Consultant for Health systems strengthening

Terms of Refernces for a Consultant for Health systems strengthening

Contractual Arrangement: External Consultant
Contractual duration: 6 months
Schedule: Full time
Primary Location: Port Louis, Mauritius
Organization: AF_MUS Mauritius

Objective of the programme:
The WHO Health System Strengthening (HSS) Framework for Action aims to promote a common understanding of what a health system is and what constitutes health systems strengthening. It also provides a basis to support countries in scaling up health systems and services: addressing bottlenecks in a collaborative, coordinated way, driven by desired health outcomes, to achieve sustainable system-wide effects. To be most effective, this process must be country-led, based on priorities set out in comprehensive and strategic national health plans.

Organization context
The WHO Country Office supports the Ministry of Health and Wellness (Mauritius) to shape health policy in line with WHO’s principles and values and advocates for an integrated approach to health development. WHO helps the country to improve its health system and provides technical support as necessary. The Country Office also has a representational, fund-raising and resource steering function, as needed.

Description of duties
To provide policy advice and programmatic support to the Government and the Ministry of Health to strengthen its health system with the aim of moving towards universal health coverage

Summary of Assigned duties
The consultant will lead operationalization of the country-specific HSS strategy to move towards UHC through providing technical leadership and policy advisory services to the Member State. Under the guidance of the WR and regional technical experts in coordination with all other needed programs, the incumbent will assume the following responsibilities:
• Support the design, implementation, and evaluation of national health policies for health system strengthening to move towards UHC.
• Advise and collaborate on the development, implementation, and evaluation of technical cooperation programmes in the areas of health systems development, health services organization and management supporting universal health coverage
• Support the establishment of norms and standards for the design, organization and functional health system programming and operation of health systems based on primary health care, supporting universal health coverage
• Provide support in the strengthening of essential service, including public health and primary care services, to better prevent and control communicable and noncommunicable diseases including during emergencies especially for COVID-19 pandemic.
• Provide technical advice and support in the implementation of health financing programmes at the country level including conducting assessments, development of strategies and improving health expenditure tracking and equity analysis
• Support the development, planning, and training of human resources in health including for COVID-19 aimed at increasing the efficiency, effectiveness and quality of the workforce; organize, conduct, or facilitate capacity-building activities.
• Co-ordinate the planning and implementation of technical activities pertaining to pertaining to quality of care and the health services capacity and access such as pharmacy, laboratory, medicines, vaccines, and medical diagnostic and therapeutic devices, health information system including vital statistics and medical record keeping, COVID-19 pandemic and priority programmes such as AMR
• Cooperate with, national authorities, international cooperation agencies, inter-governmental and non-governmental organizations, and other relevant stakeholders, to develop alliances and networks that promote access to quality primary care services including for COVID-19 pandemic.
• Coordinate the implementation and monitoring of WHO’s HSS for UHC work plan, COVID-19 action plan as well as Immunization for COVID-19.

Required qualification
Essential: A first university degree in health or health related field from an accredited/recognized institute.
Desirable: An advanced university degree (Master’s level or above) in public health, health systems / services administration, health policy, health management or health related field from an accredited/recognized institute. Additional training/s in the areas of the health systems development

Experience:
Essential: At least five years of combined national and international experience in health system strengthening; health policy, planning and management and development of national strategies and plan
Desirable: Experience working with WHO or UN agencies

Functional Knowledge and skills
• Demonstrate collaboration, innovative, analytical and problem-solving skills
• Proven skills in supporting national health policy planning in health system strengthening, implementation, and monitoring
• Strong analytical skills and experience with technical reporting.
• Ability to support policy level dialogue, advocacy, communication with partner on health systems
• Proven track-record in organizing capacity building and policy dialogue events in the health sector

Languages
Essential: Expert knowledge of English. Knowledge of French would be an asset.

Remuneration:
Remuneration will be aligned with the classified requirements of the Terms of Reference, related academic and professional experience applied for the grade in accordance with WHO’s national or international consultant’s pay band ranges.