Health Specialist at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), helps developing countries attract and use aid effectively. In all our activities, we encourage the protection of human rights, capacity development and the empowerment of women.

We invite applications from suitably qualified candidates to fill the position below:

Job Title: Health Specialist - National Consultancy Assignment to Support Formulation of Borno State Development Plan

Location: Borno State, NIGERIA
Additional Category: HIV, Health and Development
Type of Contract: Individual Contract
Post Level: National Consultant
Duration of Initial Contract: 40 working days
Expected Duration of Assignment: 40 working days
Starting Date - (date when the selected candidate is expected to start): 01-Nov-2019

Background
The Borno State Government plans to develop a 10-year Development as well as Implementation Plan 2020 – 2029.  The goal of the Borno State Development Plan is to provide a long-term vision and policy direction for leap frogging the development of state in line the global Sustainable Development Goals, The Lake Chad Basin Commission Regional Aspirations and various Nigeria’s Sectoral Plans and Strategies.

The specific objectives of the planning exercise include:

• Provide a frame work for the rapid transition of the state through the Transition, Stabilization and Development Nexus
• Provide a Policy framework that will provide the road map for all humanitarian and development activities in the state.
• Set clear and measurable developmental goals with costed implementation plans for Borno State.
• Provide a roadmap for Borno state to get back on track towards achieving the SDGs after the setback caused by the insurgency.
• Establish a clear agenda for Borno State Development as part of the Lake Chad Basin Commission agenda to stabilize the region.

The “Borno State Development and Implementation Plan 2020 – 2029” will be a participatory approach that will integrate economic, sectoral, spatial, social, institutional, environmental and fiscal strategies in order to support the optimal allocation of scarce resources between sectors and geographical areas, and across the population in a manner that provides sustainable growth, equity and the empowerment of the poor and marginalized. The process will have strong and purposeful political leadership and stakeholder engagement oriented towards promoting economic recovery, peaceful coexistence, inclusive growth and sustainable decentralized development.

• To support the planning exercise of Borno State, UNDP is recruiting Education Specialist.  The Health Specialist will support the effort, providing analysis and policy advice in all health-related aspects to the development plan project steering committee, programme team and government counterparts that favor inclusive development, including the integration of National and Subnational Plans and the SDGs into the plan and activities in health sector.
• S/he is expected to contribute to knowledge generation through research and analysis, and work closely with the consulting team and technical working groups.

Duties and Responsibilities
The Health Specialist will closely work with Borno State Government to provide technical advice to Borno State Planning Exercise Steering Committee, technical working group and other partners, especially in plan development and the introduction of sustainable and inclusive economic policies in Health Sector, which include:

• Support and facilitate dialogue on sustainable development issues on health sector within the context of the plan development, with government officials, development partners, civil society, and the private sector.
• Provide policy and programming advice and support for development planning and policy formulation focusing on health at the national, sub-national and local levels.
• Support the identification and analysis of interventions that can impact multiple development goals and targets at the same time in Health Sector.
• Support monitoring and reporting of progress related to SDGs and other national development frameworks, including to help strengthen national and local level data collection and statistical capacity in the aspect of Health.

The consultants’ technical support will focus on:
Context Analysis & Assessment:

• Comprehensive review of progress made by past administrations in the context of development and work to define the structure of the plan.

Scenario Planning and Plan Definition:

• Working to define strategic vision, goals and objectives of the plan with sector specific indicators

Development of 3-year Development Cycle Framework:

• Define short, intermediate and long-term programme cycles, each with its own objectives, aligning to Governors agenda.
• Prioritize and sequence programme proposals accordingly.
• Review proposed needs, programmes and projects to ensure strategic goals can be achieved, identifying, leveraging and leapfrogging opportunities.
• A short-term development cycle resource plan will be developed across prioritized sectors.

