Background

The Zimbabwe Country Coordinating Mechanism (CCM) was established in response to requirements and recommendations of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM) where Global Fund (GF) processes at country level should be led by multi-stakeholder structures.  As such, the CCM is the primary partner of the GF at country level and the highest decision-making authority on GF processes from grant application through to grant closure.  Membership of the Zimbabwe CCM is drawn from a variety of stakeholders among them Government, Civil Society Organisations, Private sector, Faith Based Organisations, People living with and affected by the three diseases (HIV, TB and Malaria), Bilateral and Multilateral development partners. 

The Zimbabwe CCM provides oversight for the Global Fund grants in Zimbabwe and the CCM is coordinated by the CCM Secretariat, which is made up of a team of 3 personnel. Grant oversight is a key responsibility of the Zimbabwe CCM. Currently, the country is implementing Global Fund supported grants worth more than USD500 million; (HIV = USD481.5 million, TB = USD26.6 million and Malaria = USD53.6 million), under NFM3. In addition, the country has also been allocated resources under the GF’s Covid-19 Resource Mechanism, amounting to USD175 million. The grants are running from 1 January 2021 to 31 December 2023.

Oversight consists of a coordinated set of activities to support and ensure that grant activities are implemented as planned and that issues and bottlenecks in grant implementation are identified and resolved on time. Oversight requires strategic guidance by the CCM to the Principal Recipient (PR), as well as consistent follow-through to ensure that implementing agencies comply with oversight recommendations and requested corrective actions. The mandate of the CCM Secretariat is to support the CCM in executing its functions of coordinating proposal development and oversight of GF grants and related activities.  All CCM members are required to attend, participate and contribute meaningfully in regular CCM meetings and other processes. It is therefore important for the CCM to ensure that all members from the different CCM constituencies/sectors are equipped for meaningful engagement through relevant trainings.

Project context

The Global Fund’s Country Coordinating Mechanisms Policy outlines that the CCM should be positioned at the highest level responsible for multi-partner and multi-sectorial development planning in a country. The Global Fund encourages all countries to build on their national structures, wherever possible, and to position the CCM and/or CCM functions within existing health platforms to contribute to central coordination of health programs, investments and pandemic preparedness. In countries actively preparing for transitioning away from Global Fund financing for at least one disease component, positioning planning and implementation may imply more urgent timelines. Although Zimbabwe is not yet in the transitioning phase it would be useful to already start thinking about this in this assignment.

This could be used to facilitate the adaptation of the roles of the CCM to support a successful transition process and to promote increased sustainability. This can include gradually shifting essential CCM functions and principles to national health institutions as early as possible for proactive transition planning, rather than waiting for a transition grant. Mapping existing health governance bodies in a country is the first step towards institutionalizing CCM functions. To this end the CCM seeks to engage a National Consultant to facilitate mapping of existing health bodies and platforms and assist with the development of a Positioning Strategy Plan.

Duties and Responsibilities

Objectives

1. To develop positioning options and a positioning strategy plan for the CCM,
2. To develop linkages with other significant coordinating platforms in the country,
3. To facilitate the embedment of CCM functions within existing or emerging health platforms, ensuring the inclusion of Civil Society Organisations;

Proposed Methodology

The approach for this consultant is guided as follows;

• Meet with the relevant CCM members and stakeholders to discuss the scope of work, timelines and to gather background information for the assignment and input into the process;
• Undertake a desk review of relevant documents;
• Organise an in-country consultation meeting and lead facilitation on the development of the positioning strategy plan;
• Consult the CCM evolution Task Force, CCM Executive Committee and CCM Secretariat and facilitate the development and adoption of the CCM Positioning Strategy Plan;

Expected Outputs

1. Inception meeting report including a detailed work plan and timelines,
2. Desk reviews on the CCM governance and relevant documents,
3. In-country consultation meetings conducted;

Deliverables

1. Desk review report which includes multiple governance bodies,
2. Key stakeholder consultation report, with stakeholders at the national level,
3. In-Country consultation report on the positioning strategy plan,
4. Availability of an appropriate and CCM endorsed Positioning Strategy Plan

Key Activities and Deliverables

Reporting and Institutional arrangements

The consultant will report to the CCM Executive Committee and the Chair of the CCM Evolution Task Force. The consultant will work in close collaboration with the CCM representatives of key and vulnerable populations, civil society, and/or communities living with and/or affected by the three diseases.

