UNICEF is recruiting a Consultant to support three EECA countries (Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan) in quantification, forecasting, supply planning and budgeting for ARVs’ procurement

Consultant to support three EECA countries (Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan) in quantification, forecasting, supply planning and budgeting for ARVs' procurement

Duration: 4.5 months

Location: Home based, with the expected to travel to Nursultan/Almaty, Dushanbe and Tashkent for the extended period of time 

Start Date: August 2019

Reporting to: UNICEF RO, CO and SD

BACKGROUND:

Transition Preparedness Assessments for the Global Fund-funded interventions (TRAs) in Eastern Europe and Central Asia (EECA) have consistently identified Health Products Management (HPM) as a key transition risk, particularly as most countries are on the path of gradually taking over Global Fund-funded procurements. More often than not, the experience of shifting to domestic-funded and/or managed procurement of medicines or diagnostic technologies resulted in significant challenges from weak capacity to forecast and budget country demand to barriers in the national procurement process or accessing international platforms or suppliers. Supporting countries to overcome these challenges and, thereby, ensuring continuous access to quality affordable health products is a core priority in EECA.

UNICEF is therefore seeking a consultant to support selected countries from EECA (Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan) in their efforts to address the Procurement and Supply Management of Health Products (PSM) challenges related to ARVs quantification, forecasting, supply planning and budgeting.

SCOPE OF WORK AND TASKS:

The following tasks have been set forward for the planned technical assistance:

1. Support three countries in quantification, forecasting of, and budgeting for ARVs including the review of quantification and forecasting process and tools, hands-on training to relevant staff to improve the process going forward, and mapping of the budgeting process;
2. Support UNICEF in organizing and conducting a regional workshop for EECA countries on quantification, forecasting of, and budgeting for ARVs.

DESCRIPTION OF ASSIGNMENT:

 Under the joint supervision of UNICEF RO, CO and SD, the consultant will conduct the following:

1. For the task A (for all three countries):

Part 1:

• Gather and review baseline/background information and documents as related to quantification and forecasting (Q&F);
• Review quantification and forecasting systems for ARVs currently utilized in the countries as well as use of supply data: resources, processes and tools
• Review the prerequisites to successful Q&F, namely:

1. if clear, well-defined, and disseminated standard treatment guidelines (STGs) are available in the country and, if not, or, if not satisfactory, to provide recommendations on improvements (with inclusion of respective strengthening activities into the capacity development plan);
2. if the national Q&F guidelines are available and, if not, or, if not satisfactory, to provide recommendations on improvements for Capacity Development (CD) plan;
3. if necessary, data for Q&F are available, including data on target population to be treated, unit costs, demand for commodities, and if not, or not in the full volume, or unreliable or insufficient to be used for Q&F, to provide recommendations on improvements for CD plan;
4. if programme plans are realistic and based on available financing and, if not, or not satisfactory, to provide recommendations on improvements with inclusion of respective strengthening activities into the CD plan;
5. if multiple sources of funding, procurement mechanisms and distribution channels are used for ARV drugs, and if the national Q&F guidelines are available and, if not, or, if not satisfactory, to provide recommendations on improvements for CD plan;
6. if knowledgeable and skilled personnel to conduct data collection, analysis and Q&F of ARVs is available, and, if not, to provide recommendations on how to strengthen the HR capacities;
7. if necessary mechanisms of Q&F have been established (f.e., a commodity coordinating or similar committee, the technical working group on Q&F, a multi-disciplinary quantification team, meetings of the WG and committees and their frequency, coordination of stakeholders, level of integration with other health programmes, etc.) and, if not, to provide recommendations for strengthening.

• Review and describe in details the current policies, practices of Q&F of ARVs and corresponding processes, including but not limited to:

1. what policies exist that support Q&F;
2. what forecasting methodologies are used;
3. what data are used;
4. how the forecasting assumptions are formed,
5. how forecasted consumption is calculated;
6. in case multiple types of data are used how the forecasts are reconciled, and the final estimates are calculated
7. how supply planning is conducted (types of data used, how supply planning assumptions are built, how total commodity requirements and costs are estimated and the supply plan built, how the final decision on the quantities to procure is determined, etc.);
8. how, when (frequency) and by whom the quantification (including the forecast and the supply plan) is reviewed and updated;
9. what Q&F tools are used;
10. how the national Q&F capacities have been built and strengthened before, etc.

• Describe the barriers that inhibit accurate forecasting and effective supply planning and provide recommendations on how to address the barriers as well as existing challenges.
• Develop procedural guidance (Standard Operating Procedures) in case such SOPs do not exist in a respective country.
• Develop a Q&F standard tool template for ARV planning, forecasting, budgeting and ordering that can be roll-out to countries following different regimes (based on the example of vaccines), including a user manual in case such tool does not exist in a respective country. If this tool is already available to evaluate it or, if it is not satisfactory, to provide recommendations on improvements

Part 2: Mapping of the budgeting process

• Map the budgeting process for the procurement of ARVs, including the budget development, review and approval stage, as well as the budget execution and expenditures reporting stage;
• Review the tools used for the budgeting (budgeting templates, methodologies and other);
• Identify the bottlenecks in the budgeting process / tools used and propose the ways to address them;
• Review the sources of funding (trends in the recent 3-5 years as well as sources of funding for the upcoming 3-5 years)
• Map key budgeting milestones and timelines to be met in order to follow the recommended annual ordering cycle that ensures timely arrival of ARVs.

