National Consultant to Conduct a Situation Analysis on Current State of Quality of Care in Nigeria at World Health Organization (WHO)

Reference No: 2102576
Organisation: AF_NGA Nigeria
Grade: No grade
Contractual Arrangement:  Individual Service Contractor
Contract Duration (Years, Months, Days): 40 days

Objectives of the Program

• Nigeria’s health outcomes remain poor relative to the WHO Africa regional average despite improvements over the last two decades. Nigeria has a lower life expectancy of 47.7 years compared to the regional average of 53.8 years; and a higher crude death rate of 11.9 per 1000 than the regional average of 9.7 per 1000. In addition, Nigeria’s maternal mortality ratio, under-five mortality rate, infant mortality rate and neonatal mortality are 814/100,000; 120/1000; 70/1000; 39/1000    compared to 542/100,000; 81/1000; 55/1000; 28/1000 respectively for the WHO African region averages.
• National surveys indicate that although the national average of coverage indicators has either improved overtime, the morbidity and mortality indicators have stagnated or reduced5. This has been attributed to poor quality of health services.
• This informed the need for mainstreaming Quality of Care (QoC) into the NSHDP II as “improved quality health services” is a desired output of the interventions outlined in the NSHDP II.
• QoC is a key indicator for tracking progress in achieving the NSHDPII outcomes and impact as health care aims to be effective, safe, people-centred, timely, integrated, equitable and efficient at all levels of care.
• To achieve this, a high-level commitment to quality through the development of a national quality policy and strategy, informed by efforts underway by programmes, can serve to bring together multiple quality initiatives under a systematic and organized effort.
• This would improve quality of care across the health system; secure high-level commitment to quality through stakeholder engagement and consensus-building, to deliver on national health objectives; clarify structures for governance, accountability and monitoring of national quality efforts; and create a culture shift that supports providers to deliver, and users to demand quality care.

Description of Duties

• Support the development of a protocol on the current State of Quality in the health sector (and facilitate ethical approval if needed.
• Support the organization and conduct four (4) webinars/ seminars to gain insights on the current state of quality, previous quality improvement interventions, and current assets and challenges for improving quality, and set the stage for unpacking the eight essential elements of the NQPS process.
• Lead the development of a manuscript based on webinar /seminar proceedings to a reputable peer-reviewed journal.
• Lead the collation of relevant national and programmatic documents for desk review, both from publicly available sources and directly gathered from programmes and key stakeholders.
• Lead engagement/interview of key stakeholders (including development of interview guide) and perform analysis of quantitative and qualitative data, including primary and secondary data related to quality of care.
• Support the desk review and development of the state of quality report.
• Support the development of a report on the State of Quality in the health sector with recommendations.
• Lead planning and implementation of dissemination of the state of quality report in Nigeria.
• Support advocacy preparation for high-level briefings with the Federal Ministry of Health and other stakeholders.

Required Qualifications
Education
Essential: 

• Advanced University Degree in Public Health, Global Health, Epidemiology, Service delivery or other relevant Degree.

Experience
Essential: 

• At least 5 years demonstrable experience in developing and implementing health care quality or health system strengthening programs in the context of developing counties similar to Nigeria.
• Good understanding of policy issues as relates to health care quality.
• Proven experience of conducting similar assignments in the past.
• Experience working with Ministries of Health or with international organizations;
• Sound knowledge in national health policy setting, experience in national quality policy and strategy a plus;

Desirable:

• Relevant work experience with WHO/other UN agencies/International development agencies.

Skills:

• Ability to deliver and achieve results; 
• Excellent communication and writing skills.     
• Experience and knowledge in stakeholder analysis and mapping in developing counties similar to Nigeria
• Experience conducting situational analysis or evaluations in health care quality policy.
• Ability to conduct both qualitative and quantitative analyses.

WHO Competencies:

• Teamwork
• Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences 
• Communication 
• Producing results

Use of Language Skills:

• Essential: Expert knowledge of English
• Desirable: Knowledge of major Nigerian languages