National consultant to support web solution for mapping of PLHIV-friendly primary care facilities, dental and reproductive health services

Background

Ukraine still faces the second highest HIV epidemic in the region of Eastern Europe and Central Asia. Even though new HIV cases are decreasing globally, Ukraine continues to experience an increase in HIV incidence, especially among key populations at higher risk of HIV. Data demonstrate that stigma, discrimination and violation of human rights of people living with HIV (PLHIV) are widely spread in Ukraine. Despite the overall improvements in both the health care and the human rights environments relevant to HIV in the country, certain barriers to medical service provision do persist. Key obstacles and issues related to human rights, stigma and discrimination against PLHIV, key populations and people affected by TB that hamper national responses have been extensively documented, and include the following:

1. Poor access to diagnostics and HIV-treatment for PLHIV and key populations.
2. Stigma and discrimination against PLHIV, people affected by TB, people who use drugs, sex-workers and the LGBTIQ+ community.
3. Disclosure of confidential information about a person’s HIV-status.

In May 2019, the National Coordination Council on HIV, AIDS, TB  response in  Ukraine, chaired by the VPM, approved a Strategy on Comprehensive Response to Human Rights-related and Legal Barriers to Access to HIV and Tuberculosis Prevention and Treatment Services by 2030 (the Strategy). The implementation plan for 2020-2023 is developed (hereinafter referred to as the Plan). The Plan provides a detailed description of the comprehensive response to human rights and legal barriers to access to HIV and tuberculosis prevention and treatment services for 2020-2023 and encompasses all the necessary measures to sufficiently reduce or completely remove human rights barriers to access to HIV and tuberculosis services. The implementation of the Strategy and the Plan is coordinated by the Public Health Center of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine with the involvement of all relevant stakeholders at national level.  With the continuous support provided by UNDP Ukraine to create enabling legal and policy environment related to public health in line with the ongoing HIV and TB response, UNDP aims to support initiatives that strengthen the health system and overcome legal barriers. Based on a request from the civil society and taking into account the current epidemiological and political situation in the country, there is an urge to establish effective and comprehensive way for different stakeholders to be able to find information about different types of services related to HIV and TB, in this respect medical, legal, case management, substitution therapy, etc.

In line with this, UNDP seeks the services of a National Consultant to create a repository of PLHIV-friendly primary care facilities, dental and reproductive health services in Ukraine and afterwards to work with an IT specialist to design, validate and promote a web page with the collected information as an intrinsic part of the Public Health Centre website. 

Duties and Responsibilities

2. MAIN OBJECTIVES OF THE ASSIGNMENT

The main objective of this assignment is to collect a repository and support the ensuing development of a webpage that maps the PLHIV-friendly primary healthcare facilities and dental and reproductive health services in Ukraine. In addition, to identify the related systemic gaps that need to be addressed to ensure the principle of universal health coverage and to assess the legal environment of primary health care regulations for any hindrances for provision of care and support to PLHIV and identify integrated solutions and interventions for covering the gaps so that the enrolment into HIV treatment is increased. The repository should provide information on the services provided, their geographical location and contact details of the medical professionals and/or establishments. The webpage design should allow to be accessed by various end-users, particularly patients, their families and other national/local stakeholders and private sector representatives and should allow search by geographical location and type of service. The webpage will be incorporated in the PHC website.

The Consultant will promote UNDP’s mandate as a gender-responsive organization with zero tolerance to any kind of discriminatory and abusive behaviour, including sexual harassment, sexual exploitation and abuse.

 

3. DESCRIPTION OF RESPONSIBILITIES / SCOPE OF WORK

The Consultant will be responsible for conducting the following activities in order to achieve the overall goal of the assignment:

• Perform a thorough review of the issues that PLHIV meet when accessing primary healthcare facilities and dental and reproductive health services in Ukraine; specific issues faced by women and men should be identified, where possible, as well as issues faced by different age groups and sexual orientation. In addition, identify the related systemic gaps that need to be addressed to ensure the principle of universal health coverage.

• Assess the legal environment of primary health care regulations for any hindrances for provision of care and support to PLHIV and identify integrated solutions and interventions for covering the gaps so that the enrolment into HIV treatment is increased.

• Based on the issues identified contact primary healthcare facilities and dental and reproductive health services providers in each oblast of Ukraine based on the epidemiological and geographical distribution of HIV-infection and create a repository of specialists/establishments that are competent and willing to provide services to PLHIV in a medically savvy manner and without compromising their identity, disclose their HIV status or approach them in a stigmatizing or discriminatory way based on their HIV status, sex, sexual orientation, disability, addictions, etc. A scientifically validated and generalizable methodology should be used (to be provided by UNDP).

• Work with an IT specialist hired by UNDP to create the structure of the webpage and its technical capabilities that will provide the details about the primary healthcare facilities and dental and reproductive health services providers. Ensure the webpage and its content are developed in line with UNDP’s principles of gender-responsive communications.

• Validate the webpage with different stakeholders, prepare a promotion plan for the webpage and implement the promotion plan upon the webpage readiness.

 

4. DELIVERABLES

The expected duration of the assignment is up to 4 months.