For both part 1 and part 2:

• Organize and conduct a meeting with stakeholders to present the results or quantification, forecasting, supply data use and budgeting assessment, discuss and agree on the CD plan with actions;
• Draft outline of final report is provided;
• Develop a final consultancy report with:
  • a detailed information on the quantification and forecasting assessment, assessment of use of supply data and the capacity building conducted;
  • the budgeted and timed capacity development (CD) plan with actions to address the identified gaps and, therefore, help building a resilient and sustainable Q&F system for ARVs;
  • mapping / outline of the budgeting process and tools, with the identified challenges and proposed actions to address them; information on funding trends (in the past and in the future)

2. For the task B:

Under the direct supervision the incumbent will engage in the following tasks:

• Prepare the workshop concept note (including the planned outcomes) and the agenda;
• Prepare background documents for the workshop (including relevant presentations);
• Review presentations of the participants (related to the outcome of the previous activities conducted under the task A), provide advice and inputs to inform the preparation of speeches by organizers (opening and closing remarks);
• Facilitate workshop plenary sessions;
• Provide substantive direction to inform workshop proceedings and outputs;
• Provide guidance to workshop session rapporteurs;
• Draft the workshop report in English (which should include recommendations and next steps) for review and incorporating comments before its finalization.

KEY DELIVERABLES:

For the task A:

• A procedural guidance (Standard Operating Procedures) in case such SOPs do not exist in a respective country; If SOPs exist a thorough review considering recent trends and WHO recommendations is required
• A Q&F standard tool for ARV planning, forecasting, budgeting and ordering for ARVs (based on the example of vaccines), including a user-manual that can be roll-out to countries with different regimes;
• Mapping of budgeting process (with all the key steps and responsible persons, tools, methodologies, as well as potential bottlenecks and proposed ways to address them);
• Organization and conduction of a meeting with stakeholders to present the results or quantification, forecasting and budgeting assessment, discuss and agree on the CD plan with actions.
• Outline of the final report
• A final consultancy report (based on the assessment results and the in-country meetings with stakeholders) in English and Russian with:
  • a detailed information on the quantification and forecasting assessment (process and tools), assessment of the use of supply data, and the capacity building conducted;
  • the budgeted and timed capacity development (CD) plan with actions to address the identified gaps and, therefore, help building a resilient and sustainable Q&F system for ARVs;
  • mapping / outline of the budgeting process, key takeaways from the budgeting process mapping exercise, sources of funding (past and future) analysis and the proposed way forward.

For the task B:

• A sub-regional workshop on quantification, forecasting of, and budgeting for ARVs delivered with actions to address the identified gaps and, therefore, help building a resilient and sustainable health procurement system. The workshop report with recommendation is developed.

Based on the data collected, the consultant will support UNICEF in organizing the workshop for EECA countries on quantification, forecasting of, and budgeting for ARVs (as per the list of activities listed in the above section) and draft the workshop report.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:

Education: Master Degree in Business, Public Health, Development, Procurement and Supply Chain Management and / or in another relevant discipline for health procurement and supply management.

Work Experience: Minimum seven years of professional relevant work experience in health/ARVs procurement systems analysis and assessment, setting up solutions for health procurement systems restructuring, reforms, and/or system improvements. Knowledge of and experience of the Central Asia region (Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan) is an asset.

Competencies: The successful candidate is expected to demonstrate the following competencies that are considered to be necessary to this consultancy:

Core Competencies

• Excellent communicator of verbal and written concepts to a government and international audience.
• Able to quickly understand instructions, to proactively seek clarification when needed.
• Able to work well in a team environment.

Functional Competencies

• Works independently and problem-solving oriented.
• Works in a multi-cultural environment and establish harmonious and effective working relationships.
• Demonstrated communication and relationship-building skills.
• Proven capacity to work with and lead collaborative teams across different locations and with different technical skills.

UNICEF CORE VALUES

Diversity and Inclusion

Treats all people with dignity and respect; shows respect and sensitivity towards gender, cultural and religious differences; challenges prejudice, biases and intolerance in the workplace; encourages diversity wherever possible.

Integrity

Maintains high ethical standards; takes clear ethical stands; keeps promises; immediately addresses untrustworthy or dishonest behaviour; resists pressure in decision-making from internal and external sources; does not abuse power or authority.

Commitment

Demonstrates commitment to UNICEFs mission and to the wider UN system; demonstrates the values of UNICEF in daily activities and behaviours; seeks out new challenges, assignments and responsibilities; promotes UNICEFs cause.

Language:

Fluency in written and spoken English and Russian is required.

EVALUATION PROCESS:

Qualified candidates are requested to submit:

1. Cover letter/application that must also briefly describe the understanding of the objectives of the consultancy and the approach to deliver the expected results.
2. Financial quote for the consultancy which must include: the total consultancy fee (broken down into daily rate in US Dollars and number of consultancy days), travel costs (with details of the economy class ticket price) and administrative fees (if applicable, broken down into the separate categories of costs like internet, phone, etc.).
3. CV and P11.
4. Examples of previous, relevant work.
5. References.
6. P 11 form (which can be downloaded from our website at http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/index_53129.html).

The applications should be submitted online through the UNICEF website. Queries can be directed to akrukar@unicef.org with subject line Consultancies. Applications must be received by 22 July 2019. Please indicate your availability and daily rate to undertake the terms of reference above.  Applications submitted without a daily rate will not be considered.

Travel costs and DSA will be covered in accordance with UN rules and regulations. No other remunerations apply. UNICEF considers best value for money as a criteria for evaluating potential candidates. As a general principle, the fees payable to a consultant or individual contractor follow the best value for money principle, i.e., achieving the desired outcome at the lowest possible fee.

Successful applicants will be invited to a telephone interview and will be evaluated by the following criteria: