APW (Mid Term Review Country Cooperation Strategy Pakistan (2020-2025))

2023-05-29
United Nations Pakistan
Islamabad
Full Time

Description

PLEASE DO NOT APPLY ONLINE

Purpose of the assignment:

The midterm review of Country Cooperation Strategy Pakistan 2020-25 (CCS) aims at assessing the overall performance of the Pakistan – WHO collaboration in implementing strategies, focus areas, deliverables and scope of work as outlined and agreed in the CCS and make recommendations on specific areas for future collaboration, programmatic and policy-related actions, institutional reforms, and changes required in terms of human resource, management practices etc. The Overall objective will be to:

  • to determine whether implementation of the strategic priorities is progressing (whether expected achievements are on track) with reference to the country result framework
  • to identify challenges and potential risks that may require changes in the strategic priorities keeping in view significant events in the country such as major emergency and actions required to accelerate progress in the second half of the CCS cycle

Background

The Country Cooperation Strategy Pakistan 2020-25 (CCS) examines the health situation within a holistic approach that encompasses the health sector, socioeconomic status and determinants of health that had a major bearing on health. The exercise aimed to identify the health priorities in Pakistan and placed WHO support within a framework of 5 years, aligned to the draft 12th National Five-Year Plan (2018-23), the National Health Vision (NHV) 2016-25, National Action Plan (2019-23), other national and provincial strategic priorities, in order to strengthen the impact on health policy and health system development, as well as the linkages between health and cross-cutting issues.

The CCS took into consideration the Thirteenth General Programme of Work (GPW) (2019-25) which prioritizes maximizing WHO's contribution to achieving the SDGs by championing universal health and focusing on country-level impact through a 'multi-sectoral approach to addressing health issues. The thirteenth GPW is structured around three strategic priorities to ensure healthy lives and well-being for all at all ages: 1) advancing universal health coverage, 2) addressing health emergencies and 3) promoting healthier populations. The CCS also takes into consideration the work of all other partners and stakeholders in health and health-related areas. The process was sensitive to evolutions in policy or strategic exercises that have been undertaken by the health sector of Pakistan and other related partners including other UN agencies in the country. The CCS for Pakistan is the result of analysis of the health and development situation and of WHO's current programme of activities. It was carried out by a CCS Working Group representing the Government of Pakistan and WHO

Illustrating WHO's commitment to impact a clear results framework for monitoring and evaluation has been articulated. Recognizing the joint responsibility and accountability of WHO and the Government of Pakistan to improving the Health and wellbeing of people, monitoring and evaluation of the CCS was planned and with partners.

Finally, the CCS as the main strategic instrument represents the main areas where WHO was expected to focus efforts and resources over the 5 years. However, it does not cover all of what WHO does and WHO remains committed to responding to and adapting to changing needs as they arise.

WHO collaborative activities in Pakistan are implemented with support of the WHO Country Office for Pakistan and additional technical assistance is mobilized through the Regional Office for East Mediterranean, WHO headquarters, WHO collaborating centres. Year 2023 is the mid-point of the implementation of the current Cooperation Strategy. The WHO being a major technical agency is an important stakeholder, it seeks services of individual/firm an experienced firm to conduct a midterm review of status CCS.

Evaluation Scope

The CCS midterm review has five specific objectives that stem from the scope of CCS priorities:

  • Objective 1: to review the overall progress, process, outputs and outcomes of CCS priorities;
  • Objective 2: to examine the alignment of CCS priorities with those in the Government’s health agenda;
  • Objective 3: to determine the impact of WHO’s work toward current CCS on the country’s health outcomes;
  • Objective 4: to analyse the harmonization of WHO work in the context of National policy documents, GWP 13, EMRV 2023 and with plans of other development partners
  • Objective 5: to identify major gaps and lessons learned from the implementation of the current CCS.

Evaluation Criteria

The review/evaluation will be conducted considering the following OECD/DAC criteria for evaluation:

