Terms of Reference for consultancy

Terms of Reference for consultancy

Country Health sector context assessment with a focus on Sexual Reproductive Maternal Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health (SRMNCAH)

Background 

VSO is an international development agency with over 60 years’ experience of addressing poverty and marginalisation through our unique approach of working through international, national and community volunteers. By bringing together different perspectives and working at all levels of society – from communities to government ministries – volunteers can build trust and provide the right support to ensure that national development efforts deliver lasting change.  Our works falls into the three thematic areas of Health, Education and Livelihoods.

The Global Health Practice Area is embarking on a Global Portfolio Programme design process to identify how VSO’s Volunteering for Development (VfD) methodology can be scaled up across our health portfolio. One of the key stages of this global portfolio programme design process is to conduct a number of in-country SRMNCAH contextual analyses in order to determine the issues/gaps/bottlenecks that are preventing the achievement of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and the health Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and that are exacerbated as a result of e.g. COVID-19, other shocks and stresses, gender discrimination, social exclusion and a lack of accountability amongst duty bearers.

This exercise will help identify the opportunities that exist for VSO’s VfD methodology to contribute towards the delivery of the health goals in each country but also at a global level. It is expected that a series of recommendations around how the VfD methodology could take to scale for greater impact and Influence to transform the health and social well-being of the Primary Actors will emerge. 

VSO Nepal envisions a world where excluded and marginalized people including people with disability(PWDs),  people living with HIV (PLWHIV), LGBTQI populations, adolescents, youth, prisoners, sex workers and drug users are empowered to exercise their Sexual, reproductive health and rights(SRHR) and enjoy healthier and safer lives. VSO works at the level of individuals, families, communities, services, systems and policies. We aim to achieve behavioral change and build confidence in young people, to create a supportive and enabling family and community environment, to build capacity of service providers working in the health system, and to influence positive policy responses that meet the needs of youth and adolescents.

This country assessment will build on the current SRMNCAH programme pillars focusing on 1) Health workforce capacity development (Supply Side), 2) individual and Community engagement (demand Side) and 3) linkage and referral. (health systems strengthening).  

This country assessment will have a national focus where the consultant will be required to carry out a thorough desk review to understand the SRMNCAH situation in the country.  The desk review will help identify areas of an in-depth analysis with key informants and primary actors. He/She will also review evidence drawn from VSO’s programming to draw best practice and lessons for future programming. The findings from this assessment will help  inform the shape of the future Health portfolio in the country reflecting the VSO’s global people first strategy and VFD methodology.

Objectives of the consultancy 

The objective of this assignment is to:

1. assess the policy, institutional and operational situation mainly the bottlenecks/gaps/emerging issues in the health sector particularly in the area of Sexual Reproductive, Maternal Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health (SRMNCAH). 
2. identify practical solutions and recommendations that VSO - through its Volunteering for Development (VfD) method - can contribute to in achieving UHC and the health SDGs in the country
3. Provide a compilation of the five key UHC policy tools and innovations that aim at delivering the SDGs targets by 2030 and leaving no one behind in the area of SRMNCAH. The compilation should include description of the tools/innovations, promoters and analysis of documented criticism and support for the same. detailed links or attachments should be included 

More specifically, this assignment will aim to address the following areas: 

