Terms of Reference for the Recruitment of an International Consultant

Harmonized Health Facilities Assessment (HHFA) in Angola July – Sept 2022

1. BACKGROUND

Health services' availability, quality, and efficiency are integral to universal health coverage (UHC) and contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Health facility survey data are essential to support evidence-based decision-making in health sector reviews, planning, and policy development. Since the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), various national and international health facility survey tools (e.g., SARA, SPA, SDI) have been developed.

These multiple surveys are often uncoordinated, frequently producing non-comparable results in the same country. The Harmonized Health Facility Assessment (HHFA) is a comprehensive, standardized health facility survey that provides objective information on the availability of health facility services and the systems that facilities have in place to deliver the services at required standards of quality.

Availability and quality of health services are integral to achieving universal health coverage (UHC) and contribute to attaining the health-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). HHFA data support health sector reviews and evidence-based decision-making for strengthening country health services. Developed through multi-stakeholder collaboration, the HHFA is based on global service standards and draws upon existing global facility survey instruments.

The HHFA uses standardized indicators, questionnaires, data collection methodologies and data analysis tools. Standardization promotes alignment of facility survey approaches, enables comparability of results over time and across geographic areas, and can support capacity-building through consistent application of global standards.

This will be the first time that HHFA or comparable assessment SARA is conducted in Angola. The results of the assessment will play a key role in providing information for the elaboration of a comprehensive National Health Information System Strategic Plan (NHISSP) 2022 – 2026 as well as the review process of the National Health Strategic Development Plan 2012 – 2025 (PNDS 2012 – 2025).

The Ministry of Health of Angola (MINSA), with the support of technical and financial partners, in concurrence with the review of the National Health Information System and the elaboration of the new NHISSP 2022 – 2026 will conduct the HHFA on a national scale during the second third quarter of 2022.

The following are the proposed terms of reference for the recruitment of an international consultant to support Angola in the implementation of the HHFA.

2. OBJECTIVE OF THE CONSULTATION :

The objective of the consultancy is to work in collaboration with WHO to provide technical support to Angola in the implementation of the harmonized health facility assessment. This will include planning, coordinating, data collection, analysis, and writing the final report.

3. SUMMARY OF ASSIGNED TASKS TO THE CONSULTANT :

Under the responsibility of the WHO Angola Representative and the direct supervision of the technical committee of the HHFA assessment, the consultant will perform the following tasks: -

1. Review of translated HHFA Portuguese modules.

2. Prepare Harmonized Health Facilities Assessment protocol and field assessors' guidelines.

3. Evaluate the requirements and possibility of HHFA real time and continuous update system deployment and coordinate with the technical team the adaptation of the tools, including the questionnaires and analysis plan. For this exercise, the consultant should encourage and facilitate the participation of all health programs.

4. Coordinate with the National technical team the adaptation of HHFA data management tools, Portuguese interpretation, and the configuration for data entry data analysis platform to the country context.

5. Support the recruitment of data collectors, including supervisors, by ensuring that the profiles are in line with the needs in the field.

6. Coordinate with the technical committee the pre-testing of electronic field data collection tools.

7. Support the technical committee in the organization and coordination of the training of supervisors and investigators based on the training modules developed and adapted to the specificities of the country.

8. Coordinate with the technical committee the deployment of survey staff to the field.

9. Support and coordinate the supervision of data collection and quality control in collaboration with the technical committee.

10. Coordinate with the technical committee the management of the server and the survey databases (monitoring of data synchronization, database cleaning).

11. Coordinate and support the technical committee with data analysis, results presentation and final evaluation report writing.

4. EXPECTED RESULTS

1. Final version of Portuguese HHFA modules. That is, 1) service availability, 2) service readiness, 3) quality of care, and 4) management and finance.

2. A final protocol for the HHFA in Angola detailing the methodology, including sampling and overall budget.
3. A review final HHFA questionnaire adapted to the Angola context, including an analysis plan.
4. CSPRO tools for data entry adapted to Angola customized questionnaire.

5. Analysis platform adapted to Angola context.

6. A complete and cleaned database of the HHFA 2022 assessment

7. A final report of the HHFA assessment of Angola including the way forward to implementing HHFA real time system.

5. QUALIFICATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

1. 1. Education

Essential :

• At least a master's degree in health, Demography, Biostatistics, Statistics, Epidemiology, and any other related technical field.

Desirable:

• Medical doctor and/or a Master's in public health, epidemiology, or statistics.

1. 2. Experience

Essential :

• At least seven years of practical experience coordinating and managing quantitative household

surveys (MICS or DHS) or health facility surveys (SARA).

• Familiarity with data entry and management software such as CSPro;
• Strong statistical analysis skills and familiarity with R and/or STATA software.
• Experience in data analysis and survey report writing.

Desirable :

• Proven skills in producing and using strategic health information, particularly in health data and statistics and data analysis, including health sector monitoring and evaluation.
• Experience in policy formulation and quality management, strategic and policy planning, and consultation facilitation.

1. 3. Functional competencies :

Excellent oral and written communication skills in Portuguese and working knowledge of French or English, presentation skills, and an ability to write clear and concise documents and provide technical advice and guidance in resource-limited settings.

• Excellent skills in facilitating consensus, communicating progress and results, and proactively solving problems, while ensuring professional practices and ethical principles, diplomacy, tact, and courtesy.
• Excellent interpersonal skills. Demonstrated ability to work in a multicultural environment and establish harmonious and effective relationships both within and outside the organization, specifically with Ministries of Health and national statistical offices.
• Proven ability to use standard office software and proficiency in common computer software. Demonstrated ability to lead, manage and supervise ;
• Knowledge and previous experience of working in the country and/or region highly desirable.
• Excellent organizational skills.
• Availability and ability to travel to Angola.

6. DURATION AND PLACE OF PERFORMANCE

The consultancy will be from July to September 2022, for three months according to a schedule to be defined with the HHFA technical team.

Only applicants who can commit to the entire period should be considered.