Objectives, Purpose & Expected Results
The purpose of this study is to support the Government of Azerbaijan and the UNICEF country office to conduct a financing and costing analysis of the universal progressive home visiting (patronage care) in Azerbaijan based on the model of full coverage of pregnant women and children aged 0-3 years in line with the national and international standards set for UPHV. The study will assess existing policies and financing, identify gaps, and provide recommendations for sustainable and sufficient financing of UPHV in Azerbaijan.
Objectives:
- Conduct an analysis of the costs, allocations, and expenditures to the current UPHV services, analyse potential financing mechanisms and budgetary implications with specific focus on the efficiency of financing and spending and suggest adaptations that might be required in the current UPHV programme to expand coverage and improve efficiency simultaneously.
- Undertake a costing of the current model together with national experts and a working group to present a cost estimation of the financial requirements for the universal and the progressive component of home visiting.
- Develop and provide a brief report including costing methodology, costing calculations by cost drivers, costing by platforms, resource gap analysis, and specific recommendations for key stakeholders to drive policy decisions related to financing mechanisms and payment modalities of home visiting, incentivization of personnel, and sustainable funding.
Expected Results:
- Country and sector analysis report with financing mechanisms and recommendations.
- Costing tool, calculations of the current costs and estimations of the costs based on best practices for home visiting, together with the user manual of the costing tool.
- Capacity-building workshops for relevant stakeholders to understand and implement recommendations.
- Policy and thematic brief with key findings and recommendations. (max two pages each).
Description of the Assignment
The contracted institution/individual will need to bring together diverse skills and expertise to ensure a comprehensive approach. This includes quantitative and qualitative data analysis, including key informant interviews and programming expertise to undertake a comprehensive review of current UPHV and Patronage services implemented in the country, and national policies relevant to the programme already in place with a focus on financing modalities. The assignment is structured into four phases, each with specific tasks and deliverables as outlined below.
The contracted institution individual will be responsible for the following tasks:
Phase 1: Desk Review and Context Analysis
Analyse Azerbaijan’s legal, institutional, financial and policy frameworks related to Universal Progressive Home Visiting (UPHV).
Phase 2: Data Collection and Stakeholder Consultations
Organize and conduct stakeholder consultations, including government agencies.
Collect and analyse secondary data sources, including demographics, data reported from UPHV programme implementation, data on PHC financing and budget expenditures etc.
Phase 3: Development of Costing Tool, Data Analysis, and Capacity Building
Prepare a costing tool for UPHV, and conduct capacity-building workshop for policymakers and practitioners to support the implementation of the costing exercise. Collect necessary data and develop a comprehensive report with the cost estimates required for the UPHV programme delivery, proposed financing mechanisms and actionable recommendations for scaling up UPHV.
Phase 4. Dissemination of findings and recommendations.
Develop advocacy materials, including a policy brief and presentation slides, for dissemination. Facilitate a workshop to introduce the findings of the costing and financing exercise and recommendations.
Reporting Requirements
The contractor will report to UNICEF Health & Nutrition Specialist who will oversee the assignment. The working language of the assignment is English.
Location and Duration
Location: Azerbaijan (remote work with at least two in-country travels to Baku and selected regions for consultations).
Duration: 6 months (March 2025 – September 2025).
Qualification Requirements
The Institution must demonstrate its capacity to assemble a multidisciplinary team with the following qualifications, skills, and experience:
Institutional Qualifications
- Strong team leadership and management track record with relevant working experience of at least ten (10) years in the field of public health policy and financing.
- Proven experience in research, analysis, policy, and strategy formulation, including costing and budgeting in healthcare.
- Previous experience in implementation of relevant or similar consultancy work on home visiting services costing and financing.
- Knowledge of global policies, development frameworks of WHO and UNICEF in maternal and child health area familiarity with local or regional health system and context, and recent developments in home visitation system in the region
- Language proficiency: Fluency in English is mandatory. Knowledge of Russian and Azerbaijani is an asset.
Staffing
The contractor should include the resumes of the proposed key personnel showing relevant educating, training, and experience. Please specifically address any technical resources and staff that will be available to assist in the awarded contract. The contractor should have at least one local consultant/specialist in the team.
Evaluation process and methods
First, the Technical Proposals will be evaluated. The Technical Proposal was allocated a total possible score of 70 points (pt) using following criteria. Technical Proposals receiving at least 50 out of obtainable points (70 pt) or higher, will be considered technically responsive and the Price Proposal will be opened. Proposals which are considered not technically compliant and non-responsive, will not be given further consideration.
How to apply
Submission
The bidders must submit:
(a) Technical application
- Proposed methodology, approach, and timeframe
- A statement of the applicant that the company and the staff meet the requirement by specifying relevant work experience of both the company and the staff. Links or copies of report should be included. If reports are draft or confidential, the applicant should mention the title and the scope of the report and a reference.
- Corporate profile
- License and other work-related certificates obtained by the company.
- List and profile (focused CVs) of team members that will be engaged in the implementation of the assignment.
(b) Financial proposal
Applicant needs to submit as a separate document not included in the technical proposal specifying the total budget estimated (all-inclusive costs) in local USD, as well as a detailed breakdown of budget as per the list of deliverables. The financial offer should also include all other applicable costs. Costs should not include VAT.
Legally registered local companies (institutions) can apply for this assignment.
The applicant shall submit a duly signed and complete Proposal comprising the documents and forms in accordance with the requirements in the TOR.
The Proposal shall be signed by the Applicant or person(s) duly authorized to commit the Applicant. The authorization shall be communicated through a document evidencing such authorization issued by the legal representative of the bidding entity, or a Power of Attorney, accompanying the Proposal.
Electronic files that form part of the proposal must be in a PDF format.
The Technical Proposal and the Financial Proposal files MUST BE COMPLETELY SEPARATE. The financial proposal shall be encrypted with password. The files must be sent to the dedicated email address specified in the TOR (baku_tenders@unicef.org) . UNGM reference #: LRQS-2025-9195812
The password for opening the Financial Proposal should be provided only upon request of UNICEF. UNICEF will request password only from applicants whose Technical Proposal has been found to be technically responsive. Failure to provide correct password may result in the proposal being rejected.
Both proposals must be submitted at the same time. No amendments to the proposals are accepted after the deadline unless specifically solicited by UNICEF.