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, health care!
The Ministry of Health and Sanitation (MoHS) has decided to develop and pilot a comprehensive PHC model with community and grassroot engagement and district-wide health system strengthening in selected chiefdoms/districts. As the first step, MoHS has conducted a rapid assessment in the two pilot chiefdoms, which UNICEF took part in. UNICEF remains committed to collaborating with MoHS throughout the pilot phase, starting from conceptualisation of the model to actual implementation, monitoring, documentation and final assessment of the pilot for future scale-up. UNICEF does this within the framework of its country programme 2020-2023 where UNICEF aims to provide support for the health system strengthening at community and district levels through addressing different health system building blocks, including:
- Health workforce, particularly the further integration of community health workers (CHWs) into health system, and strengthening linkage between CHWs and other community resources;
- Health information system, including strengthening and integration of Community Health Information System (CHIS) into DHIS2;
- Access to essential medicine and nutrition supplies;
- Service delivery capacity with focus on quality of care;
- Financing, particularly sustainable financing for the community health system;
- Leadership and enhancing governance at all levels, including community engagement / empowerment for voice and accountability;
- Individual and community practices and behaviours.
Overarching strategy which UNICEF adopts in this process is District Health System Strengthening (DHSS) approach – assisting MoHS in strengthening equity-focused planning, budgeting and public financial management at decentralized level, by building capacity of district health management teams (DHMTs) and councils to go through a holistic approach to local level planning, implementation and monitoring to ensure provision of quality health services and adoption of optimal family care practices in the selected districts.
How can you make a difference?
Purpose and objective of theassignment:
The purpose of consultancy is to strengthen community based PHC system toward achieving Universal Health Care in Sierra Leone.
The specific objectives of the assignment are to:
- Help develop a conceptual model for a scalable and sustainable comprehensive community based PHC model with clearly defined governance structure and strong accountability framework.
- Help introduce DHSS approach focusing on: i) improving availability, timeline and quality of health information at the subnational level; ii) improving DHMT capacity to analyse data (including coverage and equity assessment, bottleneck analysis) and use it to inform equity-focused planning, decision making, monitoring, and budgeting; iii) ensuring citizens’ voice is incorporated into planning, monitoring, and budgeting process and that functional feedback loops exist between the health system and communities; iv) supporting continuous quality improvement at the facility level as well as community service delivery by CHWs.
- Monitor, assess and document the process of implementing pilot PHC model / DHSS approach, including good practices, challenges, and the lessons learned.
Methodology and Technical Approach
In consultation with MoHS officials (including but not limited to Directorate of Policy, Planning, and Information (DPPI), Directorate of Primary Health Care (DPHC), Directorate of Reproductive and Child Health (DRCH), and Directorate of Food and Nutrition (DFN)), the consultant will conduct a desk review of the relevant documents and data, interview of key informants at national and sub-national levels, and consultative meetings with the relevant stakeholders for understanding the context and developing a conceptual model. The stakeholders will include policy makers, MoHS directors/managers, DHMTs, district councils, Ministry of Local Government staff, service providers, communities, development partners, and relevant UNICEF staff. For subsequent 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, particularly the DPPI, DHMTs, District Councils, throughout the entire process is particularly important to institutionalize the local planning process within the health system.
Specific Tasks of the Consultant
Under the direct supervision of Health Specialist (Community Health) and working closely with Health Specialist (Policy and Planning) and Chief of Health and Nutrition, the international consultant has the following tasks and responsibilities.
- Develop and document a scalable and sustainable comprehensive community based PHC model, including:
- Brief analysis of current situation – opportunities and challenges.
- Theory of change.
- Service package at different level.
- Community engagement strategy.
- Priority interventions with estimated cost.
- Clearly defined governance structure with roles and responsibilities of stakeholders and accountability framework with measurable indicators for performance tracking.
b. Introduce DHSS approach in the selected districts through:
- Technical assistance and capacity building support in evidence-based planning, which incorporates equity assessment and bottleneck analysis.
- Technical assistance and capacity building support in resource allocation/budget formulation and in budget monitoring with a view to improving the linkage between policies, budgets and performance and increasing the budget allocation to essential reproductive, maternal, neonatal, child and adolescent health and nutrition (RMNCAH+N) at the district level.
- Technical assistance and capacity building support in monitoring of health service delivery and outcomes, which will feed into the planning process.
Please see attached ToR for more information on the consultancy. ToR – DHSS.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.
- 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.
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.
For every Child, you demonstrate…
UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.
View our competency framework at
http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf
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.
Pleaseattach your financial proposal.
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.
More Information
- Job City Freetown
