Background

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is a global organization, with 18,000 staff working in approximately 170 offices globally. UNDP works in development and crisis settings with the aim to achieve the eradication of poverty, reduction of inequalities and exclusion, and sustained development results. 

The UNDP Strategic Plan 2021-2025 embraces the complexity of development, and commits the organization to helping countries find faster, more durable solutions to achieve Agenda 2030. Important development trends like urbanization, climate change, and inequality pose significant challenges on the path to achieve the 2030 agenda of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Coming together under the new framework of the Global Policy Network (GPN), the Crisis Bureau (CB) and the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS) sit at the core of UNDP’s global policy, programming, and knowledge capacities for crisis prevention and recovery.

UNDP HIV, Health and Development 
BPPS supports UNDP’s 2021-25 Strategic Plan, focusing on 3 outcomes, including advancing poverty eradication in all its forms and dimensions (outcome 1). The HIV, Health and Development Group (HHD), within BPPS, is helping to contribute towards this outcome. 

UNDP is a founding cosponsor of the Joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), a partner of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria, and a co-sponsor of several other international health partnerships. UNDP’s work on HIV, health and development, as described in the HIV, Health and Development Strategy 2016-2021: Connecting the Dots, leverages UNDP’s core strengths and mandates in human development, governance and capacity development to complement the efforts of specialist health-focused UN agencies. UNDP delivers three types of support to countries for HIV, health and development.  

First, UNDP helps countries to mainstream attention to HIV and health into action on gender, poverty and the broader effort to achieve and sustain the SDGs. For example, UNDP works with countries to understand the social and economic factors that play a crucial role in driving health and disease, and to respond to such dynamics with appropriate policies and programmes outside the health sector. UNDP also promotes specific action on the needs and rights of women and girls as they relate to HIV.

Second, UNDP works with partners to address the interactions between governance, human rights and health responses. Sometimes this is done through focused or specialized programmes, such as promoting attention to the role of the law and legal environments in facilitating stronger HIV responses, including the use of flexibilities in intellectual property law to lower the cost of drugs and diagnostics. UNDP also works to empower and include marginalized populations who are disproportionately affected by HIV, such as sex workers, men who have sex with men and people living with HIV. Beyond these focused efforts, UNDP plays a key role in ensuring attention to HIV and health within broader governance and rights initiatives, including support to municipal action on SDGs, sustainable responses for Health and HIV such as improving sustainability of AIDS financing, sustainable health procurement, strengthening of national human rights institutions and increasing access to justice for key populations. 

Third, as a trusted, long-term partner with extensive operational experience, UNDP supports countries in effective implementation of complex, multilateral and multisectoral health projects, while simultaneously investing in capacity development so that national and local partners can assume these responsibilities over time. The UNDP/Global Fund partnership is an important part of this work, facilitating access to resources for action on SDG 3 by countries that face constraints in directly receiving and managing such funding.  UNDP partners with countries in crisis/post-crisis situations, those with weak institutional capacity or governance challenges, and countries under sanctions. When requested, UNDP acts as temporary Principal Recipient in these settings, working with national partners and the Global Fund to improve management, implementation and oversight of Global Fund grants, while simultaneously developing national capacity to be able to assume the Principal Recipient role over time. 
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development highlights the need to improve innovation of new medicines, diagnostics and vaccines, and support the creation of enabling policy environments to increase access to these health technologies; asserting that addressing innovation, access and delivery are critical for UHC in LMICs.

Innovation, Access and Delivery of health technologies for TB, Malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases
The majority of deaths caused by infectious diseases are of poor people living in low- and middle-income countries with many occurring in children under five. HIV, malaria, tuberculosis (TB) and other epidemics continue to devastate communities throughout the developing world. The prevalence of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), endemic in 149 countries, also remains high. As part of its work on accelerating progress towards the SDGs, UNDP is committed to working with partners to achieve the health-related SDGs specifically aimed to address the sector gap in research and development (R&D) funding for new global health technologies for global diseases and increasing their access and availability. 
Since 2013, with the support of the Government of Japan, and as part of its work on accelerating progress on the SDGs, UNDP has been leading the Access and Delivery Partnership (ADP). ADP supports LMICs enhance their capacity to access, introduce and deliver new health technologies for TB, malaria and NTDs. The introduction of new health technologies can place a weighty burden on existing health systems. These burdens may include new requirements for drug regulation, supply and distribution, and health personnel training. New health technologies are broadly defined as drugs, diagnostic tools and vaccines that are relevant for the prevention, treatment or cure of TB, malaria and NTDs, but have not yet been introduced in LMICs.  The ADP focuses on strengthening the capacity of LMIC stakeholders to facilitate the development of the systems and processes required to effectively access new health technologies and introduce them to the patients in need. Led and coordinated by UNDP, the ADP is a unique collaboration among UNDP, WHO, the Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases at the World Health Organization (TDR) and PATH. Working together, the partners leverage the expertise within each organization to provide the full range of technical skills necessary to strengthen capacity in LMICs.

