Somalia: 15-1006: Needs Assessment Consultant

Essential Job Duties/Scope of Work:

BACKGROUND

International Medical Corps is a global, humanitarian, nonprofit organization dedicated to saving lives and relieving suffering through health care training and relief and development programs. Established in 1984 by volunteer doctors and nurses, International Medical Corps is a private, voluntary, nonpolitical, nonsectarian organization. Its mission is to improve the quality of life through health interventions and related activities that build local capacity in underserved communities worldwide. By offering training and health care to local populations and medical assistance to people at highest risk, and with the flexibility to respond rapidly to emergency situations, International Medical Corps rehabilitates devastated health care systems and helps bring them back to self-reliance.

Following the withdrawal of MSF from Galkayo South Hospital [in Galkayo South town, southern Mudug Region (Galmaduug State), south-central Somalia] and other health facilities across Somalia in 2013, International Medical Corps UK, with funding from ECHO, OCHA, GFATM and in-kind support from UNICEF and WHO began providing health and nutrition services in Galkayo South in December 2013. This has included the operationalization of the adult medical wards for male and female, pediatric ward, surgical wards/OT, TB unit, stabilization center, and OTP. In addition to the hospital activities, International Medical Corps UK has hired and trained a cadre of community promoters to conduct health, hygiene, and nutrition (HHN) promotion/prevention activities at the community level in the IDP camps and the host communities of GAS town.

International Medical Corps operates GAS Hospital in close collaboration with International Rescue Committee (IRC) and Mudug Development Organization (MDO). IRC provides reproductive health services (ANC/PNC, skilled assistance at birth and CEmONC, clinical management of rape) and operates the outpatient department, including EPI services. Mudug Development Organization (MDO), a local NGO, is the custodian of the hospital premises and assists in overall management of the facility. International Medical Corps, IRC, and MDO recently renewed a tripartite MoU clearly outlining roles and responsibilities vis-à-vis hospital operations.

A funding gap in 2015 meant that International Medical Corps UK was forced to suspend health and nutrition services in Galkayo South for one month (July). However, through coordinated advocacy with other health partners, the International Medical Corps Somalia Mission was able to successfully secure additional funding from ECHO to resume and continue health and nutrition activities through January 31, 2016. IRC’s current funding ends on December 31, 2016; they are also applying for ECHO HIP 2016 funding to continue health services in GAS.

As the only hospital for the state, and thus the only free provider of secondary healthcare services, GAS Hospital’s catchment population is estimated at approximately 982,860—the total estimated population of Galmaduug State. Patient mapping conducted by International Medical Corps as part of routine collection of patient data supports this assumption; approximately 40% of International Medical Corps’ beneficiaries reside outside GAS town.

In preparation for the upcoming ECHO 2016 HIP, International Medical Corps Somalia seeks to undertake an assessment in its current area of operation in Galmudug state, Central Somalia. The assessment seeks to better understand the strengths and weaknesses of current programming at GAS Hospital in the context of standard protocol and community perceptions, while identifying options for leveraging strengths, overcoming weaknesses, and integrating WASH interventions to maximize impact of ECHO funding on the health and wellbeing of the Galmaduug population. As noted above, GAS Hospital is the only hospital serving the population of Galmadug State; the importance of its continued functionality cannot be overstated.

JOB SUMMARY

Provide recommendations to International Medical Corps UK to inform a competitive proposal for the ECHO 2016 HIP for high-quality, responsive interventions in health, nutrition, and WASH in Galkayo South.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

1.Assess strengths and weaknesses of health and nutrition services provided by International Medical Corps in GAS Hospital, according to agreed parameters (e.g. service provision in line with standard protocol; availability of essential commodities; staff have required technical skills; staff #s appropriate; functioning referral linkages etc.);

2.Assess community perceptions/satisfaction of International Medical Corps-provided health and nutrition services at GAS Hospital;

3.Assess needs/gaps in WASH within GAS Hospital, including adherence to infection prevention and control (IPC) standards;

4.Assess strengths/weaknesses in routine program monitoring and learning, and provide suggestions for tools and/or systems to improve;

5.Assess options for improving accountability to beneficiaries for services provided through feedback mechanisms; to make recommendations for locally appropriate feedback mechanism to help ensure continued accountability;

6.Assess MDO’s capacity against their strategic priorities and make specific recommendations for activities that International Medical Corps could undertake to strengthen their capacity, with an eye towards sustainability of hospital operations beyond International Medical Corps’ eventual exit;

7.Assess strengths, weaknesses, and relevance of International Medical Corps’ health promotion activities within GAS town, in consideration of the most common morbidities, community-identified priorities, etc., and assess options for improving complementarity with other actors;

8.Present recommendations for improving quality, responsiveness, accountability, and sustainability of International Medical Corps’ health & nutrition programming, and for integrating WASH interventions at GAS Hospital.

Methods:

In close consultation with the International Medical Corps Somalia team, the consultant will be responsible for preparing an assessment plan that details the methods he/she proposes to utilize in order to achieve the desired objectives of the assessment within the budget and time constraints. Proposed methods are likely to include: direct observation (e.g. of healthcare workers and CHWs); service quality checklists; desk review of health facility data (2 years), existing program monitoring/management tools, and secondary data; audit of patient records, including death audits; focus group discussions; key informant interviews; beneficiary satisfaction survey; WASH in health facilities questionnaire, etc.

Tentative Schedule:

The needs assessment (including design, data analysis, and reporting) will be conducted over approximately a one-month period to begin ASAP and to end no later than November 20, 2015. The specific details of the schedule will be discussed and agreed upon with the consultant.

Qualifications:

Advanced degree in Public Health, Epidemiology, or related discipline;

At least 10+ years of relevant work experience, Somalia preferred;

Proven experience conducting needs assessments for non-governmental organizations, ideally related to health, nutrition, and WASH, and ideally in Somalia (reports of previous assessments required);

Excellent organization, planning, presentation, analytical, negotiation, and reporting skills;

Proven training/facilitation skills;

Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English and Somali.

To officially begin the application process, qualified candidates please go to our career page http://careers.internationalmedicalcorps.org/careers.aspx , noting where you noticed the position you are applying for and complete the online employment application form.