Consultant - to provide technical advice to PHC Unit

Contract

This is a No grade contract. More about No grade contracts.

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Purpose of the consultancy

The main objective of this consultancy is to provide technical advice to PHC Unit in Engaging the Private Health Sector for Advancing Universal Health Coverage in Selected Countries of the Eastern Mediterranean Region, through:

• Technical cooperation to enhance the implementation of the five strategies included in the Framework of Action on Effective Engagement with the Private Health Sector to Expand Service Coverage for Universal Health Coverage.
• Experience sharing and capacity building on “Strategies to Improve Private Sector Engagement for Universal Health Coverage”.
• Evidence generation and analytical work on options for improving private health sector engagement for improved service delivery.

Background

In moving towards Universal Health Coverage [UHC], engaging the private health sector [PHS] is inevitable. In most Eastern Mediterranean Region [EMR] countries, the private sector is a dominant outpatient health services provider, yet its role is not fully understood. It is poorly regulated and existing paltry partnerships between public and private sectors are not adequately organized. In addition, the private health sector has grown with minimal policy direction and is hardly part of governments’ health sector planning processes. The huge and ever-growing private sector in the region, remains an untapped resource in the context of UHC.

The renewed impetus on UHC, in the context of 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and the concerns about patient safety and protection against out-of-pocket catastrophic and impoverishing health expenditures, emphasis the urgent need to invest in capacity building among Ministries of Health to design, manage, monitor and evaluate the role of the PHS in health and the various mechanisms for engaging the PHS, including through public-private partnerships. Without involving the PHS under a mutually agreed national policy framework, and developing effective partnerships, UHC would remain a dream in many countries.

In October 2018, at the Sixty-fifth Session of the Regional Committee, EMR Members States endorsed the “framework for action on effective engagement with the private health sector to expand service coverage for universal health coverage”. In addition, the Regional Committee adopted Resolution EM/RC65/R.3(D) for Agenda item 4 (e) urging Members States to “Contracting with private health sector providers through strategic purchasing options and different financial protection arrangements to deliver a UHC priority benefits package”. The Resolutions requested WHO Regional Director to “Provide technical support to Member States to establish and strengthen effective engagement with the private sector for service delivery”.

In 2020 WHO, and in collaboration with the Middle East Bureau of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), is conducting review/analysis of the private health sector on the following thematic topics; Immunization/child and maternal health, emergency care system, non-communicable disease, nutrition, Mental health, gaps in the information system and data collection, communicable diseases, financing options for better PHS engagement.

Planned timelines

Contract for 6 months (subject to confirmation)

Start date: 25/10/2020

End date: 24/4/2021

Work to be performed

To achieve the above objectives, the consultant will be contracted with the following deliverables:

Deliverable 1: Provide technical advice to develop national private health sector strategies and action plans for better engagement with private health sector for Iraq, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia, and Yemen.

Deliverable 2: Co-develop technical materials and participate in five virtual capacity building workshops for policymakers in EMR countries “the Strategies for Private Sector Engagement and Public Private Partnership for Universal Health Coverage”.

Deliverable 3: Review, and summarize the in-depth assessment of private health sector reports for Syria and United Arab Emirates

Deliverable 4: Review and summarize the potential role of private health sector in COVID 19 reports for 11 countries.

Deliverable 5: Collaborate and coordinate with WCO focal points to seek endorsement from the Ministry of health for in-depth assessment of private health sector reports for Palestine, Qatar, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Lebanon, Iran, UAE and Syria.

Deliverable 6: Conduct a scoping review of the thematic analysis of the private health sector on the thematic topics; Immunization/child and maternal health, emergency care system, noncommunicable disease, nutrition, Mental health, gaps in the information system and data collection, communicable diseases, financing options for better PHS engagement.

Required Qualifications

Education:

• University degree in medical science
• Master’s degree in Public health

Experience:

At least 5 years’ experience in public health and service delivery innovations.

Skills / Technical knowledge

• Excellent knowledge of health systems, stakeholder analysis and service delivery.
• Excellent experience with project management

• Good communication skills

  Language

Fluent (Read - Write - Speak) in English and Arabic.

Location

The consultant will work in WHO EMRO

Travel (If travel is involved, a medical certificate of fitness for work will be required.)

All travel arrangements will be made by WHO – WHO will not be responsible for tickets purchased by the Consultant without the express, prior authorization of WHO. While on mission under the terms of this consultancy, the Consultant will receive subsistence allowance.

Visas requirements: it is the consultant’s responsibility to fulfil visa requirements and ask for visa support letter(s) if needed.

Remuneration and budget (travel costs excluded)

Remuneration: International consultant (P3 level)

Additional Information section

• This vacancy notice may be used to identify candidates for other similar consultancies at the same level. Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.
• Successful candidates will be included in the roster for consideration for future contractual engagement via a consultancy, as they become available. Inclusion in the roster does not guarantee any future contractual relationship with WHO
• A written test may be used as a form of screening.
• If your candidature is retained for interview, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. WHO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed through the link: http://www.whed.net/. Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and will require individual review.
• For information on WHO's operations please visit: http://www.who.int.
• WHO is committed to workforce diversity.
• WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.
• Applications from women and from nationals of non and underrepresented Member States are particularly encouraged.
• WHO's workforce adheres to the WHO Values Charter and is committed to put the WHO Values into practice.
• Consultants shall perform the work as independent contractors in a personal capacity, and not as a representative of any entity or authority. The execution of the work under a consultant contract does not create an employer/employee relationship between WHO and the Consultant.
• WHO shall have no responsibility whatsoever for any taxes, duties, social security contributions or other contributions payable by the Consultant. The Consultant shall be solely responsible for withholding and paying any taxes, duties, social security contributions and any other contributions which are applicable to the Consultant in in each location/jurisdiction in which the work hereunder is performed, and the Consultant shall not be entitled to any reimbursement thereof by WHO.