Consultant- Development of National Action Plan on Ageing and Health

Background

Globally, the proportion of people older than 60 is growing faster than any other age group, as a result of both longer life expectancy and declining fertility rates. The increase is especially rapid in middle-income countries in the Western Pacific Region.

In Cambodia, a similar demographic trend is noted. In 2008, the proportion of older people was just over 6% of the total population; and in 2015 older people represented 8.3% of the total population. It is forecasted that by 2050, the number of older people will reach about 5 million, representing 21% of the total Cambodian population (NIS 2013). In 1990, life expectancies at birth of Cambodian women and men were estimated at 62.6 and 54.2 respectively; and in 2013, life expectancies reached 70.1 years in women and 67.1 years in men (NIS 2013). This increase was due largely to significant improvements in health outcomes of the population due to Cambodia’s socioeconomic development, brought about by strong leadership of the government.

Ageing represents a triumph of development. However, ageing also comes with challenges such as rising burdens of non-communicable diseases, and the need for different models of health care services including rehabilitation services. The WHO’s World Report on Ageing and Health (2015) describes the concept of “Healthy Ageing” which will require a transformation of health systems away from disease based curative models and towards the provision of older-person-centred and integrated care.

To ensure that older people have equitable access to needed health and long-term care services of adequate quality, the Royal Government of Cambodia (RGC) has made progress including launching of the National health care policy and strategy for older people (2016) by the Ministry of Health (MoH) in February 2017 and the revision of the National Policy for the Older people 2017-2030 by the Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation (MoSVY).

Many developed countries are already experiencing a tidal wave of non-communicable diseases due to the rapid increase in ageing population. Cambodia still has an opportunity to take steps to redesign its health care system to provide early detection and management of major NCDs including quality rehabilitation, thus helping to ensure healthy ageing.  Thus, the development of the National Action Plan on Ageing is very crucial to guide multisectoral implementation of the 2016 National health care policy and strategy for older people and achieve healthy ageing.

With WHO Cambodia’s guidance, the Short-Term Consultant (STC) will provide technical support to the Ministry of Health (MoH) and Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation (MoSVY) on the development of a five-year National Action Plan on Ageing and Health (NAPAH) and its budget plan.

The International consultant will closely work with a national consultant, the Preventive Medicine Department (PMD) of MOH, the Department of Elderly of MoSVY and WHO Cambodia.

Terms of reference for the International WHO STC

• Develop a close to final Draft 5-Year National Action Plan on Ageing (NAPAH) based on the National Ageing Policy 2017-2030, and the National Health care policy and strategy for older people 2016.
• Develop a draft workplan with basic budget estimation to be included as an Annex to the NAPAH.
• Facilitate consultative meetings including focus groups discussions and key informant interviews.
• Submit a technical report including the final draft of NAPAH with annex and information/data collected from relevant government and non-government counterparts during the consultative process.

Methods to carry out the activity

The consultant will be under the guidance of WHO Cambodia, supervised by the WHO Representative and the Noncommunicable Diseases and Health through the Life Course (NHL) Technical staff. The consultant will work closely with the NHL unit and other technical units as needed to meet program objectives. Additionally, the consultant will be working in consultation with MOH, MoSVY and other relevant UN agencies and health partners.

• Review key literature including national policies and strategies
• Undertake stakeholder mapping and power analysis
• Hold consultations with key stakeholders, including but not limited to MoH, MoSVY, Ministry of Economy and Finance, Representatives of the Provincial Health Departments (PHDs), Representatives of the Provincial Department of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation (PoSVY), HelpAge Cambodia and other Non-Governmental Organizations, Representatives of Old Age Associations, Relevance Professional Associations, Development Partners and Donors
• Prepare and facilitate a consultative workshop
• Draft the National Action Plan on Ageing and Health (NAPAH), workplan and basic budget estimation
• Review and incorporate feedback from the MoH, MoSVY and WHO and other key stakeholders
• Finalize draft NAPAH, workplan and budget estimate

Planned timelines (subject to confirmation)

• Start date:  13th November 2017
• End date: 15th December 2017

Output and deliverables

Output 1: Facilitation of consultative meetings with key stakeholders including focus groups discussion, key informant interviews and national consultative workshop to develop and review the draft NAPAH, workplan and basic budget estimation.

• Deliverables:

• Consultative workshop agenda, developed in consultation with Preventive Medicine Department (PMD) of MoH, the Department of Elderly of the MoSVY and WHO.
• NAPAH outline and zero draft for consultative workshop to elicit comments by key government counterparts, NGOs, Development partners and WHO.
• Where available, submit documents, information and data shared by relevant government and non-government counterparts during this NAPAH consultative and development process.

Output 2: Finalization of the draft NAPAH, workplan and basic budget in consultation with and incorporating feedback from MoH, MoSVY, WHO and key stakeholders.

• Deliverable:

• Final complete draft including executive summary, key sections, references, annex, acknowledgement list, workplan and basic budget plan.

Technical Supervision

The selected Consultant will work under the supervision of:

Responsible Officer:   Chou Vivath, Technical Officer
Email:    chouv@who.int

Manager:    Liu Yunguo, WHO Representative
Email: liuyun@who.int

Specific requirements

• Education: Advanced university degree in health, social sciences, or related fields
• Competency/Experience:

• At least 10 years of relevant experience in development of governmental policies, plans and/or budgets.
• Demonstrated experience in the drafting of long-term inter-sectoral strategies, plans of action, and budgets. Proven experience in/knowledge of the health sector, especially in Cambodia context is an asset.
• Excellent facilitation and presentation skills; and strong oral and written communication skills.
• Proven ability to communicate and collaborate effectively with various partners including the government, UN, international and national organizations and associations and other key stakeholders at subnational and national levels.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills.
• Proven ability to work independently, with sense of initiative and excellent conceptual and analytical capacities.
• Strong interpersonal skills with ability to work with people from different backgrounds to deliver quality products within short timeframe.

• Language Requirement:

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.
• Knowledge of Khmer language, an asset.