International Consultant – Integrated Health Services

Purpose of consultancy

Under the overall guidance of WHO Representative (WR) and direct supervision of the Health Policy Advisor (HPA), the consultant will support relevant health systems related activities at WCO Timor-Leste with a focus on strengthening the flagship initiative of integrated health service delivery, through the public health field officers across all municipalities. This supports Timor-Leste’s priority to enhance de-centralization through strengthening of capacities at sub-national levels.

Scope of work:

The aim of the consultancy is to develop, coordinate, strengthen, monitor, supervise and institutionalize the WHO Public Health Field Officers program (with these public health officers to be placed in all 13 Municipalities of Timor-Leste), in order to streamline the delivery of integrated health services in the country, and to provide guidance and supportive supervision to district health services in light of decentralization.

Background

Ministry of Health Timor-Leste, with active support from WHO is set to reform and manage the health sector, to effectively and efficiently deliver comprehensive and quality healthcare services that are equitable, accessible, and sustainable for people in Timor. The National Health Sector Strategic Plan 2011-2030 (NHSSP) highlights the vision for “Healthy East Timorese People in a Healthy Timor-Leste” with clear commitment for the provision of free and equitable health services for all.

The major step acknowledged by the government for realizing the NHSSP vision, and towards attainment of UHC is the delivery of integrated health service. Integration across all directorates and programs is critical to build bridges between all the vertical Health Directorates and programs, by not only improving the efficiency and effectiveness of health system operations, but by also addressing specific health needs of the population while maintaining high quality standards. Integrated health services aim to deliver essential services package and to develop strong referral linkages between primary, secondary, and tertiary care. The program also aims to strengthen the coordination between six building blocks of health systems, and to streamline communication channels between national and municipal health services through municipality-based field officers. These WHO Field Officers will not only support the implementation of MoH health programs at sub-national level but will also act as a bridge between Municipal health offices and the WHO office in Timor-Leste.

Health services in the country are organized at four major levels - health posts (HPs), community health centres (CHCs) at the municipal and sub-municipal levels, and referral hospitals (RHs) at the regional and national levels, along with outreach activities like SISCa, PT and SnF. Essential Health Service package for PHC, has been identified as the primary vehicle to deliver Integrated Health Services, linking it to Universal Health Coverage strategy and health-related SDGs. Timor-Leste’s ‘family practice’ approach, is considered pivotal in delivering health services to the communities, to ensure that the health facilities (both Health Post and CHC) along with the SnF (and the community volunteers, PSF) can complement and provide high quality primary care services to all the registered members of that community.

WHO as a trusted partner, has committed to extend complete support to Ministry of Health, right from policy level to strategic support, and furnishing evidence based and actionable technical assistance towards establishing and strengthening the integration of programs and platforms across all levels. WHO’s public health field officers would be instrumental in integrating health services at district level. As a result, WHO aims to hire a technical consultant who will be responsible for the development, coordination, training, supportive-supervision, monitoring, and institutionalizing of public health field officers to support the integrated health services.

Deliverables

Output 1: Development of induction and refresher modules for the field officers training program; and organizing the induction training program.

• Activity 1 – Developing the induction training Framework & Plan.
• Activity 2 – Preparing and finalizing the induction modules, in coordination with the relevant program teams at WCO-TLS.
• Activity 3 – Organizing logistics and management of induction training program.
• Activity 4 – Rolling out the training modules.

Output 2: Supporting the coordination of Public Health Field Officers (PHFO) with relevant program department at MoH, and institutions at the national level – submitting monthly progress reports.

• Activity 1 – Regular supportive supervision and handholding of PHFO for on ground activity implementation.
• Activity 2 – Organizing joint meetings of PHFO, MoH program officials and Municipal health relevant officers to assess the program progress (quarterly).
• Activity 3 – Monitoring and supervision of program implementation.
• Activity 4 – Submitting monthly progress reports.

Output 3: Supporting capacity building of district municipal health officers, in close coordination with public health field officers – submitting monthly progress reports.

• Activity 1 – Conducting field visit to monitor program implementation and to conduct training need assessment.
• Activity 2 – Conducting half-yearly program refresher trainings across all municipalities, based on the findings of training needs assessment.
• Activity 3 – Submitting monthly progress report.

Output 4: Program supportive supervision, coordination meetings, continuing professional development, monitoring, and troubleshooting – submitting monthly progress reports.

• Activity 1 – Organizing monthly joint meeting (virtual) with PHFO from all municipalities.
• Activity 2 – Collating the PHFO requests from all municipalities and sharing with relevant MoH program departments.

Output 5: Any other tasks assigned by supervisor and country representative – submitting monthly progress reports.

For the successful completion of all the aforesaid activities, the period of assignment has been kept as 11 months.

Qualifications, experience, skills, and languages\\

Educational Qualifications:

Essential: A degree in medical/social sciences or related field

Desirable: Advanced degree in Public Health, with special focus on health system strengthening

Experience

Essential:

• At least 5 years of professional work experience at the National/ international level in public health
• Experience of working within Health systems and with Ministries and development partners

Desirable:

• Experience of working in LMICs, focusing on health system strengthening
• Experience of working in primary health care will be added advantage
• Knowledge and experience of working across different health programs will be added advantage
• Experience of working with international health organizations is an asset, such as the experience of working with UN or other international development organizations

Skills / knowledge

Essential:

Demonstrated work experience across health system pillars both at ground level, state, and national levels

Demonstrated experience of developing guidelines, modules, policy documents, review reports etc.

Excellent communication, writing, and reporting skills

Advanced computer skills like word processing, GIS, spreadsheets etc.

Language required

Essential: Excellent knowledge of written and spoken English

Desirable: Knowledge of Tetum/ Portuguese desirable

Location

The consultant will be based in WHO country office, Dili-Timor-Leste, with travel to municipalities as and when needed.

Travel

If travel is involved, full medical clearance is required. The selected Consultant will be expected to provide a medical certificate of fitness for work

Local travel within the country, where needed, will be arranged by WCO Timor-Leste

Remuneration and budget (travel costs are excluded)

• Remuneration: Band level A - USD 3,955-6,980 per month, depending on the consultant’s experience and educational background
• Living expenses: Per diem will be paid as per WHO rules applicable to international consultant for travel.
• Expected duration of contract: 11 months. Additional contracts (total maximum of 22 months) can be offered based on funding availability and satisfactory performance

Additional Information:

• 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.
• 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) in English 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 prides itself on a workforce that adheres to the highest ethical and professional standards and that is committed to put the WHO Values Charter into practice.
• WHO has zero tolerance towards sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct (i.e., discrimination, abuse of authority and harassment). All members of the WHO workforce have a role to play in promoting a safe and respectful workplace and should report to WHO any actual or suspected cases of SEA, sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct. To ensure that individuals with a substantiated history of SEA, sexual harassment or other types of abusive conduct are not hired by the Organization, WHO will conduct a background verification of final candidates.
• 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.