Consultancy: Exploration of Health Situation of Older People in Ukraine

About HelpAge

HelpAge International works with partners and a diverse global network of more than 170 organisations over 90 countries, supporting millions of older people to live safe, dignified, and healthy lives. Through our partnership and collaborations, we work to ensure the inclusion of older people across society and strive to deliver a just and fair world for everyone, whatever their age.

Background

Ukraine is the world’s older population humanitarian crises. One quarter of the country’s population are over 60 years old, while in eastern Ukraine one in three of those needing assistance since the Russian invasion in 2014, have been over 60. Many older people in Ukraine face a range of heightened and specific challenges including being more likely to have health conditions and/or disabilities effecting their morbidity patrons, mobility and mortality, as compared to those who are younger. being conscripted into the army. Older people are often overlooked by the humanitarian sector and there is a risk that this also happens in Ukraine. In Ukraine this is particularly the case as 64% of families have been separated, these challenges are compounded during displacement, reduced income, distribution of social and family institutes resulted in access basic services including health care.

This study should cover the core areas of healthy aging and more specifically the study will:

1. To gauze the physical, mental, and emotional health situation of older people before and the influence of the on ongoing conflict.
2. Analyse the barriers for older people accessing essential health services (UHC). The goal is to identify actionable insights that can inform strategies for improving healthcare delivery and addressing gaps in service provision. In the current humanitarian context

Purpose

The purpose of research among older people is diverse and interrelated, aiming to contribute to the well-being, dignity, and quality of life of older individuals, addressing the challenges and opportunities associated with aging population and the impact of the on going conflict. It is anticipated that this research will generate evidence that will be used to assist healthcare practitioners, in addition to supporting HelpAge advocacy in promoting the identification of at-risk older people and ensuring their inclusion in health programe of government and cluster. In addition, the research should inform and reinforce wider communications and advocacy on older people as an overlooked and neglected population group in humanitarian crises around the world.

Research focus

The research will:

• Explore, physical, mental, social and economic status of older persons in Lviv oblast, both IDPs and the local people.
• Identify the barriers to health care, including service gaps, social, economic, physical barrier.
• Disaggregate the data of sex, age and disability, analysed, reported and used in health responses,
• Provide an analysis of the benefits of including older people in targeting of health programmes – including impact on mortality/morbidity, behaviour of older people (e.g. eating habits, spending on food), family/intergenerational dynamics (e.g. reduction in older people prioritising health, food for others; reduction in caregivers restricting food provision to older people);

Scope of Work

It is anticipated that the research would include the following elements:

• Desk research including analysis of health sector/cluster publications of Ukraine, HelpAge documents, as well as reports/documents from other organisations working around health.
• Design in depth case studies to identify issues, gaps, common issues, and opportunities to for the health care provider to address the needs of older people.
• Analysis of transcription of focus group discussions conducted by HelpAge team with older people in Lviv Oblast.

Interested consultants are very welcome to propose alternative or adjusted methodologies that meet the purpose and scope of the study.

Deliverables

The final deliverable for this project will be a draft report of 15-20 pages, including Executive Summary, which is suitable for online dissemination and presentation at public events. The report should include:

• Commentary on current health situation, barriers to health care
• Recommendations to address the gaps, needs.

Time requirement and duration

The research write up is expected to commence by 25 October 2023 and conclude with a final report for dissemination by 15 November 2023

Management

This consultancy will report into the Deputy Country Director and supported by the health advisor, protection, and inclusion advisor part of the global team network and programme lead of HelpAge which will meet regularly with the selected consultant, including to help plan, guide and review the work.

Skills and experience required

Essential

• Primary degree(s) or equivalent professional experience in relevant field(s);focus in public health, UHC and healthcare related fields
• Familiarity with international humanitarian response and coordination structures, with an understanding of key issues affecting older people.
• Knowledge and/or experience of humanitarian health programming.
• Experience in developing research reports, that require the ability to synthesise and present quantitative and qualitative analyses.
• Strong written communication skills, including the ability to summarise and present complex information in a simple, clear and concise way;

Desirable

• Demonstrable in-depth knowledge of ageing and the rights and needs of older people;
• Experience in East Europe, knowledge of the Ukrainian context
• Ukranian/ Russian language knowledge