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, research and communication skills,
• 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 training and facilitation skills,

Partnership building and team work:

• Negotiating and networking skills,
• Demonstrated flexibility to excel in a multi-cultural environment,
• The candidate should have skills to keep teams focused, fulfilled, and aligned on achieving their objectives,
• Should be able to foster a sense of belonging and help team members work together as a unit,
• Candidate should create an environment for the team to navigate interpersonal dynamics and value everyone’s perspective,

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Advanced degree in Public health, Finance, Public administration, Business administration or any other related field,

Experience

Essential

• Solid experience in developing partnerships in political environments and in mediating complex issues and deliverables at country, regional and international levels,
• Rich professional experience, including a track record of working in strategy and policy analysis, program planning and management, and/or equivalent experience,
• Solid understanding and experience of strategic, organizational, financial and management issues,
• Solid understanding of the Global Fund processes and of its funding model,
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Desirable:

• At least 3 years of professional experience (international or national) working in planning and management in the humanitarian sector,
• Experience in public health and disease program management with focus on HIV and AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria,
• Documented experience of coordination across multiple stakeholders.

Languages:

• Fluency in English and knowledge of a local language is an added advantage.

Technical skills:

• Robust knowledge of the software Visio,
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications especially Excel/ Access, email, internet and websites essential,
• Robust understanding of governance matters,
• High degree of organization, initiative and political awareness,
• Knowledge of public health issues,
• Strong interpersonal skills and proven ability to communicate and interact with high-level officials from the government, NGOs, UN agencies and the private sector,
• Strong writing, presentation and communication skills and IT competences are essential,
• Ability to lead a team and set priorities while handling multiple tasks simultaneously,
• Previous development experience and/or background with government or private sector desirable,

• Demonstrated knowledge/experience of the Global Fund grant architecture and management process,

• Demonstrated knowledge/experience of CCM governance related issues,
• Strong experience of programme partnership and collaboration with national institutions is highly desirable,
• Experience in successful provision of technical assistance in the short and medium term,
• Preference will be given to consultants who are living with and/or affected by the three diseases and/or key populations themselves,

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 10 years professional experience, with at least 5 years of experience in the programme management at managerial level is required; (10 points);
• Relevant experience in providing consultancy / advisory services strengthening institutions and systems in high-pressure environments; (15 points);
• Solid experience in developing Terms of references and technical proposals (20 points);
• Experience of CCM, GF and UNDP policies and procedures highly desirable (15 points);

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;

Payment Method:

• The consultant will be paid as a daily rate (based on the number of days worked);
• Payment is an 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;
• Time Sheet will be attached and verified by the direct supervisor;

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:

https://info.undp.org/gssu/_layouts/15/WopiFrame.aspx?sourcedoc=/gssu/Documents/P11_Personal_history_form.docx&action=default&DefaultItemOpen=1

• Technical Proposal indicating prosed approach to the assignment

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 below:

Financial proposal template:

Cost Breakdown by Cost Component:  

Description of Activity; Remuneration per Unit of Time; Total Period of Engagement ; No. of Personnel; Total Rate;

I. Personnel Services                                     

         days     XX      1,         

            days     XX      1,         

            days     XX      1 ,        

II. Out of Pocket Expenses;                                        

           1.  Travel Costs;                                      

           2.  Communications;                                       

           3.  Others, if any;                                             

III. Other Related Costs;                      

[Name and Signature of the Service Provider’s Authorized Person]

[Designation]

[Date]

• 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:
https://procurement-notices.undp.org/view_file.cfm?doc_id=7879