Consultant - PHC policy dialogue

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1. Purpose of the Consultancy

Provide technical support to Jordan WCO and key stakeholders for the follow –up activities related to Salalah Declaration (September 2018), the Astana Declaration (October 2018), and the Global Action Plan for Healthy Lives and Well-being (GAP) for All launched in September 2019.

2. Background

WHO has been supporting Jordan in achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in the frame of Sustainable Development Goals by strengthening health system, especially core functions at PHC level, as an important objective to improve the well-being of individuals and communities to “leave none behind”. Through WHO efforts there was consensus to focus on strengthening the Primary Health Care (PHC) under the framework of GAP.

Furthermore, Jordan started to implement the Primary Health Care Measurement and Improvement Initiative (PHCMI) which aims at building national capacity to enable countries to undertake assessment-based improvements to PHC services and promote greater adoption of the people-based family practice approach to facilitate more equitable and efficient access to essential health services for individuals, especially the most vulnerable, residing in a catchment population of a primary health care facility. So far, Jordan has produced the Vital Signs Profile, the Country Profile and the progress model which is a set of qualitative indicators on the performance of PHC.

On the other hand, Jordan is engaging with partners, academia, and other stakeholders to promote a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach in response to COVID-19 pandemic.

Jordan MoH developed National Preparedness and Response COVID-19 Plan in line with WHO Strategic preparedness and response plan. Through the National Preparedness and Response COVID-19 Plan WHO is coordinating collaboration with health partners and builds on country existing resources, to strengthen core country capacities to meet their IHR commitments and essential healthcare services (EHS).

With all the efforts focussed to strengthen hospital capacity, the role of Primary Health Care (PHC) during the COVID-19 pandemic has been limited. A comprehensive situation analysis on the provision of EHS, with WCO Jordan's support, has been conducted comparing the EHS provision between 2019 and 2020. It was accompanied by drafting a contingency plan for maintaining EHS, guided by WHO guideline: “Maintaining essential health services: operational guidance for the COVID-19 context”.

The situation analysis report showed that some essential health services have been negatively affected during the pandemic to curb the emergency, particularly during the first comprehensive lockdown. From March to September 2020, most of the essential RMNCH services in MOH were partially disrupted, like a 28.2% decrease in family planning services, 32% decline in the number of women who attended all four recommended antenatal care visits, 3% decrease in delivery at health facilities, 49.2% decrease in post-natal care, and a 24% drop in outpatient consultations. The provision of NCD services has been interrupted across the country, as the number of patients with high blood pressure and diabetes attending GPs clinics was decreased by 42.1% and 49.7%, respectively.

While primary health care is able to meet 80 percent of human needs across the life course, it is also well placed to be the first point of contact with the health system during pandemics for effective diagnosing, tracing and case reporting. PHC should be able to provide information, screening and testing for COVID-19, keeping hospitals for severe and critical conditions. Furthermore, the “essential health services and systems” are now the foundation of a roadmap of the larger socioeconomic implications and recovery of the COVID-19 outbreak as stated by the “UN framework for the immediate socio-economic response to COVID-19” launched by the United Nations Secretary General at the end of April 2020 that place “Health as First”.

In line with “WHO COVID-19 essential health services operational recommendations” and considering PHC as a long-term investment, it is very timely to support implementing the Global Action Plan for Healthy Lives and Wellbeing for All (GAP), which addresses all targets in Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3 and many other health-related SDG targets through different accelerators including strengthening PHC.

The purpose of this activity is to compile all available data and information on PHC in Jordan (literature review, PHCMI indicates, situation analysis on PHC response to COVID-19) to use as basis to discuss with different stakeholders key priority issues and recommendations to address them. The recommendations will be used as the foundation for a near future roadmap to strengthen PHC in Jordan.

Planned timelines

Start date: 1 September 2021

End date: 30 November 2021

(90 working days)

3. Work to be performed

Output 1: Provide guidance on key priority areas and recommendations on strengthening PHC system in Jordan based on compilation and analysis of all available data on PHC in Jordan including literature review, PHCMI data and the situation analysis on PHC amid COVID-19 and discussion of findings with different stakeholders

Deliverable (1): A report including:

1. A narrative synthesis of all available data and information on PHC in Jordan
2. A list of stakeholders who were interviewed or participated in focus group discussions
3. Notes from the interviews and focus group discussions and key priority areas and recommendations identified by the stakeholders

Output 2: Provide technical support to WCO staff in organization and implementation of a policy dialogue engaging policy makers and relevant stakeholders to discuss findings/recommendations in output (1)

Deliverable (1): Organize in coordination with the governmental counterparts and the WCO the events including drafting the list of participants, guests, speakers and sessions chairs. In addition, ensuring that dialogue is being attended by the key policy makers and relevant stakeholders with active participation

Deliverable (2): Summary of the proceedings of the dialogue and key points that are brought during the discussions including all deliberations, recommendations and next steps to feed into the broader roadmap on PHC

Required Qualifications

Education:

• Minimum first university degree for lower end of range, an advanced university degree for mid and high end of rangein public health/Family Medicine or related field

Experience:

• 5 to 10 years of professional experience in health policy and planning;
• Proven experience in Primary Health Care;
• Previous experience in online training processes;
• Robust high-level communication skills.

Skills/ Technical knowledge

• Ability to interact with and provide advice to senior level national health authorities;
• High level communicating skills;
• Good report writing skills in English and Arabic.

Language

• Very good verbal and written English communication skills.

Location:

Amman, Jordan.

Medical clearance : The selected Consultant will be expected to provide a medical certificate of fitness for work.

Travel (If travel is involved, a medical certificate of fitness for work will be required.) All travel arrangements will be made by WHO – WHO will not be responsible for tickets purchased by the Consultant without the express, prior authorization of WHO. While on mission under the terms of this consultancy, the Consultant will receive subsistence allowance. Visas requirements: it is the consultant’s responsibility to fulfil visa requirements and ask for visa support letter(s) if needed.

Additional Information section

• This vacancy notice may be used to identify candidates for other similar consultancies at the same level.
• Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.
• Remuneration is in line with WHO consultant established rates
• Successful candidates will be included in the roster for consideration for future contractual engagement via a consultancy, as they become available. Inclusion in the roster does not guarantee any future contractual relationship with WHO
• A written test may be used as a form of screening.
• If your candidature is retained for interview, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. WHO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed through the link: http://www.whed.net/. Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and will require individual review.
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• Interested candidates are strongly encouraged to apply on-line through Stellis. For assessment of your application, please ensure that:
  (a) Your profile on Stellis is properly completed and updated;
  (b) All required details regarding your qualifications, education and training are provided;
  (c) Your experience records are entered with elaboration on tasks performed at the time.