Consultancy – Development of RIAAT-ESA Strategic Plan 2023 – 2027

Background

The Regional Inter-Agency Task Team on Children and AIDS in Eastern and Southern Africa (RIATT-ESA) is a network of organisations working together to influence global, regional and national policy formulation and implementation for children and their families. RIATT-ESA uses an evidence-driven approach across three pillars of action- research, knowledge sharing, and advocacy to support programmes and policy makers in efforts to provide comprehensive care and support for HIV infected and affected children and their families. The partners of the network come from regional political and economic bodies; civil society organisations; academia; funders; and UN agencies. RIATT-ESA was formed in 2006 as a regional affiliate of the Inter-Agency Task Team (IATT). RIATT-ESA was set up in response to a recommendation by the global Inter-Agency Network on Children and AIDS (IATT-CABA) to establish regional task teams.

RIATT-ESA is informed by the following three Strategic Pillars in their work:

• Policy, Development, Review, Alignment, Harmonization and implementation;
• HIV-sensitive child protection, prevention, treatment, care and support; and
• Research, Information and Knowledge Management.

In the current Strategy RIATT-ESA has been working on AIDS and Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights in Eastern and Southern Africa through implementing the: United Nations SDG’s 2030, UNGASS Political Declaration on HIV and AIDS 2016, CRC, World Health Global Action Plan 2013-2020, WHA Assembly Resolution 67.19 of 2014 on palliative care, and the SADC Health Protocol (1999).

In the proposed Strategic Plan, RIATT-ESA will revisit its vision, mission, goals, and strategic objectives and propose the direction for the next strategic planning cycle running until 2027.

Vision and Mission

RIATT-ESA Vision: Universal access to prevention, treatment, care, and support for children affected by AIDS in Eastern and Southern Africa.

RIATT-ESA Mission: To strategically influence global, regional, and national policy formulation and implementation for children and their families affected by AIDS through research; knowledge generation and dissemination; and advocacy.

RIATT-ESA Goal: Scaled-up, coordinated, and more effective response for children affected by AIDS in Eastern and Southern Africa.

The RIATT-ESA partners pool their advocacy and technical expertise through the use of three technical working groups which are advocacy, care and support, and social protection. The new strategy 2023-2027 will build on the achievements of the current strategy and incorporate emerging issues.

Methodology

This consultancy will employ a literature review for existing information on RIATT-ESA and related theoretical literature to develop the analytical framework. Over and above this, the following steps are suggested as the standard methodology to develop the strategic plan process. The methodology to be used should incorporate secondary data review in addition to quantitative and qualitative primary data collection methods.

Purpose and Objectives of the Assignment

1) Review and analyse RIATT-ESA’s existing strategic plan for 2018-2022 and key documents with a focus to understanding “Where RIATT-ESA is?”

2) Conduct consultative meetings with Steering Committee, RIATT-ESA’s management, and partners, to synthesize RIATT-ESA’s key learnings and identify strategic opportunities and incorporate findings to use them as a source to inform the development of the first draft.

3) Define RIATT-ESA’s network proposition, its strategic priorities, and action plans.

4) Develop an effective internal MEAL mechanism to continually assess RIATT-ESA’s progress in achieving its strategic goals.

5) Conduct a presentation to RIATT-ESA’s members and partners for review and input on the first draft.

7) Draft the Strategic Plan and present it to the Steering Committee and partners for validation and approval after necessary revisions.

Deliverables

1. Well written, logical and coherent Strategy Document
2. RIATT-ESA Strategic Plan and Costed Implementation Plan (2023-2027)
3. RIATT-ESA summary strategy power point presentation.

Duration of Assignment

The duration of the assignment is twenty-one (21) working days.

Qualifications

• University degree (Phd or Masters) in organisational development, social sciences, business management, strategic planning, or other related fields.
• Minimum of 8 years’ experience in strategic planning and facilitation.
• Strong knowledge of Children’s and Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights and the situation of children affected by AIDS in Eastern and Southern Africa.
• Strong Knowledge of global and regional policies and frameworks for children and adolescents.
• Knowledge of RIATT-ESA history, partners, and work.
• Excellent writing skills.
• Excellent communication, facilitation and synthesis skills
• Excellent organisational skills