Consultant, Recovery of the Health Sector in Syria - Damascus

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the UN’s global development network, advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. We are on the ground in 177 countries and territories, working with governments and people on their own solutions to global and national development challenges. As they develop local capacity, they draw on the people of UNDP and our wide range of partners that can bring about results.

The Bureau for Development Policy (BDP) is UNDP’s policy Bureau and backbone of the global practices. BDP has a key role to play in helping country offices to accelerate human development through strengthening the practice areas within UNDP’s programmes. BDP supports the development and design of projects that are responsive, effective and contribute to the national-level policies and results. Driven by demand, BDP provides tools, analysis and capacities for country offices to make a real difference in UNDP’s practice areas.

UNDP manages an HIV and a TB grant in Syria, funded by the Global Fund, that play a crucial role in ensuring access to prevention, testing and treatment to the population. Since 2011 and the beginning of the crisis, the situation of the health sector has quickly deteriorated, with a growing number of facilities now not operating. An important share of doctors, nurses and other health professionals have left the country or are part of the large number of internally displaced persons. The flows of drugs, blood samples, sputum smear samples for TB detection and health data are very difficult to set up.

The recent Kuwait pledging conference has mobilized resources for the SHARP (Syrian Humanitarian Assistance Response Plan). Part of the funds will be devoted to the health sector.

The overall objective of this consultancy is to take the lead in the formulation of a “health services recovery programme”, as an integral part of UNDP’s Humanitarian Livelihoods Strategy and aligned the UN’s Syria Humanitarian and Recovery Programme (SHARP). The programme should be formulated in order to be presented to possible donors. To achieve this objective, the consultant will:

 Conduct a desk review and targeted assessments allowing for:

(a) Assessing the impact of the present crisis on the health of the Syrian population; (b) Assessing the impact of the crisis on the health services; (c) Identifying the existing responses to the crisis (national institutions, external aid); and (d) Checking  for the existence of disaster preparedness and risk reduction plans. Review UNDP health-related projects included in the SHARP and UNDP mandate on health issues (HIV/AIDS/ TB/ Non communicable diseases); Review UNDP Syria key focus areas (Early Recovery and Livelihoods, Humanitarian and coordination) as stipulated by the Executive Board; Propose a relevant UNDP Syria strategy on Health, and relevant programme, as well as the strategic niche for UNDP in the Inter-Agency Health Sector Working Group; Understand the existing division of labour among stakeholders; and  Identify existing gaps and propose a strategy to fill the gaps and develop the framework for a programme, based on the above.   It is essential to develop this programme in coordination with the main stakeholders of the SHARP and to align it with UNDP’s stategy, looking for synergies with other components of the strategy, particularly in terms of local partners.  

Specific Deliverables and Activities  

Under the guidance of the Senior Advisor of Global Fund Partnership Team in charge of Syria, the consultant will undertake the following tasks: Undertake an initial rapid and comprehensive needs & capacity assessment; Coordination with national stakeholders, UN agencies and other major stakeholders; No later than end May, the consultant should have identified the gaps and propose possible areas of intervention of UNDP, in a draft strategy document; Validate, under the guidance of UNDP office in Damascus, the draft strategy document; andDevelop a programme document based on the validated strategy, no later than mid-June. Travel: 

The consultant will be based in UNDP Office in Damascus, Syria, with possible travels in the MENA region. Payment of travel costs including tickets, lodging and terminal expenses should be agreed upon, between UNDP HHD Team and the Individual Consultant, prior to travel and will be covered and paid by UNDP. The fare will always be “most direct, most economical” and any difference in price with the preferred route will be paid for by the expert.

Evaluation:

Applicants will be screened against qualifications and competencies specified below through a desk review or an interview process. Applicants will be evaluated based on a cumulative analysis based on a combination of the Technical and Financial Scores.  

Technical Evaluation Criteria: 70%.

Financial Evaluation Criteria: 30%.

Payment:

Monthly payment will be applied, based on all inclusive daily fee. The number of days will be negotiated and agreed during discussions with the selected candidate and will be based on the daily rate, timesheet and certificate of payment, certified by the supervisor.

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