Consultancy Services For Conducting An Evaluation Of The National Prevention Of Mother-To-Child Transmission (PMTCT) Group Antenatal Care/ Postnatal Care tendering job at Makerere University School of Public Health
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Background
Makerere University School of Public Health (MakSPH) through the Monitoring and Evaluation Technical Support (METS) Program is implementing a 5-year (2020-2025) grant with funding from the United States Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The overall purpose of the METS program is to strengthen the Government of Uganda’s (GOU) Capacity for Regionally Centred and District-implemented HIV and TB programming through Health Information Systems (HIS), Case-Based Surveillance (CBS), Monitoring, Evaluation (M&E) and Quality Improvement (QI) support. The program is implemented through three technical areas, namely: a) Health Systems Strengthening (HSS); b) Disease Surveillance and Response (DSR); and c) Data Science and Informatics (DSI).
The program’s strategic objectives include the following:
To increase enterprise-wide data use through Government-owned and supported implementation of interconnected Health Information Systems (HIS).
To scale up sustainable national coverage of unique identifier (UID)-linked patient data across health domains enabled through standards-based health information exchanges (HIEs)
To improve the operationalization of HIV/TB Case Bases Surveillance (CBS) at a national scale.
To improve data use by the Government of Uganda (GoU) and PEPFAR through automated reporting from routine HIS
To improve the ability of Regional Referral Hospital (RRH) leadership to mobilize additional resources for a sustained response to the HIV epidemic, TB control and other disease outbreaks.
To sustain enterprise-wide implementation of continuous quality improvement (CQI) for all HIV and TB services
In line with the PEPFAR principles of enhancing local ownership and integration for sustainability, the program operates within the existing National structures and frameworks, collaborates with key partners including the Ministry of Health (MoH) and Local Governments, United States Government (USG) Agencies and non-USG partners and builds capacity for these partners.
Group-ANC/PNC in Uganda
Ministry of Health (MoH), together with PEPFAR Uganda and other partners adopted Group Antenatal/Postnatal (G-ANC/PNC) Differentiated Service Delivery (DSD) model of care to improve access and utilization of adolescent-youth friendly Sexual Reproductive Health (SRH) and Maternal Child Health (MCH) services including Prevention of Mother-to-Child transmission (PMTCT) services among Adolescent Girls & Young Women (AGYW) aged less than 25 years and their infants.
In Uganda, Pregnant and Breastfeeding (PBF) AGYW enrolled into the G-ANC/PNC model are organized into similar cohorts of 6-12 women at similar gestational age or infant age who visit the health center at the same time. The cohort of ANC/PNC mothers actively participate in their own health assessments and discussions led by either trained peers or health workers. Group care is organized to increase accountability, promote peer-to-peer discussion and learning among participants, and ensure psychosocial peer support during the antenatal and postnatal period.
The G-ANC/PNC model targets both HIV positive and negative PBF AGYW to reduce new infections for the negatives, reduce MTCT for the HIV positives and ultimately improve maternal and infant health outcomes. The model was piloted at 33 sites and demonstrated improved health behaviors and birth outcomes as a result of better health choices among mothers including completion of ANC visits, facility deliveries, live births, completion of immunizations and retention in care. The Ministry of Health has rolled out the initiative nationally, and to date G-ANC/PNC is implemented in more than 685 health facilities across the country. To guide further investments into this model, CDC guided by Pillar 5 of PEPFAR’s five-year strategy which emphasizes the need to follow science and data to drive programming decision. The CDC triggered the model evaluation through its Division of Global HIV/AIDS and TB (DGHT).
Goal of G-ANC/PNC Program Evaluation
The purpose of the study is to evaluate the acceptability, feasibility, and effectiveness of the Adolescent G-ANC/PNC Differentiated Service Delivery model of care for pregnant and breastfeeding young mothers, and their infants in MoH/PEPFAR PMTCT supported sites. The findings of the study will support expanded access and utilization of person-centered, youth-friendly MCH, and SRH services for PBF AGYW and their infants, and ensure that the identified HIV-positive young mothers and their infants are linked to and retained in HIV care and treatment.
