24 August 2009
Background
Investment cases are currently underway in five South Asia countries: Nepal, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. The Gates Foundation is supporting the processes in Nepal and India through a sub-contract with the University of Queensland, while the UNICEF Regional Office for South Asia and UNICEF country offices are supporting the remaining countries.
All South Asia investment cases are being conducted at sub-national levels, focusing on districts, provinces, states, or regions with highly vulnerable populations and special health systems constraints. Equity in MDG achievement is therefore the principal long-term objective for the regional exercise.
A basic model for the sub-national investment cases has been developed and is being employed with good results. In this model, an investment case team is formed from representatives of a UNICEF field office, a local research institution, the local ministries of health and planning, and in most cases an academic partner. This core team is also responsible for assembling a larger stakeholder group consisting of development partners and other branches of local and national governments for a total of three to four consultations throughout each investment case process.
The core investment case teams receive training and capacity development through rolling participation in neighboring country investment case exercises. The result has been fruitful inter-country “cross-fertilization” and the emergence of a diverse and growing regional consortium of investment case “champions.”
Draft investment cases from Nepal, Punjab (Pakistan) and three districts in Bangladesh are scheduled to be prepared by late September 2009, with finalization ongoing between October 2009 and February 2010. The Jarkhand (India) investment case is on track for finalization by December 2009, while the other India states will finish in June 2010. Sri Lanka and the remaining districts in Bangladesh will finalize their investment cases by mid- 2010, with capacity development exercises focused in the first quarter of 2010.
In 2010, UNICEF and the University of Queensland, with support from the Coogee Beach Group and other partners, will aggregate the results from all 25 sub-national analyses to produce a number of papers on regional strategies for health systems strengthening towards achieving the MDGs with equity in South Asia. Process innovations—such as methodologies for selecting relevant units for sub-national analysis and using investment cases to push for equity-driven health planning—will also be documented to ensure that the South Asia investment case model(s) may be replicated elsewhere.
Purpose:
The purpose of this consultancy is to support the South Asia regional investment cases, with a particular focus on the following areas:
· Capacity development and technical assistance with UNICEF, government and partner stakeholders in investment case methodology, key activities, and manipulation of data using the Marginal Budgeting for Bottlenecks tool
· Support in data analysis to ensure that national policies and priorities and data-based evidence are merged to create coherent and relevant conclusions;
· Writing and editing the investment cases,
· Documentation of process and results for knowledge management and reporting purposes.
The initial work will focus on three countries: Nepal, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. Gradually, capacity building activities for other countries (notably Sri Lanka and India) will be introduced, according to their schedules and within the context of the timeline and scope of the consultancy.
Major tasks to be accomplished (Scope of Work)
1. Prepare a South Asia investment case advocacy folder. Aggregate all advocacy documents (presentations, concept notes, etc) prepared for the South Asia investment cases since January 2009, referring to materials prepared for African investment cases as appropriate. Prepare an advocacy folder with cleaned and edited presentations, templates, and a guidance note. This advocacy folder may be provided to South Asia countries just starting their investment cases to assist with initial capacity development and advocacy with partners.
2. Assist with preparation and editing of the Nepal, Bangladesh and Pakistan investment cases. The consultant will be provided with copies of the updated MBB files for each country and notes regarding the outcomes of September-October investment case meetings in each country. The consultant should also debrief with each country’s focal point(s), then assist them in finalizing their analysis (ensuring coherence with national health strategies) and in preparing the final investment case documents.
3. Document the South Asia Investment Case methodologies and lessons learned: Through consultation with stakeholders at the regional, national, and subnational levels, prepare a report documenting the methodologies employed in the South Asia investment cases (particularly related to subnational analysis, advocacy, and “rolling” capacity development), best practices, and results. This report is intended for UNICEF knowledge management purposes, but may also be used for external reporting and advocacy as appropriate.
4. Support the Regional YCSD Advisor in developing and refining training materials for capacity development workshops. This will be on an as-needed basis throughout the consultancy period.
5. Maintain a South Asia Investment Case team “roster” and record of meetings and workshops : The purpose of this document is to record the skillsets of all South Asia investment case stakeholders who receive training and are available to assist with cross-fertilization and capacity development for investment cases outside their home countries or duty stations. It is also to record all major meetings and participants for reporting purposes.
6. Support the Regional Advisor in planning for, and conducting, an MBB workshop in February 2010. Assist in the refinement of the meeting objectives and agenda, coordinate participants, and assist in developing and refining training materials as needed. Travel to Kathmandu, Nepal, to help facilitate the workshop in February 2010.
End Products/ Deliverables:
1. Advocacy folder
2. Preparation/ write-up of 3 investment cases: Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan.
3. Documentation of methodologies and lessons learned
4. Support for development of training materials
5. Investment case team roster
6. Provide on-site facilitation of the MBB workshop in Kathmandu, February 2010.
Duration:
From 01 November 2009-28 February 2010: Total of 65 working days
Upon finalization of the contract, the consultant should work with the supervisor to prepare a more detailed work plan with approximate submission dates for each of the deliverables, understanding that these dates will be somewhat dependent upon each country’s Investment Case schedule.
Additional entitlements:
The consultant will be provided with a UNICEF email address and access to the UNICEF intranet. Travel expenses, including airfare and DSA, will be paid by the Regional Office for South Asia as per UNICEF standard procedures.
Qualifications or specialized knowledge/experience required
· Masters degree and at least 5 years work experience in public health or related field
· Working knowledge of the Marginal Budgeting for Bottlenecks tool preferred; strong knowledge of Microsoft Excel required.
· In-depth knowledge of the South Asia Investment Case methodologies and/ or strong experience in other health systems planning and budgeting exercises.
· Strong knowledge of, and experience in, South Asia countries and understanding of major health, nutrition, and WASH priorities for the region.
· Demonstrated ability to work with data; strong attention to detail.
· Excellent written and verbal communications, including the ability to represent UNICEF capably with government counterparts.
Duty Station:
Based at the consultant’s home, with one and possibly two trips to South Asia during the consultancy period (Kathmandu Nepal in February, possibly one additional trip if deemed necessary by the supervisor).
Supervisor:
Genevieve Begkoyian, UNICEF Regional Advisor Young Child Survival and Development
External contacts:
This consultancy will involve regular communications with UNICEF country office staff members, academic partners, NGOs and government counterparts, based on each country’s investment case team. While most communications will be directly with each country’s UNICEF Investment Case focal point(s), the consultant is expected to maintain high levels of professionalism in communicating with external counterparts to not only complete the project deliverables, but also to continue to strengthen partner capacities and relationships with UNICEF.
Application Process:
Letters of application together with Personal History Form (attached) and CV should be e-mailed to , with ‘Consultant, South Asia Investment Cases’ under subject line, no later than 06 September 2009.
Or send card copy to:
The HR Officer
UNICEF Regional Office for South Asia
P.O. Box 5815
Lekhnath Marg
Kathmandu Nepal
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