National Consultancy: Health Financing (Direct Facility) consultant (Open to Malawian Nationals Only)

Consultant Medical & Health Programme & Policy

Contract

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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, Safety...

Background:

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) represent a global call to action to end poverty, protect the environment, and ensure peace and prosperity for all. UN support to Malawi aligns with these goals through the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) for 2023-2028, which complements Malawi’s national development priorities as outlined in the Malawi Growth and Development Strategy (MGDS) IV for 2019-2023. The UNSDCF represents UN Malawi’s commitment to addressing national challenges through a system-wide response.

UN investments under the Cooperation Framework focus on three main pillars:

1. Peace, Inclusion, and Effective Institutions
2. Population Management and Inclusive Human Development
3. Inclusive and Resilient Growth

The UN Joint Programme on “Health Systems Strengthening for Equitable Health Outcomes” (UNJP-HSS) is part of this framework, supporting the pillars of population management, inclusive human development, and inclusive and resilient growth. The programme is coordinated by three UN agencies—UNICEF, UNFPA, and WHO—with UNICEF as the technical lead.

Introduction:

Despite recent improvements, Malawi faces significant challenges in health outcomes. The UNJP-HSS, funded by the United Kingdom Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office, aims to improve health and survival rates for the most vulnerable populations in Malawi. Health care resources are disproportionately allocated to tertiary facilities and services. Achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) requires a cost-effective Essential Health Package (EHP) that prioritizes primary and preventive care, improves quality, and strengthens health systems.

Programme Focus:

• Reaching the poorest and most vulnerable with cost-effective primary and community-based services.
• Improving quality of care to ensure better life-saving outcomes and increased demand.
• Establishing effective district governance and accountability for service delivery and outcomes to optimize resource use.

Key Objectives:

• Increase the provision and uptake of quality, cost-effective, life-saving primary healthcare (PHC) services.
• Improve equitable resourcing and district management of services.
• Strengthen government accountability and citizen participation in health service delivery at the district level.

Justification

The Health Sector Strategic Plan III (HSSPII) for 2023-2030 outlines eleven “game changer” reforms that represent the Government of Malawi’s “priority among priorities.” One key reform is enabling greater health provider autonomy through direct facility financing. This reform aims to ensure effective delivery of the HBP which largely depends on the availability of adequate resources, which in the context of the Malawi health sector are highly constrained. Under the environment of limited opportunity for expanding government and donor health budgets, efficiency gains will be critical for Malawi to achieve its UHC goals.

UNICEF through the UNJP in the past four years has demonstrated success in creating autonomy at facility by piloting the Health Centre Improvement Grants (HCIGs), a type of DFF in Rumphi. Building upon the success of the HCIG in Rumphi, Malawi is in the process of institutionalization of DFF and its upscaling nationwide through both government and partner funding. This represents a critical opportunity to consolidate the gains made and to influence the channeling of government and partner funding closer to the point of service delivery, and ultimately to enable increased health facility autonomy and responsiveness to community health.

How can you make a difference?

At the National Level:

1. 1. Provide technical support to the Direct Facility Financing (DFF) Taskforce to monitor progress on the implementation of DFF project, with milestones for measuring progress in line with the DFF M&E framework and checklist - the DFF Guidelines.
   2. Support the documentation of learnings from the implementation of DFF guidelines and make recommendations for its revision.
   3. Support the DFF task force in the nationwide rollout of DFF as a long-term sustainability strategy of channeling funds to Health Facilities through public financial management (PFM) with the long-term goal of having HC recognized as cost centres.
   4. Develop and maintain strong and supportive relations with senior staff in the MOH, Districts, and other government departments as appropriate, particularly the Ministry of Local Government and the National Local Government Finance Committee.
   5. Support the decentralization agenda by means of strengthening the interface between the Ministry of Health and District, through the Satellite Offices, and the Ministry of Local Government.
   6. Liaise with MoH and facilitate regular supervision and technical review meetings at district and Satellite offices as appropriate.
   7. Provide support to the Programme Steering Committee and make presentations as required.

