Primary Health Care Consultant – UOSSM France at Union des Organisations de Secours et de Soins Médicaux

Organization’s introduction

UOSSM France is an association created by members of the Syrian diaspora in France in 2011 in response to the Syrian crisis. At the core of our work, UOSSM France supports medical and health-related activities inside Syria, including relief and stabilization measures but also longer-term actions targeted at strengthening the health sector and civil society in different geographies of the country at large. Where feasible and relevant, this also involves the diaspora and other vulnerable populations affected by the crisis abroad. Overall, UOSSM France is dedicated to supporting the health and wellbeing of those affected by crisis, in a localized, participatory, and inclusive manner.

We believe in the meaningful participation and leadership of those affected by conflict and crisis. Blended with the diverse capacities and expertise of dedicated members of the French and European society, local leadership and expertise is key to understand and effectively address the needs, priorities, and aspirations of the population we seek to serve, in health and beyond.

UOSSM France highly respects the contributions of all its employees, volunteers, and partners across the European-Middle Eastern spectrum and beyond in the respective capacities in which they are offered. We are keen to involve a multitude of dedicated voices and support in our work, provided individually or through existing networks or groups. To this end, we are particularly enthusiastic about partnering with other Syria-focused civil society organizations and institutions in our work, supporting mutual capacity development and our joint ability to engage in a broad-based, meaningful, and targeted manner in the evolution of an inclusive peri and post-conflict Syria – throughout our activities today and tomorrow.

Overall goal / work arrangements

To provide technical support and capacity building to the UOSSM France Erbil mission PHC staff and extend this to all NES Health Working Group Partners.

Background

At the 69th World Health Assembly (WHA) in May 2016 the WHO Framework on Primary Health Care Performance Initiative (PHCPI) was unanimously approved. This framework seeks to put the comprehensive needs of people and communities, not only diseases, at the centre of health systems, and to empower people to have a more active role in their own health. The framework explicitly relies on a reorientation of health services to revalue primary health care and processes that focus on prevention and promotion.

As part of the effort to strengthen Primary Health Care network in North East Syria, the Health Working Group has been trying to operationalize the PHCC Sub-working Group and also strengthen partner capacity for ensuring essential and quality care is available across NES PHCCs and CPHCs. The PHC Expert will provide technical leadership to the PHCC Sub-working group and capacity building support to for production of PHC essential services checklist, PHC service mapping, update PHC-focused formats, PHC diagnostic indicator list, PHC analysis package as per the WHO curriculum for Routine Health Information System (RHIS).

The consultant will provide support for Service Delivery & Safety, Governance & Leadership, and Measures & Metrics across all PHCCs and CPHCs in NES. The first phase would be focused upon the UOSSM France Erbil mission led and LHA led PHCCs. The consultant will represent Health working group in ESP leadership and coordination meetings and will facilitate communications with the LHA and partners for roll-out of the ESP for PHCC level across NES. The consultant will aim at harmonization of relevant PHC assessment approaches, HeRAMS roll-out across NES with REACH assessment teams and conduct monthly PHCC-Sub working group meetings with all partners.

Roles and responsibilities1. At NES Level :**

• Provide technical guidance and support in developing and implementing robust primary health care programmes and plans at the NES level
• Provide leadership, guidance and technical assistance to NES Health Partners to design an essential primary health care service package, taking into consideration the social and cultural aspects for the effective use and access to services
• Contribute to establishing a primary Health Care Technical Working Group under the NES Health Working Group umbrella
• Contribute to the development, planning, and training of human resources in health aimed at increasing the efficiency, effectiveness and quality of the workforce; organize, conduct, or facilitate capacity-building activities
• Provides leadership and guidance to the NES Health partner teams, ensuring that activities are carried out according to approved ESP and in a highly professional and timely manner
• Cooperate with NES HWG members, local health authorities, and other relevant stakeholders in order to develop networks that promote access to quality primary care services for the affected population
• Leading the regular bi-monthly health working group meetings with all NES health partners to update primary health care activities at the NES level, discuss the issues and suggest the technical resolutions accordingly
• Following up with the health partners in order to ensure that actions points will be taken during the technical working group are addressed
• Perform any other incident-specific related duties, as required by the functional supervisor

2. At UOSSM France Erbil mission level :

• Provide technical support to UOSSM France primary health care team to ensure that all primary health care services provided according to developed ESP
• Develop the capacity building planning for the UOSSM France health team
• Reviewing primary health care indicators and providing technical support to address the gaps, if there are any
• Assessing the health information system and provide the technical support to develop it

Expected deliverables

• A situation analysis report that assesses the current primary health care situation in the NES
• An essential package of primary health care services based on the situation analysis report includes the level of primary health care services, the activities at each level, human resources, equipment, health information system, and training plan
• Training plan for UOSSM France health team based on the training need assessment
• Final report

Required qualifications, experience and skills

1. Education

[ Essential ] An advanced university degree (Master’s level or above) in public health, health systems/services administration, health management or health related field from an accredited/recognized institute.

[ Essential ] At least seven years of progressive and related experience at an international level, in areas related to health policy, planning and management, health systems recovery and development, health services delivery in emergencies, an extension of health care services to underserved populations/areas, and developing strategies to overcome barriers to accessing health care services, including essential medicines.

[ Desirable ]

• Prior humanitarian working experience at field level with WHO, other UN agency, health cluster partners; recognized humanitarian organizations or with an international nongovernmental organization with expertise in disaster and health emergencies response.
• Experience working In the Syrian contex.

2. Skills and knowledge

• Excellent knowledge of Microsoft Office applications.
• Working knowledge of online data collection applications, statistical analysis packages (Stata, SPSS, etc.).
• English fluency (essential) – Arabic (preferred)

Location : Erbil – NES or remotely

Contract type : Consultancy contract

Starting date : 01-01-2022

Duration of assignment : 3 months extendable depending on performance and funding availability