Low Value Consultant: Facilitator for Health Network Meeting, ESARO at UNICEF

Goal and Objective:

Under the supervision of the ESARO Regional Health Advisor, and in close collaboration with members of the ESARO Health Section, the consultant will plan for and facilitate a dynamic and participatory 5-day Health Network Meeting, ensuring participant views are heard and discussions are open and engaging.  

The goals of this meeting include:

• To define strategic actions at the country and regional levels, based on best practices and lessons learnt from countries, to achieve country and regional health priorities. In particular, increase of immunization coverage, quality improvement of perinatal and newborn care, more equitable access to child health interventions, resilience, emergency preparedness and response to PHE.
• To review the progress of previously agreed key policy, strategic and operational actions made during last Health network meeting with aim to further identify challenges, lessons learnt, opportunities and best practices towards regional knowledge management and exchange.
• Through team building exercisers foster stronger cohesion, communication, and collaboration within the regional health network and scale for impact.
• To exchange information on the latest global, regional, and country level health and cross-sectoral developments, key trends, partnerships, opportunities influencing child health programing in ESAR.
• To discuss visioning for PHC oriented health systems strengthening and through deep dives of specific thematic areas identify programming priorities and approaches to scale, accelerate progress and achieve impact on child health and wellbeing through PHC approach.

WORK ASSIGNMENT

Activities and Tasks

The contractor is expected to provide high-quality facilitation of the Health Network meeting.  Specifically, he/she will

• Participate in planning meetings to finalize the meeting agenda, activities, and logistics prior to the Health Network Meeting. Provide strategic advice to refine the agenda with regard to flow, interactive participation and manageability from a facilitation perspective.
• Meet with session leads, with a view toward providing strategic advice as to how best to run each session to ensure maximum engagement and participation and refine workshop methodologies and approaches.
• Prepare a facilitation plan, as per the prescribed agenda and session plans.
• Develop guidance for discussion panelists and presenters as well as meeting evaluation.
• Design a plan for recording key actions and decisions during the meeting, and work with individual rapporteurs during the meeting to synthesize and compile key actions and feedback to the larger group in an engaging manner
• Introduce and close out the meeting days and ensure transition between individual sessions.
• Ensure the meeting sessions flow and stay within their prescribed time
• Develop and lead icebreakers, energizers, and other team building activities, including a special team building session on the morning/first day of the meeting.
• Organize and conduct a meeting assessment/evaluation; and prepare a short report documenting the meeting results and agreed actions

DELIVERABLES

Outputs/Deliverables 

• Finalized meeting agenda and plan of facilitation, including advice for interactive activities / sessions.
• Preparation and packaging of meeting materials on an online Health Section Network Meeting SharePoint site that will be set up by the Health Section.
• Workshop is facilitated as per schedule.
• Final network meeting workshop and evaluation report.

QUALIFICATION OR SPECIALIZED KNOWLEDGE/EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

• Advanced degree in a social sciences or related field (e.g., organisational development and/or communications)
• At least five (8) years of progressively advanced experience in team development and meeting facilitation, including regional/global meetings/workshops.
• Excellent communication and writing skills in English, including ability to convey detailed information in a clear manner to a diverse audience.
• Software – Good knowledge of MS Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
• Full working knowledge of online and interactive meeting technology (e.g., Zoom, MS-Teams, Mentimeter, Slido, SharePoint, etc)
• Previous working experience with UN and/or international organization desirable
• Demonstrated ability to work in a multicultural environment and establish effective work relationships
• Flexible and able to respond to and accommodate change easily.
• Ability to work under pressure and respond to deadlines without sacrificing quality.