Political Economic Analysis Consultancy (PEA)

Political Economic Analysis Consultancy

National Community Health Systems (NCHS)

This role was posted on September 26, 2022 and is open until October 7, 2022. Please note that we will review applications on a rolling basis but prioritize those who applied within the deadline.

The Role

Goal: To conduct a Political Economy and Power Analysis (PEA) for the USAID-Community Health Activity (USAID-CHA) project in Liberia on MOH/NCHP community health financing transition strategy.

Background

Last Mile Health (LMH) has partnered in the USAID Community Health Activity (USAID CHA) consortium primed by International Rescue Committee (IRC). Under this partnership, LMH’s key role is focused on addressing the challenges around sustainable health financing for the national community health program (NCHP) in Liberia. The Consortium activities started on October 1^st, 2020 and runs up to September 30^th, 2024. Geography coverage includes Lofa, Bong, River Gee, and Grand Kru Counties.

The USAID CHA goal: To strengthen the Liberian community health system through community-based health care services, especially in hard to reach areas while transferring ownership to the Government of Liberia by increasing the coverage of Community Health Assistants (CHA) in underserved districts, improving the capacity of CHAs and other community-based cadres to deliver quality health services, and strengthening county health teams and communities’ capacity to plan, manage and monitor community-based health services.

The overall USAID-CHA goal will be achieved through 3 main objectives, which are:

1. Increased coverage of CHAs (Community Health Assistants) to population ratio in underserved districts and communities,
2. Improved quality of health services through trained, supervised, and motivated CHAs and other community health cadres, &
3. County health teams’ and communities’ capacity to plan, manage, and monitor a comprehensive delivery of health services enhanced.

Last Mile Health Statement of Work

LMH scope of work is to develop a transition strategy for increased domestic financial responsibility of the NCHP. Expanding GoL financial ownership of NCHP is a critical step in transition planning. LMH has worked in partnership with the MOH Financing Unit and Community Health Services Division (CHSD) to conduct resource mapping and costing, develop advocacy tools, and facilitate linkages to philanthropic capital. Diversification to include alternative funding schemes, including from the private sector are needed to sustainably transfer CHSS stipends to the GoL payroll. At the county-level, mindset shifts are needed so that CHTs, CHSSs, CHAs, and communities view the NCHP as an integrated element of the GoL health system. While technical support for improved planning and management of the NCHP at national and county-levels remains a key area for on-going support, the sustainability strategy should build on the transition discussions that have already taken place and will continue to improve accountability mechanisms. Meanwhile, the transition strategy will explore not just the financial sustainability of the community health program, but also programmatic sustainability, addressing, but not limited to, the capacity of the country stakeholders to independently manage the program upon donor transition. 

As part of the USAID-CHA agreements, LMH will lead on conducting a Political Economy and power Analysis (PEA) focused on the implementation of the MOH/NCHP community health financing transition strategy. LMH is now in search of a qualified Local Consultant to conduct the PEA within the USAID-CHA supported Counties with support from other members within the consortium. 

Project Details

This consultancy is open to Liberian National candidates.

Position: One (1)

Location: Monrovia, Liberia

Expected Timeline: 8 weeks

Remuneration: $8,000 USD paid per deliverable (See table below)

Consultant Statement of Work

The consultant will work with LMH’s National Community Health Systems (NCHS) - Health Financing team to:

• Review national documents (Desk review)
• Conduct FGDs and KIIs
• Conduct PEA Analysis
• Develop reports

Team: The Consultant will be embedded within LMH’s National Community Health Systems (NCHS) team in Liberia. The Consultant will report to a “Manager”, who will be responsible for overall direction and accountability of the project, serves as a resource for feedback, and relationship management with relevant external stakeholders. The Consultant shall act as the project “Owner”, with overall responsibility for driving the project forward and coordinating steps to accomplish the goal. The Consultant shall ensure all the work gets done (directly or with helpers) and involves others (consults) in a meaningful way. The team may be supported by additional helpers or consulted inputters.

Activity and Deliverables Table:

Other support provided:

• County/field visits
• Office support
• Other logistical support

Skills required: 

• Currently based in Liberia
• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in Public Health, Social Sciences, Development Studies, Health Economics, or similar area
• Over 5 years of professional work experience in health financing, health policy, political economy analysis, applied research especially in health financing and political economy in Liberia
• Past experience / Demonstrated ability to develop landscape analysis, experience in writing policy and strategy documents.  
• Previous experience and knowledge of national and county-level governance structures, financing policies, procedures, and systems in resource-limited settings in Liberia.  
• Experience in working with the Ministry of Health, other line ministries including Finance and other implementing partners in Liberia
• Previous experience and knowledge working with major donors to global health such as USAID is a plus.  

Compensation:

This is a deliverable-based consultancy. Total available budget for this is $8,000 with the following fee disbursement schedule per deliverable:

Application Process

Proposals should include the following:

• Your approach to completing the tasks described above including a time-bound work plan and budget
• Resume or CV 
• Three references
• A sample of at least one of your products in line with any of the deliverables above.