Health Systems Strengthening Accelerator Consultant Scope of Work – Sustaining the HIV Response in Togo: Integrating the HIV response into UHC Policy At Results for Development Institute

Results for Development (R4D) is a leading non-profit global development partner. We collaborate with change agents around the world — government officials, civil society leaders and social innovators — to create strong systems that support healthy, educated people. We help our partners move from knowing their goal to knowing how to reach it. We combine global expertise in health, education and nutrition with analytic rigor, practical support for decision-making and implementation and access to peer problem-solving networks. Together with our partners, we build self-sustaining systems that serve everyone and deliver lasting results. Then we share what we learn so others can achieve results for development, too.

We have a unique and vibrant culture at R4D. Diversity, equity and inclusion are at the heart of our work environment and help advance our mission. Diversity—of ideas, identities, perspectives and backgrounds—is vital to who we are and what we do. We seek people who embrace these values and will help reinforce them. Our work culture is collaborative, creative and entrepreneurial. We operate based on trust and respect. Teams across the organization frequently collaborate on programmatic work and support each other in continuously building a better R4D.

Project background

Results for Development (R4D) is a leading non-profit global development partner. We collaborate with change agents around the world — government officials, civil society leaders and social innovators — to create strong systems that support healthy, educated people. We help our partners move from knowing their goal to knowing how to reach it. We combine global expertise in health, education and nutrition with analytic rigor, practical support for decision-making and implementation and access to peer problem-solving networks. Together with our partners, we build self-sustaining systems that serve everyone and deliver lasting results. Then we share what we learn so others can achieve results for development, too.

The Health Systems Strengthening Accelerator (Accelerator) is a five-year program funded by USAID’s Office of Health Systems and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation that provides catalytic support to countries as they tackle vexing health systems challenges and accelerate progress toward self-reliance. The Accelerator is led by R4D with support from Health Strategy and Delivery Foundation (HSDF) and ICF as well as the Centre de Recherche en Reproduction Humaine et en Démographie in Benin.

In West Africa, the Accelerator collaborated with USAID/Washington, USAID/West Africa (USAID/WA), and the West African Health Organization (WAHO) to support integrated health systems strengthening that complements and supports West African countries’ universal healthcare efforts, inclusive of financing, service delivery, governance, and the delivery of primary care and community-level services in a way that improves the health of vulnerable and underserved populations at community level. Under this activity, the Accelerator is working in Togo, Guinea, and Côte d’Ivoire to tackle various challenges, including health system reforms already in place. The Accelerator provides the necessary expertise and places local resources at their disposal to help them resolve internal challenges affecting their health system, particularly at the community level.

In Togo, the Accelerator works with the Ministry of Health to supports its journey towards UHC. At present, planning for HIV is not incorporated in this process and recent UHC planning efforts have not involved the National AIDS Control Program, raising questions about how Togo’s HIV response in the future—its financing, governance, and service delivery modalities—will feature in its UHC actions.

Opportunity

The Accelerator will expand its current support to the Ministry of Health on UHC rollout to integrate HIV transition planning. This support will help the country with transition and sustainability planning to ensure a ready response as donor funds for HIV decline. This opportunity is subject to the availability of funds.

Objective

The overall objective is for the consultant to support the development of HIV-response focused analyses into UHC policy development, thereby lying the groundwork for a sustainable domestic HIV response.

Activities, expected results and expected deliverables

Activities

The consultant will lead the following activities:

I. Systems Mapping Data Collection, Analysis, and Synthesis:

· Identify key informants from targeted institutions to be interviewed for the systems mapping assessment

· Develop data collection tools, including interview guide and questionnaire

· Carry out interviews with stakeholders and document review

· Synthesize results into a systems mapping assessment to understand the type and extent of HIV services currently financed by the Togolese government, goals for financial sustainability and transition, and extent to which HIV financing is aligned to broader UHC reforms. The mapping should include:

*· Revenue sources*

*· Existing plans for increasing domestic financing of HIV services*

*· Payment mechanisms*

*· Types of service delivery providers*

*· MOH oversight of UHC policy vis-à-vis the National AIDS Control Program*

*· Collection of baseline information on PEPFAR financial protection indicators, including recommendations for contextually-adapted indicator revisions*

*· Synthesis of key informant interviews*

II. Technical analysis

· Participate in a 2-day participatory co-creation and strategic planning process convening multisectoral stakeholders to validate the results of the mapping and make key policy recommendations for integration into the overall UHC financing strategy and national integrated UHC plan

· Develop a synthesis of results from the systems mapping and the co-creation process into a document with clear findings and recommendations to be used for decision-making and advocacy

Expected deliverables

The expected deliverables for this activity are:

· Development of materials for systems mapping (stakeholder interview guide and questionnaire)

· Systems mapping to understand the type and extent of HIV services currently financed by the Togolese government

· Technical analysis of domestic resource financing to be used for decision-making and advocacy

Desired skills and experience

Top applicants to this consultancy will possess the following skills and experience:

• Excellent French skills (native written and verbal fluency); knowledge of English would be an asset
• 10+ years of experience working on HIV financing, health systems strengthening, and universal health coverage OR 5+ years of experience in the medical or public health field
• Familiarity with the health financing and universal health coverage spaces in Togo
• Experience carrying out similar costing analyses
• Excellent communication skills
• Ability to work well individually and in a team, including working with teams based remotely across time zones
• Experience being a mentor and coaching/accompaniment experience
• Leadership and management skills
• Analytical thinking skills
• Problem solving skills
• Sound decision-making
• Entrepreneurial spirit
• Flexibility and adaptability
• Togolese nationals preferred

Timeline

• The consultancy is to begin in December 2021 and is expected to continue through September 2022, however the consultant will be engaged on a part-time basis.

Accountability

• Lior Miller, Senior Program Officer, and Loriade Akin-Olugbade, Program Officer, will provide operational and technical support to the consultant as needed.