At the District Level:

1. Provide technical support to the UN Joint Programme in training and supervision of the Health Centre Management Committees for implementation of the DFF in selected UNJP districts.
2. Ensure quality assurance of DFF trainings at the district level through validation of training materials and providing on-spot technical support.
3. Support health facility planning in focus districts health facilities with the view to strengthen the linkage between planning at the facility and district level (DIP).
4. Oversee the capacity development of district and community structures in health facility level output-based planning, budgeting and reporting.
5. Liaise between the district level and central level UNJP Team to ensure DFF is implemented in a coordinated manner.
6. Contribute to the UNJP-HSS Reporting to FCDO, synthesizing inputs from field staff.
7. Synthesis of district training and other DFF periodic reports, identifying challenges and proposing punctual remedial action.

At Community Level:

1. Facilitate district DFF entry and exit engagement meetings and draw lessons for nationwide rollout.
2. Facilitate inter district and HCMC cross-learnings visits an, document best practices.
3. Support UNJP, FCDO, MoH joint field visit to selected project sites.
4. Contribute to programme communications activities.

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

Academic Qualification: Essential:

• Masters Degre in Health Policy and Management, Public Health and Policy, Health Economics and Finance, Health Economics, Environmental/Urban and Regional Planning, Urban Planning and Decentralization from an accredited/recognized institute.

Desirable:

• Advanced university degree Health Policy and Management, Environmental/Urban and Regional Planning, Integrated Rural-Regional Development Planning, Health Economics and Finance and Public Health and Policy.

Work Experience: Essential:

• At least three (3) years related experience in health financing and health economics: partner coordination; district implementation planning, monitoring and evaluation and democratic accountability.
• Experience working with government agencies, local authorities, international organizations, NGOs, and communities in implementing DFF models.
• Experience in providing policy advice and programme support in area of local governance and decentralization in development context.
• Sound programme management experience is essential.

Desirable:

• Prior working experience at field level with MOH, other UN agencies, District Health Management Teams, NGOs.
• Over 8 years’ experience in providing technical assistance including long term technical assistance to Government through participatory approaches.
• Demonstrate knowledge of the legal and regulatory frameworks for local governance

Technical Skills, Knowledge, and Strength Areas:

Required

• Demonstrable knowledge of Malawi’s current health policy and plans is essential
• Strong coordination and collaborative abilities within the health sector and across other sectors.
• Good understanding of direct facility financing and experience in the capacity development of district and community structures in planning, budgeting and implementation of small grant projects.
• Demonstrable knowledge of government health systems and systems reform in Africa is required.
• Demonstrable knowledge of good practices in capacity building and delivery of technical assistance is essential.
• Excellent Word, Excel and PowerPoint skills is needed.
• Demonstrable knowledge of international health development issues including the Paris Declaration, IHP, pooled funding mechanisms etc. is desirable.
• Innovative and resourceful mindset to make solutions work in adverse conditions.
• Ability to work under stressful conditions and a flexible approach in undertaking the assignment within a rapidly changing environment.
• Essential knowledge of Microsoft Office applications, working knowledge of online data collection applications, and statistical analysis packages (SPSS, Stata, etc.).
• Commitment to UNICEF’s values and guiding principles.

Desired

• Strong facilitation and coordination skills, including participatory group discussions.
• Strong interpersonal, teamwork, and self-management skills, as well as mature judgment.
• Ability to perform under pressure while maintaining a sense of humor.

Languages:

• Fluency in English – both excellent written and verbal skills are required.
• Chichewa – an asset.

Please refer to the attached full Terms of Reference Terms of Reference_Direct Facility Financing Consultant.pdf for more details on the consultancy and requirements.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

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

To view our competency framework, please visit 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.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment.

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.

HOW TO APPLY...

Interested Individual Consultant should provide the following:

1. Curriculum Vitae
2. Brief technical proposal (no longer than five pages) demonstrating the consultant’s understanding of the assignment and approach/methodology to the assignment.
3. Financial proposal including a breakdown of their all-inclusive fees (including professional fees, travel, living cost and other costs). Complete the attached form. ANNEX I - Financial Proposal.xlsx
4. References details

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.

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. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.

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Added 1 day ago - Updated 8 hours ago - Source: unicef.org