LRPS -2023-9181994 Study on Maternal and Newborn Health (MNH) Post COVID

UNICEF East Asia and Pacific (EAP) is seeking for a  qualified  institutional contractor to lead a desk review and research in the Philippines and PNG related to health systems gaps for MNH before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Collecting and analyzing data on these gaps related to MNH is critical to understanding how to better prepare for the next national or global emergency.

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the  Maternal and Newborn Health (MNH) situation in the region. Access to health services was limited in 2020 and 2021, and to a certain degree in 2022, due to a combination of lockdowns, overwhelmed health systems, and task shifting of MNH workers to COVID-19 related tasks. While the full impact of the pandemic is not yet known, there is consensus that efforts to strengthen MNH services is critical to minimizing upswings in neonatal and maternal morbidity and mortality in the coming years. Understanding the health systems gaps related to MNH that were identified before, during or further exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic is critically important for preparing for future national or global emergencies, including outbreaks/pandemics.  

Objectives, Purpose & Expected results

The primary purpose of the institutional contract is to conduct a desk review, secondary data analysis of national and subnational MNH data, and primary data collection and analysis on the health systems gaps in MNH identified before, during or worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines and PNG.

The expected outputs of desk review, secondary data analysis and research include in-depth information on the current MNH situation, health systems gaps in MNH before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, a description of UNICEF and partner’s experiences supporting MNH during the pandemic, identification of good practices and innovations used to maintain or increase provision and demand of quality essential MNH services in the presence of the pandemic, lessons learned, and country-specific and practical recommendations to build resilience in health systems in the Philippines and PNG.

Expected results of the review and research include the following:

• Policy makers, government sectors, and UNICEF global, regional and country offices will be provided with good practices, lessons learned, innovations, and initiatives for MNH health systems to informed preparedness for future emergencies.

Location and Duration

• Starting period: 1 July 2023, negotiable depending on signing of contract

• Foreseen finishing period: 28 February 2024 which may be extended if needed, based on satisfactory performance and agreement of both parties.

• The assignment will be completed partially at the institute’s premises (desk review, methodology, data gathering, data analysis, development of reports, presentations, and virtual meetings and dissemination) and in the countries in EAP region, as well as at the EAP office location in Bangkok, upon discussion

For full details, please refer to the attached Terms of Reference.

This tender will be run through the UNICEF e-submissions system (UNGM).

By clicking on the blue ‘Express Interest’ button in the UNGM tender notice, the full UNICEF e-submission system instructions to bidders document (including instructions on how to access the tender documents and submit an Offer) will be automatically emailed to the ‘contact persons’ included in your UNGM registration. Alternatively, the full UNICEF e-submission system instructions to bidders document is publicly available on the UNICEF supply internet pages here: https://www.unicef.org/supply/index_procurement_policies.html .

In the tender management site, if you navigate to the documents tab and opt in to confirm your intention to submit a Bid – you will then see the mandatory placeholders for documents that must be attached prior to submitting your Offer (you will also see if there are any mandatory questionnaires to complete). As such, you are recommended to `opt in` well before the submission deadline so you are clear exactly what documents are required to be uploaded prior to completing your submission.

 Please note that in order to access the full-set of tender documents through UNICEF’s e-submissions system, vendors must: (1) be registered with UNICEF in UNGM as a company/NGO; (2) have successfully completed all mandatory information currently required by UNGM when registering.

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Should you have any questions against this solicitation, please submit your queries to Puntita Sookchareon at psookchareon@unicef.org with CC to: jbehr@unicef.org ,  osrimanotham@unicef.org  and tkamtabnam@unicef.org- no later than 26th April 2023 so that all queries could be clarified and circulated to all bidders before the deadline.

We look forward to receiving your proposals within the given timeline.

Best regards,

UNICEF Supply team