Individual Contractor for the intelligent Community Health Systems, ESAR

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                                                                     TERMS OF REFERENCE

Title of Assignment	Individual Contractor for the intelligent Community Health Systems, ESAR
Section	Health
Location	Remote and/or on-site (C19 situation permitting)
Duration	11.5 months
Start date	From: 15/08/2021	To:  31/07/2022

Background and Justification

Community-based health has been proven to save lives and improve health. The design and use of digital technology and data systems in countries have been developed by multiple partners and are bringing positive results, increasing the quality and timely provision of promotive, preventative and curative services to people in communities, especially those that have difficulties in accessing health care in traditional health facilities. However, it is increasingly apparent that these systems are fragmented, function as stand-alone discrete entities with little or no inter-operability channels and do not channel data through health management information systems (HMIS) for analysis. Thus, there are opportunities to help consolidate and accelerate use of digital technologies and data science to strengthen district health systems, better inform health managers and workers’ actions, and improve overall community health services.

The intelligent Community Health Systems (iCOHS) is a UNICEF-Rockefeller Foundation (RF) partnership that aims to develop scalable strategies for the aggregation and analysis of disparate data to enable decentralized decision making and real-time monitoring for stakeholders across the primary and community health system. Learning and innovation labs have been established in India and Uganda to provide proof points for a data-driven community health approach. Complementary work at the regional level in Eastern and Southern Africa (ESAR) will create the enabling conditions for data-driven community health in at least five countries and then apply best practices and insights to accelerate progress. At the global level, UNICEF will provide overall coordination, management and technical assistance to India, Uganda, and ESAR to ensure project success.

The improved access to and use of community-based data through harmonized, integrated and digitally enabled community health information systems will help stakeholders, including service providers, managers and policymakers, make informed decisions that accelerate progress and tackle challenges in improving access to and demand for essential services. This project will strengthen the feedback loop along with simultaneous efforts that support capacity building of community health care workers. This will enable greater empowerment of communities and health systems to provide feedback for improved health systems performance and ultimately lead to more equitable health outcomes for mothers and children, ensuring that every child survives and thrives to its full potential in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

This project will develop scalable strategies for the integration and analysis of disparate data to enable decentralized decision making and real-time monitoring for stakeholders across the primary and community health system. Learning and innovation labs will be established in India and Uganda to provide proof points for a data-driven community health approach.

This assignment seeks to provide project management, coordination and technical input to the iCOHS learning hub at regional level in Eastern and Southern Africa (ESAR), supporting the creation of enabling conditions for data-driven community health in at least ten select countries and then apply best practices and insights to accelerate progress.

Scope of Work

1) Goal and Objective: Under the technical guidance and close supervision of the Child Health and Community Platforms Specialist, the contractor will work collaboratively with the RO Health Section and ICT4D as well as the HQ Child Health and Community Unit, to provide technical input and project management to ensure timely implementation of the regional UNICEF-Rockefeller Foundation intelligent Community Health Systems programme.
• The consultant will provide project management, coordination and reporting for the two regional office sections (Health and ICT4D) involved in the iCOHS grant, whilst also providing coordination and monitoring across the iCOHS implementation countries, and liaise with focal points in HQ, UNICEF US Fund and Rockefeller Foundation.
• In addition, the consultant will provide technical input and coordination to regional office-led iCOHS work streams including the updating and maintenance of the regional community health platforms dashboard; learning agenda; and other iCohS pillars (ICHC, Data use and Digitization).
• The consultant will support knowledge management linked to the iCOHS implementation in the region as per the evolving learning agenda across countries receiving both core and catalytic funding.

2) Provide details/reference to AWP areas covered: This work is aligned with Output 2 in which countries are supported in strengthening and institutionalizing community platforms to improve child survival and expanded MNCH service delivery to achieve UHC through PHC. The work also will contribute to the global child health re-design effort by providing a better understanding of existing country-level efforts to strengthen integrated, child-centred community-based service delivery at the PHC level.

