TERMS OF REFERENCE
DEVELOPMENT OF A NATIONAL COMPREHENSIVE SEXUALITY EDUCATION FRAMEWORK
August 2014
1.INTRODUCTION/BACKGROUND
In 1994, Swaziland joined the 179 governments that signed up to the implementation of the Programme of Action (PoA) of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD). The ICPD Programme of Action represented a remarkable consensus among these governments that universal access to sexual and reproductive health and rights, gender equality and individual human rights and dignity are a necessary precondition for sustainable development. The recently developed Framework of Actions for the follow up of the PoA for ICPD beyond 2014 points to a need to recommit to universal access to SRHR including provision of comprehensive sexuality education for young people.
In the 20 years that have passed, Swaziland like in many other countries has made significant progress in these population and development issues such as gains in population health and life expectancy, educational attainment, and human rights protection systems. But there still remains a host of challenges that need to be addressed if Swaziland were to reach its development vision that by the Year 2022, the Kingdom will be in the top 10% of the medium human development group of countries founded on sustainable economic development, social justice and political stability (NDS, 1999).
The country’s population is relatively young with 39.6% under 15 years of age and 52% younger than 20 years, while the share of the population in age group 65+ is only 3.7%. This reflects the generally low life expectancy estimated at 43.1 years for females and 42.2 years for males (CSO, 2007). The significant drop in life expectancy from 63 years for females and 58 years for males in 1997 has been attributed to high and rising levels of AIDS induced mortality in the population. About 26% of the adult population in Swaziland is HIV infected (SDHS 2010). More than half of the HIV infected people are below 25 years. Approximately 14% of girls aged 15 – 24 years had HIV with females more infected than men (22.9% vs 5.9% respectively). Swaziland HIV Measurement Survey (SHIMS, 2012) reveals that HIV incidence among 20-24 was 4.17 % among women and 1.6% among men.
The high HIV incidence among adolescents is attributed to low comprehensive knowledge on HIV prevention, low consistent condom use, cross-generational and transactional sexual relationships, and inadequate testing and treatment of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) including HIV. Recent HIV estimates based on the periodic HIV serosurveillance surveys show that HIV prevalence is stabilizing albeit at a high level with a prevalence rate of 41.4% amongst women of reproductive age in 2010 down from 42.6% in 2004 (MoH, 2010 & 2004). In addition, the MICS (2010) found that about 3.8% of young girls started sex before their 15th birthday compared to boys at 2.6%. With regard to teenage pregnancy, about 22% of women 20-24 years of age reported to have had their first live birth before their eighteenth birthday (MICS 2010). Data indicates that although more than 98% of adolescents aged 15 – 24 knew of a modern contraception method, few actually use them (approximately 43%). In order to fully exercise the right to health, including sexual and reproductive health (SRH), all adolescents and young people require safe, effective, affordable and acceptable access to a range of services – particularly services related to pregnancy, HIV and STI prevention, testing and treatment. With the evidence showing that young people of varying ages are involved in sexual relationships it goes without saying that comprehensive sexuality education needs a strong youth friendly services component.
To address the above issues the government and its partners have been implementing SBCC /Likeskills activities using various tools amongst other activities. During a mapping exercise aimed at identifying partners implementing CSE/SRH interventions in the country and the materials used to provide CSE/SRH education it was found that there is already a pool of partners implementing these activities who use various tools for delivery of CSE activities. However, there were weaknesses in the delivery of the services in reaching young people out of school. These included lack of a comprehensive CSE framework, standardized tools, duplication of services etc. Tools used included the HIV Prevention toolkit.
In addition, the Ministry of Education and Training (MoET) with support from partners developed and approved a Guidance and Counselling curriculum for Secondary/High Schools. The curriculum has three thematic areas, namely Life Skills, Health Promotion including HIV& AIDS and Guidance & Counselling. Furthermore, the Ministry has developed a teachers’ handbook to support teachers in implementing the Guidance & Counselling curriculum and is currently being piloted in 25 secondary schools. Despite this advancement there still remain gaps in ensuring universal access to CSE for young people in the country. These are mainly:
a) Limited Content – the guidance and counseling curriculum seeks to address diverse areas that cover the vulnerabilities and needs of school children, e.g career awareness, non-communicable diseases, school grants, etc. The curriculum does not comprehensively cover sexuality and reproductive health information and needs of young people. Also, the amount of time allocated for the Guidance and Counseling in the school timetable is limited. Guidance and counseling has 30 periods of 40 minutes each in a year and only about 15 address issues of CSE.
b) Missed opportunity at primary schools – MoET does not have a stand-alone guidance and counseling Programme for primary schools. At this level, some CSE concepts are integrated into already existing subjects and this comprises the coverage of comprehensive SE. The current curriculum covers secondary school age-group 12-17 years yet according to the annual education census (2012) the adolescent population in primary schools has a number of young people 12+. The need to begin CSE in early age-group is necessary.
