Recrutement de 01 Consultancy to Cost the Implementation Action Plan of the Community Based Health Care Policy, Windhoek, Namibia (For Internationals only

Recrutement de 01 Consultancy to Cost the Implementation Action Plan of the Community Based Health Care Policy, Windhoek, Namibia (For Internationals only)
Contract type: Consultant
Duty Station: Windhoek
Level: Consultancy
Location: Namibia
Categories: Health, Social Policy, Financial Management
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, good health

Background and Purpose of Activity/Assignment:
The Government of the Republic of Namibia, through the Namibian Constitution of 1990, as amended in 2010, recognized health as a fundamental human right and therefore committed to achieving positive health outcomes for all the people in Namibia. This led to the Government of the Republic of Namibia, through the Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS), adopting the Primary Health Care (PHC) approach for the provision of health care services as the principal strategy to address the fragmented services inherited after independence. The implementation of this approach has been guided by the principles outlined in the Ministry of Health and Social Services (MOHSS) Policy Framework of 1998. This is in line with the PHC principles of accessibility, equity, affordability, public participation, health promotion, inter-sectoral collaboration, and the use of appropriate technology.
In addition, the Community Based Health Care (CBHC) Programme, is one of the Primary Health Care strategies employed to provide services to all by extending the health care services to the community and household levels.

According to the National Primary Health Care/ Community Based Health Care Guidelines published in 1992, greater recognition was given to the role of individuals, families, and communities in the promotion of their health status. The main objective of CBHC is therefore to ensure that every Namibian has access to the health care services as well as information related to diseases prevention and is continuously involved in the promotion of health by living a healthy lifestyle. The MoHSS, through the PHC Directorate, recognizes CBHC as the main driver of health care services delivery at the community and household level. Initially, from 1990 until the early to mid-2000s, the program was mainly driven by the donor agencies and civil society organizations (CSOs) who through the use of community health care providers (mostly volunteers) provided program-specific health care services in a haphazard manner. This kind of CBHC service provision has been instrumental in the fight against HIV/AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis and other diseases which require homebased care.

The MoHSS, with the support from development partners such as UNICEF, USAID, Project Hope, and others, started rolling out the national Community Health Workers (CHWs) program, initially named the Health Extension Programme (HEP) in 2013, after piloting it in Opuwo District, Kunene Region in 2012. This program was fully institutionalized within the MoHSS’ structure by having the CHWs to be fulltime employees of the Ministry and the programme coordinated through the PHC Directorate. The National Health Training Centre (NHTC) within the MoHSS, through the training networks conducted six months formal trainings to CHWs.
The programme is however still operating under the guidance of the National CBHC Policy and Guidelines of 2008, despite all the developments that have taken place since then.

In 2018, WHO issued new guidelines regarding policies and systems support to community health workers. The guidelines emphasize three key areas for the management and operation of CHW programs: (a) Selection, training, and certification of CHWs. (b) Management and supervision of CHWs including supportive supervision, appropriate remuneration or incentives, clear agreement on roles and responsibilities, and establishment of career progression. (c) Integration into the formal health system and local communities, ensuring the provision of adequate commodities and consumables for CHW usage.

Furthermore, recent enactment of legislation, such as the Child Care and Protection Act, 3 of 2015 (CCPA) and its regulations, may also have a task and obligation for health service providers, including CHWs to identify and voluntarily report cases of children in need of protective services such as neglect, abandonment, physical, emotional and sexual abuse and exploitation, lack of birth certificates, pregnant or at risk of dropping out of HIV support programmes (the list is not exhausted). The access to households may enable CHWs to identify children and adolescents in need of protective services.

In addition, since Namibia began implementing the Community Health Workers Programme in 2012, the programme package has expanded and advanced significantly, with CHWs contributing to the improvement of health, in particular maternal and child health. However, gaps remain for adolescent girls and young women. Reaching adolescent girls and young women with comprehensive sexuality education and integrated sexual and reproductive health and HIV services through community health extension workers platform continue to be a challenge in Namibia.

All the above signify the need for the revision and updating of the existing CHBC policies, guidelines, and programme documents in line with the latest regional and global developments and frameworks within the health care and child protection sectors. In 2022, UNICEF contracted Sustainable Development Africa in partnership with Royal Tropic Institute to review and update the integrated Community Based Health Care (CBHC) policy and development of a supportive supervisory mechanism for community health care workers, with five key deliverables: 1) revised National CBHC policy; 2) integrated national guidelines for CHBC; 3) quality assurance plan and support supervision mechanism, 4) Implementation Action Plan (IAP) and 5) Monitoring & Evaluation Framework. The deliverables have been validated by the Community Based Health Steering Committee. While the IAP has been developed, it is yet to be costed. A costed implementation action plan is a required component in the Public Policy Making Process (PPMP) for Namibia, as guided by the National Planning Commission. Therefore, the MoHSS, with support from UNICEF, seeks the services of an international expert to cost the implementation Action Plan of the CBHC policy.

