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The Ministry of Health and UNFPA in South Sudan are planning to undertake a cost-benefit analysis of selected interventions under the Phase II of the Strengthening Midwifery Services (SMSII) project in South Sudan to determine value-for-money of interventions (inputs) to achieve the desired outputs, outcomes and impact/goal of the project. The findings will help steer the project for optimal use of available resources for the project. This economic analysis of the project’s planned interventions is to improve its efficiency and effectiveness and maximize results of efforts to strengthen midwifery services in South Sudan and beyond.

The outcome of the cost benefit analysis will also help improve transparency and accountability in the project decisions, including evidence-based choice of project interventions, policies and initiatives. Improved governance, gender, human rights and environmental sensitivity of the projects training and service delivery are essential to achieve more efficient and effective impact from the project interventions and its sustainability.

The Strengthening Midwifery Services project is the main support to the Government of South Sudan on addressing Human Resources for Women’s Reproductive Health, particularly focusing on training of midwives as skilled birth attendant. The Strengthening Midwifery Services Phase II (2015- 2020) project is co-funded by the Global Affairs Canada (GAC) and the Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA).

The overall objective of the consultancy is to assess economic effectiveness and sustainability of selected interventions under Strengthening Midwifery Services phase II in South Sudan. It is expected that the consultant/consultant firm will use a Cost−benefit analysis (CBA) approach to identify, value, and compare costs and benefits of the project knowing that the application of CBA is commonly used globally for public projects decision-making processes to ensure better use of money, improve transparency and accountability.

The ultimate purpose of this CBA is to define the most cost effective and sustainable way of delivering quality midwifery training to meet the needs of the people of South Sudan given the specific country context.

The specific objectives of the consultancy are as follows:

I. The cost effectiveness of supporting three additional Health Sciences Institutions (HSIs) versus educating students in HSIs supported under SMSI in light of the limited resources of the MoH and resource constraints of the partners. The effectiveness would need to be assessed in the light of the impact on geographic decentralization and gender issues.

II. Compare the cost effectiveness in management of HSIs by government versus other modalities such as implementation through partners. In doing so the capacity of the Ministry of health should be assessed and recommendations made.

III. Assess and make recommendations based on the cost of training a diploma midwife to meet the short and long term midwifery needs of South Sudan. In doing so, compare the experience within South Sudan with past midwifery programmes (enrolled and community midwifery – currently discontinued).

IV. Assess cost and gender implications of day versus boarding schools for midwifery students especially females, and implications on quality vs coverage in terms of representation of different geographic regions and gender. This will include estimating the cost for training a fully qualified registered midwife under day versus boarding modalities allowing for gender and geographic considerations.

V. Assess investment in specific support and entitlement packages for students to determine cost-benefits, gender sensitivity, sustainability, effectiveness versus critical needs to determine minimal ideal entitlement package to sustain students.

Scope of work:

The consultants will undertake a detailed analysis within the stated objectives bearing in mind the fragile and specific South Sudan context and capacity constraints. In doing so, the experience in executing various midwifery programmes would be taken into consideration with regard to accessibility, acceptability, geographic availability and quality of services to inform concrete policy and implementation modalities for midwifery training in South Sudan. Based on the in-depth analysis, the consultant is expected to come up with recommendations for the following:

  • The case for supporting three additional HSIs or educating students in HSIs supported under SMSI instead
  • The most feasible option(s) for managing the HSIs in the South Sudan context
  • The option(s) to meet the short and long term midwifery needs of South Sudan
  • Cost, gender, geographic & quality implications of day versus boarding schools for midwifery students.
  • Most cost effective, gender sensitive, and sustainable entitlement packages for students

The Consultants will prepare an analytical report capturing prospective analysis with 3 scenarios – short term up to 2017 (end of UNFPA South Sudan Country Programme), mid-term up to 2020 (target for the SMS II Project), and long term 2030 (target of Sustainable Development Goals – SDGs), clearly describing the economic value of strengthening midwifery services in the country as mentioned in the specific objectives.

The Consultants will develop data collection tools / qualitative analysis guide and discuss them with UNFPA for finalization.

