Job title:                             National Consultant – Localized Costing of the Health Investment Case in Papua New Guinea and Generating a Business Investment Case  

Level:                                   Consultancy equivalent to gross of staff position level NOB

Application Closing date:  22 August 2023

Location:                             Port Moresby with possible travel to the provinces   

Duration:                             2 months (40 days) September and October 2023  

Background:

Investments in Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health, Nutrition, and HIV interventions can save lives and prevent morbidity, leading to increased workforce participation, productivity, and poverty alleviation. Investments in Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) are important to enable women to choose when and how many children they have, resulting in smaller numbers of children per household, larger investments per child, and more freedom for women to enter the formal workforce, and more household savings for old age. In particular, the prevention of unwanted pregnancies among girls can lead to increased education and employment opportunities.

Reductions in maternal and child morbidity and mortality over the last decade in PNG are at risk due to COVID-19 health service-related impact. Significant efforts are required to ensure that Papua New Guinea (PNG) is able to achieve health-related sustainable development goals and maximize human capital. The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Asia and Pacific Regional Office initiated a study with the Burnet Institute to make a strong case for the importance of investment in SRHR services in ending unmet needs for family planning and ending preventable maternal deaths. The study was shared with key stakeholders in PNG in June of this year, including the National Department of Health, the Department of National Planning and Monitoring, WHO, UNICEF, and UNAIDS. During the consultations, the study was well accepted with a suggestion to use localized costing estimates for initiatives contributing to maternal and newborn health, nutrition, and HIV prevention (or MNCH+N+HIV).

Hence, the main purpose of this study is to generate localized costing estimates for the health investment case for the use of the CO in preparing health investment packages for the next UNFPA Country Programme of support to PNG. This will also be used to advocate for financing of SRHR highlighting the health and economic benefits of investing in family planning and MNCH+N+HIV services.

In addition, a business investment case for submission to a prospective partner mining company focused on SRHR and protection in Eastern Highlands province.

Scope of work

The Consultant will:

• Prepare an inception report which includes the research methodology and timeframe for the localized costing study and the business investment case with the prospective partner mining company in the Highlands;
• Collect data from the four study sites (one province per region);
• Submit all data from four sites in soft copy to the UNFPA;
• Prepare a business investment case in partnering with a prospective partner company in the Highlands province.

Expected output:

Submit the draft and final localized costing estimates of the study to the UNFPA Country Office and the business investment case

Qualifications and Experience

The competencies, skills, and experiences of the Health Investment Case Study Consultancy firm will deploy staff with:

• Medical degree or a Master’ in Health Economics or Public Health or other related field
• Two years experience in public health;
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills (both written and spoken)
• Excellent writing skills

Other Skills

• High level of proficiency in Microsoft Office suits (MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint) is required.

Competencies

• Achieving results
• Being accountable
• Thinking analytically and strategically
• Working in teams
• Communicating for impact

Languages:

• Fluency in oral and written English is required.

Submission of applications:

Interested applicants should submit their applications of interest to:

The UNFPA Representative, UNFPA,  Level 14, Kina Haus, Douglas Street, PO Box 1041, Port Moresby  on Email: png-recruitment@unfpa.org no later than 22 August 2023.

This should include:

Letter of Interest, CV, and UN Personal History Form