Technical support to develop a new National Strategic Plan (NSP) for Tuberculosis (TB) for 2021-2025

BACKGROUND

NTC has conducted comprehensive evaluation of progress of the current NSP covering 2025-2020 in collaboration with WHO and partners on November 2019. Based on the review, NTP started to work on the new NSP for TB for 2021-2025. The new NSP need to support the Ministry of Health (MOH) to improve and align the delivery of TB services with the current and future Lao government health sector development policies. The NSP needs to align with the entire current MOH health sector reform agendas around systems strengthening, sustainable health financing and transitioning away from external donor support, integration of communicable disease human resource for health as well as broader integration of vertical programs. The NSP also provides a clear strategy for sequencing the TB program toward the goal of End TB Strategy. The contents of NSP will provide essential information for future Global Fund (GF) funding request. A consultant will work with NTC to develop the NSP for the period 2021-2025 and prepare Global Fund (GF) funding request for the allocation period 2020-2022.

PURPOSE/SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE OF THE ACTIVITY

The purpose of the Short Term Consultant (STC) is to support the Ministry of Health (MOH) and the National Tuberculosis Center (NTC) to develop a new National Strategic Plan (NSP) for Tuberculosis (TB) for 2021-2025 to guide them in achieving the countries goal of End TB Strategy.

DESCRIPTION OF ACTIVITIES TO BE CARRIED OUT

Output 1: Identify, and seek agreement on, the vision and goals for the NTC for the next strategic period.  Identify objectives and activities that the NTC need to achieve by 2025.

Deliverable 1.1 - Draft a logical framework presenting vision, goals, objectives, technical activities (including possible new strategies), indicators and targets for TB control for the next 5-year period. The logical framework should guide implementation of the TB program, align to and MOH policy settings and Global End TB Strategy.

Deliverable 1.2. - Draft a strategic plan for the TB control in Lao building on the successes and lessons learnt from the current strategic plan (2016-2020) and recommendations in the recent TB-HIV Joint Program Review (2019). The plan should take into account the recent epidemiological survey including TB epidemiological review, TB patient cost survey, and drug resistance survey current and expected epidemiology, the coverage of activity and interventions, the options and costs of expanding screening activity, the need to more effectively implement active case findings and the changes needed to expand/improve coverage and delivery of core services and progressively move towards goal of End TB.

Deliverable 1.3 - Support the program to develop costing estimates to implement the NSP, taking into account a range of expected funding availability.  The budget should identify potential funding sources for each activity and period of funding and highlight any funding gaps.

Output 2: Provide technical support on preparation of GF funding request taking into account the upcoming GF/WB joint funding mechanism e.g., Disbursement Linked Indicator.

Deliverable 2.1 – Collect all information that is necessary for preparing submission documents including annex by collaboratively working with NTC and relevant partners.

Deliverable 2.2. - Draft GF funding request form and necessary documents in timely. The contents of the documents should match with the framework and contents of the NSP.

METHODS TO CARRY OUT THE ACTIVITY

The above actions should be led or/and facilitated by the consultant through daily working, communicating, and other meetings/seminars/workshops with the NTC Director, technical staff and other TB partners.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

EDUCATION

Essential:  Degree in medicine and as well as a post-graduate qualification in public health.

Desirable:

EXPERIENCE

Essential: Essential: Minimum 15 years’ experience in public health management, communicable disease control including Tuberculosis, preferably in Asia.

Desirable: Working experience with the WHO, with government such as the national TB program, and with Global Fund grant structures. Working experience in Lao PDR would be desirable.

TECHNICAL SKILLS & KNOWLEDGE

• Technical expertise in the management of a public health programme with experience of designing and implementing TB related activities.
• Extensive knowledge of TB case management and the interpretation of TB epidemiology in a public health context.
• Skills in writing proposal, planning, training, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of interventions, and in the development of locally adapted tools and instruments.
• Proven successful experience of leading GFTAM grant development and management.
• Proficiency in standard MS Office applications.
• Ability to interact with health professionals at various levels and to do work with national counterparts, nongovernmental organizations and international agencies

LANGUAGES

• Written and spoken fluency in English is essential.

COMPETENCIES

• Technical expertise
• Producing results
• Communication
• Teamwork

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

In-country mission in Lao PDR:   9 January-7 February 2020) (20 working days and including travel day)

APPLICATIONS

Qualified and interested specialists should submit their CV {for individual contractors} or Company Profile {for institutional applications} and Expression of Interest {cover letter} to the Supply Officer through WP RO UNGM at <wproungm@who.int> by 03 January 2020. 

The cover letter should outline how their experience and qualifications make them a suitable candidate for this position and should include their proposed daily consultancy fee and availability.

Please use Tender Notice No. (102002) as subject to all submission.  Only successful candidates will be contacted.