Against this background, the Government of Swaziland, through the Ministry of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs (MoSCYA), Ministry of Health (MoH) and Ministry of Education and Training (MoET) and their partners, is embarking on a process to develop and adopt a national CSE framework to reach both in and out of school. The framework will strengthen and harmonize the already existing MoET Lifeskills /guidance and counseling framework with reference made on internationally developed CSE frameworks by the UN and other partners.
1.1.Objectives of the Consultancy
The specific objective of the Consultancy:
i. To facilitate the development of a standardized culturally sensitive and age appropriate comprehensive sexuality education framework that defines the CSE areas of focus and delivery method targeting in and out- of school youth aged between 10 – 24 years.
ii. To conduct an orientation of stakeholders on the Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) framework.
2.SCOPE OF WORK AND TIMEFRAME
The duration of the Consultancy is over 2 months ending 31st October 2014 and performing the following tasks:
International Consultant (20 working days):
i. Lead the CSE framework development and provide overall guidance to local consultant and country team
ii. Submit a joint revised inception report for the development of the framework detailing all processes to be undertaken in the development of the framework with clear timelines and responsibilities.
iii. Review of literature including international CSE guidelines by UN, national HIV prevention toolkit, Ministry of Education and Training career guidance framework, SNYC’s Common Wealth Youth Programme framework and other resources to ensure that they are well incorporated in the national CSE framework and are contextualized to Swaziland;
iv. Conduct stakeholder consultations to inform the framework development processes and to create ownership and buy-in by all stakeholders;
v. Develop and finalize the evidence based national CSE framework in collaboration with the Technical Working Group;
vi. Validate and finalize the framework through a presentation to stakeholders
vii. Conduct orientation of stakeholders on the CSE framework.
3.KEY DELIVERABLES
i. A revised joint inception report detailing consultancy work plan and proposed strategies, as well as list of all available frameworks and texts in Swaziland on the subject matter.
ii. Facilitate stakeholder consultations meetings for adoption of the CSE framework.
iii. Develop the CSE framework facilitate validation meetings with TWG and stakeholders
iv. Submit minutes of all meetings with TWG members.
v. Debrief the Government (MoH, MoSCYA, and MoET) and UN team upon completion of assignment.
vi. Present finalized national CSE framework to stakeholders.
vii. Facilitate orientation workshop on the use of the framework and submission of workshop report.
4.REPORTING MECHANISMS
The consultant will be accountable to the UNFPA Representative and the Ministry of Health and working directly with a technical working group (TWG) of key partners which has been set up for this process. Meetings and workshops of TWG and stakeholders will be arranged by the government with support from UNFPA.
5.QUALIFICATIONS
i. A Master’s Degree in Education, Social Sciences, Sociology, Demography or other related fields.
ii. Experience in developing Behavior Change Communication frameworks, including curriculum development
iii. Experience and knowledge on Comprehensive Sexuality Education, as well as Adolescent and Youth Sexual and Reproductive Health programmes.
iv. Experience in designing education programmes for young people.
v. Excellent writing and oral communication skills with proven record of similar work.
vi. Familiarity with the Swaziland national policies related to SRH and HIV will be an added advantage.
vii. Demonstrated facilitation skills and ability to work in teams.
viii. Fluency in English
6.EXPECTED OUTCOME
An age-appropriate and culturally-sensitive national CSE framework based on national policies and past experiences, as well as the international CSE guidelines.
How to apply:
Interested individuals are invited to submit their expression of interest, detailed CV, and proof of qualifications marked “CSE FRAMEWORK DEVELOPMENT CONSULTANCY”to The Representative, UNFPA Offices 2nd Floor Lilunga House P.O.BOX 261 Mbabane or emailed tomlotsa@unfpa.org on or before the 25 August 2014. All applications are to be accompanied by certified copies of certificates and the completed and signed Personal History form (P11 Form) attached.