• Analyse the key development priorities and opportunities that affect SRMNCAH in the country. Part of this will include analysing the extent to which the external factors e.g. Climate Change, COVID 19, gender discrimination, social exclusion and a lack of social accountability have affected SRMNCAH at all levels in the country. Please use a PESTLE analytical framework (Political, Economic, Socio-cultural, Technological, Legal and Environmental) to conduct the analysis 
• Analyse the current status of the blockages/gaps in SRMNCAH at policy, system, individual, family and community level that hinder the full achievement of the country’s socio-economic objectives, UHC and health SDGs. A particular focus will be on barriers that affect the delivery of Primary Health Care/ Community health-based services 
• Identify the future trends and innovations in line with the country’s strategy in the areas of SRMNCAH 
• Map the key stakeholders in country (including governments, government institutions, Civil Society, other INGOs, Private Sector, UN agencies and other multilateral agencies, Foundations, Academia and institutes etc.) and their roles and responsibilities within the health sector (with a focus on SRMNACH). Identify opportunities and any barriers that exist in terms of effective engagement towards the achievement of the health SDGs in the country. Explore areas of interest and influence, especially where VSO can add value. 
• Assess the understanding amongst the key strategic stakeholders at national and local levels about how VSO’s Volunteering for Development model adds value and can contribute towards the realisation of UHC and the health SDGs in country 
• Undertake a donor mapping of potential donors who are funding Health in the country and analyse the donor trends over the next few years in terms of the typology, interests, Strategic priorities and funding etc. in SRMNCAH

Main tasks, responsibilities and scope of work 

Under the responsibility and accountability of the Project Coordinator - Adolescent Youth Sexual Reproductive Health, the consultant is expected to help facilitate the following tasks: 

• In-depth desk review of external documents including policy and strategies, research and studies
• Interviews with key informants including Government at national and local levels, existing VSO partners, CSOs, INGOs, donors, UN agencies etc – exhaustive list to be determined 

Key expected deliverables

• An inception report at the start of the assignment, detailing the agreed upon methodology, for the research and any agreed upon revisions to the research questions.
• An analytical report using VSO’s template and preferred report structure, which basically comprises a format of the following format: 
  • Title page
  • acknowledgement 
  • acronym list
  • List of figures and tables.
  • executive summary (maximum 3 pages), 
  • Background, 
  • Methodology 
  • Limitations of the research
  • Key findings and analysis based on the questions 
  • Conclusions and recommendations. 
  • list of annexures.
• A presentation PPT using VSO’s template and summarizing the key findings and recommendations
• The final report should be provided in an electronic format compatible with Microsoft Word for Windows.
• All data collected in form of questionnaires, will be returned to VSO for safe disposal according to organizational policy, unless otherwise agreed on safe disposal with the consultant.

Time and level of effort 

The expected level of effort is estimated to max. 10 days 

Key relationships in the project 

Global Head of Health, Global technical Lead, Global Programme Development Specialist, country Health Programme Manager, Global Partnership Advisor, Strategy Partnership Leads. 

Essential/Required qualifications, skills, knowledge and competencies

Qualifications/Experience

• At least 7 years’ experience in Public Health and especially in SRMNCAH and Health Systems Strengthening, Primary Health Care
• Experience of conducting analytical research and studies
• Strategy and Theory of Change development
• Experience in delivery or engagement with UN/AU systems around Health SDGs or Agenda 2063 targets 

Knowledge

• In depth knowledge of Health (SRHR and MNCH), at country level
• Good knowledge of the principles of Universal Health Coverage and of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as they relate to health
• Good connections with key players in the sector
• Knowledge of then Volunteering for Development approach and VSO

Skills/Abilities 

1. Professionalism: Knowledge and understanding of theories, concepts and approaches relevant to strategic planning at organizational level. demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results
2. Communication: Strong in written and oral communication; ; a good listener;  demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.
3. Planning & Organizing: identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently.
4. Accountability: Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honours commitments; delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, cost and quality standards; operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules.

Application procedure and requirement

• A cover letter
• At least 2 references of previous similar work (letters from previous employers and copies of report)
• Technical Proposal which includes the methodology and proposed contents of this assignment.
• CV of the proposed team members.
• Financial Proposal 
• Copy of company registration certificate 
• Copy of PAN/VAT registration certificate (Required Business PAN registration certificate for individual consultant)
• Latest Tax Clearance Certificate FY 076/77

Application submission

The submission closed date is 17th March 2021.

Submissions should be addressed to: procurement.nepal@vsoint.org