Specific Objectives:
To assess the uptake of G-ANC/PNC DSD model of care among PBF AGYWs.
To determine the effectiveness of G-ANC/PNC DSD model of care on maternal and infant health outcomes across the continuum of care for mother-infant pairs, including retention rates.
To determine the enablers and barriers of implementing the G-ANC/PNC model of care for PBF AGYW and their infants.
To estimate the cost of delivering the G-ANC/PNC DSD model of care as part of MCH service delivery for PBF AGYW and their infants
Evaluation Questions:
1. What is the level of uptake of G-ANC/PNC DSD model of care among PBF AGYWs?
Is G-ANC/PNC DSD model of care effective in improving maternal and infant health outcomes across the continuum of care?
What are the enablers and barriers of implementing the G-ANC/PNC model of care for PBF AGYW and their infants?
What is the cost of delivering the G-ANC/PNC DSD model of care as part of MCH service delivery for PBF AGYW and their infants?
Proposed methodology and design.
The evaluation will be conducted in selected health facilities and administrative regions in all regions of the country. For objectives 1-3, the evaluation will adopt a mixed methods design that includes qualitative and quantitative methods of data collection. For the costing component (objective 4), a retrospective design focusing on the providers’ perspective on the costs of providing group ANC/PNC services at various levels of healthcare will be adopted.
Scope of work
In consultation with the Principal Investigators (PIs) and Co-investigators, the consultant/firm will carry out all major tasks related to the study. Under the supervision of the PIs and Co- investigators, the consultant/firm shall be responsible for the following tasks:
Support protocol development and approval processes until clearance is obtained from Local IRB, UNCST and CDC-ADS
Take lead in overall implementation of the study, including hiring and training research assistants, supervision of data collection and data management.
Prepare and share regular (bi-weekly or monthly) progress reports on implementation of the study with the PIs and study co-investigators.
Develop a data management and analysis plan for each of the evaluation objectives in consultation with the PIs and study co-investigators.
Conduct comprehensive analysis of both quantitative (including cost) and qualitative data.
Prepare draft and final reports of the evaluation and share the reports with the PIs, co-investigators, and other key stakeholders.
Prepare a slide deck of the key evaluation findings.
Work with MoH to conduct dissemination meetings of the findings to key stakeholders.
Prepare a manuscript submission and publication in a peer-reviewed journal.
Duration
The consultancy is expected to take up to 80 working days (16 weeks) from the time of signing the contract. This period is a guide and not fixed and may be reviewed depending on the prevailing circumstances.
Qualifications and experience
The consultant/firm should be qualified and experienced in handling similar evaluations. The lead consultant profile and qualifications should include:
Primary expertise required:
A medical doctor with a master’s degree in public health, statistics or any other related discipline from a recognized University. A PhD in the relevant field will be an added advantage.
Relevant knowledge and experience in the National PMTCT G-ANC/PNC program
Documented experience in leading complex program evaluations in the field of HIV/AIDS Health System Strengthening, and Prevention of mother-to-child Transmission programs.
Demonstrable knowledge in National and PEPFAR Health Information Systems for HIV/AIDS Prevention, Care and Treatment programs
Previous work experience with PEPFAR, particularly with CDC will be an added advantage.
Abreast with the current HIV prevention and treatment strategies, particularly for pregnant and breastfeeding women, maternal child health including Adolescent Girls and Young Women (AGYW) programs.
Application process
Qualified and interested individuals or consultancy firms are invited to submit the following application documents.
Cover letter
Technical proposal detailing the methodology, data management and analysis plan and timeframe for the evaluation (Not more than 25 pages)
Financial proposal based on the requirements for successfully undertaking the evaluation.
Resume, including previous clients for similar consultancy work.
Soft copies of both the technical and financial proposals should be submitted as one PDF file to the career portal available on the METS website by 5:00pm, Monday November 20th, 2023.