3) Major duties and responsibilities
Output 1: Successful project management, team coordination and reporting of the ESAR UNICEF-RF iCOHS initiative
• Provide technical input and coordinate the development of the ESAR 2021-2022 UNICEF-RF iCOHS work plan and budget, that includes country specific work plans/budgets (core and catalytic) and regional office workplan/budget detailing objectives, milestones and activities.
• Coordinate with respective country offices, regional office and HQ to review country progress and address implementation bottlenecks. Develop monthly summary briefs (in PowerPoint and/or MS Word format) and prepare quarterly presentations for circulation to UNICEF and RF management.
• Support tracking of financial expenditure pertaining to the grant including country allocations to ensure timely expenditure, develop quarterly financial reports for internal monitoring
• Provide routine data collection and subsequent updating of the regional iCOHS M&E framework, analysing indicators to track progress and signalling challenges in reaching set targets. Report on the achievement of medium-term milestones and project end line targets, documenting progress in quarterly technical reports for circulation and presentations to UNICEF and RF management.
• Develop the annual regional iCOHS technical and financial report for timely submission, coordinate reviews and incorporation of inputs for final submission to RF for Y2 and Y3.

Output 2: Contribute to overall community health system strengthening efforts in the region, in support of the Child Health and Community Platforms Specialist
• Technical and coordination support provided to regional office-led iCOHS work as per Year 3 RO work plan, RO priorities as well as other community health work streams.
• Provide technical input and stewardship for the continuous update and maintenance of the regional community health platforms dashboard as well as promoting it’s dissemination and linkage with other data sources and websites

Output 3: Support knowledge management efforts in the iCOHS partnership, with technical assistance to country offices to properly document, package and share evidence generated through implementation of community health systems strengthening
• Support and monitor implementation of the regional iCOHS learning agenda, informed by country-specific learning agendas as well as areas emerging from the ICHC 2.0
• Produce and disseminate knowledge products (user stories, case studies, briefs, webinar) on routine basis for internal and external knowledge sharing and communications.
• Support south-south learning facilitation between countries of the region and – as appropriate, outside the region to disseminate learnings from the iCOHS implementation

4) Work relationships:
The consultant will work under the technical guidance and supervision of the Child Health and Community Platforms Specialist, in close collaboration with the RO Health Section and ICT4D teams liaising with other relevant sections (Nutrition, ECD, WASH, HIV) as well as the HQ Child Health and Community Unit. The consultant will need to interact with the CO focal points to facilitate the country consultations and field missions where relevant.

5) Deliverables:
The contractor will be required to produce the following deliverables linked to the respective outputs elaborated above:

Output Area	Deliverables	Timeline
Output 1	Country coordination calls held and end of Y2 summary progress briefs developed and circulated (Zim, Mwi, Bur, Rwa + Catalytic countries continuing) Monthly RO team meeting conducted, minutes drafted, and action tracker updated Assessment brief of catalytic country Y2 achievement, challenges and recommendations for Y3 Y2 reporting template finalized and circulated to all ICOHS countries with reporting timeline indicated Preparation and dissemination of Y3 core and catalytic proposal templates	Aug 30, 2021
Output 2	Technical & coordination support to RO community health work streams (as per Year 3 RO Workplan)
Output 1	UNICEF-RF iCOHS Interim Year 2 Narrative & Financial reports for the period 2020-2021 Updated regional iCOHS M&E framework and presentation on progress UNICEF-RF iCOHS Year 3 work plan and budget for core countries & regional office (September 2021-August 31 2022) Prepare quarterly call presentation with HQ, UUSA & RF including above information	Sep 30, 2021             Sep 30, 2021
Output3	Progress update on Learning Agenda implementation, including revised knowledge products and timelines
Output 1	Consolidated matrix of catalytic funding for new & continuing country applications, finalized proposals on file, allocation disbursements initiated / completed	Sep 01 – Oct 31, 2021
Output 1	Country coordination calls held and monthly summary progress briefs developed and circulated (Zim, Mwi, Bur, Rwa + Catalytic countries continuing Y3) Monthly RO team meeting conducted, minutes drafted and action tracker updated	Oct 01 – Nov 30, 2021
Output 2	Technical & coordination support to RO community health work streams (as per Year 3 RO Workplan)	Oct 01 – Nov 30, 2021
Output 3	Regional/global webinar to disseminate Year 2 learnings and dissemination of knowledge products, including updating of knowledge hub platform; draft report of webinar produced and disseminated	30 Nov 2021
Output 1	Quarterly financial & technical reports and presentation for stakeholders developed Country coordination calls held and monthly summary progress briefs developed and circulated (Zim, Mwi, Bur, Rwa + Catalytic countries continuing Y3) Monthly RO team meeting conducted, minutes drafted and action tracker updated	Dec 31, 2021
Output 1	Country coordination calls held and monthly summary progress briefs developed and circulated (Zim, Mwi, Bur, Rwa + Catalytic countries continuing Y3) Monthly RO team meeting conducted, minutes drafted and action tracker updated Updated regional iCOHS M&E framework and presentation on progress Quarterly financial & technical reports and presentation for stakeholders developed	Jan 01 – Mar 31, 2021
Output 2	Technical & coordination support to RO community health work streams (as per Year 3 RO Workplan)
Output 3	Regional cross-country exchange for iCOHS implementing countries conducted, drafting of all preparatory materials and event report Progress update on Learning Agenda implementation, including any revisions and the dissemination of knowledge products
Output 1	Monthly coordination meetings held to monitor progress and monthly summary briefs circulated indicating implementation progress Monthly RO team meeting conducted, minutes drafted and action tracker updated Updated regional iCOHS M&E framework and presentation on progress Quarterly financial & technical reports and presentation for stakeholders developed	Apr 01 – June 30, 2022
Output 2	Technical & coordination support to RO community health work streams (as per Year 3 RO Workplan)
Output 3	Regional cross-country exchange for iCOHS implementing countries conducted including all preparatory materials drafted/consolidated and event report completed Progress update on Learning Agenda implementation, including any revisions and the dissemination of knowledge products	July 31, 2022
Output 1	Monthly coordination meetings held to monitor progress and monthly summary briefs circulated indicating implementation progress Monthly RO team meeting conducted, minutes drafted and action tracker updated Learning Agenda implementation final report to include achievements, document repository, updated learning hub and recommendations for next steps Final document repository including list of documents and resources from the entire ICOHS initiative Completed regional iCOHS M&E framework and presentation on results achieved Draft UNICEF-RF iCOHS Final Year 3 Narrative & Financial reports for the period 2021-2022 Final consultancy (close-out) report

