INSTITUTIONAL CONSULTANCY SERVICES TO ADMINISTER VITAL MEDICINES AND HEALTH SERVICES SURVEY (VMAHS) UNDER THE HEALTH DEVELOPMENT FUND (HDF)
The UNICEF Zimbabwe Country Office is seeking Expression of Interest (EOI) from qualified institutions to enter into a multi-year contract to conduct the Vital Medicines and Health Services Survey under the Health Development Fund (HDF).
Background: The Health Development Fund (HDF) is a multi-donor pooled fund, managed by UNICEF and UNFPA, to support the Ministry of Health and Child Care in the context of the 2016-2020 National Health Sector Strategy to achieve its goals of improving the quality of life of its citizens, through guaranteeing every Zimbabwean access to comprehensive and effective health services, with special emphasis on Women, Newborns, Children and Adolescents. The goal of the HDF is to contribute to reducing maternal mortality (by 50%) from 614 and under-5 mortality (by 50%) from 75, by ensuring equitable access to quality health services for women and children by 2020; and to contribute to the reduction of the unmet need for family planning to 6.5%, halving the prevalence of stunting in children under-5 from 28% and eliminating MTCT by 2020, combating HIV and AIDS, Malaria and other prevalent diseases.
In order to monitor that the support provided by donors to rebuild the health system in Zimbabwe, after its near collapse in late 2008 and 2009, is having the intended results, data has been routinely collected quarterly across all public health facilities through the Vital Medicines Availability and Health Services (VMAHS) survey. This has enabled the compilation of data concerning program supply gaps and challenges. Evidence from VMAHS has been used by government and its partners to enhance the quality of health delivery in the country and to provide a predictable funding mechanism. The data collection for the survey has utilized the structure and logistical services of the Delivery Team Top Up (DTTU) project, a Crown Agents/ John Snow International (JSI) implemented initiative funded by UK Department for International Development (DFID) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to provide PMTCT and reproductive health commodities to over 1,400 health centres and facilities across Zimbabwe. Enumerators collect data using mobile electronic devices through face-to face interviews with a permanent, usually the most senior member of staff at the health facility using structured questionnaires. The data is analysed and the report shared with MOHCC and its partners.
The overall objective of the survey is to assess over time the availability of medicines and health services in over 1,400 health facilities across the country with the specific purpose of examining:
- Trends in availability of vital medicines and health commodities in health facilities supported through the Health Transition Fund (HTF),
- Availability of selected health services,
- Efficiency of current systems in delivering and re- supplying vital medicines and health commodities as planned,
- Staff availability and capacity strengthening issues
- The extent of charging user fees across the health system
- Existing facility infrastructure and
- To make recommendations to improve the health system, where appropriate
As HDF Manager UNICEF, is seeking expressions of interest from interested institutions to administer the Vital Medicines and Health Services Survey using cost effective and innovative ways to monitor the support provided through the Health Development Fund through quarterly data collection from the approximately 1,400 public health facilities in Zimbabwe.
Scope of Assignment: The Institution is expected to administer the Vital Medicines and Health Services every quarter in approximately 1,400 public health facilities in Zimbabwe. Specifically the institution will be required to undertake the following tasks:
- In collaboration with UNICEF, Donor Agencies and other Stakeholders, determine required information for reporting.
- Working with UNICEF and Donor Agencies, compile a list of the essential drugs and health commodities that are distributed to all recipient facilities and that are to be reported on during this assignment.
- Working with UNICEF determine additional data to be collected during survey process, such as staff availability and capacity and facility infrastructure
- Collect data for the survey every quarter
- Ensure quality assurance during data collection
- Analyse the collected data and provide a report on the findings to UNICEF in a timely manner.
Qualifications: Interested Institutions should meet the following minimum qualifications:
- Strong previous experience in conducting national level data collection from health facilities in developing countries, particularly in Zimbabwe
- Strong previous experience in managing and collecting data from large samples in less developed countries
- Proven ability to analyse data and provide timely reports
- Understanding of health systems strengthening approaches and service delivery within a constrained operational environment, with Zimbabwe experience desirable
- Strong knowledge of the Zimbabwean health system
Response Requirements: At this stage, UNICEF is requesting Expression of Interest from Institutions interested in competing for a multi-year contract to administer the Vital Medicines and Health Services survey every quarter. Interested Institutions should submit detailed and complete institutional profile information and documents, together with a written “Expression of Interest” in response to this advertisement. Information provided will be reviewed to assess each Institution’s suitability to be included in the upcoming competitive Request for Proposal (RFP) process.
If your Institution is interested in participating in the planned solicitation and meets the requirements with suitable experience, please reply to this EOI with the reference: “UNICEF Zimbabwe VMAHS Consultancy” by either email or mail no later than 12:00 noon Harare local time on Monday, 18 January 2016.
Emailed responses should be addressed to nsafure@unicef.org.
Mailed responses can be sent to:
The Supply Section
UNICEF Harare Office
Fairbridge Avenue
P.O. Box 1250
Belgravia, Harare, Zimbabwe