The move is part of the Government’s broader effort to promote HIV prevention and curb new infections.
At condom kiosks, attendants are available around the clock to distribute the branded LOVE and ICON condoms.
The initiative, dubbed 24/7 Condom Kiosks Initiative (24/7 CK), involves strategic placement of ‘condom kiosks’ in 10 HIV high risk areas in the city, namely:
- 1 Gatsata
- 1 Gikondo MAGERWA
- 1 Nyamirambo (Rwezamenyo)
- 1 Remera (Migina)
- 1 Remera Giporoso
- 1 Gisimenti 1 (Car free zone)
- 1 Gisimenti 2 (Car free zone)
- 1 Ku Mukoni (Huye District)
- 1 at the market (Rusizi District)
- 1 at Petite Barriere (Rubavu Districts
The initiative aims to help reach the zero new infections target and end unwanted pregnancies. Since January 2022, in average at least 180,000 condoms have been monthly distributed through condom kiosks and almost 80 people came to the condom kiosks to seek service.
However, since the inception of the project, there has been no assessment conducted in terms of client (including the community where the condom kiosks are installed) satisfaction and the community in general.
The assessment would determine, from the community perspective, if the project is responding to the expectations of the population including young people, sex workers, and other people in need towards the reduction of new HIV infections and unwanted pregnancies among young people and youth.
Moreover, there are many requests from different local authorities about how they need these condom kiosks to be installed in different areas, but there is a lack of evidence by any assessment that the project is responding to the needs of the community and whether it is contributing to the reduction of new infection as well as to the reduction of unwanted pregnancies among young people in areas where they are already installed.
OBJECTIVES
The following objectives would therefore guide in the accomplishment of the project:
- To conduct a rapid assessment of the impact of condom kiosks in the community
- To disseminate the assessment results to different stakeholders
Scope of work: (Description of services, activities, or outputs)
Under the supervision of the RBC/HIV Division and UNFPA-Rwanda Office- HIV Prevention Program, the lead consultant will:
- Conduct a rapid assessment of community perception of the impact of condom kiosks and how the services are delivered to them.
- Conduct the validation and dissemination of the report.
- Write and submit the final assessment report.
Total Duration and working schedule: 20 days
- Conduct a rapid assessment of community perception of the impact of condom kiosks and how the services are delivered to them.
- Conduct the validation and dissemination of the report.
- Write and submit the final assessment report.
The place where services are to be delivered:
Kigali and the three districts with condom kiosks
Delivery dates and how work will be delivered:
Submission of a final assessment report
Supervisory arrangements:
The day-to-day supervision of the Consultant will be done by the HIV and Humanitarian Response Programme Officer at UNFPA, but the work will be approved by the technical core group composed of RBC, UNFPA and UNAIDS before official submission to RBC.
Expected travel:
The consultant will travel to the three districts with condom kiosks
Required expertise, qualifications, and competencies, including language requirements:
- An advanced degree (Master’s) in public health or other health services
- Proven experience working with HIV national programs, and HIV prevention areas in limited resource settings for at least 5 years, preferably HIV services for high-risk populations.
- Proven experience in public health, scientific research, and evaluation.
Inputs/services to be provided by UNFPA or implementing partner (e.g., support services, office space, equipment), if applicable:
- Required documentation for background reading.
- Support services where applicable
- Logistics arrangements while there is a need to travel
Deadline: Apply before 13/11/2023
How to apply:
Disclaimer:
UNFPA does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. Fraudulent notices, letters or offers may be submitted to the UNFPA fraud hotline http://www.unfpa.org/help/hotline.cfm
In accordance with the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations, persons applying to posts in the international Professional category, who hold permanent resident status in a country other than their country of nationality, may be required to renounce such status upon their appointment.