Uniting Efforts for Innovation, Access and Delivery 
As part of the ADP scale-up phase, the Government of Japan, UNDP-ADP and the Global Health Innovative Technology (GHIT) Fund in January 2019 launched a global platform that aims to facilitate engagement for health technology access and delivery preparedness among funders, PDPs, private sector, research institutes and access and delivery stakeholders (defined in this context to be entities involved in the selection, purchasing, procurement, implementation and use of health technologies). 
The global platform - Uniting Efforts for Innovation, Access and Delivery (hereafter Uniting Efforts) - aims to create space for collaboration and synergies to systematically address bottlenecks that impede the efficient uptake of new health technologies. Uniting Efforts also seeks to facilitate the exchange of information to identify major common challenges and best practices, opportunities and successful strategies in technology innovation, introduction and uptake that can enable the three partners and others to identify and act on strategies to improve access and delivery of health technologies for neglected diseases and patients. For the purposes of this platform neglected diseases are neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), malaria and tuberculosis. For more information: https://www.unitingeffortsforhealth.org.
The platform was launched at an inaugural and first global dialogue in January 2019 in Bangkok and was followed by two technical meetings in September 2019 in New York.  The first year of joint work on this platform brought together partners and experts to define a common agenda for health technology access and delivery preparedness in LMICs, including strategies to improve financing/funding for access and delivery, and planning for access and delivery within R&D.

On 26 September 2019, over 50 experts from around the world met at a technical meeting organized by Uniting Efforts for Innovation, Access and Delivery in the side-lines of the UN General Assembly in New York.  The meeting facilitated detailed discussion of one of the cross-cutting issues identified as a priority for the new platform: Planning for Access and Delivery in Research and Development.  Apart from the usefulness of follow up dialogues and opportunities for additional convening to share experiences and discuss different approaches to tackling complex issues, many expert participants raised the usefulness of actionable knowledge products and analysis to increase understanding of existing policies and practices, bottlenecks, priorities, key stakeholders and interventions to improve access and delivery of health technologies in LMICs.  
Responding to this, the Uniting Efforts partners decided to commission the development of two technical papers to support the planning for access and delivery in research and development (R&D): a) A review of access policies and practices within R&D, and b) Checklist/s for funders and innovators.

The first phase of the preparatory work has been undertaken; this includes a working draft of the preliminary research and approach, which was presented at the Second Global Dialogue in February 2020; and on-going work on a review of literature as well as the conduct of a survey of key funders and innovators initiated in September 2021.  

 

Duties and Responsibilities

The objectives of this assignment are to :

  1. Support the on-going work, including the survey and compilation of relevant literature/data, and 
  2. Develop and write the following knowledge products/publications: a) a Review of access policies and practices during R&D, and b) checklist/checklists for R&D funders and innovators.

The consultant selected will work in close coordination with the UNDP Policy Specialist on Health Technologies and Uniting Efforts partners. 

Activities and Deliverables
Deliverable I:   A written summary presenting the key results and findings following the survey and Literature/Data Review (approx. 23 days, Estimated due day: February 2022). The activities in this deliverable include support the finalization of the ongoing literature/data review of existing analysis, policies and practices, and finalization of the ongoing survey to key stakeholders, including funders and innovators using a questionnaire that has been sent to over 50 organizations (survey to be completed in writing or during an oral interview).  Tasks include preparing and leading the conduct of (approximately 20) oral interviews, and preparation of summary of key results and findings. 

Deliverable II: technical paper: A Review of Access Policies and Practices during R&D (approx. 40 days, Estimated due day first draft: March 2022). Based on the deliverable I, the activities in this deliverable include research and writing of a technical publication that documents the main policies and practices to plan for access and delivery during R&D by public and philanthropic R&D funders, PDPs, the private sector and other innovators of health technologies. The review (of approximately 10,000 words) will describe and analyze current practices, policies and approaches, including scope of interventions and operationalization of policies/strategies practiced by funders and innovators. The aim is to help partners and participants of Uniting Efforts better understand the options and opportunities for improvement in strategies to plan for access and delivery during R&D. The review will include a summary of the results of Deliverable I, the literature/data review of existing analysis, policies and practices, and of the survey of key stakeholders.  The review should provide also specific case studies of practices, policies and strategies of stakeholders for particular diseases or technologies.  The Review will be presented in draft form to a technical consultation of peer review/ experts in Q1 2022, and the consultant will incorporate comments received in technical consultation and by the three core Uniting Efforts partners. 

Deliverable III: Technical paper: Checklist/s for R&D Funders and Innovators (approx. 15 days, Estimated due day first draft of checklists: April 2022). Based on the deliverables I & II, the activities in this deliverable include the writing of two short checklists – one to support R&D funders, and the other to support innovators in efforts to ensure access needs and considerations are included as early as possible in the R&D process, and robustly implemented, tracked, and evaluated. The consultant will incorporate comments received by the three core Uniting Efforts partners, and peer reviewers (maximum 4). 

Deliverable IV: Presentation of publications at Uniting Efforts launch  (approx. 2 days, Estimated presentation of final publications: June 2022 TBC). The activities in this deliverable include preparation and presentation of the technical Review and the Checklist to a forthcoming (2022) Uniting Efforts Global Dialogue/Webinar that will launch the publications/knowledge products.