  • Relevance of WHO CCS in terms of responsiveness to the needs and national health priorities of Pakistan, changed landscape due to COVID-19 and other socio-economic and administrative reforms within the country, WHO’s global transformation agenda and EMRO flagship priorities. The review will also identify new emerging areas and opportunities where collaboration would yield better health results.
  • Effectiveness of WHO cooperation in terms of progress of implementation against the strategic priorities outlined in the strategy and to assess factors affecting implementation.
  • Efficiency of CCS in terms of how well resources, both human and financial, been managed to ensure the timely, cost-effective and efficient attainment of results and how effective is the funding mechanism and contributions within committed departments to support achievements of desired results
  • Sustainability of the WHO’s support provided to advance the health agenda and sustain the results achieved so far. Moreover, local resource mobilization capacity, approaches and opportunities will be also assessed. Likewise, collaboration and institutional capacity building will be also evaluated to ensure sustainability of the support.
  • Impact of cooperation is to determine the extent the strategy achieved its goal and long-term objectives in enhancing the health outcomes. Identify the factors influencing the achievement or non-achievement of outcomes. Also identify the changes whether positive/negative, direct/indirect that occurred during the implementation of the CCS
  • Cross-Cutting Areas need to be identified that have been incorporated at the level of planning of CCS and during its implementation.

Planned timelines (subject to confirmation)

Start date: 1st July 2023

Work to be performed

The individual/firm will closely work with the WHO country office in conducting the midterm review of CCS (2018-2022). Key activities include:

  • Prepare an inception report with clear approach for the midterm review.
  • Perform a desk review of the CCS strategy and relevance to articulated health priorities in the current context of the country’s political and socio-economic development.
  • Assess the alignment of WHO’s support to the CCS priorities, global and regional priorities.
  • Assess the ability of WHO to respond to changes and/or additional requests from national counterparts, and to adjust to external factors in an evolving country context.
  • Assess the WHO’s collaboration in addressing national health priorities and implementation of Country work plan 2020-21
  • Assess WHO’s comparative strengths and advantage in the country including WHO’s engagement and adjustments to respond as indicated in Pakistan CCS 2020-25
  • Assess the overall progress made against the programmatic commitments, targets and how this progress contributes to the CCS strategies.
  • Assess strengths and weaknesses of existing partnerships including state partners with a view to identify relevant partnerships. Assess the effectiveness of partnership mechanisms and collaboration with UN, other development partners and government institutions.
  • Assess extent for which CCS implementation contributed to promoting equal access and human rights-based approaches.
  • Identify good practices and lessons learned up till now from the implementation of CCS.
  • Consolidate findings and draft Final Review Report including 5-6 case studies.
  • Suggestions and Recommendations.

Methodology and approach

The mid-term review methodology shall consider the principles outlined in the WHO Evaluation Practice Handbook. Primary data will be collected through interviews, questionnaires, focus group discussions. Key methods proposed include:

  • Review of the WHO global and regional policy documents and strategic vision.
  • Assess key milestones of the country’s development over the review period; overview of national policies, strategies and plans.
  • Interviews with individuals to capture the perspectives of the Government, other partners and WHO. Key informants include policy makers, senior management of the Ministry & Departments of Health, other government counterparts (e.g. sectoral ministries), Representatives of other UN Agencies, other international partners, Non-governmental organizations, Civil Societies, Academic institutes, Private sector etc
  • Focus Group discussion as required.

Deliverables

  • Inception Report: within 15 days of the assignment, the individual/firm will provide a methodological design, framework and tools to perform midterm review,
  • Draft report: within 70 days of the assignment, the individual/firm will provide full draft report of the midterm review, and feedback of the key stakeholders,
  • Final report: At the end of the assignment the individual/firm will provide the final report incorporating major and relevant feedback and suggestions from the stakeholders. A final report will include a summary report covering

Technical Supervision

  • The selected individual/firm will work on the supervision of Health System Cluster Coordinator.

Functional skills and knowledge

  • Ability to coordinate a teamwork under pressure, synthesize information for actions, and to establish effective working relationships with all stakeholders involved in the activities
  • Ability to effective written and oral communication
  • Extensive experience in public health, health projects programming and analysis.
  • Experienced team based on experience with Health projects evaluations tools development, data collection, and analysis

Specific requirements

  • Individual/firm team qualification: The team lead should have Minimum of 7 - 10 years of experience of working in public health, health projects programming and evaluation, and working on leadership position is preferred.
  • Experience of conducting similar evaluations in the past will be an asset
  • An efficient and proactive team, capable to meet the timeline, and have coordination skills with multiple stakeholders
  • Knowledge of the public health sector and issues

Education (Qualifications)

  • Essential: Team lead shall have advance degree in public health, with particular focus on program evaluations, or other related fields.

To Apply:

Interested applicants/firms are required to submit a technical and financial proposal

Do not apply online. The Proposals are required to be submitted in separate sealed envelopes on the following address with the title of assignment on envelope by COB 31st May 2023.

Address: c/o Health Systems Development Unit (Room No. 4), WHO Country Office Pakistan, Park Road, Chak Shahzad, Islamabad-Pakistan

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