Consultant II :Consultancy to conduct investment case for the costed new National Medical Laboratory Strategic Plan, 2021 -2025 at Management Sciences For Health - MSH

Job ID: 13-11059
Grade: Consultant
Group/Office: PDG (Program Delivery Group)
Dept/Unit: PDGGEN - Program Delivery Group
Project/Program: A607 - Nigeria Global Fund RSSH
Reports To: Director Laboratory

Overview

• The overarching aim of the GF Resilient & Sustainable Systems for Health [RSSH] project is to improve the health and well-being of the Nigerian people by identifying and addressing systemic issues affecting the optimal delivery of health services in Nigeria. The resulting high-level interventions have been designed to follow the Global Fund’s framework for [RSSH] that is built on the essential building blocks of WHO for a well-functioning health system, including community systems strengthening (CSS) as another critical component to be addressed in support of RSSH. The RSSH grant is designed to strengthen the Nigerian health system across the HIV, TB, and Malaria program areas. In doing so it'll have interventions targeted at the HMIS, PSM & Lab system strengthening areas.
• Laboratory system strengthening aims to improve laboratory operations for optimal patient care, treatment, disease surveillance and response, biosafety and policy development. To achieve this an enabling policy environment is required with a National Medical Laboratory Strategic Plan creating a road map for implementation of activities aimed at providing optimal laboratory services in Nigeria.
• The Nigeria Medical Laboratory Services Policy was developed, between 2005 and 2007, to bridge the obvious gaps in the standards of operation of the medical laboratory, in its bid to provide to all Nigerians, appropriate, cost effective and high-quality laboratory services. However, there is strong evidence that health system spending contributes to better health outcomes. Health systems are an important component of the macroeconomy, both as an industry that provides a large number of jobs, and also as a key determinant of a productive labour force. With the development of a new strategic plan to cover the period 2021 -2025, there is a need for an investment case to ensure efficient and seamless implementation of the costed strategic plan.

Specific Responsibilities
The consultancy is aimed at achieving the following objectives:

• Develop an investment case document of the Costed National Medical Laboratory Strategic Plan (2021 – 2025).

Specific Terms of Reference
The consultants will be required to work between the periods April to September 2020 and shall be provide the following:

• Develop a Nigeria Medical Laboratory Policy investment case document that will drive the implementation of the national medical laboratory policy using the strategic plan.
• Identify and engage with all relevant stakeholders involved in the implementation of the policy using the costed strategic plan.
• Bring together existing evidence and present it in an accessible format on the benefits of the National Laboratory Policy documents.  Use systematic methods and make these transparent so that users can have confidence in the materials
• Develop a policy brief for the different actors involved in the implementation of the Nigerian Medical Laboratory Policy documents. Each brief has a one-page key messages section; a two-page executive summary giving a succinct overview of the findings. The idea is to provide instant access to key information and additional detail for those involved in drafting, informing or advising on the policy issue.
• Use evidence to show that spending on the Nigerian National Medical Laboratory policy documents is a good use of government resources and demonstrate how it can improve health systems in Nigeria.
• Develop fact sheets for advocacy for different stakeholders involved in the implementation of the policy using the costed strategic plan.
• Prepare activity Narrative report including pictorial evidence of stakeholders’ engagement where applicable.

Expected completion Period: Consultancy will span the period June - September, 2020
Number of Consultants:1.
Estimated level of effort: 15 working days in total.

Deliverables:

• Investment case of the Costed National Medical Laboratory Strategic Plan 2021 -2025.

Qualifications and Experience

• Health Economist or Medical laboratory personnel with a post graduate qualification in Health Economics from any recognized University. The consultant must have a demonstrable understanding of the Nigerian Health Systems and the National Medical Laboratory policy.
• Must have good understanding of the policy and strategic plan documents.
• Advanced degree (Masters Level) in Health Economics, public health, public policy or related degree will be an advantage.

Essential Experience required:

• 5 - 7 years' experience working in public health and global health at the national and regional level.
• Must be familiar with Nigerian healthcare delivery systems and structures especially as it relates to laboratory services.
• Demonstrable experience and understanding of the National Medical laboratory strategic plan.
• Demonstrable Experience of having undertaken Medical Laboratory Strategic Planning
• Verifiable evidence of performance in similar jobs: Strategic Planning and Strategic Plan Development experience
• Verifiable evidence of performance in similar jobs.