International consultant - Technical assistance for Primary Health Care (PHC) model implementation and documentation in Sierra Leone

Contract

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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, hope

Please access UNICEF Sierra Leone information here and here

How can you make a difference?

Purpose and objective of assignment

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

The specific objective of the assignment is to guide, monitor and document the implementation process of PHC model and to assess the effectiveness of the model through:

• Helping develop and implement a monitoring and evaluation framework of the model
• Helping define/design some interventions in the model, which are not fully developed, particularly under the domain of “Enhance community structures and engagement mechanisms”
• Providing continuous technical assistance and mentoring and coaching support for the implementation team in application of a contextualized equity-focused and evidence-based planning (EBP) approach at district and health facility level, incorporating citizens’ voice through AIM-T and community score card amongst others
• Monitoring, assessing, and documenting the process of implementing the PHC model, including detailed qualitative and quantitative changes, good practices, challenges, and the lessons learned.

Methodology and Technical Approach

The consultant will work in close consultation and collaboration with the PHC model steering committee comprising representatives from key directorates of MoHS (DPPI, Directorate of Reproductive and Child Health (DRCH), Directorate of PHC (DPHC), Directorate of Food and Nutrition (DFN)) and UNICEF as well as its M&E working group and DHMTs in Karene and Bonthe. For the intervention design for community engagement component, the consultant, may conduct a desk review of relevant documents and data, interview key informants at national and sub-national levels, and facilitate consultative meetings with relevant stakeholders for understanding the context in close collaboration with a local consultant recruited by DPPI to introduce a community score card. For ongoing 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 throughout the entire process is central to this assignment whose main objective is to institutionalize the PHC model within the health system.

Scope of Work

Under the direct supervision of Health Specialist (Community Health) and working closely with Health Specialist (Policy and Planning), Chief of Health and Nutrition, and Appreciative Inquiry international coach, the international consultant has the following tasks and responsibilities:

1. Develop a monitoring and evaluation framework with defined data source, qualitative / quantitative data collection tools and analysis plan.
2. Build capacity of implementation team / M&E working group members in implementing a monitoring and evaluation framework including through continuous mentoring and coaching support.
3. Define strategy and design concrete interventions for enhancing community structures and engagement mechanisms.
4. Provide continuous technical assistance and mentoring and coaching support for the implementation team in application of evidence-based planning approach at district and PHU level, incorporating citizen’s voice.
5. Monitor, assess and document the iterative process of implementing the PHC model, including tools / guidelines developed to facilitate the systematic implementation, good practices identified, positive changes observed at all levels (including the qualitative changes using ‘most significant change (MSC)’ technique), challenges encountered, lessons learned, and future recommendations for adjustment / scale-up

Please see attached advert for detailed information on tasks and deliverables. ToR Consultant - PHC model phase 2.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.

Expertise/skills:

• Technical expertise in PHC and health systems strengthening, particularly district health system strengthening (DHSS) approach
• Proven ability to manage relationships with government ministries, district local governments, national and district partners, service providers, communities and other stakeholders.
• 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 and conceptual skills.
• Fluency in English.

Experience:

• At least 8-10 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.
• Previous working experience with UNICEF and/or other international agencies.
• Experience working with the national and district local governments in Sierra Leone is an advantage

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA).

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

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.

UNICEF 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 at http://www.whed.net/.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.

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. The candidate may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid).