Organization: UN Children"s Fund
Country: United States of America
Closing date: 15 Jul 2015
Background & Rationale
UNICEF Headquarters, New York is responsible for production, coordination and dissemination of scientific evidence for key health interventions for mother, newborns and children. UNICEF is coordinating a programme of work to document what is required to build resilient health systems in countries, including a focus on the community level, and considering the recent experience of countries affected by Ebola virus disease (EVD).
Health system resilience is the capacity of health actors, institutions, and populations to prepare for and respond to crises, maintain core functions, and reorganize if conditions require it. Health systems are resilient if they protect human life and produce good health outcomes when confronted with serious threats, both during a crisis and in its aftermath. Five elements can be articulated for resilience as an emergent property of health systems: awareness; multifunctionality; robustness; integration; and adaptability.
The Rockefeller Foundation has undertaken long-standing work in building resilience across societies. Building on this work, a conceptual framework has been developed for resilient health systems, which will undergo further refinement (see Kruk ME, Myers M, Varpilah ST, Dahn BT. What is a resilient health system? Lessons from Ebola. Lancet 2015; 385: 1910-2 http://www.thelancet.com/pdfs/journals/lancet/PIIS0140-6736(15)60755-3.pdf).
The aim of this collaboration between the Rockefeller Foundation and UNICEF will be to apply and refine this framework through UNICEF’s experience in building health systems in a number of countries, included those affected by EVD, and draw lessons and produce guidance for how best to build resilient health systems, including key actions at the community and district level.
Purpose
A consultant is sought to contribute to this work, in particular leading the production of country case studies documenting experiences and lessons in building resilience, including key challenges, and applying the resilient health systems framework. A key focus will be on documenting health system resilience building interventions and the contexts they have been applied in, reflecting on what makes these interventions succeed or fail, and validating within countries the meaning and most relevant characteristics of health systems resilience The consultant will write at least four country studies as well as a synthesis document summarizing these experiences, and develop other communication materials and a plan for communication of the findings. The consultant will work closely with UNICEF staff and other partners to fulfill this terms of reference and its deliverables.
Objectives
- To document experiences in at least four countries (potentially including EVD-affected countries), in terms of lessons and guidance to inform the Rockefeller Foundation’s work on resilient health systems, with a focus on resilience building interventions, and to inform UNICEF’s and other development partners’ future work on health systems (including how health systems can contribute to resilience).
- To increase the capacity of key global and national decision-makers to understand how the concepts and insights provided by the resilience framework can lead to more effective health systems investments.
- To assist countries to build more resilient health systems by developing country specific conceptual frameworks to facilitate improved decision making in health system strengthening efforts.
Activities
This project will focus on three main streams of activities to build resilience in health systems:
A. Undertaking research and analysis (predominantly qualitative but also quantitative) to generate in-depth lessons from countries to inform understanding of resilience and how UNICEF and other development partners can contribute to building resilience in health systems and maximising the contribution of health systems to broader resilience.
B. Developing practical guidance on how national and district efforts to build health systems in countries can build resilience, particularly at community and district levels.
C. Using the lessons learned and guidance produced to influence UNICEF’s and other development partners’ investments and approach to building health systems to enhance resilience.
Duty Station
Consultant will be working in liaison with the UNICEF New York Headquarter offices, but may work from their own location. Work will also involve travel and contribution to meetings to be arranged by UNICEF and which are included in the days estimated below for each deliverable.
Timeframe
Start date: 16 July 2015 End date: 31 March 2016
(*Dates will be adjusted to reflect the actual starting date of the consultancy*)
110 total working days. Full timeline to be developed during inception phase in consultation with UNICEF staff.
Key competences, technical background, and experience required:
· Advanced university degree in public health or related field
· At least 5 years of relevant Mid/Senior level professional work experience at national and international levels. Experience in the analysis of health systems. Experience in the analysis of country needs for maternal, newborn and child health. Experience working in national health systems and/or within or as a partner to UN or other multilateral agencies an asset.
· Demonstrated record of leading the writing of publications on health systems, including for communication to a wide audience. Peer-reviewed publications desirable.
· Familiarity with UNICEF initiatives and resilient health systems. Fluency in English language. Excellent presentation and writing skills. Fluency in French an asset.
*Please see deliverables in attached chart.
How to apply:
How to Apply
Applicants are requested to send their submissions to <**pdconsultants@unicef.org>with subject line: **Consultant – Documenting Lessons Learned & Producing Guidance for Building Resilience in Health Systemsby 15 July 2015, 5:00pm EST.
Applications must include:
· Cover letter,
· CV, and
· P-11 form (http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/P11.doc)
· Indicate where you heard about this advertisement
Please indicate your ability, availability and daily/monthly rate (in US$) to undertake the terms of reference above. Applications submitted without a daily/monthly rate will not be considered.
NOTE: Files should not exceed 5.0MB limit
UNICEF is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.
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