Background

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Zimbabwe, serves as the Principal Recipient (PR) of the 3-year Global Fund HIV Grant (2018-2020) and provides Fund Administrator support services to the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC), the PR for TB and Malaria grants. As part of its PR role, UNDP implements capacity development (CD) activities to strengthen the systems for health and national institutions. Such capacity development responses are designed based on the needs and priorities of national implementing partners, national stakeholders and aligned to national strategies.

The National AIDS Council (NAC) is one of the institutions collaborating with UNDP on capacity development initiatives, to effectively respond to changing landscape of the HIV epidemic. With more than 20 years in existence, NAC’s main mandate is to coordinate the multi-sectorial response to HIV/AIDS. Specifically, and among other responsibilities, NAC performs the following functions:

 

  • Ensure the development of strategies and policies to respond to HIV/AIDS
  • Mobilisation of resources in support of the National response to HIV/AIDS
  • Enhance the capacity of the various sectors of the community to respond to the HIV/AIDS epidemic and to coordinate their response.

As one of the Sub-Recipients (SRs) to the HIV Global Fund grant (2018-2020), NAC is working with various stakeholders in promoting access to HIV services by selected Key Populations (KP) groups in the country. In addition, NAC is also coordinating the Adolescent Girls and Young Women (AGYW) grant on prevention programmes for adolescents and youths in and out of school across 30 Districts in Zimbabwe.

Duties and Responsibilities

Purpose of Consultancy, Scope of Work and Timelines:

The consultant is tasked to conduct an assessment of the different service delivery models for Key Populations in Zimbabwe, and recommend which model works best and generate a hybrid model which considers the two as KP services are scaled up in the country. The first model is the one that is being implemented by MOHCC in the public health sector while the other model is led by NGOs and operates along the lines of a private health delivery system. Examples of such NGOs include CeSHHAR, PSI and i-TECH, amongst others.

 

The assessment should include value addition, efficiency, relevance and effectiveness of differentiated approach to health delivery system for KP services. The assessment may want to draw parallels from the differentiated approach for HIV treatment and care services as is practised in most country settings in the sub region. A differentiated approach refers to a strategic mix of approaches to address the specific requirements of a sub group of clients requiring a defined service, e.g. KP prevention, treatment, care and support services in our context. It includes the modification of the client’s flow, schedule and location of the services provided with the aim of improving on access and quality of care of the services rendered. Advantages and challenges for each system should be clearly spelt out so as to guide decision makers on which model or hybrid to adopt as services are scaled up for Key populations. Issues of sustainability and the burden of creating parallel service delivery systems should also be interrogated as part of this assessment.

 

This consultancy is planned for 30 days over a period of no more than two calendar months. It is important to note partners in this grant have entered an acceleration mode as the grant enters its final year of implementation in 2020, hence the need to deliver the guidelines within the stipulated timelines.

Objective:

The overall objective of the assignment is to strengthen Key Populations’ access to efficient and sustainable health service models, in cognisant of their increased vulnerability to HIV infection.

 

The specific objectives of this consultancy are:

  1. To assess the service delivery models for KP programming in the country (Public vs Private/NGO)
  2. To consider the sustainability of running parallel systems for KP services as is the case at the moment
  3. To consider the viability and feasibility of investing in a differentiated model as a way of increasing access and quality of care of KP services.
  4. To investigate whether the current public health delivery system offers confidentiality, safety and security to Key populations who are using it to receive services.

 

Proposed Methodology:

The assessment will be conducted at national level, complete with a sampling frame which satisfies adequate representation of the public health facilities as well as private/NGO sector. This sampling frame should also span urban and rural settings so that the results of the assessment could be generalised to give a complete picture of how the two models are meeting the needs of KPs. We also propose that a mixed approach should be used for purposes of data collection across the study and this entails the use of Individual survey questionnaires, Key Informant interviews, Focus Group discussions among others as part of the data collection protocol. There is a need for review of guidance & surveys related to KP services on this assessment. This will facilitate triangulation and allow for the generalisation of findings. The use of digital data collection instruments or platforms is strongly encouraged as it also guarantees interviewee security considering the sensitivity of Key Populations.

