Consultant Vii – Health System Strengthening Ukraine At International Medical Corps

BACKGROUND TO THE ASSIGNMENT

International Medical Corps has operations throughout Ukraine, with programs in health, mental health, and psychosocial support (MHPSS), protection, gender-based violence (GBV), nutrition, food security, and livelihoods, and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH). Currently, IMC is supporting the Ministry of Health Ukraine with emergency preparedness, response, and recovery in 11 oblasts – mostly located in northern, eastern, and southern parts of Ukraine.
In the last few years, IMC Ukraine has built a strong track record in integrated health service delivery and health workforce development. The demand for long-term health-related services from the Ministry of Health Ukraine and local communities has also increased significantly. The strategic plan 2023-27 highlights strong demand in the health sector and for activities related to health system strengthening.

IMC seeks to recruit a highly-qualified Health Systems Strengthening consultant to inform and operationalize its strategic priorities of supporting the Ministry of Health and other regional health authorities in strengthening health systems while responding to the health needs of crisis-affected populations in Ukraine. The consultant will develop a deep dive analysis of existing and past interventions to improve the country health system performance, categorize potential gaps and emergent needs due to the conflict and putting forward a framework for strengthening the health system based on WHO’s six HSS building blocks and IMC’s core competencies.

PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT
The HSS Consultant will provide strategic and technical inputs on ways of contributing to the long-term health system-strengthening initiatives in a conflict and early recovery setting, based on a stakeholders’ analysis and research of past and ongoing interventions, to identify existing gaps and needs in Ukraine following the Russian invasion in February 2022.

SCOPE OF THE ASSIGNMENT

• Interview key stakeholders from the Ministry of Health, Regional Health Authorities, health clusters, INGOs, donor agencies, and IMC staff in order to gather information on existing gaps in the health system and including the emergent needs to integrate the humanitarian response into the health system.
• Interview implementing partners to learn about the overall impact of the ongoing health reform support project in Ukraine and the relative effectiveness of its various programs and services.
• Review USAID’s new global vision for health system strengthening with a particular focus on Ukraine and identify how IMC’s existing health programs can be structured around the six pillars of health systems strengthening based on IMC’s technical capacity, substantial in-country expertise, and existing gaps in the health system.
• Map out IMC’s existing and potential future services for health system strengthening.
• Generate evidence, knowledge, and best practice models for implementing “low-cost, high impact” health interventions in line with the donor’s expected results and for programming that supports the development of the Ukrainian health system in conflict and early recovery scenarios.
• Lead various health system strengthening technical analyses to make policy recommendations on how effectively IMC can support health system strengthening initiatives in Ukraine.
• As required, lead, design and participate in potential design workshops with relevant in-country and HQ team members, as well as potential partners to ensure a framework is developed.

DELIVERABLES DESCRIPTION

Phase 1 (Desk Review)
Task Description

1. Conduct background research and review documents on overall existing health reform projects initiated by MOH in 2018.
2. Review documents on ongoing USAID-funded health reform support projects in Ukraine.
3. Review documents on USAID’s new vision for health system strengthening initiatives in Ukraine.
4. Analyse IMC’s existing health interventions in Ukraine and look into the effectiveness of other health system-strengthening initiatives implemented in other countries.

Deliverables:

1. Report on findings of the desk review with recommendations
2. Develop related assessment tools and questionnaires for upcoming fieldwork

Phase 2 (Field-based assignment)
Task description

1. Interview the global health advisor and in-country health team in Ukraine to learn about ongoing interventions, existing gaps, and technical expertise related to HSS building blocks.
2. Conduct interviews with key stakeholders from MOH, Health Cluster, INGOs, and existing USAID partners in Ukraine
3. Visit selected project sites to observe health situations on the ground (both in newly liberated areas and areas which were not under Russian occupation) and interview stakeholders from the regional health department, EMS, sub-national cluster, potential NGOs, etc.
4. Attend selected meetings as directed by IMC Medical Director or delegate to identify potential stakeholders in Kyiv and other regions and conduct stakeholders’ analysis as per the assessment plan.

Deliverable:

1. Report summarizing information gathered with recommendations.

Phase 3 (Development of Report)
Task Description

1. Debriefing of the Senior management team on the overall assessment conducted.

Deliverable:

1. Final report and framework with recommendations including:
   1. To what extent the existing health programs are in alignment with USAID’s HSS strategic guidelines
   2. Effectiveness of existing health systems initiatives in Ukraine
   3. Existing gaps in the health system
   4. Resources needed.
   5. Potential risks and challenges
   6. Recommendations

White paper on IMC’s position for HSS in Ukraine

IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ASSIGNMENT DELIVERABLES

1. Conduct preparatory technical design sessions with relevant team members. The meetings will include the Technical Unit, NBD and Country Team.
2. Represent IMC as the main point of contact during selected meetings. Identify potential stakeholders in Kyiv and other regions in consultation with the in-country health team and conduct stakeholders’ analysis as pre-set assessment plan.
3. Produce Final written Report and framework and a white paper: Based on direct observations, stakeholder interviews and desk review of key strategic documents.

FUTURE PHASES (IF ANY)
Depending on the results and potential funding opportunities the consultant may be retained to continue to support the design of the programmes and/or act as a lead writer

QUALIFICATIONS

• Master’s degree in public health, international public policy, health economics, or a related field.
• A minimum of 10 years’ experience in health system strengthening. Experience in the Ukrainian context is required.
• Deep understanding of HSS’s six building blocks and key trends and challenges in relation to health systems.
• Consultants with a medical background will be preferred.
• Experience working with the Ministry of Health, USAID, and other major donors.
• Proven understanding of the Ukrainian health system and service delivery providers
• Demonstrated track record of working with government health agencies and other key health stakeholders.
• Knowledge of existing health structure and ongoing reform and recovery of Ukrainian’s health care system
• Professional technical knowledge and expertise in health system strengthening.
• Willing to travel to Kyiv and other regions in Ukraine.
• Fluency in written and spoken English.
• Working knowledge of Ukrainian and/or Russian language

Code of Conduct
As applicable to this position, an individual must promote and encourage a culture of compliance and ethics throughout the organization and maintain a clear understanding of International Medical Corps and donor compliance and ethics standards and adheres to those standards.

Safeguarding
It is all staff shared responsibility and obligation to safeguard and protect populations with whom we work, including adults who may be particularly vulnerable and children. This includes safeguarding from the following conduct by our staff or partners: sexual exploitation and abuse; exploitation, neglect, or abuse of children, adults at risk, or LGBTI individuals; and any form of trafficking in persons. Staff are also responsible for preventing violations to our Code of Conduct and Ethics, which may involve Conflicts of Interest, Fraud, Corruption or Harassment. If you see, hear or are made aware of any violations to the Code of Conduct and Ethics or Safeguarding Policy, you have an obligation to report.

Equal Opportunities
International Medical Corps is proud to provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, age, disability or status as a veteran.