Background
The health system in Somalia remains fragmented and service delivery continues to be poorly organized due to lack of qualified staff, poor supervision and coordination, and low coverage of essential lifesaving and high impact interventions. Somalia has some of the worst health and nutritional indicators in the world and is ‘off-track’ to reaching health related MDGs (4, 5 and 6). Health sector service delivery is mainly through the private and public sector through a combination of facility and community based delivery mechanisms.
The Maternal and Child Health centers are the main point for public health service delivery in most rural areas. The level and quality of functioning of the MCH centers vary from one district to another depending on the available resources, the existing and capacity of health staff among other things.
The three HSSPs for Somali health authorities are aligned to support the delivery and implementation of the Essential Package of Health Services (EPHS). The implementation of EPHS continues to be strengthened and rolled out using a phased in approach to newly selected districts to increase coverage and accessibility of essential primary health care services.
The Somali Health Authorities in collaboration with WHO, UNFPA and UNICEF plan to undertake assessment of approximately 820 health facilities (hospitals, MCHs and Health Posts) across the three zones (South Central, Puntland and Somaliland) of Somalia. The assessment will be conducted using the standard Service Availability and Readiness Assessment (SARA) methodology.
Justification:
Currently, information and evidence on performance of health systems to help managers make decisions, plan, and implement and monitor health services is very limited. The assessment will generate information on selected indicators for evidence-based decision making and will be used to track and monitor the progress, implementation of the HSSPs/EPHS activities in the health facilities. Specifically, the health facility assessment will generate the following information;
a. General service availability (accessibility of health services): health infrastructure (density of facilities and inpatient beds), core health personnel, and inpatient/outpatient services utilization.
b. General service readiness (capacity of health facilities to provide general health services): presence of infrastructure/amenities, basic equipment, standard precautions for prevention of infections, laboratory diagnostic capacity, and essential medicines.
c. Specific service availability and readiness (proportion of facilities providing specific key health interventions and their capacity to provide these services): availability of guidelines, trained staff, equipment, diagnostics, and medicines and commodities required to provide the service.
d. The status and functionality of support systems (supply chain, supervision, information system, transport/referral, repair/maintenance, community involvement/engagement among others in the facilities).
e. Quality of care using exit interviews with clients/patients as a proxy indicator.
Scope:
While the overall management and technical leadership of the assessment will rest with WHO, an institution/firm/NGO will be subcontracted mainly for the field work. In addition, in order to build capacity and to assure the ownership, representatives of the ministries of health in the three zones will be included in the survey teams.
To this effect, WHO would like to hire an international expert survey coordinator to support and coordinate the design, planning, implementation and quality assurance of the assessment.
Roles and responsibilities of the coordinator;
In collaboration with other technical colleagues within WHO, UNFPA, UNICEF and Somali Health Authorities and implementing partner (yet to be identified), the coordinator will;
- Support preparation for health facility assessment
a. Ensure a clear understanding of the survey objectives;
b. define a list of indicators and their definitions;
c. design/adapt data collection tools;
d. pilot test, finalize and supervise the translation of data collection tools;
- Support to data collection design and teams selection:
a. define the composition and organization of the survey team;
b. develop job description and selection criteria for survey team members;
c. advise on and guide the selection of survey team for fieldwork and data management;
d. develop fieldwork plan, logistic as well as data collection;
e. develop data entry and management plan;
- Support training for data collection and management
a. develop a comprehensive plan for the training of different cadres of survey team;
b. developing training material for the survey team;
c. conducting training of trainers;
d. supervising the training of trainees;
e. coordinating the training of data managers and data collectors;
- Coordinate field work for pilot testing, data collection and entry, specifically;
a. organizing pilot to test the survey tools;
b. supervising fieldwork for data collection;
c. checking quality data management including data entry;
- Support data analysis and dissemination
a. organizing data analysis workshop
b. support data analysis
c. share preliminary summary analysis findings
d. support organizing data dissemination workshop
- Prepare and submit periodic reports and updates on the assessment including final report according to the agreed schedule;
Deliverables for the assignment include:
a. List of indicators with definitions and data collection tools;
b. Survey team constitution, job descriptions and data collection and management plan;
c. Training materials, training plan and work breakdown structure for management of the facility assessment;
d. Finalized questionnaire based on the findings of the pilot survey;
e. Monthly progress report on the field work ; and
f. Submit final health facility assessment report.
Qualification and experiences
1) Education
· Bachelors degree in Medicine, Public Health/Epidemiology/health related subjects
· Masters Degree in Public Health, Epidemiology /Health Policy and Planning and Management/Medical Anthropology; or related subjects
2) Skills
· Strong knowledge building and sharing skills; openness in sharing information and keeping people informed
· Strong teamworking predisposition; capacity to work collaboratively with MOH colleagues and health partners
· Ability to build and cultivate strong productive relationships with internal and external client
· Ability to interpret, analyze and resolve problems
· Ability to conduct assessments and surveys or research
· Proven facilitation and training skills
· Knowledge of Somali context and health sector
· Working experience in disrupted health sectors
· Knowledge of procedures, reporting requirements and ethical practices of the UN system
Competencies:
· Producing results
· Working with a variety of health sector stakeholders, particularly governments and development partners, but also private sector
· Excellent written and oral communication skills
· Appropriate computer skills
3) Experience
· Minimum 5 years of relevant working experience in developing countries
· Conducting SARA surveys in similar contexts
Language: Excellent knowledge of written and spoken English
How to apply:
Applications and fee’s expectation should be submitted no later than date of closure to :
WHO Somalia
Email: recruitment@nbo.emro.who.int
ONLY CANDIDATES UNDER SERIOUS CONSIDERATION WILL BE CONTACTED FOR INTERVIEW