  

Specific Tasks:

The Consultant will:

  • Develop a comprehensive scientific assessment protocol which can generate results with an ability to be generalised.
  • Propose a methodology which can stand the test for statistical scrutiny
  • Recruit survey enumerators and organise their training to facilitate data collection
  • Manage all aspects of data collection in the field (all assessment logistics)
  • Convene meetings to discuss the preliminary findings from the assessment and take inputs from stakeholders
  • Share final assessment results and recommendation in a feedback meeting
  • Package the final report and share with UNDP/NAC for further dissemination with their partners.

Expected Outputs / Deliverables:

  1. Inception report including a detailed work plan and timelines
  2. Development of an assessment protocol complete with a convincing methodology and sampling proposal and data collection tools.
  3. Preliminary report on the assessment findings developed
  4. Facilitate validation meeting to discuss the final assessment results and recommendations
  5. Present a well packaged final assessment report to NAC/UNDP for further dissemination to stakeholders.

Schedule of Deliverables:

Deliverable                                                            No. of Days       Payment

Inception report with workplan and timelines          2                        20%    

Desk review                                                            2                        0%

Assessment protocol and tools developed             3                        40%

Data collection                                                        15                      0%

Validation meeting on the findings                          2                        0%

Presentation of final assessment report                 6                        40%

Total Number of Days                                          30

 

Reporting and Institutional Arrangements:

UNDP hires and manages the contract to ensure that the assignment is delivered in line with UN values, whilst NAC, through the M&E Director’s office shall provide overall supervision in line with the core objective of the assignment. The consultant will report to the UNDP Capacity Development Officer, and will work closely with NAC and MOHCC focal persons, as well as the AGYW and KPs implementing partners.

Security: 

Individual Consultants are responsible for ensuring they have vaccinations/inoculations when travelling to
certain parts of the country, 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):

  • Personal History Form (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

Step 2: Submission of Financial Proposal

  • 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: https://procurement-notices.undp.org/view_notice.cfm?notice_id=65747
  • 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 2 - INDIVIDUAL CONSULTANT GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS is provided here:
http://www.undp.org/content/dam/undp/documents/procurement/documents/IC%20-%20General%20Conditions.pdf

Payment Method:

  • Payment: All-inclusive Daily Fee
  • Payments will be based on the Certificate of Payments that will be submitted at each milestone;
  • Final payment upon performance evaluation from the direct supervisor.

 

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 analytical, writing and communication skills, including ability to produce high quality, practical and user friendly guidelines.
  • Professional and/or academic experience in one or more of the areas of international development, public health or related field.

Project and Resource Management:

  • Ability to produce high quality outputs in a timely manner while understanding and anticipating the evolving client needs.
  • Strong organizational skills.
  • Ability to work independently, produce high quality outputs.

Communications and Advocacy:

  • Strong ability to write clearly and convincingly, adapting style and content to different audiences and speak clearly and convincingly.
  • Strong analytical, research and writing skills with demonstrated ability to think strategically.
  • Strong inter-personal, negotiation and liaison skills.
  • Strong facilitation skills

Partnership building and team work:

  • Excellent negotiating and networking skills.
  • Demonstrated flexibility to excel in a multi-cultural environment.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

  • A Master’s Degree or equivalent in Social Sciences, Human rights and Law, Public health or a relevant qualification is required.

 

Experience

  • At least eight (8) years professional experience in Public Health.
  • Solid experience in public health service delivery systems in Zimbabwe
  • Proven experience working on Key Populations programming
  • Solid experience in public health service delivery and research
  • Strong IT skills;
  • Experience of Global Fund, UN and / or UNDP policies and procedures highly desirable;
  • Strong experience of programme partnership and collaboration with national institutions is highly desirable.

 

Language:

  • Fluency in English and a local language is a prerequisite

 

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):

  • Relevance of education to the consultancy (10 points);
  • At least eight (8) years professional experience in Public Health (15 points);
  • Solid experience on Key Populations programming and research (15 points);
  • Proposed methodology to the assignment (20 points);
  • Experience of GF, UN and / or UNDP policies and procedures highly desirable (10 points).