International Consultant Capacity Building of NTP Officers

Contract

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Background

Tuberculosis (TB) is a major public health problem in South Sudan with an estimated incidence of 227 cases per 100,000 population according to WHO’s global TB report of 2020. Despite the increase in coverage of TB diagnostic and treatment services over the past several years, only 133 health facilities are currently providing TB services out of over 1,200 primary health care facilities in the country. Out of the estimated 25,000 new and relapse TB cases expected for notification in 2019, only 16,323 patients were identified and put on treatment by the TB programme indicating a TB treatment coverage of only 65%. The capacity for identification of multi-drug resistant TB (MDR-TB) is even much lower: only 61 MDR-TB patients were diagnosed and put on treatment in 2019 (although the number has almost doubled in the next year to 116) out of WHO’s estimated MDR-TB incident cases of 830. In addition to the systemic problems within the health system affecting access to TB services by the general population, the lack of engagement of the community, weak infrastructure, widespread insecurity has adversely affected the accessibility of TB services by South Sudanese.

UNDP is a key partner to the GFATM and is the UN Agency assuming the role of Principal Recipient (PR) of GFTAM HIV, TB, Resilient and Sustainable Systems for Health (RSSH), and COVID-19 Response Mechanism (C19RM) grants in South Sudan. As Principal Recipient for GFATM, assisting the country to meet its main goals in reducing mortality and morbidity from TB, strengthening the health systems and responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, UNDP South Sudan Country Office is responsible for the financial and programmatic management of the GFTAM grants and as well as the procurement of health and non-health products. UNDP provides capacity development services to relevant national institutions, Sub-Recipients, and implementing partners in all areas of implementation. Currently, UNDP, as PR, bears the full responsibility for the operational and financial management of the New Funding Model 3 (NFM3) grant that comprises of HIV/AIDS, RSSH, Tuberculosis, and C19RM.

UNDP South Sudan is seeking the services of an International Consultant to provide robust technical support in building the capacity of the staff of the National TB, Leprosy and Buruli Ulcer Control Programme (NTLBP) of the Ministry of Health and the state TB/HIV coordinators of the 10 states of the country.

The purpose of the consultancy is to build the capacity of the NTLBP Officers, State TB Coordinators on the areas of TB Programme management, Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation and other emerging programmatic and policy issues related to TB programme including mitigation strategies in the context of te COVID-19 pandemic

Duties and Responsibilities

The international consultant will work with MOH and UNDP focal points to carry out the following tasks:

1. Capacity Building of the NTLBP staff and state TB coordinators on the following areas:

• TB programme management with emphasis on childhood TB
• TB programme Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Plan

• TB programme Mitigation Strategies in the context of evolving COVID-19 pandemic

  2**. Develop a training manual and facilitators guide to accompany the training manual**

The consultant will be expected to submit the following deliverables:

• Training Report according to an acceptable template
• Facilitators training manual developed
• Final consultancy report.

Applicants will be evaluated based upon their submitted expressions of interest and financial proposals, which includes a cumulative analysis method based upon a combination of technical and financial evaluation results.

ndividual consultants will be evaluated based on the following’s methodology:

Cumulative analysis

When using this weighted scoring method, the award of the contract shall be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

• Responsive/compliant/acceptable; and
• Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation.
• Relevant Education
• Relevant Experience
• Competency

* Technical Criteria weight; [70%]

* Financial Criteria weight; [30%]

To be computed as a ratio of the Proposal’s offer to the lowest price among the proposals received by UNDP.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

• Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.
• Functional Competencies:
• Strong analytical, negotiation and communication skills, including ability to produce high quality practical advisory reports and knowledge products;
• Professional and/or academic experience in one or more of the areas of international development, public health or related field.
• Project and Resource Management:
• Ability to produce high quality outputs in a timely manner while understanding and anticipating the evolving client needs.
• Strong organizational skills;
• Ability to work independently, produce high quality outputs.
• Communications and Advocacy:
• Strong ability to write clearly and convincingly, adapting style and content to different audiences and speak clearly and convincingly;
• Strong analytical, research and writing skills with demonstrated ability to think strategically;
• Strong inter-personal, negotiation and liaison skills.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• A Master’s Degree in public health or health sciences or health management
• Medical Degree is a plus.

Experience:

• A minimum of five years demonstrated experience in managing TB programs at national level.
• Strong experience of capacity building to the National TB Programmes (NTP) is required.
• Sound knowledge of TB programme interventions, leading in the development of TB Strategic Plan, M&E Plan, TB programme Training packages.
• International level of technical assistance to NTPs in TB programme management capacity building and national strategic documents highly required.
• Excellent organizational and interpersonal skills, as well as proven management skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

Language:

• Excellent oral and written English.