Background

Project Title: Terms of Reference for Economic Analysis PrEP Consultant

Project Description: Background and Justification

Zimbabwe has adopted innovative strategies in reducing new infections among Key and most at-risk populations.  PrEP is one innovation that Zimbabwe has adopted and will be offered as an additional prevention choice for people at substantial risk of HIV infection as part of combination prevention approaches. Groups that are likely to be at substantial risk of HIV infection include (Guidelines for Antiretroviral Therapy for the Prevention and Treatment of HIV in Zimbabwe):

  •  Adolescent girls and young women;
  • Male and female sex workers;
  • At risk men (MSM, prisoners, truck drivers);
  • Sero-discordant couples;;Women in relationships with men of unknown status;
  • Transgender people.

The country has developed a strategy to roll-out and scale-up of PrEP in 2018, the goal of the strategy is to guide the implementation of PrEP in Zimbabwe for the period 2018-2020.

Modelling of epidemiological impact of the roll-out scenarios was done to inform the programme of the high impact scenario. There is still gap on economic analysis of PrEP.

Some tentative work that have been done to estimate the direct per client costs associated with oral PrEP for a typical client in Zimbabwe was estimated to be at $86 (K.E Kripke, Estimating Cost of providing PrEP. 2018). Direct client costs include PrEP drugs, creatinine testing, HIV and STI testing, HIV drug resistance testing where applicable, and healthcare worker personnel costs associated with providing PrEP clinical and counselling services. Demand generation, adherence support interventions, and health systems costs are not included as part of direct client costs. Hence there is need for having a comprehensive economic analysis with time motion component.

The tentative analysis done pointed out that the total cost for an average client on PrEP for 6 months is estimated to be $86 assuming the following:

  • One screening and initiation visit including creatinine, syphilis and hepatitis B testing;
  • Two follow-up visits for a 3-month drug supply;
  • One discontinuation visit without drugs dispensed.

The cost is missing other critical costs drivers; therefore, the required consultant will do a comprehensive analysis of these costs.

Objectives

The objective of this consultancy is to do an economics analysis that will  determine;

  • Direct and indirect cost for Client to be on Oral PrEP;
  • Unit costs for provision of PrEP;
  • How to achive the PrEP targets with minimal resources;
  • Revision or validation of the PrEP strategy costing;
  • Resource gap analysis for PrEP service provision by the governmebt of Zimbabwe.

Duties and Responsibilities

Key tasks responsibilities:

The consultant will review other economic analysis done in the Sub Sahara African region to inform data collection and do an analysis that will inform the PrEP programme. S/he should:

  • Draw direct and indirect costs for putting someone on PrEP;
  • Define the unit costs for provision of PrEP in Zimbabwe by government;
  • Use a model to explain efficiency in PrEP programme;
  • Explain the resource gap as a result of implementing PrEP programme.

Scope of Work

Expected outputs/deliverables:

  • Inception report
  • Presentation of the analysis outputs on a HIV PPF meeting combined with estimates TWG meeting for validation
  • Clear economic model that can be used in different scenarios of PrEP roll out.
  • Comprehensive report of the consultancy including recommendations on how to further strengthen PrEP investiments in Zimbabwe.

Expected Outputs and Deliverables

 

Deliverables/ Outputs                                   Estimated Duration to Complete                     Target Due Dates

  • Inception report                                             3 days                                                                 30 January 2019
  • Presentation of the                                       5 Days                                                                 15 February 2019

analysis stakeholders

with findings, lessons learnt and recommendations

  • Clear economic model that                                  12 days                                                                   28 February 2019

can be used in different

scenarios of PrEP roll out.

  • Comprehensive detailed                                     10 Days                                                                   28 February 2019 report of the consultancy including recommendations on how to further strengthen PrEP investments.

Institutional Arrangement:

The consultant will work under the overall supervision of the Chief Executive Officer of NAC with support from UNDP.

Duration of the Work :

30 working days

Duty Station:

Harare

H.     Qualifications of the Successful Individual Contractor

The prospective consultant should have an advanced academic degree in Public Health, Health Economics or Health FinanceKey tasks responsibilities:

The consultant will review other economic analysis done in the Sub Sahara African region to inform data collection and do an analysis that will inform the PrEP programme. S/he should:

  • Draw direct and indirect costs for putting someone on PrEP
  • Define the unit costs for provision of PrEP in Zimbabwe by government
  • Use a model to explain efficiency in PrEP programme
  • Explain the resource gap as a result of implementing PrEP programme

Scope of Work

Expected outputs/deliverables:

  • Inception report;
  • Presentation of the analysis outputs on a HIV PPF meeting combined with estimates TWG meeting for validation;
  • Clear economic model that can be used in different scenarios of PrEP roll out;
  • Comprehensive report of the consultancy including recommendations on how to further strengthen PrEP investiments in Zimbabwe.

Competencies

Professionalism:

  • Demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter;
  • Good research, analytical and problem-solving skills;
  • Conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results.

Communication:

  • Excellent and effective written and oral skills; ability to persuade people with varying points of view and to present information in a concise and accurate manner, ability to clearly communicate links between the organizations.