The Consultant(s) will present the final draft report to a validation workshop of the stakeholders including MOH, donors and UNFPA, and incorporate feedback and finalize the report. The consultant(s) will be responsible for completing the whole process of conducting the analysis and reporting.

Duration and working schedule: 40 working days in total

It is anticipated that the Consultant will dedicate:

5 days: Inception note - Desk review, prepare and finalize CBA study framework and tools, and schedule in consultation with UNFPA and MOH staff
20 days: Conduct the analysis (data collection including stakeholder consultation, field visit)
10 days: Analyse results and prepare a draft report
2 days: Present the draft report to UNFPA staff/management and incorporate feedback/comments
1 day: Validation workshop
2 days: Finalization of the report

Place where services are to be delivered: South Sudan, Juba with travel to the HSIs

Delivery dates and how work will be delivered:
The final report is to be submitted both electronically and in hard copy by the last day of the consultancy (15th December, 2016)

Methodology

The consultant will develop a clear methodology for cost benefit analysis in line with the concept note.

Monitoring and progress control, including reporting requirements, periodicity format and deadline:

Expected Results/Deliverables:

  • Inception report that includes detailed analysis framework including draft outline of the report and schedule should be submitted after the initial consultative meeting with MOH and UNFPA.
  • Draft Cost-Benefit-Analysis report should be submitted to MOH and UNFPA within 4 weeks after starting of the analysis process for review and comments
  • The final report should be submitted both in hard and soft copy after incorporating the comments of the reviewers and findings from validation workshop (within 2 days after receiving the comments)
  • A workshop is organized to present assessment findings to related local partners
  • The findings can only be shared and disseminated after due consultations with UNFPA and Ministry of Health.

Supervisory arrangements:

The consultant will work under the lead International consultant. Both will report to the UNFPA Representative who will have overall responsibility for overseeing the entire exercise and will also act as the focal point for this analysis.
The SMS project team (SMS II Project Coordinator and project specialists) will provide the required technical and supervisory support as identified in the inception report.
UNFPA will provide the logistics required for the CBA exercise. Payments will be according to UNFPA guidelines
UNFPA together with MOH will organize and facilitate stakeholder consultative meetings and validation workshop.

Expected travel: to HSIs and partner offices

Required expertise, qualifications and competencies, including language requirements:

  • The Cost Benefit Analysis will be delivered by a team of two persons:
  • One international consultant as team leader
  • One national consultant as data analyst

The National consultant must offer the following demonstrated experience, knowledge and competencies:

  • Consultant undertaking the cost benefit analysis should have Bachelors or Master’s Degree in public health, health economy, Economics, biostatistics
  • At least five years of experience working in the field of public health & financing, or health economics, including experience in developing countries
  • Background on health and gender programming is an added advantage
  • Demonstrable experience of conducting public health research in cost benefit analysis, health financing, costing health strategy
  • Experience in data collection analysis for both quantitative and qualitative data and use of recent data analysis software.
  • Working experience with the UN is an advantage
  • Ability to clearly articulate and consolidate information on findings is important
  • Language requirement: excellent command and knowledge of English including reading and writing; and knowledge of Arabic will be a very strong asset for the national consultant
  • Ability to perform within timeframe and meet deadlines

Inputs / services to be provided by UNFPA or implementing partner (e.g. support services, office space, equipment), if applicable:

UNFPA will provide logistical support to the consultants including
a) Space for meetings
b) Transport to and from offices
c) Depending on availability, arrange for accommodation in security cleared premises

The consultant should be at NOC level.

How to apply

Applicants are kindly requested to send their application, including CV, covering letter and the attached P11 form, to ssco.vacancies@unfpa.org by close of business on 17 October 2016. Applications received after this date will not be taken into consideration. All applications should be cleared marked with Subject Line “National CBA Consultancy”.

Applicants will be short-listed on the basis of their qualifications and work experience. Only the short-listed candidates will be invited for interviews.

IMPORTANT: There is NO application processing or other fee at any stage of UNFPA application processes.