Regional Planning / CB Consultant at Malaria Consortium

Purpose of the Assignment: (20 days)

• The purpose of this terms of reference (TOR) is to support the generation of subnational health systems evidence to inform planning for malaria in Kano state to strengthen the tailoring of specific malaria interventions and optimize their implementation in the specific health systems context in Kano.

Scope of the Assignment:

• The scope of the technical assistance involves the development of the malaria operational planning capacity-building modules and training plan which will be used in training stakeholders and support them in the development of malaria operational plan based on evidence of different high value malaria intervention mixes recommended for different LGAs in Kano state.
• The TA will also support the stakeholders on incorporating statewide “campaign-like interventions e.g. ITN campaign, SMC etc” into the LGA consolidated plan. In addition, the TA will also support biannual review of LGA malaria operational plan and the integration of LGA consolidated plans into the state malaria operational plan.

Specific tasks
The development of malaria planning capacity-building modules, training plan and training of state facilitators will be led by a Regional Planning Consultant and supported by a Senior National Consultant (Finance). The training exercise, LGA malaria operational plan development and review will be led by the Senior National Consultants (planning) but supported by LGA facilitators.

• Development of malaria operational planning capacity-building modules
• Development of training plan and checklist for requirements for rolling out training on malaria operational planning including TA report
• Training of state facilitators
• Cascade roll-out of trainings to LGAs and development of operational plans.
• Validation and consultation of LGAs malaria operational plans
• Integration of consolidated LGAs into state malaria operational plan including use of stratification information to inform campaign-like activities.
• Finalize operational planning development including training reports.
• Training of facilitators on malaria operational plan review
• Support biannual review of LGA malaria operational plan.
• Finalize operational planning review including training reports.

Deliverables:

• Malaria operational planning capacity-building modules
• Training curriculum
• Training modules
• Malaria Operational planning Training plan and checklists

The following tools:

• Planning & budgeting
• Plan Review
• Resource list
• Guidance on use of Evidence
• Training Reports and finalized operational planning development
• LGA Malaria Operational plans
• Coordination Framework
• Training reports and finalized operational planning review
• Consultancy report

Qualifications and experience
Essential:

• PhD or equivalent experience in Public/Global Health, Health Systems, Health Policy and Planning or related field is required.
• Have at least 15 years’ experience in health policy and health system strengthening in public health-related projects.
• Demonstrate extensive experience of working with Ministries of Health, SMEP, SPHCDA and/or other government sectors and partners.
• Excellent knowledge and experience in the development of data-driven quality operational plan
• Excellent knowledge of malaria prevention and control in endemic settings and National malaria elimination strategies.
• Excellent statistical analysis skills including familiarity with software such as STATA, R or Statgraphics;
• Must be familiar with Microsoft office suite (especially Word and PowerPoint) and have excellent report writing skills.
• Availability for the period of this assignment.
• Ability to give attention to details.
• Self-motivated, a team player but also able to work independently.
• Meets tight deadlines and able to work under pressure.

Desirable:

• Have at least 10 years’ work experience in malaria-based interventions in northern Nigeria is desirable.
• Excellent experience in the development of capacity-building modules (planning)
• Excellent Knowledge of malaria Subnational tailoring of interventions is an added advantage
• Substantial experience in donor-funded public health-related projects
• Excellent organizational, analytical, oral and written communication skills in English language is required.