Monitoring and Evaluation Consultant - Costing Study at KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation

Period: Short Term Assignment (92 days)

Background

• KNCV is conducting a situational analysis for the Global Alliance for TB Drug Development (TB Alliance).
• TB Alliance supports two regimens in late-stage clinical development (BPaL for fluoroquinolone-resistant MDR-TB and XDR-TB, and BPaMZ for both drug sensitive and MDR-TB without fluoroquinolone resistance) that together aim to support a new paradigm of treating all forms of TB with streamlined, shortened, all-oral, novel regimens. 
• The situational analysis will seek to better understand the baseline context into which new regimens will be introduced, to understand the incremental resources and adaptations needed to integrate them, and to identify the key enablers and acceptability considerations for adoption.
• It is expected that this evidence will help prepare for launch of the forthcoming BPaL regimen and better define the value proposition of BPaMZ.

Purpose of the Position:

• KNCV is looking for an M&E consultant who will collect and process data to determine the incremental costs of implementing the novel TB treatment regimens compared to the current treatment regimens.
• Unit costs will be determined by a mixture of top-down and bottom-up costing methods.
• Where top-down costing will demonstrate that costs cannot be expressed into a sufficient level of detail, we will conduct complementary bottom-up costing, focusing on those items that are expected to be the main drivers or are likely to differ across the current and future regimens.
• The M&E consultant will report to the Technical Coordinator of Team Access to Care at KNCV head office in The Hague, the Netherlands.
• The Access to Care team aims to improve access to quality prevention, early diagnosis and patient-centered care for patients with all forms of TB in the framework of a comprehensive public health approach, to achieve better individual outcomes and public health impact.

Duties and Responsibilities

• You will organize data collection, conduct data collection and process data on costs related to diagnosis and care of drug-sensitive and drug-resistant TB. Unit cost data will be collected through:
• A top-down cost analysis based on budget and expenditure reports from local, national and international funders.
• Bottom-up cost data collection for output costs that are not reflected in these budget or expenditure reports. Bottom-up cost estimates will be collected from e.g. facility expenditure reports, procurement lists or price lists and will be entered into standardized spreadsheets.
• As M&E consultant you will:
• Receive a short training from a KNCV researcher on the data collection protocol and data collection tools;
• Support finalization of a top-down cost analysis based on budget and expenditure reports from local, national and international funders;
• Complete standardized spreadsheets on these budgets and expenditures from local, national and international funders;
• Organize and conduct bottom-up costing for output costs that are not reflected in these budget or expenditure reports. You will be supervised by a KNCV researcher, with whom you will pilot the bottom-up data collection process;
• Complete standardized spreadsheets on collected bottom-up cost data;
• Systematically record and report on the results of the top-down and bottom-up cost data collection and on a regular basis share the spreadsheets with a KNCV researcher and incorporate their feedback;
• Coordinate activities with and report progress to the Technical Coordinator of the Team Access to Care, on a weekly basis.

Who are we Looking for?
Education:

• M&E consultant with a Masters’ degree in Public Health, Epidemiology or other relevant additional education.

Knowledge/Experience:

• In depth knowledge and at least 4 years of post-qualification experience in M&E.
• Hands-on experience in cost data collection and cost analyses is an advantage.
• Up to date knowledge of TB diagnosis and care.
• Knowledge of relevant software applications: Microsoft Office; internet.
• Experience in project/program management, desired.
• Good interpersonal skills with experience in working with partners at all levels (ministry, donors, private sector, NGOs and local community based organizations).
• Fluency in spoken and written English.

Behavioral Competencies and Skills:

• Ability to work as part of a team and independently;
• Ability to cope with a demanding work environment and to organize and prioritize workload;
• Ability to work in an international team.

What does KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation Offer?

• This position is a short-term temporary assignment, limited to 92 working days in the period of time, starting from 28th January 2019.