Project Name: TB-Free Luzon Project
Reports to: Deputy Chief of Party, USAID’s TB-Free Luzon/Head, National TB Reference Laboratory
Period of Performance: January 6, 2025 to May 15, 2025
Level of Effort: 22 days
Background:
With tuberculosis as one of the eight priority agenda of the Philippines, the country is proposing a medium-term TB National Strategic Plan (TB NSP) for 2025 to 2030 to guide decision makers, program managers, healthcare workers, and partners on TB program implementation. The plan will include updated targets for the NTP, priority strategies to achieve the targets, and sub-plans for specific thematic areas in the TB program. This includes the laboratory network strategic plan.
An optimized and efficient TB laboratory network is critical for the timely, appropriate, and high-quality diagnosis, treatment, and care of patients. The LNSP will serve as a roadmap to help the program managers (TB and laboratory) as well as the TB laboratory network determine the priority strategies, activities, and targets. The LNSP will need to be aligned with the overall TB NSP.
The National TB Reference Laboratory is leading the development of the LNSP with technical assistance and funding support from USAID’s TB-Free Luzon. In line with this, USAID’s TB-Free Luzon is engaging a consultant/technical writer to support the NTRL develop the LNSP 2025-2030.
Tasks and Level of Effort:
Under this scope of work, the consultant/technical writer will perform the following tasks with the corresponding level of effort:
1.Review the following reports: (Level of effort: 3 days)
Draft TB NSP 2025-2030
Reports/documentation from consultation meetings and workshops for the NSP development
LNSP 2018-2022
Previous LNSP reviews and TB laboratory network assessment
Latest updates and guidelines from WHO on TB Diagnostics
2.Co-lead the workshops/consultations for the LNSP
Initial meeting with NTRL and DOH (Level of effort: 1 day)
Consultative Workshop with NTRL, DOH, and partners (Level of effort: 3 days)
Follow-up meetings with NTRL, DOH, and partners (Level of effort: 2 days)
3.Present the initial inputs to stakeholders (Level of effort: 2 days)
4.Write the draft LNSP 2025-2030 based on the outputs of meetings and consultations (Level of effort: 7 days):
5.Work with the NTRL to present the draft LNSP to the core and to stakeholders (Level of effort: 2 days)
6.Review comments and revise the LNSP draft (Level of effort: 2 days)
Deliverables:
The following are the expected outputs and timeline of submission:
1.Inception Report- Jan 12, 2025
2.Consultation Workshop/Meeting documentation- February 15, 2025
3.1st draft: LNSP 2025-2030- Mar 15, 2025
4.Powerpoint presentation (stakeholders consultation)- Apr 15, 2025
5.Final draft: LNSP 2025-2030- May 15, 2025
Reporting:
The consultant shall provide regular reports and updates on project progress to the Head of the National Tuberculosis Reference Laboratory and the Deputy Chief of Party, USAID’s TB-Free Luzon. The NTRL head shall give final approval of the outputs and endorse the completion of the deliverables to USAID’s TB-Free Luzon.
Period of Performance:
The level of effort (LOE) is initially estimated at 22 days from January 6, 2025 to May 15, 2025. Adjustments to the LOE and term extension will be upon mutual agreement between the consultant and USAID TB-Free Luzon in consultation with the NTRL.
Experience and Competencies:
*A Master’s degree in a relevant discipline with a health focus (health, public health and management, laboratory science, public policy, development studies, social sciences)
*At least 10 years of relevant experience in consulting for and/or managing public health programs, TB diagnostics/laboratory programs, health system reforms, and/or development programs in the Philippines.
*Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English.
*Proven ability as a technical writer (sample of written works required).
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