Makerere University School of Public Health (MakSPH) through the Monitoring and Evaluation Technical Support (METS) Program is implementing a 5-year (2020-2025) grant with funding from the United States Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The overall purpose of the METS program is to strengthen the Government of Uganda’s (GOU) Capacity for Regionally Centred and District-implemented HIV and TB programming through Health Information Systems (HIS), Case-Based Surveillance (CBS), Monitoring, Evaluation (M&E) and Quality Improvement (QI) support. The program is implemented through three technical areas, namely: a) Health Systems Strengthening (HSS); b) Disease Surveillance and Response (DSR); and c) Data Science and Informatics (DSI).
The program’s strategic objectives include the following:
To increase enterprise-wide data use through Government-owned and supported implementation of interconnected Health Information Systems (HIS).
To scale up sustainable national coverage of unique identifier (UID)-linked patient data across health domains enabled through standards-based health information exchanges (HIEs)
To improve the operationalization of HIV/TB Case Bases Surveillance (CBS) at a national scale.
To improve data use by the Government of Uganda (GoU) and PEPFAR through automated reporting from routine HIS
To improve the ability of Regional Referral Hospital (RRH) leadership to mobilize additional resources for a sustained response to the HIV epidemic, TB control and other disease outbreaks.
To sustain enterprise-wide implementation of continuous quality improvement (CQI) for all HIV and TB services
In line with the PEPFAR principles of enhancing local ownership and integration for sustainability, the program operates within the existing National structures and frameworks, collaborates with key partners including the Ministry of Health (MoH) and Local Governments, United States Government (USG) Agencies and non-USG partners and builds capacity for these partners.
Group-ANC/PNC in Uganda
Ministry of Health (MoH), together with PEPFAR Uganda and other partners adopted Group Antenatal/Postnatal (G-ANC/PNC) Differentiated Service Delivery (DSD) model of care to improve access and utilization of adolescent-youth friendly Sexual Reproductive Health (SRH) and Maternal Child Health (MCH) services including Prevention of Mother-to-Child transmission (PMTCT) services among Adolescent Girls & Young Women (AGYW) aged less than 25 years and their infants.
In Uganda, Pregnant and Breastfeeding (PBF) AGYW enrolled into the G-ANC/PNC model are organized into similar cohorts of 6-12 women at similar gestational age or infant age who visit the health center at the same time. The cohort of ANC/PNC mothers actively participate in their own health assessments and discussions led by either trained peers or health workers. Group care is organized to increase accountability, promote peer-to-peer discussion and learning among participants, and ensure psychosocial peer support during the antenatal and postnatal period.
The G-ANC/PNC model targets both HIV positive and negative PBF AGYW to reduce new infections for the negatives, reduce MTCT for the HIV positives and ultimately improve maternal and infant health outcomes. The model was piloted at 33 sites and demonstrated improved health behaviors and birth outcomes as a result of better health choices among mothers including completion of ANC visits, facility deliveries, live births, completion of immunizations and retention in care. The Ministry of Health has rolled out the initiative nationally, and to date G-ANC/PNC is implemented in more than 685 health facilities across the country. To guide further investments into this model, CDC guided by Pillar 5 of PEPFAR’s five-year strategy which emphasizes the need to follow science and data to drive programming decision. The CDC triggered the model evaluation through its Division of Global HIV/AIDS and TB (DGHT).
Goal of G-ANC/PNC Program Evaluation
The purpose of the study is to evaluate the acceptability, feasibility, and effectiveness of the Adolescent G-ANC/PNC Differentiated Service Delivery model of care for pregnant and breastfeeding young mothers, and their infants in MoH/PEPFAR PMTCT supported sites. The findings of the study will support expanded access and utilization of person-centered, youth-friendly MCH, and SRH services for PBF AGYW and their infants, and ensure that the identified HIV-positive young mothers and their infants are linked to and retained in HIV care and treatment.
Specific Objectives:
To assess the uptake of G-ANC/PNC DSD model of care among PBF AGYWs.
