Consultant- Technical support to develop the national hospital sector strategy – HCM/AHS

1.Purpose of the Consultancy

The aim of this consultancy is to provide technical support to the EMR countries to develop the national hospital sector strategy and related activities (as entry points), in the context of the country’s health strategic plan, using the regional framework for action for hospital sector strategy.In addition, to provide technical support for hospital resilience project to the countries as cross-departmental work.

Background

Hospitals are complex institutions that play a fundamental role in health systems. Strengthening the hospital sector, at the system and facility levels, through implementing an Integrated People-Centered Health Services approach (IPCHS) within the context of an endorsed regional framework for action for hospital sector is crucial. It contributes to advancing Universal Health Coverage and enhancing Health Security in the Region. . The resolution called on Member States to: ensure political commitment to the planning and implementation of people-centred hospitals; develop/update a national hospital sector strategy using the Regional Framework; and monitor and evaluate hospital sector performance and progress in implementing the national strategy. It further requested the WHO EMRO to provide technical support to Member States to build capacity for the development and implementation of a national hospital sector strategy, and to assist Member States in enhancing management capacities in the hospital sector.

During rapidly evolving outbreaks (e.g. COVID-19 pandemic), the provision of care by hospitals and healthcare facilities tends to become interrupted. In addition, more than half the Region’s population lives in countries with graded emergencies. Many hospitals and the availability of hospital services have been seriously affected in these countries which makes responses to COVID-19 even more challenging. Therefore, proactive and systematic implementation of a preparedness and response action plan is essential to improve and facilitate management within the hospital. There is a great need for rebuilding strong and resilient hospitals and health systems for pandemic preparedness and response.

The notion of resilience can be defined as the capacity to adapt to unexpected challenges and the flexibility to revert to normality. Additionally, the issues learned from the experience should be incorporated into protocols which would allow for better preparedness for future challenges. Hospital disaster resilience refers to a hospital’s ability to withstand, absorb, and respond to disasters while maintaining critical functions, and then to recover to its original state or adapt to a new one.

Hospitals are complex institutions that play a fundamental role in the provision of health services. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need to improve hospital resilience to all types of disasters, while maintaining essential services, especially in the Region’s emergency, low- and middle-income countries, and fragile health systems. Hospital resilience is a complex concept, and its operationalization is even more nuanced based on varying contexts. To strengthen hospital resilience in the EMR during both routine and emergency times, hospital managers need to consider strengthening the various components throughout the various stages of health emergencies and disaster risk management. In response, WHO EMRO, using cross-departmental collaborative approach, developed a framework and operational guide to assist hospital managers in strengthening their hospital resilience. It is crucial that countries receive technical support to implement this framework and monitor its implementation and cascade the initiative across the country.

Considering mentioned above, in order to support EMR countries, it is planned to recruit a consultant to deliver the below tasks.This Consultancy assignment is part of the WHO/EMRO initiative for strengthening the hospital sector in the Eastern Mediterranean Region in moving towards Universal Health Coverage and strengthening health security through integrated people-centered health services. It is in line with the high level WHO EMRO strategies.

2.Planned timelines (subject to confirmation)

Start date:01/11/2024

End date: 30/06/2024

3.Work to be performed

Output 1:Provide technical support to two EMR countries (Syria and Morocco) in the development of hospital sector strategies, ensuring alignment with the national health strategy and the regional framework for action.

Deliverable 1.1: Draft and review the hospital sector profile in the selected EMR countries (Syria and Somalia) as part of the working team.

Deliverable 1.2: Draft the report and publish an article on the process of developing the hospital sector strategy in the selected EMR countries as part of the working team.

Deliverable 1.3:Draft a paper on the experience of the implementation of the WHO regional framework for action in the Region focusing on the process, challenges, opportunities and lessons learnt.

Output 2:Provide technical assistance to countries (Syria, Egypt, Yemen, Tunisia, Pakistan, and Oman) in enhancing the resilience of their hospital systems through implementing the concerned operational guide.

Deliverable 2.1: Organize and facilitate capacity building program for relevant healthcare professionals and stakeholders in each target country.

Deliverable 2.2: Create a tailored implementation plan for each target country, detailing the steps required to enhance the resilience of their hospital systems using the operational guide. In addition, attend meetings with hospital focal points, preparing notes, guidance, and summaries as needed.

Deliverable 2.3: Contribute to developing the regional guide for strengthening emergency, critical, and operative care systems in the Region, as part of the cross-departmental collaboration.

Output 3: Provide technical support to strengthen the role of hospitals in strengthening essential public health functions

Deliverable 3.1: Develop a one-day training curriculum on Essential Public Health Functions (EPHFs) for hospital managers

Deliverable 3.2:Conduct a virtual expert consultation meeting to present and validate the above-mentioned

training materials.

Deliverable 3.3: Organize and facilitate a pilot workshop in Egypt to assess and refine the curriculum, ensuring necessary amendments are made to finalize the first version for regional dissemination

4.Technical Supervision

The selected Consultant will work on the supervision of:

Responsible Officer:	Hamid Ravaghi, RA HCM, AHS, UHS
Manager:	Dr Awad Mataria, Director, UHS

5.Specific requirements

– Qualifications required:

Master’s degree in health-related subjects (Medicine, public health, health (hospital) services management, emergency preparedness and response).

– Experience required:

§7 years of experience in the field ofpublic health, health (hospital) management, health system, health economics, health policy, and epidemiology in routine and emergencies.

§Professional experience at the national and/or international level in the above-mentioned areas.

Desirable:

Experience working in the UN or other international development organizations is an asset.

– Skills / Technical skills and knowledge:

§Good skills in strategic and operational planning specifically related to health/hospital planning and management

§Expertise in drafting and reviewing hospital sector profiles, with a strong understanding of health systems in the context of the EMR countries

§Skills in organizing and facilitating capacity-building programs and developing training curricula

§Good skills in conducting qualitative analysis and synthesis

§Proficiency in drafting reports, academic papers, and articles, particularly on health sector strategy development and implementation processes.

§Excellent oral and written communication skills, with solid abilities in drafting, formulating, and reporting

– Language requirements:

§Excellent English language proficiency

§Knowledge of Arabic and French is an Asset

6.Place of assignment

Cairo, Egypt.

7. Medical clearance

A signed and stamped medical certificate of fitness to work is to be provided

8.Travel

The consultant is supposed to travel to contribute to organizing the Regional HCM strategy.

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 fulfilvisa requirements and ask for visa support letter(s) if needed.

Additional Information:

·This vacancy notice may be used to identify candidates for other similar consultancies at the same level.

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