Planning and Organizing:

  • Proven ability to plan, coordinate and monitor own work and that of others;
  • Ability to work under pressure and uses time efficiently;
  • Identifies priority activities and assignments, adjust priorities as required.

Teamwork:

  • Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals;
  • Solicits input by valuing ideas and expertise of others and is willing to learn from others.

Required Skills and Experience

Educaiton:

  • The prospective consultant should have an advanced academic degree in Public Health, Health Economics or Health Finance.

Experience

  • Minimum 3 years working experience in Economic analysis;
  • Experience in Economic and Epidemiological modeling;
  • Knowledge of the current HIV epidemic in Zimbabwe;
  • Experience in working with teams of diverse professional backgrounds.

Language:

  • Fluent in English.

Scope of Price Proposal and Schedule of Payments

All the proposals must be expressed in the following pricing: All Inclusive Daily Fee.

Payment Method:

  • Payment: All-inclusive Daily Fee
  • The consultant will be paid as a daily rate (based on the number of days worked).
  • Payments will be based on the Certificate of Payments that will be submitted on achieved milestone basis;
  • Time Sheet will be attached and verified by the direct supervisor; and Final tranche upon performance evaluation from the direct supervisor.

Evaluation

Candidates will be evaluated using a combined scoring method with the qualifications and methodology weighted at 70% and the price offer weighted at 30%.  Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 49% (out of 70%) points on the technical qualifications part will be considered for the Financial Evaluation.

Criteria for evaluation of qualifications and methodology (70 points maximum):

Evaluation Criteria                                                                                        Points  

Qualification - Advanced University degree in Public Health,

Health Economics or Health Finance (Degree with

additional Diploma and certificates = 5 Points, Masters-PhD = 10 points                  10

Experience working in Public Health related economic/financial analysis                 10

Relevant Experience conducting similar type of works i.e. economic                       15

modelling or analysis (<3 years = 3 points; 3-5 years = 7 points;

6-8 years = 12; >8 years = 15 points) – Submit weblink to publications done.

Proved knowledge of Economic and Epidemiological modelling                             15

(No stated proof = 0; Stated proof but not traceable = 5,

Stated proof traceable = 15)

Knowledge of the current HIV epidemic in Zimbabwe                                            10

Excellent analytical, synthesizing and report writing skills                                       5

Experience in working with teams of diverse professional backgrounds                 5             

Criteria for financial evaluation (30 points maximum):

·         p = y (µ/z), where

·         p = points for the financial proposal being evaluated
y = maximum number of points for the financial proposal
µ = price of the lowest priced proposal
z = price of the proposal being evaluated

Security: Individual Consultants are responsible for ensuring they have vaccinations/inoculations when travelling to certain countries, as designated by the UN Medical Director. Consultants are also required to comply with the UN security directives set forth under https://trip.dss.un.org

All envisaged travel costs must be included in the financial proposal. In general, UNDP does not accept travel costs exceeding those of an economy class ticket. Should the IC wish to travel on a higher class he/she should do so using their own resources. In the case of unforeseeable travel, payment of travel costs including tickets, lodging and terminal expenses should be agreed upon, between the respective business unit and Individual Consultant, prior to travel.

Application Submission Process:

Step 1: Interested individual consultants must include the following documents when submitting the applications in UNDP job shop (Please note that only 1 (one) file can be uploaded therefore please include all docs in one file):

  • Duly completed Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability using the template provided by UNDP;
  • Personal CV or P11, indicating all past experience from similar projects, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate and at least three (3) professional references; (the template can be downloaded from this link: http://sas.undp.org/Documents/P11_Personal_history_form.doc
  • Brief description of why the individual considers him/herself as the most suitable for the assignment, and a methodology, if applicable, on how they will approach and complete the assignment. A methodology is recommended for intellectual services, but may be omitted for support services [Note: this is optional for support services]; 

Step 2: Submission of Financial Proposal

  • Financial Proposal that indicates the all-inclusive fixed total contract price, supported by a breakdown of costs, as per template provided. Applicants are instructed to upload their financial proposals using the Letter to UNDP Confirming Interest and Availability indicating an all-inclusive daily rate in USD using the financial proposal template available here: http://procurement-notices.undp.org/view_file.cfm?doc_id=45780.

If an Offeror is employed by an organization/company/institution, and he/she expects his/her employer to charge a management fee in the process of releasing him/her to UNDP under Reimbursable Loan Agreement (RLA), the Offeror must indicate at this point, and ensure that all such costs are duly incorporated in the financial proposal submitted to UNDP. 

The Candidate must provide a link to a website that they have been actively involved in the development and management of together with a description of their role.

The term ‘all-inclusive” implies that all costs (monthly professional fees, travel related expenses if applicable, communications, utilities, consumables, insurance, etc.) that could possibly be incurred by the Contractor are already factored into the financial proposal

ANNEX 1 - INDIVIDUAL CONSULTANT GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS is provided here: http://www.undp.org/content/dam/undp/documents/procurement/documents/IC%20-%20General%20Conditions.pdf