To determine the effectiveness of G-ANC/PNC DSD model of care on maternal and infant health outcomes across the continuum of care for mother-infant pairs, including retention rates.
To determine the enablers and barriers of implementing the G-ANC/PNC model of care for PBF AGYW and their infants.
To estimate the cost of delivering the G-ANC/PNC DSD model of care as part of MCH service delivery for PBF AGYW and their infants
Evaluation Questions:
1. What is the level of uptake of G-ANC/PNC DSD model of care among PBF AGYWs?
Is G-ANC/PNC DSD model of care effective in improving maternal and infant health outcomes across the continuum of care?
What are the enablers and barriers of implementing the G-ANC/PNC model of care for PBF AGYW and their infants?
What is the cost of delivering the G-ANC/PNC DSD model of care as part of MCH service delivery for PBF AGYW and their infants?
Proposed methodology and design.
The evaluation will be conducted in selected health facilities and administrative regions in all regions of the country. For objectives 1-3, the evaluation will adopt a mixed methods design that includes qualitative and quantitative methods of data collection. For the costing component (objective 4), a retrospective design focusing on the providers’ perspective on the costs of providing group ANC/PNC services at various levels of healthcare will be adopted.
Scope of work
In consultation with the Principal Investigators (PIs) and Co-investigators, the consultant/firm will carry out all major tasks related to the study. Under the supervision of the PIs and Co- investigators, the consultant/firm shall be responsible for the following tasks:
Support protocol development and approval processes until clearance is obtained from Local IRB, UNCST and CDC-ADS
Take lead in overall implementation of the study, including hiring and training research assistants, supervision of data collection and data management.
Prepare and share regular (bi-weekly or monthly) progress reports on implementation of the study with the PIs and study co-investigators.
Develop a data management and analysis plan for each of the evaluation objectives in consultation with the PIs and study co-investigators.
Conduct comprehensive analysis of both quantitative (including cost) and qualitative data.
Prepare draft and final reports of the evaluation and share the reports with the PIs, co-investigators, and other key stakeholders.
Prepare a slide deck of the key evaluation findings.
Work with MoH to conduct dissemination meetings of the findings to key stakeholders.
Prepare a manuscript submission and publication in a peer-reviewed journal.
Duration
The consultancy is expected to take up to 80 working days (16 weeks) from the time of signing the contract. This period is a guide and not fixed and may be reviewed depending on the prevailing circumstances.
Qualifications and experience
The consultant/firm should be qualified and experienced in handling similar evaluations. The lead consultant profile and qualifications should include:
Primary expertise required:
A medical doctor with a master’s degree in public health, statistics or any other related discipline from a recognized University. A PhD in the relevant field will be an added advantage.
Relevant knowledge and experience in the National PMTCT G-ANC/PNC program
Documented experience in leading complex program evaluations in the field of HIV/AIDS Health System Strengthening, and Prevention of mother-to-child Transmission programs.
Demonstrable knowledge in National and PEPFAR Health Information Systems for HIV/AIDS Prevention, Care and Treatment programs
Previous work experience with PEPFAR, particularly with CDC will be an added advantage.
Abreast with the current HIV prevention and treatment strategies, particularly for pregnant and breastfeeding women, maternal child health including Adolescent Girls and Young Women (AGYW) programs.
Application process
Qualified and interested individuals or consultancy firms are invited to submit the following application documents.
Cover letter
Technical proposal detailing the methodology, data management and analysis plan and timeframe for the evaluation (Not more than 25 pages)
Financial proposal based on the requirements for successfully undertaking the evaluation.
Resume, including previous clients for similar consultancy work.
Soft copies of both the technical and financial proposals should be submitted as one PDF file to the career portal available on the METS website by 5:00pm, Monday November 20th, 2023.
Job Info
Job Category: Consultant/ Contractual jobs in Uganda
Job Type: Full-time
Deadline of this Job: 20 November 2023
Duty Station: Kampala
Posted: 03-11-2023
No of Jobs: 1
Start Publishing: 03-11-2023
Stop Publishing (Put date of 2030): 03-11-2067
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