Development of Short-Term Year 2020 Development Plan:
Development of 3-year Development Cycle Framework:

• Define short, intermediate and long-term programme cycles, each with its own objectives, aligning to Governors agenda.
• Prioritize and sequence programme proposals accordingly.
• Review proposed needs, programmes and projects to ensure strategic goals can be achieved, identifying, leveraging and leapfrogging opportunities.
• A short-term development cycle resource plan will be developed across prioritized sectors.
• Development of Short-Term Year 2020 Development Plan

Deliverables
Deliverable 1:

• Draft section of Health of Foresight Framework
• Sector Situation Analysis in Health
• Collected inputs on Health for MDA

Deliverable 2:

• Synthesized Framework for Health Section Development Plan
• Finalized Health Section of Visionary/Scenario Plans

Deliverable 3:

• Short, Medium, Long Term Development Cycle Framework for Health
• Draft section of Health of 10-Year Plan

Deliverable 4:

• Health Section of 10-Year Final Reviewed Plan.
• Health Section of Short-Term Plan (2020- 2022).
• Health Section of Year 2020 Plan Draft.
• Health Section of Year 2020 Final Reviewed Plan.

Required Skills and Experience
Education:

• University degree in Public Health, Medicine, Development, Public/Business Administration or other related field. Additional education in economics/management is an asset.

Experience

• Minimum 10 years of relevant development experience in in health, including policy formulation, management of health services/health projects, and provision of technical assistance.

Language:

• Proficiency in both written and spoken English

Competencies:

• Sound knowledge and understanding of the on-going emerging policy issues in the areas surrounding health with excellent analytical skill in understanding the complexity of health development.
• Strong knowledge and background in health sector development in Nigeria.
• Knowledge on Health System Strengthening is an advantage.
• Experience in designing, monitoring and evaluating development projects is an asset;
• Experience working with the MDGs or SDGs at the national level.
• Education Knowledge and Experience - Possesses experience in designing and managing challenging Health projects, taking into account cross- sectoral linkages.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills and experience in working with a wide range of individuals in government, private sector and civil society.
• Experience in preparing high quality policy briefs and guidance notes for use by senior policy makers.
• Focuses on result for the client and responds positively to feedback & Deliver Results for Clients - Achieves results and identifies mission-driven solutions for the client.
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude.
• Experience of working with the government counterparts, national or international financial institutions, private sector/ civil society in the field of economic and social development in Nigeria.

Application Closing Date
23rd October, 2019 (Midnight New York, USA)

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online

Application Procedure
The application package containing the following (to be uploaded as one file):

• A cover letter with a brief description of why the Offer considers her/himself the most suitable for the assignment;
• Personal CV, indicating all past experience from similar projects and specifying the relevant assignment period (from/to), as well as the email and telephone contacts of at least three (3) professional references;

Note: The above documents need to be scanned in one file and uploaded to the online application as one document.

Evaluation Process
Applicants are reviewed based on relevance of qualifications, required Skills and Experience stated above and based on the technical evaluation criteria outlined below.  Applicants will be evaluated based on cumulative scoring.  When using this weighted scoring method, the award of the contract will be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

• Being responsive/compliant/acceptable; and
• Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation where technical criteria weighs 70% and Financial criteria/ Proposal weighs 30%.

Technical Evaluation - Total 70% (700 points):

• Relevant Educational experience Weight = 20%; Maximum Points: 200
• Relevant work experience as per TOR requirements Weight = 40%; Maximum Points: 400
• Competencies and skills Weight = 10%; Maximum Points: 100
• Having reviewed applications received, UNDP will conduct a desk review of the top five shortlisted candidates. Candidates obtaining a minimum of 70% (49 points) of the maximum obtainable points for the technical criteria (70 points) shall be considered for the financial evaluation.

Financial Evaluation - Total 30% (30 points):
The following formula will be used to evaluate financial proposal:

• p = y (µ/z), where
• p = points for the financial proposal being evaluated
• y = maximum number of points for the financial proposal
• µ = price of the lowest priced proposal
• z = price of the proposal being evaluated

Contract Award:

• Candidate obtaining the highest combined scores in the combined score of Technical and Financial evaluation will be considered technically qualified and will be offered to enter into contract with UNDP.

Institutional Arrangement:

• The consultant will work under the guidance and direct supervision of the head of sub-office Maiduguri and will be responsible for the fulfilment of the deliverables as specified above.
• The Consultant will be responsible for providing her/his own laptop.

Payment Modality:

• Payment to the Individual Contractor will be made based on the actual number of days worked, deliverables accepted and upon certification of satisfactory completion by the manager.

Note

• UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.
• UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.