Consultancy to update MOH COVID-19 Case Management Guidelines tender job at Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation

Project: EGPAF DELTA2 Assignment #09, Technical Assistance to the GFATM COVID-19 Response Mechanism (C19RM)
Assignment Task: Technical Assistance to update the COVID-19 case management guidelines to include long COVID-19 follow-up.

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Introduction/Background : With the progression of knowledge regarding COVID-19, it has become apparent that the effects of the virus extend beyond the initial stage of infection. A significant number of individuals continue to experience lingering symptoms or encounter new complications even after recovering from the acute infection. This condition, commonly referred to as long COVID-19, poses unique challenges for healthcare providers in terms of identification, assessment, and management.

Purpose of the Assignment: The Ministry of Health (MOH) acknowledges the need to update its existing COVID-19 case management guidelines to include long COVID-19 treatment, follow-up and management. This will address the critical gap and ensure that healthcare providers have the necessary guidance to effectively manage long COVID-19 cases within the existing case management framework.

The services of a consultant are therefore sought to support this process.
Scope of Work: A technical team will be constituted by MOH to work in close collaboration with the Consultant on all aspects of this assignment. The materials developed will be reviewed by the MOH team and other stakeholders through a series of consultative processes. The scope of work for this consultancy includes the following activities:
Inception Report Drafting : In accordance with the Request for Proposals (RFP), submit an inception report that includes a comprehensive plan outlining detailed approaches and timelines for the assignment. The report should adhere to the evaluation criteria specified below and meet the quality standards established by the EGPAF home office.
Review Existing Guidelines: (a) Conduct an extensive review of MOH COVID-19 case management guidelines to identify gaps and areas for improvement in addressing long COVID-19. Assess the existing recommendations for follow-up care and determine the need for additional guidance specific to long COVID-19.
Desk Review : Conduct a desk review of relevant literature to gather the latest scientific evidence, research studies, programme documents, current case management guidelines, protocols, and international guidelines pertaining to long COVID-19. This will include identifying the spectrum of symptoms, risk factors, diagnostic approaches, treatment options, and long-term management strategies.
Stakeholder Engagement : (a) Actively engage key and relevant stakeholders at all stages of the assignment. (b) Participate in co-creation meetings with EGPAF, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), MOH, and World Health Organization (WHO) to receive consensus on the implementation of the assignment. (c) Lead and participate in stakeholder mapping exercises with different organizations and implementing partners including MOH (the COVID-19 case management pillar, and Continuity of Essential Health Services pillar), COVID-19 case management experts (including private health providers (PHP)), WHO (case management unit), UNICEF, PEPFAR, and Social and Behavior Change Communication (SBCC), to gather insights, experiences and recommendations on managing long COVID-19 cases and to collect relevant information (COVID-19 protocols, treatment guidelines, standard operating procedures (SOPs), etc.) including their input to the assignment.
Update and Revision of Guidelines : Based on the findings from the desk review, stakeholder engagement and expert input and feedback, update and revise the MOH COVID-19 case management guidelines to include long COVID-19 follow-up. The guidelines should provide clear recommendations for the identification, assessment, treatment, and ongoing management of long COVID-19 cases.
Expert Input and Feedback : (a) Lead and participate in TWG meetings and writing workshops. These collaborative sessions will be responsible for drafting and refining the guidelines, training package, job aids, protocols, standard operating procedures (SOPs), dissemination and adoption plan, and the materials developed by SBCC. (b) Participate in a one-day high-level workshop/meeting to present the guidelines and pre-test the training package. (c) After careful consideration, incorporate the feedback received from the subject matter experts and other stakeholders into each draft version of the guidelines prior to it being shared.
Tools and Resources: (a) Work with the SBCC team to develop materials (including patient education materials) for dissemination. (b) Develop practical tools, checklists, algorithms/protocols, and other resources to support the implementation of the updated guidelines. These resources should assist healthcare providers in assessing and managing long COVID-19 cases, including guidance on referrals, diagnostic tests, treatment options, and psychosocial support. (c) Lead the development of a plan to pilot the updated guidelines and related documents in selected health facilities. (c) Lead the development of a dissemination and adoption plan.
Training of Trainers: Lead and participate in a trainer of trainers’ workshop, and submit a TOT report to EGPAF.
Integration with the Existing Case Management Framework : Ensure seamless integration of the long COVID-19 follow-up guidelines with the existing case management framework.
Quality Assurance: Ensure that the updated guidelines and related materials and the training package undergo a rigorous quality assurance process.
Documentation and Reporting: Compile a comprehensive final report summarizing the methodology, desk/literature review findings, stakeholder inputs, and the updated COVID-19 case management guidelines that include long COVID-19 follow-up. Include explanations of the rationale for the updates, highlight any variations in recommendations based on available evidence, and include an executive summary for ease of reference.
Validation of the guidelines: Participate in a validation meeting or workshop with MOH, EGPAF, and key stakeholders to present and seek approval for the final version of the guidelines.
Submission of deliverables: Provide the complete set of final deliverables and the report for submission to EGPAF.

Expected Deliverables
• Inception report (in accordance with the RFP)
• A certified list of the TWG
• Training package, job aids, protocols, and SOPs
• SBCC materials
• Reports on the desk review, consultative and TWG meetings, validation workshop, TOT (including a list of master trainers) and the pilot/ pre-testing reports
• Updated COVID-19 case management guidelines that include long COVID-19 follow-up.
• Approved dissemination and adoption plan
• Final consultancy report: A detailed report summarizing the methodology, findings, and recommendations, including stakeholder engagement, expert input, and revisions made during the consultancy process
• Debriefing to EGPAF, CDC, and MOH

Evaluation Criteria
• Past performance of similar work (25%)
• Qualifications of proposed individuals and past performance on similar work (25%)
• Methodology and time frame (25%)
• Total fixed price (25%)
Timeframe: The expected timeframe for this consultancy is May 1, 2023- December 31, 2023.

Activity
May-June 2023
July-September 2023
October-December 2023

Qualifications
• Bachelor’s degree in Medicine and Surgery, Public Health, or any other related field.
• Master’s degree in Public Health, Epidemiology, Internal Medicine, Pediatrics or a related field is an added advantage.

Competencies
Functional and technical competencies include:
• Minimum of 10 years’ experience providing clinical care in a public health setting.
• Excellent working knowledge of COVID-19 programming and case management.
• Knowledge of national and decentralized health systems, and experience in working in partnership with MOH, and other key stakeholders.
• Demonstrable ability and experience to facilitate the development of national guidelines.
• Project management.
• Good report-writing skills.
• Excellent communication, consultation, and presentation skills.
• Team management and interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrated knowledge of research and analytical capacity.
• Proficiency in standard Microsoft Office applications.

Method of application
Interested and Qualified? click here to apply