(SSA) TO SUPPORT THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE MULTISECTORAL NATIONAL ACTION PLAN FOR HEALTH SECURITY

Contract

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TERMS OF REFERENCE

SPECIAL SERVICE ASSIGNMENT (SSA) TO SUPPORT THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE MULTISECTORAL NATIONAL ACTION PLAN FOR HEALTH SECURITY (NAPHS) IN NAMIBIA, 2021

Duration: 01 MAY – 31 OCTOBER 2021

1. Background and rationale

Namibia is a Southern African country bordering Angola, Zambia to the north, Botswana to the east, South Africa to the south and the Atlantic Ocean to the west. It is an upper middle-income country with a population of 2.6 million. The country experiences natural disasters such as floods, droughts and various disease outbreaks such as Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF), Malaria and Measles – with protracted Hepatitis E Virus (HEV) and Coronavirus Disease 2019, which is still ongoing. All these emergencies cause devastating social and economic effects and disastrous human consequences.

In order to adequately manage these public health emergencies, the country requires strengthened and robust preparedness capacity to efficiently respond to these health threats in the context of the International Health Regulations (IHR 20 2005). As part of the process, Namibia conducted a Joint External Evaluation (JEE) exercise from the 28th Nov – 2nd Dec 2016. One of the high-level recommendations from the JEE was for the country to develop a whole government/multisectoral National Action Plan for Health Security (NAPHS) to collectively contain health emergencies. The country adopted a multi-sectoral approached hinged on the principles of ‘One Health’ with significant participation in the process from stakeholders from relevant government ministries and agencies, including security authorities. These included, amongst others, the Ministries of Health and Social Services (MoHSS); Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform (MAWLR); Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT); Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME); Ministry of Finance (MoF); National Planning Commission (NPC) and Ministry of Defense (MoD).

Furthermore, the NAPHS covers all the 19 technical areas required to effectively prevent, detect, and respond to public health threats. Detailed plans for each technical area were developed by multi-sectoral working groups, to cover the period 2020‒2024. The estimated cost to implement all planned activities during 2020‒2024 is approximatively NAD 576,323,486 (38,421,565 US dollars).

Between September and November 2019, the multi-sectoral teams, with support from WHO consultants conducted the validation and costing of the NAPHS, whose approval was granted by the Executive Directors (EDs), during the consultative process and eventually lunched on 7th December 2021, by the Honorable Ministers of Health, Minister of Agriculture and Minister of Environment and Tourism. It is expected the implementation of this plan commences immediately, in 2021.

Considering that there is a critical human resource challenges at both the MoHSS and WCO levels to implement essential activities Namibia, the WCO is seeking approval to use part of the allocated funds for the NAPHS, to recruit a Local SSA for six (6) months at NOB-1, to support the implementation of long over-due NAPHS activities in the country.

2. Objectives

3. Assist with the re-prioritization and identification of critical and urgent activities for implementation.

4. Conduct orientation/induction of IHR National Focal Point (NFP) in Namibia
5. Conduct stakeholders mapping and engagement for resource mobilization
6. Support the integration of the NAPHS plan into the national health sector plan.

7. Participate in the monitoring, evaluation and periodical reporting and updating of the NAPHS implementation in the country.

8. Duties and activities of the SSA Consultant

The tasks assigned to the SSA consultant is summarized as follows:

Under the leadership and in close collaboration with WHO Country Representative, conduct a desk review of all relevant NAPHS documents and related aspects.

• Conduct regular consultation meetings with the IHR NFP and reach consensus on:
  • Their roles and responsibilities as per the IHR implementation Guide
  • Re-prioritization of activities for implementation in collaboration with stakeholders
  • Facilitate the integration of the NAPHS plan into the national health sector plan.
• Prepare and organize consultation visits to key stakeholders to collect data on national context for implementing the NAPHS
• Facilitate stakeholders mapping and engagement for resource mobilization required for implementing the NAPHS
• Participate in the monitoring & evaluation of IHR core capacities and periodical reporting on the NAPHS implementation in Namibia

4. Methodology

The SSA consultant will work closely with the IHR NFP, the Health Information and Research Directorate (HIRD), the Primary Health Care (PHC) Directorate and relevant stakeholders, in collaboration with the MOHSS team lead (IHR NFP Coordinator), in collaboration with WHO Emergency Focal point.

S/he will carry out a desk review of key documents and reports on the JEE, the NAPHS report, epidemics and other health emergency preparedness and response document in Namibia. The SSA Consultants will furthermore propose additional working methodology and data collection tools (timeline, interview guides, questionnaires) to be used by the various stakeholders involved in the NAPHS and visit key stakeholders according to schedules approved by WHO and the MOH, to collect additional information. The SSA consultant will also prepare and facilitate at important technical meetings to deliberate on:

• Clarifying the composition and roles of multi-sectoral IHR NFP
• Prioritization of urgent NAPHS activities and inclusion/integration of these into the national plan
• Resource mapping and stakeholder engagement in NAPHS implementation
• Other orientation and/or training activities on issues related to NAPHS implementation, monitoring and reporting

5. SSA Profile

The mission will be carried out by a SSA that is duly registered and in good standing with the Government of its’ country AND with at least have the following qualifications:

1. Postgraduate degree (Masters level) in health emergency management, field epidemiology or any other related discipline;
2. A PhD degree will be an added advantage
3. At least 7 years of hands-on experience in Health science studies, qualitative survey studies and in drafting of documents (Strategic plans, evaluation and Mid and end term reviews);
4. At least 7 years of proven and certified experience in epidemic and health emergency preparedness and response. Experience in Namibia would be an added advantage.
5. Prior participation in a leadership role in the National Disaster Risk Management System (NDRMS) and related Plans/Policies for Namibia; IHR activities, JEE and NAPHS development or implementation
6. An excellent analytical and strategic thinking;
7. Proven experience in the analysis and strengthening of health systems and knowledge in Disaster Risk Management;
8. Good skills for writing scientific paper and producing health activity or related reports;
9. A good command of English Language

10. A good computer literacy.

11. Deliverables

• Desk Review report for the NAPHS related documents with identified urgent priorities available.
• Report on stakeholders mapping, engagement and resource mobilization available
• Availability of NAPHS Plan that is effectively integrated into the National Health Sector Plan
• Monitoring and Evaluation Report available for NAPHS implementation in Namibia
• End of Mission Report reflecting performance as per TORs