International Consultancy: Technical Assistance for District Health System Strengthening (DHSS) and Development of Comprehensive Primary Health Care (PHC) model in Sierra Leone

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, survival!

Purpose and objective of the assignment

The purpose of consultancy is to strengthen the community based PHC system toward achieving UHC in Sierra Leone.

The specific objectives of the assignment are to:

• Help develop a conceptual model for a scalable and sustainable comprehensive community based PHC model with clearly defined governance structure and strong accountability framework.
• Help introduce a contextualized DHSS approach that will focus on: i) improving the availability, timeliness and quality of health information at the subnational level; ii) improving DHMT and other district stakeholders capacities to carry out health system community-level analysis (including coverage and equity assessment, bottleneck analysis) and use it to inform equity-focused planning, decision making, monitoring, and budgeting; iii) ensuring citizens’ voice is incorporated in planning, monitoring, and budgeting processes and that functional feedback loops exist between the health system and communities; iv) supporting continuous quality improvement at the facility level as well as community service delivery by CHWs.
• Monitor, assess and document the process of implementing the pilot PHC model / DHSS approach, including good practices, challenges, and the lessons learned.

Methodology and Technical Approach

In consultation with MoHS officials (including but not limited to Directorate of Policy, Planning, and Information (DPPI), Directorate of Primary Health Care (DPHC), Directorate of Reproductive and Child Health (DRCH), and Directorate of Food and Nutrition (DFN)), the consultant will conduct a desk review of relevant documents and data, interview of key informants at national and sub-national levels, and consultative meetings with relevant stakeholders for understanding the context and developing a conceptual model. The stakeholders will include policy makers, MoHS directors/managers, DHMTs, district councils, Ministry of Local Government staff, service providers, communities, development partners, and relevant UNICEF staff. For subsequent technical assistance and capacity building support, the consultant may apply different approach such as on-the-job coaching and mentoring, training workshops, joint data collection, analysis and planning, and development of tools/guidelines. The full engagement of stakeholders, particularly the DPPI, DHMTs, District Councils, throughout the entire process is particularly important to institutionalize the local planning process within the health system.

Expected Deliverables

• A scalable and sustainable comprehensive community based PHC model (PowerPoint and report)- 30 September 2020 (19 consultancy days).
• Tools and guidelines for evidence-based local level planning, monitoring and budgeting, including ‘Business Planning’ tool at PHUs-31 October 2020 (17 consultancy days).
• Planning, organization and facilitation of the local level planning (LLP) orientation meetings in two selected districts-15 November 2020 (5 consultancy days).
• Planning, organization and facilitation of data collection and analysis (incl. equity assessment and bottleneck analysis) in two selected districts-31 December 2020 (16 consultancy days).
• Planning, organization and facilitation of the local level planning (LLP) workshops as well as PHU business planning meetings in two selected districts-15 February 2021 (29 consultancy days).
• PHU business plans and costed local level plans (with funding source) with performance monitoring framework- 31 March 2021 (12 days).
• Planning, organization and facilitation of LQAS rapid assessment of selected indicators (e.g., family practices) (to serve as baseline)- 31 March 2021 (12 consultancy days).
• Monthly debriefing with key government stakeholders and UNICEF, and monitoring report of the implementation process of PHC model / DHSS approach- End of each month (November 2020 – March 2021) (5 consultancy days).
• Full report of the consultancy- 15 April 2021 (5 consultancy days).

The estimated number of working days required for this assignment is 120 days over a period of over eight months from 24 August 2020 to 30 April 2021. The consultant will work remotely to complete the first two deliverables. When/if COVID-19 situation permits, the consultant will visit Sierra Leone, including travel to the field as necessary.

The Consultant is expected to complete certain mandatory courses, which will be shared prior to commencement of work.

UNICEF recourse in case of unsatisfactory performance:

If the final reports and documents are not submitted according to the deliverables stated in this TOR, the payments will be withheld. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold all or a portion of payment if performance is unsatisfactory, if work/outputs is incomplete, not delivered or for failure to meet deadlines (Payment will only be made for work satisfactorily completed and accepted by UNICEF. All materials developed will remain the copyright of UNICEF and UNICEF will be free to adapt and modify them in the future.

Terms of Payment: Monthly payment, upon completion of each deliverable according to schedule.

Individual Consultant (ToR) PHC DHSS 2020 02082020.pdf

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

Advanced university degree in Public Health, Medicine, Social Sciences, Health Systems Management, or other related disciplines.

• At least 8 years of relevant experience of working in strengthening PHC system in developing countries. Prior experience with community work linked with PHC is an added advantage.
• Experience in district health system strengthening (DHSS), data collection, analysis, and monitoring and evaluation.
• Familiarity with Sierra Leone’s health system is a strong asset.
• Demonstrated ability to integrate, synthesize and communicate complex ideas verbally and in writing.
• Excellent analytical skills.
• Fluency in English.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

View our competency framework at:

http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

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.