Desired competencies, technical background and experience

• Minimum of Masters in public health or social science, specializing in international health, accountability and public service delivery.
• Minimum 5 years of experience in international development sector, health systems or basic service provision issues
• Experience in (community) health systems strengthening, preferably experience in the management, research and design of community-based health programmes in the East and Southern African region.
• Knowledge of health information systems including digital health systems and monitoring & evaluation, with strong analytical skills
• Excellent written communication skills, ideally with a track record of producing programmatic guidance and reports.
• Track record of producing quality deliverables on time.
• Ability to function effectively in English is a requirement, and knowledge of French is an asset.

Administrative issues

• Individual Contractor is expected to confirm they have adequate health insurance.
• Individual Contractor is expected to use their own computer and communication equipment.
• Field missions are not anticipated
• No contract may commence unless the contract is signed by both UNICEF and the consultant.
• Additional details of UNICEF rules, regulations and conditions will be attached to the contract.

Conditions

The Consultant will mostly work remotely provided s/he is able to participate in the relevant health section and regional working group meetings including but not limited to the bi-weekly regional ESARO health section meetings. Regular remote meeting (frequency to be defined with the supervisor) will be organized to provide updates. The consultant will use his/her own office equipment. As most of the work will be done remotely, the consultant must have high internet connectivity and must be available/reachable online throughout the consultancy.

As per UNICEF DFAM policy, payment is made against approved deliverables. No advance payment is allowed unless in exceptional circumstances against bank guarantee, subject to a maximum of 30 per cent of the total contract value in cases where advance purchases, for example for supplies or travel, may be necessary.

The candidate selected will be governed by and subject to UNICEF’s General Terms and Conditions for individual contracts.

Risks

Organizational risk may occur due to external factors (lack of collaboration and/or delay of provision of inputs) resulting in delay of deliverable. The risk will be mitigated with proper induction of the consultant as an integral part of the health team and provision of close support and oversight communication with each country office involved.

How to Apply

• Qualified candidates will be requested to submit the following documents Expression of interest / motivation letter
• Curriculum Vitae and References
• Quoted daily rate
• Confirmed availability to start no later than 15 August 2021 (in writing)

Interested consultants to indicate ability, availability and provide financial and technical proposals (work sample/s in the form of a report, strategy, research or analytical paper, position paper or another substantive document solely or predominantly authored by the candidate) and consultancy rate per day to undertake the terms of reference.

Applications submitted without an all-inclusive fee/rate (fee, travel and living expenses) will not be considered. Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Incomplete applications will not be considered.