DURATION OF THE WORK
The duration of this assignment is expected to be 7 months (80 days) from January 3, 2022 to July 30th, 2022. However, an earlier end date of the assignment is desired and encouraged. In terms of tentative timelines- The Review will be presented as a working draft to a technical virtual consultation of peer reviewers/experts in Q1 2022. The draft of the knowledge products/publications (Review and Checklist/s) should be submitted for final review by Uniting Efforts’ partners and preparation for publication before end of April 2022. 

DUTY STATION
This is a home-based assignment.
 
TRAVEL PLAN
No travel is anticipated for now. 

 

Competencies

Corporate

  • Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards.
  • Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP. 
  • Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.

Functional

  • Strong research, analytical, writing, and communication skills, including ability to produce high quality technical reports and knowledge products, 
  • Ability to work independently, produce high quality outputs in a timely manner. 
  • Professional experience in one or more of the areas of the access to treatment.
  • Relevant experience strengthening the capacity of civil society or government officials on access to treatment would be highly advantageous.

Required Skills and Experience

I. Academic Qualification:

  • Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in public health, law, business or related field is required. 

 

II. Experience:

  • Minimum of fifteen (15) years of relevant work and/or specialized knowledge in global health and medical research, including developing, implementing or researching policies and strategies to increase R&D and access to medicines, vaccines and other health technologies for diseases that predominantly affect the poor and developing countries. Specific experience working on neglected diseases is an asset. Demonstrated experience in conducting research, providing technical policy support and writing reports on global health policy, with a focus on innovation and access to health technologies. 
  • Relevant network of contacts and knowledge of funders and innovators’ access strategies and policies in research and development (R&D) in health technologies for neglected populations and diseases. 
  • Knowledge and experience working with UNDP and/or other UN agencies is an asset.

 

III. Language Requirements

  • Fluency in written and spoken English, including the ability to conduct professional interviews/surveys and write concisely and professionally, is required. 

 

SCOPE OF PRICE PROPOSAL AND SCHEDULE OF PAYMENTS

All proposals must be expressed as a total lumpsum amount, including all the deliverables identified above. This amount must be “all-inclusive”. Please note that the terms “all-inclusive” implies that all costs (professional fees, living allowances, communications, consumables, etc.) that could possibly be incurred are already factored into the final amounts submitted in the proposal. 

PAYMENT:

Payments will be made on a lump sum basis upon submission of a certification of payment (CoP) form duly certified and confirmation by the reporting manager of satisfactory performance of achieved work (deliverables/outputs). 

Schedule of payments: 

 • 50% of total contract amount upon completion of deliverables I and II - submission to UNDP and approval. 

 • 50% of total contract amount upon competition of deliverables III and IV - submission to UNDP and approval. 

 

RECOMMENDED PRESENTATION OF OFFER

Interested individual consultants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications. Candidates that fail to submit the required information will not be considered.

Duly completed Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability using the template provided by UNDP, which includes the financial proposal as annex 2.

Kindly note that the Financial Proposal should indicate an all-inclusive total contract lump sum amount including all the deliverables, and supported by a breakdown of costs, as per the template provided.  The term “all-inclusive” implies that all costs (professional fees, travel costs, living allowances, communications, consumables, etc.) that could possibly be incurred are already factored into the final amounts submitted in the proposal. 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.  

Cover Letter AND Personal CV OR a duly completed P11 form, indicating how consultant meet the requirements and demonstrate the relevant experience to deliver this ToR, including examples of similar projects and writing samples, ideally of similar documents to those requested under this ToR, as well as proposed methodology to meet the deliverables under this ToR and proposed timelines. In addition, contact details (email and telephone number) of the consultant and at least three (3) professional references.

 

EVALUATION CRITERIA FOR SELECTION OF THE BEST OFFERS

Applicants will be screened against qualifications and competencies specified below through a desk review. The award of the contract would be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

  • Responsive/compliant/acceptable, and
  • Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation. 
  • Technical Criteria weight; 70%. Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 70 points would be considered for the Financial Evaluation
  • Financial Criteria weight; 30% 

Technical Evaluation Criteria (70%):  

  • Criteria 1: Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in public health, law, business or related field is required. (10 points). 
  • Criteria 2: Minimum of fifteen (15) years of relevant work and/or specialized knowledge in global health and medical research, including developing, implementing or researching policies and strategies to increase R&D and access to medicines, vaccines and other health technologies for diseases that predominantly affect the poor and developing countries. Specific experience working on neglected diseases is an asset. Demonstrated experience in conducting research, providing technical policy support and writing reports on global health policy, with a focus on innovation and access to health technologies. (25 points).
  • Criteria 3: Relevant network of contacts and knowledge of funders and innovators’ access strategies and policies in research and development (R&D) in health technologies for neglected populations and diseases. (25 points).
  • Criteria 4: Previous working experience with UNDP or another UN Agency (10 points).

 

Annexes (also available on the UNDP procurement notice # 86522)