TERMS OF REFERENCE

International Consultant to support (i) country transition readiness assessment with focus on publiccontracting of NGOs for delivery of HIV prevention, care & support services to key populations and (ii) development of a case study on publiccontractingof NGOs for delivery of HIV services in Kazakhstan

I. Background information on the project

Kazakhstan has a concentrated HIV epidemic, with an estimated prevalence in adult general population of 0.2. The epidemic continues to be concentrated among key populations, mostly PWID in civilian and prison sectors, with an increasing contribution of MSM and SW.

The Government has made strong political and budgetary commitments and significantly increased domestic HIV funding, being the major source of funding for the HIV response (>80%). ART funding reached 100% in 2009, and the country has achieved unique success in the region in transitioning governmental funding for KP though procurement of basic consumables for preventive services, direct contracting of outreach workers under the AIDS Centers, trust-based HTC points including rapid testing etc. Still, existing mechanisms do not allow the country to scale-up evidenced-based interventions for key populations and fully address their needs for effective fight against the disease. Existing social contracting mechanisms for NGOs are cumbersome and accompanied by countless difficulties generated by the constraints of existing legal and regulatory framework thus barely used.

The overall goal of the Building Foundation for Sustainable HIV Response in Kazakhstan grant funded by Global Fund for the period 2018-2020 and implemented through the Republican Center on Prevention and Control of AIDS ( now new name: The Kazakh Scientific Center on Dermatology and Infection Diseases)as Principle Recipient jointly with the project governmental and non-governmental partners is to institutionalize NGOcontracting system to scale up access forKP to evidence based HIV prevention, care and support servicesand further catalyze fight against the disease in Kazakhstan.

Project interventions are oriented to intensify country efforts aimed at ensuring sustainable funding and delivery mechanisms for efficient HIV prevention, care and support to KP, through development, roll-out and institutionalization of a robust and viable publiccontracting mechanism for non-governmental organizations in earlier intervention sites (Almaty, Nur-Sultan and Karaganda), with the final goal to scale-up and replicate the mechanism throughout the country for an efficient HIV response.

To build knowledge on social contracting model and build ground for sustainability of HIV response to KP the project plans for a transition readiness assessment with focus on national social contracting for HIV prevention, care and support to KP and an operational research to capture, document and transfer knowledge and lessons learned on social contracting.

II. Objectives of the assignment

The objective of the consultancy is to support the Kazakh Scientific Center on Dermatology and Infection Diseases of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Kazakhstan to (i) Assess transition readiness with focus on social contracting for prevention, care & support to key populations and (ii) Capture, document and transfer knowledge and lessons learned on social contracting for HIV KP services.
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III. Scope of work
The consultantwill be contracted for the following two components:
(i) Conduct Country Transition Readiness Assessment with focus on public contracting of NGOs for HIV prevention, care and support to KP.

The consultant is expected to:
— Describe the current organization of KP HIV prevention, care and support services, including the flow of funds, data, health products, and decision making
— Analyze financial, programmatic, governance and policy-related components with focus on KP services and NGOcontracting mechanism and identify health system gaps, bottlenecks and risks to sustainability;
— Draft a Roadmap for the development of the public financing of NGOs for HIV services delivery, based on the available resources, capacities, and constraints, while highlighting areas that require further improvement/ action (to be further incorporated in country strategic plans);
— Ensure participation of key country stakeholders, including community and civil society representatives in the assessment and consultation of the assessment findingswith CCM TWGs and other interested counterparts.

Thisfocused Country Transition Readiness Assessment will be aligned to the scope and objectives of the ‘Sustainable HIV Response in Kazakhstan’ Project.

The assessment mayrelyonavailable tools for assessing country preparedness for transition, including Guidance for Analyses of Country Readiness for transition developed by Aceso Global/APMG and other tools(Curatio’s Transition Preparedness Assessment Framework, Eurasian Harm Reduction Network’s Transition Readiness Assessment Tool, etc.), adaptedto Kazakhstan.

(ii) Develop a Case Study on social contracting for HIV KP services in Kazakhstan.

Also using the findings from the first objective of this assignment, the consultant is expected to:
— Synthetize in a user-friendly document the Kazakhstan model/(s) of social contracting, including the flow of funds, data, health products, stakeholders, and authority, and highlighting strengths and weaknesses, effectiveness, and sustainability perspectives;
— Describe the step-by-step how the current model evolved to date, and the main lessons learnt if a similar model would be replicated elsewhere;
— Use visuals, links or extracts from specific documents/texts, where relevant, to illustrate specific best practices of Kazakhstan that could be used by decision-makers in other regions and countries.

For both components, the consultant will work in team with a group of national stakeholders/ consultants, selected to support data collection and analyses, and in close cooperation with the Kazakh Scientific Center on Dermatology and Infection Diseases, ‘Sustainable HIV Response in Kazakhstan’ Project Manager PIU GF.

The Consultant will report and submit all deliverables to the Republican Center on Prevention and Control of AIDS.

(iii) Qualification requirements and basis for evaluation
The Qualification requirements and basis for evaluation (evaluation criteria) of the consultant аrе:
(i) General qualifications:
• Advanced university degree in public health, social scienceor other related field;
• At least 8 years of professional experience in HIV program management, monitoring and evaluation.

(ii) Adequacy for the assignment:
• Experience in providing consultancy services in the area of public health, especially HIV field;
• Relevant experience in conducting desk reviews,conduct interviews and inclusive and participative country dialogues, synthesize complex information and issues;
• Good understanding of CSO role in HIV response and social contracting mechanisms;
• Proven understanding of health system and HIV response in Kazakhstanis highly beneficial;
• Experience of working with organizations or agencies implementing externally funded programs and projects.
• Knowledge and experience in working with programmers funded by the Global Fund;
• Experience working with/in the EECA countries is an asset;

(iii) Language and other qualifications:
• Written fluency in English and working knowledge of Russian or Kazakh is required;
• Excellent writingskills;
• Ability to work independently and in team, respond to feedback in a timely and professional manner, and meet deadlines.

(iv) Duration of the assignment
The consultancy should be conducted during the period September – November 2019, with final deliverables to be submitted by end of November 2019. The consultancy, estimated at 30 working days is home-based with visits of Nursultan, Almaty and Karaganda.

(v) Expected results
The consultant is expected to produce the following deliverables:
• Country Transition Readiness assessment report with focus on social contracting of KP HIV services, including a Roadmap for the development of the existing social contracting mechanism.
• Case study document on social contracting for HIV KP services in Kazakhstan.

To apply, please submit a resume and a 2-3 pages proposal to email: xxx. The technical proposal shall include a brief description on the approach the consultant would take in undertaking this assignment, envisaged methodology, workplan, and constraints. The budget proposal shall specify the daily rate, envisaged level of efforts for each of the tasks, travel and other expenses.