Consultant Support Ministry of Health to implement PHC forum recommendations, Bissau, 6 Months

Contract

This is a Consultancy contract. More about Consultancy contracts.

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, [insert tagline]

Scope of Work: Regarding the Human Development Index (0.483 in 2021), Republic of Guinea-Bissau is classified in place 177th, out of a total of 191 countries. The economy is fragile, with weak mobilization of domestic resources, lack of dynamism in the private sector and weak development of human capital. Agriculture (essentially for subsistence, but with a great deal of exports of raw cashew nuts) and fishing, also artisanal, are the main sectors of economic activity in the country.

Population projections from the United Nations Population Fund, in 2019, the average life expectancy at birth was 59.4 years, with 61.3 years for females and 57.3 for males. Data from 2018 indicate that around 35.7% of the population lived in urban areas and 64.3% in rural areas. In terms of age structure, the country's young population predominates: 62% of people are between 0 and 24 years old. Women represent 51.1% of the population and 49% are between 15 and 49 years old.

The health indicator is among the worst in west Africa, the maternal mortality ratio (MMR) is 667 per 100,000 live births; Neonatal mortality rate is 22 per 1,000 live births; Infant mortality rate 35 per 1,000 live births; the post-neonatal mortality rate is 14 per 1,000 live births and the infant and youth mortality rate is 16 per 1,000 live births

Guinea-Bissau is a signatory of the sustainable development goals. The government and its partners found that progress is being too slow compared to the proposed objectives for 2030 due to weak planning, weak investment of domestic financial resources in the health sector and the relegation of primary health care to the background to the detriment of second or third level hospital care.

Based on these findings, the Ministry of Health, UNICEF, and other partners organized a national forum to assess and discuss the revitalization of primary health care, from February 6th to 8th of this year. The recommendations of the forum propose the carrying out of coherent planning from bottom to top in a participatory manner with the aim of obtaining synergies and complementarity of partners, as well as providing the Ministry of Health with the necessary information for the elaboration of the proposal of the state budget that considers the needs of health regions for the provision of primary health care and referral of cases.

To achieve this objective, UNICEF proposes to recruit an expert to support the Ministry of Health in the preparation of the concept note and tools for the elaboration of the operational plans for the health regions based on the national health development plan and the recommendations of the Forum for the revitalization of primary health care.

To achieve the objective proposed, the consultant will:

In a first phase:

• Proceed with the analysis of proposals for planning instruments in the regions proposed by IANDA-GUINE and the former used by MINSAP and propose their discussion, validation, if necessary, in the consensus workshop.
• Hold a meeting with key partners to collect their points of view on the matter
• Organize feedback sessions with Ministry of Health authorities and partners on the progress of the process.
• Produce periodical reports (for each deliverable).

In a second phase:

• Lead the process of preparing the concept note and instruments for elaborating the operational plan for the health regions based on modules: Immunization, SRMNCH + Nutrition, health Emergencies and enabling environmental
• Organize a workshop bringing together technicians from the Ministry of Health, including the thematic groups formed during the PHC forum, INASA, technical and financial partners, Ministry of Economy, Ministry of Finance, and others deemed necessary, may organize other workshops deemed necessary to achieve the proposed objective
• Guide, during the workshop the discussion, correction, adequacy of the existing planning instruments in planning modules proposed in the technical meetings between MINSAP and partners and their technical validation.
• Organize feedback sessions with Ministry of Health authorities and partners on the progress of the process.
• Produce periodical reports (for each deliverable).

In a third phase

• Elaborate and validate, in collaboration with the MoH planning office, the schedule and budget for the implementation of regional planning activities.
• Form and constitute a group of facilitators and designate a coordinator for each health region.
• Organize and lead the planning process in health regions in collaboration with Ministry of Health authorities and other partners (WHO, UNFPA, UNDP, GF, EU etc.)
• Organize feedback sessions with Ministry of Health authorities and partners on the progress of the process.
• Produce periodical reports (for each deliverable).

In a Fourth phase:

• Write the proposal with two names of facilitators who will be responsible for the follow-up of one or more regions.
• Support the Ministry of Health in the integration of operational regional plans into a national plan
• Organize feedback sessions with Ministry of Health authorities and partners on the progress of the process.
• Produce final report

ADMINISTRATIVE ISSUES

General Conditions: The contract will be for six -month period (134 working days). This assignment includes field mission to organise workshop. The consultant will be based at the UNICEF Country Office, but he can also work from home when previously negotiated with his supervisor. The consultant is expected to use his/her own electronic devices to perform the assignment. However, he/she will be authorized to use facilities such as the Office copy machine and scanner during the contract period, as well as internet connection. The Consultant will work under the supervision of the Deputy-Representative of UNICEF and will carry out his tasks in collaboration with one of the NOCs of the health section appointed for this purpose.

PAYMENT SCHEDULE Payment will be done according to the deliverables outlined below. Payment of professional fees will be based on the submission of agreed satisfactory deliverables. UNICEF reserves the right to request withholding of payment in case the deliverables submitted are not up to the required standard or in case of delays in submitting the deliverables on the part of the consultant.

CRITERIA FOR SELECTION PROCESS Interested consultants should provide the following: • Cover letter describing the candidate’s relevant experience with similar type of assignments (max 300 words). • Updated E-profile

Include with your application:

A Technical proposal The candidate should submit a proposal explaining a short description of methodology or approach on how to deliver the assignment as per the TORs including field visits.

A financial proposal The financial proposal will include all costs related to this consultancy (consultancy fees, DSA for field mission) in USD to complete the assigned ToRs tasks as captured in the scope of work. The final selection will be based on the principle of “best value for money” i.e., achieving desired outcome at lowest possible fee.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

• University degree in medical sciences or related area.
• More than 8 years of work experience in the health system strengthening, including experience in developing health planning instruments and regional operational plans.
• Excellent writing, analytical and synthesis skills.
• Experience of working in international environments especially in PALOPs (African Portuguese speaking countries)
• Good knowledge of the country context is an asset.
• Familiarity with UNICEF mission and mandate is an asset.
• Experience in the UN common system is desirable.
• Demonstrated ability to working in a multicultural environment and establish harmonious and effective relationships with national partners.
• Proven ability to work under tight timelines.
• Very good command of written and spoken Portuguese
• Proficiency in English is required.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS).

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

Remarks:

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws.

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.