Regional Planning Consultant – Optimization Tool at Malaria Consortium

Purpose of Assignment:

• The purpose of the 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:

• The scope of technical assistance involves the development of key LGA malaria operational planning tools and guides which will be used in supporting stakeholders to develop LGA malaria operational plan in alignment with the WHO Reference manual on sub-national tailoring of malaria strategies and interventions1 and malaria intervention mixes recommended for different LGAs in Kano state.
• The TA will also review the developed tool with the state stakeholders before finalization. The underlisted consultants would be required for this TA.

Methodology:

• The human-centered design/co-creation methodology will be used in the development of the LGA operational planning tools and guides. Desk review will initially be undertaken to better understand available published and grey literature (WHO Reference manual on sub-national tailoring of malaria strategies and interventions1 etc) and it would guide in drafting the LGA operational planning tools in conjunction with WHO malaria stratification for Nigeria.
• More importantly, the consultants will be working closely with relevant government stakeholders (national, state and LGA) to jointly develop the LGA Operational planning tools and guides.
• This would ensure adherence with government planning process, increase acceptance and sustainability with respect to the use of the tools and guides.
• The finalized tools and guides will be used to undertake LGA Operational planning & effective implementation of malaria interventions.

Responsibilities
Specific Tasks:

• Conduct a desk review of existing tools and processes.
• Development of LGA Plan Optimization tool & Trade-off Guide for LGA planning.
• Development of Coordination Framework.
• Assess LGA plan Review Tool & create an LGA plan Review Guide.
• Modification of the LGA Planning & Budgeting Capacity Building Modules (Trainer’s Manual & Trainee’s guide).
• Review of draft tools with state & national government stakeholders.
• Revise the draft tools and guides based on the feedback gotten from stakeholders.
• Draft & Finalize Consultancy Report.

Deliverables:

• Inception report.
• Finalized Malaria Operational Plan Optimization Tool.
• Finalized Trade-off Guide for LGA Malaria Operational Planning.
• Finalized Malaria Operational Plan Review Tool.
• Finalized Guide for LGA Operational Plan Review.
• Finalized Malaria LGA Operational planning Training Module (Trainer’s Manual &Trainee’s Guide).
• Consultancy report.

Qualifications and Experience
Regional Planning Consultants:

• Have at least 12 years experience in health policy and health system strengthening in public health- related projects and at least 8 years experience in malaria-based intervention projects in Northern Nigeria.
• Excellent knowledge and demonstrable experience in the development of program tools especially operational planning tools.
• Excellent knowledge and experience working with stakeholders at sub-national level in the development of data-driven quality operational plan
• Substantial experience in donor-funded public health-related projects
• Excellent knowledge of malaria prevention and control in endemic settings and National malaria elimination strategies, especially malaria sub-national tailoring of interventions.
• Excellent Knowledge of malaria Subnational tailoring of interventions is an added advantage
• Demonstrate extensive experience of working with Ministries of Health, SMEP, SPHCDA and/or other government sectors and partners.
• 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.