HSR builds on the accomplishments of other USAID projects including the COMPRI-A project and Health Policy Project - specifically improving the private sector policy environment, building the capacity of key MoPH departments such as Private Sector Coordination, Health Economics and Finance, Licensing and streamlining and improving health sector systems such as the National Health Accounts, Expenditure Management Information System (EMIS), hospital Public-Private Partnership (PPP) procurement processes, implementing private hospital Minimum Required Standards (MRS) to ensure safety and quality, private sector HMIS, and the private health center licensing process.
HSR stimulates and provides assistance to the MoPH to conceptualize and operationalize the more difficult, longer-term decisions/policies that must be made in order to strengthen the system and make continued advances in the health of Afghans, relying increasingly on domestic resources. These could include decisions surrounding how to improve efficiencies and increase the potential for sustainability such as staff rationalization, financial compensation and hiring modalities; organizational restructuring; the contents and cost of the Basic Package of Health Services and Essential Package of Hospital Services; strengthening engagement with the private sector; health facility rationalization; and streamlining the MoPH’s stewardship role.
Building on the health finance work conducted over the last several years, HSR will continue to strengthen individual and team capacity to oversee and conduct health economics and financing activities through mentoring, experiential learning, peer-exchange and team building. Project Year 3-4 activities will support ongoing and new technical activities carried out by the MoPH Health Economics and Finance Directorate (HEFD) and will focus on strengthening political commitment for increased domestic resources for health.
The consultant will provide technical assistance in the following areas:
1) Assist with capacity building by supporting the HSR “learning-by-doing” approach to capacity building.
This will include:
a. Develop training programs to be conducted long-distance by Go To Meeting
b. Prepare outline and syllabus for each training program
c. Address questions of HEFD in relation to applying the training to analyses they are undertaking
d. Participate in Skype sessions with HSR and HEFD to address specific application of the training skills to reviewing and analyzing data sets
2) Provide technical support for implementation of domestic revenue generation initiatives to increase financing for the health sector.
3) Propose and support key health financing studies for HEFD to undertake to address key policy issues relating to health financing and sustainability of the Afghan health system.
4) Review technical documents prepare by other consultants for technical accuracy, completeness and policy applications, when requested.
5) Review various policy documents created by HEFD with support of HSR.
6) Provide advice to HEFD regarding the health insurance Phase 2 feasibility study and its follow up activities.
7) Contribute to the implementation of user fee and equity fund policies for primary, secondary and tertiary care in national hospitals,
8) Contribute to efficiency study cost analysis using Expenditure Management Information System (EMIS) and DHS2 data and identify additional areas for improved efficiency using HIS and EMIS data
9) Be a resource for HEFD while they conduct the 3rd National Health Accounts and Sub-accounts.
10) Willing to go to Kabul for high level advocacy events that are important for key financing policies, if requested.
11) Be available for ad hoc technical questions from HSR field team and HEFD.
Proposed timeline:
The consultancy timeline is from Feb 1, 2018 to Sep 30, 2019. The actual number of days, could be 35 to 85, depending on training needs, will be determined by requests and training sessions developed. The maximum number of days for this consultancy will not exceed 85 days.
* PhD Degree in a related field;
* Minimum of 10 years work experience in health finance
* Strong communication and interpersonal skills;
* Excellent written and verbal English language skills,
* Multiple country work experience is required
Palladium is a global leader in the design, development and delivery of Positive Impact - the intentional creation of enduring social and economic value. We work with foundations, investors, governments, corporations, communities and civil society to formulate strategies and implement solutions that generate lasting social, environmental and financial benefits.
For the past 50 years, we have been making Positive Impact possible. With a team of more than 2,500 employees operating in 90 plus countries and a global network of more than 35,000 technical experts, Palladium has improved - and is committed to continuing to improve - economies, societies and most importantly, people's lives.
Palladium is a child-safe organisation, and screens applicants for suitability to work with children. We also provide equal employment to all participants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, veteran or marital status. The goal of the Health Sector Resiliency Project is to support the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (GIRoA) to foster a strengthened, reformed, and increasingly self-reliant Afghan health system prepared for the decreased donor support anticipated over the coming decade. The HSR Project acts as a resource and a catalyst to the MoPH and other GIRoA entities as it considers and implements critical sector-wide reforms that are required to make the system more resilient and sustainable.