Deliverable #	Task description	Deadline
1	An up to 10-page review of the issues that PLHIV (with specific focus on the issues faced by women and men from diverse groups, where relevant) meet when accessing primary healthcare facilities and dental and reproductive health services in Ukraine. The review should identify the related systemic gaps that need to be addressed to ensure the principle of universal health coverage.	Up to 20 days after the start of the assignment.
2	Legal environment assessment of primary health care regulations for any hindrances for provision of care and support to PLHIV and identify integrated solutions and interventions for covering the gaps so that the enrolment into HIV treatment is increased.	Up to 30 after the start of the assignment
3	Repository of specialists/establishments that are competent and willing to provide services to PLHIV in a medically savvy manner and without compromising their identity, disclose their HIV status or approach them in a stigmatizing or discriminatory way based on their HIV status, sex, sexual orientation, disability, addictions, etc.	Up to 2 months after the start of the assignment
4	Draft structure of the webpage and its technical capabilities that will provide the details about the primary healthcare facilities and dental and reproductive health services providers.	Up to 3 months and 20 days after the start of the assignment
5	Validate the webpage with different stakeholders (governmental entities and NGOs), prepare a promotion plan for the webpage and implement the promotion plan upon the webpage readiness.	Up to 3 months

 

5. COPIRIGHT

An Intermediate and Final reports should be submitted in English. The title rights, copyrights and all other rights whatsoever nature in any material produced under the provisions of this TOR will be vested exclusively in UNDP.

 

6. MONITORING/REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

Work-progress reporting/monitoring meetings will be held with the Consultant on a regular basis. UNDP will be the final authority to control the quality and evaluate the work. No reports or documents should be published or distributed to the third parties without prior approval of the UNDP.  The consultant will work under the overall supervision of the Programme Specialist. The consultant will interact with Project Associate and CO staff to receive any clarifications and guidance that may be needed. He/she will also receive all necessary informational and logistical support from UNDP Country Office and the Project. On a day-to-day basis, consultant’s work will be supervised by the Chief Technical Advisor.

The satisfactory completion of each of the deliverables shall be subject to endorsement of the Chief technical Advisor and Programme Specialist.

The Consultant will duly inform UNDP of any problems, issues or delays arising in the course of implementation of assignment and take necessary steps to address them.

All reports and results are to be submitted to the UNDP in electronic form (*.docx, *.xlsx, *.pptx, and *.pdf or other formats accepted by UNDP) and be developed in line with UNDP’s principles of gender-responsive communications.

 

7. PROPOSED PAYMENT METHOD

Payments will be made in 2 tranches according to the following payment schedule:

First payment - upon satisfactory submission of deliverables # 1 and 2 - 50%

Second payment- upon satisfactory submission of deliverables #3, 4 and 5- 50%

 

8. MANAGEMENT ARRANGEMENTS

The consultant shall be responsible for managing the process of the work implementation, its resources, logistics and expenditures related to the tasks in timely and accurate manner. The consultant will be reporting to the Health Programme Specialist with cross-functional reporting responsibilities to the Chief Technical Advisor.

Competencies

• Demonstrate commitment to UNDP’s mission, vision and values
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability
• Demonstrate/safeguard ethics and integrity.  
• Demonstrate corporate knowledge and sound judgment.
• Self-development, initiative-taking.
• Act as a team player.
• Encourage and participate in open communication in the team, communicate effectively.
• Create synergies through self-control.
• Manage conflict.
• Informed and transparent decision-making.

Required Skills and Experience

9. EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS REQUIREMENTS

Minimum qualifications and experience:

Education:

• Advanced university degree in Human Rights, Medical Law, Public Health, Social Work, Community Work or other relevant area.

Experience: 

• At least 5 years of relevant experience in working in the field of HIV.
• Previous experience of work with key populations is an asset.
• Previous experience in HIV services mapping or creation of HIV-related repositories in Ukraine is an asset.
• Knowledge of international and national policies, guidelines, and relevant reports regarding HIV/TB in Ukraine.
• Fluency in Ukrainian, Russian, working knowledge of English.

 

10. DOCUMENTS TO BE INCLUDED WHEN SUBMITTING THE PROPOSALS

Applicants shall submit the following documents:

Required
	Letter of interest/proposal, explaining why the applicant considers him- or herself the most suitable for the work.
	Personal CV or P11 form, including information about past experience in similar projects / assignments and contact details for referees.
	Financial proposal

11. EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS REQUIREMENTS

• Advanced university degree in Human Rights, Medical Law, Public Health, Social Work, Community Work or other relevant area -Bachelor`s degree - 14 pts, Master`s degree - 17 pts, PhD degree - 20 pts);
• At least 5 years of relevant experience in working in the field of HIV/TB - (5-6 years - 20 pts, 7 years and more - 25 pts);
• Previous experience of work with key populations - 5 pts;
• Previous experience in HIV services mapping or creation of HIV-related repositories in Ukraine – 5 pts;
• Knowledge of international and national policies, guidelines and relevant reports regarding HIV/TB in Ukraine (previous experience of analytical work relative to policies and guidelines) – 5 pts;
• Fluency in Ukrainian, Russian, working knowledge of English - 10 pts.

 

12. Evaluation method:

Cumulative analysis

Contract award shall be made to the incumbent whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

a) responsive/compliant/acceptable, and

b) having received the cumulative highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation.

* Technical Criteria weight: 70%

* Financial Criteria weight: 30%

Only candidates obtaining a minimum 70% from the maximum available technical score (49 points) would be considered for the Financial Evaluation

The maximum number of points assigned to the financial proposal is allocated to the lowest price proposal and will equal to 30. All other price proposals will be evaluated and assigned points, as per below formula:

30 points [max points available for financial part] x [lowest of all evaluated offered prices among responsive offers] / [evaluated price].

The proposal obtaining the overall cumulatively highest score after adding the score of the technical proposal and the financial proposal will be considered as the most compliant offer and will be awarded a contract.

Travel

In the case of unforeseeable travel, payment of travel costs including tickets, lodging and terminal expenses should be agreed upon, between the respective business unit and the Consultant, prior to travel and will be reimbursed. In general, UNDP should not accept travel costs exceeding those of an economy class ticket. Should the IC wish to travel on a higher class he/she should do so using their own resources.