How can you make a difference?

Scope of Work:
1) Goal and Objective:
Under the supervision of the HIV Specialist (PMTCT & Community Health), in the Child Survival and Development section (UNICEF) and Health Programme Officer, Community Based Health Care within Ministry of Health and Social Services, the consultant will conduct desk reviews of the developed documents and costing of the IAP through a consultative and participatory process.

The assignment objectives are:
a). To conduct desk reviews of existing relevant national CHBC programme documents including the revised CBHC Policy, Implementation Action Plan, and guidelines, for familiarization and to inform costing
b). To cost the implementation action plan of the CBHC policy using a participatory process with the MoHSS and key stakeholders through the Community Based Health Steering Committee platform.

Work Assignment Overview

Key Activities and Tasks Deliverables/Outputs: Timeline Payment schedule
Work relationships: The consultant will engage and work in close collaboration with the MoHSS and the thematic leads throughout all the stages of his or her consultancy.

The consultant will work closely with the MoHSS to undertake the following tasks:
• Conduct desk review of all relevant documents, including the Implementation Action Plan of the CBHC policy
• Discuss and agree on the parameters for costing the IAP with the MoHSS and key stakeholders as will be advised by the MoHSS
• Using a participatory approach, cost the Implementation Action Plan of the CBHC policy using the Community Health Planning and Costing Tools and/or an advised alternative costing methodology.

• Conduct stakeholders’ consultations and validation meetings for the draft costed IAP.

• Submit the final costed Implementation Action Plan of the CBHC policy, including revisions from the stakeholder consultation meetings.

Draft costed Implementation Action Plan. By 24 May, 2023
Conduct stakeholders’ consultations and validation meetings for the draft costed IAP.
Submit the final costed Implementation Action Plan of the CBHC policy, including revisions from the stakeholder consultation meetings.
Final Costed Implementation Action Plan of the CBHC policy. By 24 May, 2023 100% payment upon satisfactory completion of the assignment
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required:

• Education: Consultant must have a master’s degree in health care financing, health economics or related area.
• Background and Experience: Consultant must have a five (5) years of work experience in health financing and health economics areas of similar size and complexity.
• The consultant will have specific and proven past experiences in costing policies or strategic plan, and implantation action plans.
• Demonstrable experience of costing policy documents and strategic plans for Community Based Health Care strongly desirable.
• Experience working with Government Ministries, ideally in national plans costing including conducting stakeholder consultations and engagements.
• The candidate must have demonstrated ability to produce professional quality technical and analytic materials. Samples of previous work outputs may be requested during the recruitment process.
• Language Proficiency: The candidate must be fluent in English. Knowledge of a local language is an advantage. The candidate must have a proven ability to communicate timely, clearly and concisely both orally and in writing.
• Skills and Abilities: The ability to work independently with minimal supervision, compile strategic policy documents, and prepare precise, accurate and complete reports is required. Excellent analytical and conceptual skills. Strong computer skills and knowledge, such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint and word processing programs are necessary.

Administrative Issues:

Costs indicated are estimated. Final rate shall follow the “best value for money” principle, i.e., achieving the desired outcome at the lowest possible fee. Consultants will be asked to stipulate all-inclusive fees, including lump sum travel and subsistence costs, as applicable.

Payment of professional fees will be based on submission of agreed deliverables. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold payment in case the deliverables submitted are not up to the required standard or in case of delays in submitting the deliverables on the part of the consultant.

How to Apply

Qualified and interested candidates are encouraged to submit an online application before the closing date.

Application must include:
• Detailed curriculum vitae including a description of relevant main achievements.
• Writing samples might be required during the recruitment process.
• Minimum three references that include the name and contact person, title, and contact information.
• A comprehensive technical proposal outlining the methodology the consultant will apply, and highlighting relevant assumptions
• A detailed financial proposal quoted in US Dollars. The financial proposal must include all expected costs such as travel costs to Windhoek, living allowance and administrative costs for the consultant (exclude the cost of group meetings). No travel outside Windhoek is expected. UNICEF will not cover any additional costs outside the approved financial proposal.

Incomplete applications e.g. without financial/budget proposal will not be considered.

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.

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.

Advertised: 28 Mar 2023 Namibia Standard Time
Deadline: 10 Apr 2023 Namibia Standard Time