Consultant to support the development of National Community Health Strategy (NCHS) Implementation Guideline Training Manuals, Kampala, Uganda, 4 months

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Background and Purpose

Development of the National Community Health Strategy implementation guidelines

The Government of Uganda National Development Plan III (2021-2025) promotes the integration of services as a fundamental component. Health promotion and prevention programs at the community level are designated as national priorities within the health sector, aligning with the universal health coverage (UHC) goal in concordance with the Government of Uganda’s Vision 2040. By 2025, the GOU along with stakeholders at both national and subnational levels, aspires to augment the capacity to sustainably deliver a comprehensive integrated package of quality health services including health prevention and promotion services, spanning the entire life continuum and all care levels. Such improvements in service delivery are propelled by evidence-based decisions, underpinned by high-quality data. A robust community health system is pivotal in furnishing high quality and equitable health services, particularly to vulnerable and rural communities. Since 2001, the Ministry of Health (MoH) has supported the Village Health Team (VHT) model, which forms the bulk of Uganda’s Community Health Workforce support communities to actively participate in Key Family Care Practices which are important in promoting their own health and preventing diseases as well as treatment of common childhood illness i.e., diarrhea, malaria, and pneumonia among children under 5 years. VHTs are defined as the health care system level 1 (HC1) work with other critical community resource persons including local council leaders, parish chiefs, CHEWs, religious leaders, teachers, traditional birth assistants, para-social workers, mother peer groups, family support groups, male action groups, girl guides, boy scouts). The interplay of political, technical, and administrative functions is vital for the fortification of a robust community health system.

The MoH developed the country’s first National Community Health Strategy. The strategy works towards aligning stakeholders towards the delivery of health services at community level, strengthening community health systems and harnessing existing policies, guidelines, and experiences of multiple actors and implementors in the community health space for defining and improving community health. The Ministry of Health, coordinated by the Community Health Department, Launched the first National Community Health Strategy (NCHS) 2021/22 – 2025/26. This is the initiative by the Government of Uganda to guide a coordinated and harmonized quality access to primary, promotive, curative, preventive, and rehabilitative health care services through a multi-sectoral collaboration.

In the endeavor to operationalize the National Community Health Strategy, the dissemination has been supported in two regions. More importantly, the MoH with support from UNICEF, has formulated integrated community health package and NCHS implementation guidelines which are now in the approval process by the MoH. Once approved, the MoH has a plan to start implementing the guidelines and the service package in 2 regions. Therefore, there is a strong need for MoH to develop the training manual to implement NCHS implementation guidelines and essential community health package to operationalize the NCHS strategy down up to household level.

Purpose of Assignment and Scope:

In close collaboration with UNICEF and MoH, the consultant will support MOH to development training manual for implementing the National Community Health Strategy- implementation guidelines.

Justification

The development of a National Community Health Strategy started over five years ago in Uganda. With the support of partners, the Ministry of Health has finally managed to develop a National Community Health Strategy, which promises to deliver on the Ministry of Health’s strategic shift from focusing on curative health to health promotion and prevention. Post Astana PHC Conference, agencies like UNICEF and USAID have recommitted and are investing in promoting Primary Health Care and Community Health as a key strategy to achieving Universal Health Coverage as well as the UN (United Nations) Sustainable Development Goals. MoH drives on the support from UNICEF which specifically commits to providing technical and financial support to the Community Health and Planning Departments to support the development of policies strategies and guidelines. In addition, there is need to unpack how the different strategic directions will be operationalized from district, subcounty, parish, village level down to the households to achieve the desired goal.

Objectives

Main Objectives:

The main objective of this Consultancy is to support the Government of Uganda to support the development of training manuals for the NCHS to streamline operationalization at different levels of care from national to household level. Under the overall supervision and guidance of the Commissioner Community Health, the Consultant will work closely with the Community Health Department and collaborate with stakeholders to prove technical guidance and expertise in develing this training manual.

Specific objectives:

▪ Review global and national strategic documents related to training manuals and tools to operationalize NCHS implementation guidelines. Documents to be reviewed should include and may not necessarily be limited to the following:

• National community health strategy & NCHS implementation guidelines

• RMNCAH Sharpened Plan & VHT strategy

• VHT and CHEWs training manuals

• ICCM implementation guidelines

• Program specific community health packages and implementation guidelines (Nutrition, TB, HIV/AIDS, Malaria etc.)

▪ Develop training manual & curriculum

▪ Develop mentorship tools & checklist

▪ Develop HCW and CHW Job-aids

▪ Develop training materials including standard training slide for the different level

The Community Health Department of the Ministry of Health will be the counterpart and the consultant will work closely with the focal point from the department in the execution of this assignment:

• Liaise with MoH and key stakeholders

• Organize stakeholder consultations

• Provide the minutes of any meetings

• Discuss the outputs and outcomes with relevant MoH TWG members

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

Education background: Postgraduate degree in Public Health, Health and Social Policy social sciences, social work, or related qualifications

Work-experience:

1. Over 10 years of experience working in the public health sector in Africa is required

2. Core knowledge of government public health programs, strategies, methods, and processes used to plan, develop, implement, and evaluate results of health programs is required

3. 3. Intimate knowledge of best practices for implementing community health programmes
4. 1. globally with experience in developing guidance for implementation of community health
   2. programmes
5. 4. Previous experience working with the government of Uganda’s Ministry of Health is an a. added advantage working knowledge of the objectives and operations of the MOH, or the public health activities of other East African communities, or international donor organizations, is required
   5. Should have a good understanding of the power-related dynamics at district and community levels
   6. Should have a good understanding of the national community health strategy and other community health programs like iCCM, CAPA, among others
   7. Should have demonstrated negotiation and convening skills to bring together powerful actors in the Community Health area
   8. Worked in data analysis and generated data-driven insights
   9. Experienced stringent reporting demands and can write professional project plans and reports
   10. Has experience working with both Government and international NGOs (Non-Governmental Organizations)
   11. Engaged diverse stakeholders among public and private sectors as well as development agencies
   12. Excellent written and verbal communication in English

Technical knowledge

• Community health systems in Uganda & Region

• Human Resources for Health

• Public Health

• Health System Strengthening

Language skills:

• Excellent written and verbal communication in English is required. Knowledge of the local language is considered as an asset.

Other desired attributes:

1. Communication: expresses opinions, speaks clearly has a sense of diplomacy while interacting with external stakeholders

2. Drive for results: passionate about action and helping to get things moving

3. Team spirit: enjoys working as part of a group with members of diverse backgrounds

4. Learning agility: rapidly learns new tasks and demonstrates an understanding of newly acquired information

5. Independence: can take initiative and work with limited supervision to deliver results

6. Coping with pressure: maintains a positive outlook at work and works productively in a pressurized environment and in a crisis while keeping emotions under control.

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships (2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness (3) Drive to achieve results for impact (4) Innovates and embraces change (5) Manages ambiguity and complexity (6) Thinks and acts strategically (7) Works collaboratively with others (8) Nurtures, leads and manages people.

During the recruitment process, we test candidates following the competency framework. Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels: competency framework 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.

We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

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 is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. 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.

UNICEF’s active commitment towards diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable are encouraged to apply.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station, which will be facilitated by UNICEF, is required for IP positions. Appointments are also subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Government employees that are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.

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