Consultant – Medium Term Review

Mid-term Review of the National Supply Chain Strategy 2020 -2025:

Concept Note and Scope of Work for Lead Consultant

Background

Afya Ugavi (AU) is a USAID-funded supply chain health systems strengthening Activity implemented by Chemonics International from September 29, 2016, to November 28, 2023, under Task Order 5 of the Global Health Supply Chain program – Procurement and Supply Management (GHSC-PSM) project. Afya Ugavi’s main objective is to provide technical assistance to strengthen health commodity supply chain systems for HIV/AIDS, malaria, and FP/RMNCAH programs at both national and county levels. These interventions are designed to improve performance in quantification, procurement, warehousing, and distribution of related program commodities at the national and county levels ensuring a high level of accountability and leadership towards improved service delivery.

The Activity continues to work with the Department of Health Products and Technologies (DHPT) to strengthen its oversight role on HPTs for the Ministry of Health across the country. The support to DHPT ensured successful development of Kenya’s first Health Products and Technologies Strategy (2020-2025). The strategy envisioned “A sustainable and resilient supply chain system providing quality, affordable and accessible essential health products and technologies for all Kenyans” with a mission to provide uninterrupted quality supplies of health products and technologies that are affordable, safe, and effective through a resilient and agile supply chain system.

This strategy was guided by the principles of equity, public participation, multi-sectoral collaboration, efficiency in application of health technologies and mutual consultation and cooperation between all health stakeholders. To guide implementation, it was organized under six main pillars.

• Strategic pillar 1: Enhance capacity for governance, regulation, and Quality Assurance.
• Strategic pillar 2: Establish and sustain a robust HPT product selection, quantification and procurement, distribution and use system.
• Strategic pillar 3: Harness collaboration and partnerships at all levels for effective resource mobilization and implementation
• Strategic pillar 4: Embrace and Adopt Information Communication Technology in all aspects of supply chain for HPTs.
• Strategic pillar 5: Scale up capacity for research, local production, and full exploitation of TRIPS flexibilities for Health Products and Technologies
• Strategic pillar 6: Strengthen human resource management and development for HPT supply chain.

With implementation currently in its third year, significant milestones have been achieved in improving Kenya’s health supply chain, which is critical in Universal Health Coverage.

Some of the achievements include the following.

1. Quantification of HPTs for all 47counties, 6 national referral facilities, and priority health programs
2. Establishment of multidisciplinary HPT units in all 47 counties to strengthen efficient management of HPTs.
3. Development and institutionalization of an essential HPT consumption reporting tool – MOH 647 for tracer HPTs.
4. Development of various guidelines to support counties in HPT management such as the Guideline for Establishment and Operationalization of Medicines & Therapeutics Committees; Supportive Supervision Manual for HPTs; Quantification Handbook for HPTs and the Guidelines on Management of HPTs in Kenya.
5. Virtual learning content for the efficient management of HPTs uploaded to the MOH virtual academy for access by all healthcare workers.

Purpose of the MTR: To review the implementation status of the National HPTs supply chain strategy 2020-2025 with the aim of tracking progress and providing recommendations for full implementation.

Scope of work: Consultancy, Midterm review of the HPT Supply Chain Strategy 2020 – 2025

Responsibilities of the Consultant/Firm

1. Conduct an in-depth assessment of the progress of the HPT SC Strategy 2020-25 from its inception to date.
2. Develop tools to be used for review of the supply chain strategy.
3. Identify the necessary reference materials to be used in document review.
4. Conduct desk reviews and key informant interviews relevant to implementation of the strategy
5. Facilitate stakeholder meetings to discuss findings and incorporate relevant feedback.
6. Facilitate a meeting with DHPT and key supply chain stakeholders to validate and consolidate report after collating all input.
7. Conducting periodic de-briefs with the Activity lead for this assignment
8. Preparation of report on the status of implementation of the HPT supply chain strategy 2020-2025.

Afya Ugavi will be responsible for the following.

1. Facilitating the consultants travel and logistical support to field activities.
2. Periodically reviewing progress of review, participating in official, and ad hoc review meetings
3. Providing an advisory role where required.

At the conclusion of the process, the following deliverables will be expected from the consultant.

Deliverable 1: Preliminary/Inception report on implementation status through desk review of relevant documentation and key informant interviews

Deliverable 2: Report of meeting with key supply chain stakeholders to share preliminary findings at the end of Key Informant interviews and desk study.

Deliverable 3: Incorporation of stakeholder input.

Deliverable 4: Report of stakeholder validation and consolidation meeting

Deliverable 5: A final report on status of implementation of the supply chain strategy with clear guide and recommendations

Deliverables Schedule

The consultant shall submit the deliverables described above in accordance with the following schedule:

Task

LOE

Deliverable

Due Date

• Develop a detailed report on the status of implementation of the HPT supply chain strategy 2020-2025 with a list of documents to be reviewed, interviewees, and the roadmap for the review process

5 days

Inception Report

Draft roadmap for strategy review

July 31, 2023

• Conduct desk review
• Conduct Key informants’ interviews.
• Compile report of Key informant interviews and desk review

5 days

Preliminary implementation report

August 15, 2023

• Facilitate a stakeholder’s workshop to discuss the preliminary report and incorporate relevant feedback

5 days

Incorporation of stakeholder feedback in the preliminary report

September 15, 2023

• Facilitate a meeting with DHPT and key supply chain stakeholders to validate and consolidate report after collating all input.

2 days

Validation and consolidation of the report

October 7, 2023

• Prepare final report and dissemination to stakeholders

5 days

Mid-term review of the HPT supply chain strategy report

October 31, 2023

Total number of days

22 days

Table 1 Deliverables schedule

Required Skills and Qualifications

The qualifications listed below are representative of the required knowledge, skills, and/or abilities needed to perform the principal duties.

• 8 to 10 years of experience in Kenya on the supply chain management of health systems and health system strengthening.
• Experience with the development of strategic and implementation plans is highly preferred,
• Experience in complex consulting assignments involving multiple stakeholders,
• Post-graduate degree in public health, health supply chains management, health management systems, or a relevant discipline,
• Familiarity or experience in working within USAID financial rules and regulations,
• Proven ability to effectively represent activities and programs and engage partners, government counterparts, and funders,
• Excellent analytical, interpersonal, written, and oral communication skills. Fluency in English is required,
• Computer skills in Microsoft Office Suite applications including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.

To perform this job successfully, the consultant needs to have deep local knowledge of Kenya health supply chain actors/processes, etc. Health supply chains management technical knowledge is desirable.

Period of performance

July 2023 to Nov 28 2023

Level of Effort and Location

The location of assignment is Nairobi, Kenya with possible intermittent travel throughout the country.

Supervision

The Consultant will report to the Chief of Party for the Afya Ugavi Activity.

How to apply

Qualified candidates are encouraged to send in their applications (CV and cover letter) to [email protected] before June 29, 2023. The applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.