Short-Term Consultant, Primary health care (PHC) Country Support

BACKGROUND

Ongoing changes in economic growth, demography and social norms and the ever-increasing role of digital technology is expected to change the context in which health care is delivered in the countries and areas of the Pacific. These are already having an effect on the population health needs with an increase in the burden of chronic conditions and noncommunicable diseases.

Primary health care (PHC) is vital to achieving UHC and for doing so in a way that reduces the trend of escalating health expenditure before it becomes unaffordable. It is key for providing people-centred hight quality health care that can address the increasing challenges of noncommunicable diseases, as well as to ensure that available services reach unreached populations.

In the Pacific Island countries and areas, primary health care is an increasingly important part of transformed health-care systems to meet the challenges of today and the future. Pacific Island countries and areas face specific challenges due to their small population sizes and dispersed geographies, which bring issues of access front and centre. In addition, it is often financially difficult to sustain high capacity and availability of tertiary level care and the common use of overseas medical referral schemes can prove prohibitively expensive, while limiting access to health services. Within this context, primary health care is especially critical, to refocus on maintaining healthy populations and limit the need for acute and specialist health services.

The COVID-19 pandemic has intensified the economic toll on PICs due to border measures, while putting pressure on already stretched health systems. While there is evidence of reduced access to essential services, many countries and areas have adapted and used the opportunities to explore approaches such as digital platforms and intensified community-based service delivery.

In line with the draft regional framework on the future of primary health care, it is now important to support the shift of primary health care from basic services, focused on episodic and curative encounters to comprehensive health care focused on maintaining the best quality of health and well-being, and provided through continuous interaction with individuals and communities.

PURPOSE/SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE OF THE ACTIVITY

This consultancy will provide technical assistance to Member States and areas in the Pacific for activities relating to health care delivery especially on PHC strengthening. The consultant will work under the supervision of the Coordinator Pacific Health Systems and Policy in the WHO division of Pacific Technical Support in Suva, Fiji and in close coordination with the Health Policy and Design Unit in the Regional office for the Western Pacific. 

DESCRIPTION OF ACTIVITIES TO BE CARRIED OUT

Deliverable 1: Analytical framework for assessing PHC performance and identifying future challenges and opportunities

Deliverable 2: A comprehensive review report of PHC performance and situation across the Pacific Island countries and areas, outlining key products to support the PHC reform agenda

Deliverable 3: Support country-focused policy dialogues on PHC strengthening based on the review findings and support the development of roadmaps for reform or system redesign

Deliverable 4: Coordinate the provision of technical support for PHC implementation and ongoing evidence generation in the Pacific, including through implementation research

METHODS TO CARRY OUT THE ACTIVITY

The consultant will directly support the unit of Pacific Health Systems and Policy (PHS) on PHC-related issues.  The consultant may also be required to travel to specific PICs as part of the activities. The consultant will perform the following duties:

• • In consultation with the Regional Office and the PHS unit, develop an analytical framework for assessing PHC performance and apply it in an in-depth review of PHC performance and bottlenecks in Pacific Island countries and areas to identify opportunities for targeted support. This would involve:
  • • Reviewing the current status with regard to PHC performance in key Pacific Island countries and areas.
  • • Identifying major performance bottlenecks and challenges that could be the focus of targeted reforms and technical support
• • Collate and document good practices in PHC implementation in small island states globally to draw lessons and support peer learning for the Pacific Island countries and areas
• • Coordinate and facilitate provision of technical support for PHC strengthening in selected countries in the Pacific to generate good impact or changes in countries.
• • Provide other technical or documentary support on PHC and service delivery as required by the Coordinator PHS

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

EDUCATION

Essential:  Advanced degree (Master’s level or above) in public health or related field including health policy, health economics, health services management or similar areas of work

EXPERIENCE

Essential: At least 7-10 years’ experience in national level health policy making in lower middle-income countries, including at least 5 years of international experience.

Experience in supporting PHC reforms and/or national health sector plans, and in health system reviews or performance assessments.

Desirable: Extensive experience in sector plans and integrated service delivery models; Strong knowledge of technical areas: i.e., health systems development, Sustainable Development Goals, Universal Health Coverage, sector planning, monitoring and evaluation, priority setting, costing etc.

Working experience with WHO or other UN agency in public health-related areas

TECHNICAL SKILLS & KNOWLEDGE

• • Excellent analytical, planning and organizational skills
• • Exposure to health sector policy-making at different levels. Familiarity with the Universal Health Coverage concept, PHC concepts, frameworks and practices, and on how to analyse health systems.
• • Strong technical writing and analytic skills.
• • Excellent communications skills both written and oral, and effective presentation skills.
• • Capacity to work in a multidisciplinary team and communicate effectively with different target audiences.
• • Proficiency with MS Office suite

LANGUAGES

Fluency in English (Read - Write - Speak / Expert).

COMPETENCIES

• • Building and promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond
• • Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
• • Producing results
• • Fostering Integration and teamwork
• • Communication in a credible and effective way

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Place of assignment: Consultant may work remotely or onsite in DPS Office, Fiji

Duration of contract: 11 months September 2022

APPLICATIONS

Qualified and interested specialists should submit their CV {for individual contractors} and Expression of Interest {cover letter} to the Supply Officer through WP RO UNGM at < wproungm@who.int > by 29 August 2022. 

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. 180364 as subject to all submission. Only successful candidates will be contacted.