Review & Update of Health Sector Reform Framework 2013 - 2025 Agreement of Work Performance (APW) for INDIVIDUAL APPLICANTS

BACKGROUND

Guided by the leadership of the Government and the Party, the Health Sector Reform (HSR) was endorsed by the National Assembly in January 2014. In following the guidance from the Party and the Government, the long-term direction of the national HSR is to establish an effective system ensuring universal health coverage for the population, and protect and promote the health of people in Lao PDR. This health sector reform is intended to respond to the Government’s and the National Assembly’s concerns for the Lao people’s health status, their access to good services being locally delivered at reasonable and affordable cost and quality by appropriately qualified staff. 

Strong Government leadership is needed to ensure the coherence of the health reform plan and the coordination of the reform implementation within the health sector, across central and provincial government agencies as well as with other concerned sectors and development partners. The Lao health sector reform process needs to have active, engaged and committed leading committee at national and subnational levels. The leadership of MOH will be critically important to the success of the reform process.

The health Sector Reform 2013 - 2025 document describes the current health situation in the Lao’s Democratic People’s Republic, and set outs health sector reform direction and strategies, as well as prioritize areas for actions. It also proposes the strengthening of the leadership and coordination for reforming the health sector and advocates the importance of monitoring and evaluation to track the performance of the proposed health sector reform.

PURPOSE/SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE OF THE ACTIVITY

The overall objective of this work is to support the MoH Lao PDR as the Secretariat of the National Commission for Health Sector Reform to review, revise and update the Health Sector Reform Framework and Strategy till 2025 and a proposal for Phase Four (2026 – 2030) ensuring achievement of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) within the overall vision of leaving no one behind. This work will be guided by identification of sustainable financing sources and Primary Health Care (PHC) components of multi-sectoral engagement, integrated services, community empowerment/participation.

DESCRIPTION OF ACTIVITIES TO BE CARRIED OUT

The consultant will expected to:

• Review and report on progress of Phase 2 (2016 – 2020) of the Health Sector Reform process
• Identification of sources of funds to support Reform process and recommendations on sustainable financing for the overall reform process;
• Recommend modifications to Phase 3 (2021 – 2025) leading towards achievement of UHC based on Phase 2 review findings and identification of sources of funds and sustainable financing approaches;  

METHODS TO CARRY OUT THE ACTIVITY

Under the supervision of the Coordinator, Health Systems & Social Determinants of Health from WHO and the Director of Cabinet in the MoH, the Consultant will support the work of the Ministry of Health as the Secretariat of the National Commission of the Health Sector Reform Lao PDR to:

• Review and report on progress of Phase 2 (2016 – 2020) of the Health Sector Reform process;
• Identification of sources of funds to support Reform process and recommendations on sustainable financing for the overall reform process;
• Recommend modifications to Phase 3 (2021 – 2025) leading towards achievement of UHC based on Phase 2 review findings and identification of sources of funds and sustainable financing approaches;  
• Recommend Phase 4 (2026 – 2030). Especially on whether to maintain the current 5 Pillars of the Reform (Governance, Human Resources for Health; Service delivery, Health Information Systems and Health Financing). This recommendation will be based on sustainable financing sources and grounded on PHC components of multi sectoral engagement, integrated services, and community empowerment and participation (leaving no one behind).
• Convene meetings, as necessary, with Provincial Governors, and International and local non-government organisation to ensure a sector-wide approach to the revision and update of the HSR Framework and Strategy.
• Convene and utilize, as necessary, the Technical Working Groups as designated by the Sector Wide Coordination mechanisms to provide updates and feedback on progress of review and updating of the HSR Framework and Strategy  
• Develop a Monitoring and Evaluation Framework to support the biannual review of progress of the HSR implementation and way forward 
• Produce a revised version of the HSR Framework and Strategy till 2030 which includes Phase 4 (2026 – 2030)

Output/s

• Output 1: Review and report on Phase 2 of HSR process and update the Health Sector Reform Framework and Strategy till 2025

Deliverable 1.1: Assist the Ministry of Health in reviewing and reporting on progress of Phase 2 (2016 – 2020) of the Health Sector Reform process.

Deliverable 1.2: Undertake discussions with all MoH departments, Donors and Development Partners who support the health sector as well as related government Ministries and departments; relevant Private sector groups, Provincial Governors, and International and local non-government organisation to ensure a sector-wide approach to the revision and update of Phase 2 of the HSR and the identification of sources of funds to support Reform process and recommendations on sustainable financing for the overall reform process.

• Output 2: Recommendation on modifications to Phase 3 (2021 – 2025) leading towards achievement of UHC based on Phase 2 review findings and identification of sources of funds and sustainable financing approaches

Deliverable 2.1: Undertake discussions with all MoH departments, Donors and Development Partners who support the health sector as well as related government Ministries and departments; relevant Private sector groups, Provincial Governors, and International and local non-government organisation to ensure a sector-wide approach to the modifications of Phase 3 of the HSR based on Phase 2 review findings and identification of sources of funds and sustainable financing approaches;  

• Output 3: Recommendation on Phase 4 (2026 – 2030). Especially on whether to maintain the current 5 Pillars of the Reform (Governance, Human Resources for Health; Service delivery, Health Information Systems and Health Financing). This recommendation will be based on sustainable financing sources and grounded on PHC components of multi sectoral engagement, integrated services, and community empowerment and participation (leaving no one behind).

Deliverable 3.1: Undertake discussions with all MoH departments, Donors and Development Partners who support the health sector as well as related government Ministries and departments; relevant Private sector groups, Provincial Governors, and International and local non-government organisation to ensure a sector-wide approach to the formulation of Phase 4 of the HSR.

Deliverable 3.2: Convene and utilize, as necessary, the 5 Technical Working Groups as designated by the Sector Wide Coordination mechanisms to provide updates and feedback on progress of review of the Review and updating of the HSR Framework and Strategy

Deliverable 3.3: Convene a National Dissemination meeting to present findings of the review, update and recommendations of the HSR Framework and Strategy.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

EDUCATION

• University Master's Degree in related field of work.

Essential: Public Health or Health Administration/Management

Desirable: Master of Business Administration / Health Economics

EXPERIENCE

Essential: At least 10 – 15 years in Public Health Governance and Administration, Project Management and Business Administration.

Desirable: Experience in working with international organizations, in collaborative programmes, in providing technical and administrative support to government counterparts and working in the context of a developing country.

TECHNICAL SKILLS & KNOWLEDGE

• Knowledge of Health Systems at the country level

• Knowledge of political and administrative decision-making systems
• Strong communication, strategic thinking, public relations and advisory skills, including written and presentations
• Demonstrated networking and partnership building skills
• Strong results based programme management experience, with particular focus on strategic planning and capacity building.
• Knowledge of the Lao PDR Health Sector

LANGUAGES

• Fluency in English is essential (knowledge of another official UN language an asset)
• Working knowledge of the Lao language is desirable

COMPETENCIES

• Technical Expertise
• Producing results
• Communication in a credible and effective way
• Coordination and team work
• Capacity building
• Proactive work attitudes

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

DUTY STATION:  Vientiane Capital and travel to provinces will be required, Lao PDR

STARTING DATE:  22 July 2019

DURATION OF CONTRACT:  45 working days

APPLICATIONS

Qualified and interested specialists should submit their CV and Expression of Interest {cover letter} to the Supply Officer through WP RO UNGM at < wproungm@who.int > by 09 August 2019. 

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 (USD) and availability.

Please use Tender Notice No. WPRO/2019-06/LAO_HSD/TN92427/mnc
as subject to all submission. 

Only successful candidates will be contacted.