Terms of Reference: Building knowledge and skills of university students on sexual and reproductive health and HIV
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Background
Young people represent nearly 30 percent of the total population in Myanmar. While many health and education indicators have been improving rapidly in recent decades among this population, sexual and reproductive health (SRH) is often an overlooked aspect of young people’s well-being. For example, only one-third (32%) of young women had comprehensive knowledge of HIV, and 20% of women of all ages report having an unmet need for family planning in recent surveys. Abortion remains highly restricted, and is available only to save a woman’s life.
Moreover, while HIV prevalence is low overall for young people, it remains of great concern among young key populations at higher risk of HIV exposure. For example, significant levels of HIV infection have been found in the 2012 surveillance survey among young men who have sex with men (7.1% among those aged 20-24) , among young women selling sex (3.4% among those aged 15-19 and 7.4% among those aged 20-24 in 2012) , and 15% among young people who inject drugs (20-24 year-olds in 2012) .
Myanmar’s National Strategic Plan on HIV and AIDS 2011-2015 recognises the need to reduce HIV-related risk and vulnerability among young people. It proposes a number of interventions including reaching out to mobile young people including students who live in dormitories (including some university and college students). It also calls on particular interventions to those engaging in high risk behaviours and on reducing stigma and discrimination.
UNESCO provided support in 2013 to integrate build capacity on SRH/HIV issues including through trainings with participants from teacher education colleges, Ministry of Education, Akhayar women groups, and other community based organizations working for women and young people from 14 different townships. In addition, UNESCO also started providing SRH education training to students from General Technical University (Thanlyin) in 2014 to promote SRH education among university students.
Moreover, other partners including UNFPA and national and international NGOs have expanded information available to university students through different strategies, including peer education approaches to promote broader outreach to young people. Peer education promotes youth participation in educational activities by empowering them to be role models, advocates and educators and by building their own knowledge and capacities while strengthening those of their peers.
UNESCO is interested in engaging an institutional partner to support a programme of work in 2014-2015 to build knowledge on SRH/HIV issues among university students, and their capacities to deliver related information and to impart health-seeking on SRH/HIV among their peers.
Objectives
The institution contracted by UNESCO will contribute to:
• Building knowledge and skills on SRH/HIV among more than 20,000 university students from minimum three universities in Myanmar;
• Building capacity of minimum 30 young leaders/advocates from the identified universities to deliver SRH/HIV information and to impart related skills to their peers;
• Compiling lessons learned and good practice on delivering SRH/HIV education through peer based approaches in universities in Yangon to inform future efforts in this area.
Work Assignments:
The tasks to be conducted include but are not limited to:
1. Development of a training resource for university students on SRH/HIV. This curriculum should draw on existing materials, and include a focus on SRH, HIV and how to share this information among peers through different approaches.
2. Development of information, education and communication (IEC) materials on SRH/HIV related topics for use in education and related campaigns in universities, and other strategies (e.g. social media and mass media) for university audiences.
3. Support to at least one campus-wide activity in each university to generate interest and support from teachers, university administrators and students on peer education on SRH, HIV issues and broader awareness and knowledge.
4. Provide monitoring and oversight, and document outcomes and lessons learned from the project, including support to an end-project review with relevant stakeholders.. This information should be provided in a short report at the end of the project cycle including lessons learned and next steps.
Qualifications or Specialized Knowledge/Experience Required:
The institution selected to support this work will need to be registered, and require:
• Demonstrated capacity in working with youth organizations in Myanmar, with a preference for those with previous experience supporting SRH/HIV trainings for young peer educators;
• Demonstrated experience supporting capacity development activities, including trainings and coaching and mentoring of young people in Myanmar;
• Long-standing experience working on issues including SRH, HIV, stigma and discrimination and young people in Myanmar, with a preference for those agencies with ongoing programmes in this area;
• Previous experience working with the UN/multilateral/bilateral institutions in Myanmar;
• Willingness to provide any type of matching funding will be considered an asset.
Contract arrangements
UNESCO will issue the contract and be the primary focal point with the selected institution. Two contracts will be established for this work, one through December 2014 and one through September 2015.
UNESCO will work closely as a technical partner on the implementation of the work through 2015, including reviewing and contributing to any technical products developed over the project lifecycle; participating and facilitating trainings, where appropriate; and supporting the monitoring of outcomes.. Appropriate recognition of UNESCO support, including the use of the UNESCO logo for materials and activities implemented in this partnership will be required.
Interested institutions/organizations should submit a short (3-5 pages) proposal including a proposed strategy, proposed timeline and estimated budget for completing this activity by 1 October 2014 to pp.phyo@unesco.org, copying tl.ngo@unesco.org.
Proposals for this work should not exceed 25,000 USD, and include a clear breakdown in 2014 and 2015 budget and activities. The most competitive bid will be selected and institutions able to demonstrate synergies with their existing work, and/or able to provide matching funding will be considered favourably.