SOLICITATION NOTICE
R -- Systems Strengthening Advisor - USAID, LIBERIA
- Notice Date
- 8/29/2011
- Notice Type
- Combined Synopsis/Solicitation
- NAICS
- 541990
— All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
- Contracting Office
- Agency for International Development, Overseas Missions, Liberia USAID-Monrovia, USAID/Monrovia, Department of State, Washington, District of Columbia, 20521
- ZIP Code
- 20521
- Solicitation Number
- SOL-669-11-000006
- Point of Contact
- Sylvester s. Browne, Phone: 23177766402, Sylvester s. Browne, Phone: 23177766402
- E-Mail Address
-
sbrowne@usaid.gov, sbrowne@usaid.gov
(sbrowne@usaid.gov, sbrowne@usaid.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- Systems Strengthening Advisor, USAID/Liberia A. STATEMENT OF WORK I. OVERVIEW As the largest bilateral donor in Liberia, USAID works closely with the Government of Liberia (GOL) and strives to align program priorities with the country's priorities and goals. The Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (MOHSW) has recently finalized Liberia's ten-year health policy and plan (2011-2021), which will feed into the next Poverty Reduction Strategy. USAID/Liberia has been providing technical assistance and inputs to develop this plan, which will focus on providing an Essential Package of Health Services (EPHS) to all Liberians and strengthening the health system building blocks. Health system weaknesses in Liberia continue to negatively impact efforts aimed at improving disease-specific health outcomes. USAID/Liberia concentrates on several key health systems areas in its work, including human resources, financing, supply chain management, and the health management information system (HMIS). Across these areas, USAID collaborates closely with GOL to strengthen policies and implementation in coordination with other donors. Financing the health system in Liberia continues to be a difficulty, and donor support finances the bulk of all primary and secondary service delivery. Approximately 6.7% of the overall GOL budget is allocated to the MOHSW; however, the overall health sector expenses far exceed this $25 million - which covers roughly 25% of the overall health costs. The donor community covers approximately 40%, and private out-of-pocket expenditures account for the remaining 35% of total health expenditures. Improved health financing is critical to Liberia's ability to make and sustain gains in health outcomes. With the new 10-year national health policy, the MOHSW is maintaining the temporary elimination of user fees until 2013, while initiating work to increase resource mobilization, improve allocation, and increase efficiency of utilization. USAID/Liberia is committed to country ownership and country-led development. Over the next several years, USAID will begin to direct funds to the MOHSW to contract international and local non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to implement jointly designed activities, a function that has previously been supported through intermediary USAID bilateral projects. Water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) remains a challenge for Liberia and its citizens. Incidence of diarrheal disease is high, and access to improved water and sanitation is low. USAID's health program includes substantial support for WASH activities in Liberia. During 2011, USAID will manage two multi-year water projects aimed at improving WASH in rural and urban areas with measurable results in reducing the burden of disease and the impact of illness (particularly on women and girls). This assistance will contribute to building GOL capacity and strengthening coordination plans for improved WASH. While the rural project focuses on household and community level training and WASH promotion, the upcoming urban project will improve municipal water supplies through support to GOL and water system operating entities in three major secondary cities. B. Position Objective and Principal Tasks: The objective of this contract is to obtain the services of a Systems Strengthening Advisor to provide technical support to the USAID/Liberia Health Office for the implementation of health systems and institution strengthening activities, including support for new models of financing healthcare and water services, strategies to improve Human Resource management, and organizational development of host institutions for health care delivery, as well as water supply service and infrastructure operation and maintenance. The Systems Strengthening Advisor will provide technical direction and guidance to USAID-financed activities within the health portfolio around health and water systems strengthening. S/he will have broad responsibilities for planning and managing USAID-financed programs including collaborating on strategic planning and activity design, development of program descriptions, oversight of work plan development and activity implementation, periodic review of financial performance, and monitoring and evaluation of programs and activities that contribute to USAID's health portfolio. This incumbent will also support and advise USAID/Liberia's WASH portfolio. S/he will be responsible for working closely with the MOHSW, Ministry of Public Works, and the Liberia Water and Sewer Cooperation (LWSC) on WASH activities, as well as general capacity building and support. The Systems Strengthening Advisor will be the COTR for the Municipal Water Project and will collaborate closely with GOL, as well as with local and international NGOs and private sector institutions implementing activities in the health and water sector. S/he shall ensure coordination with other bilateral and multilateral donors working in the health and water sector in Liberia, as well as other U.S. Government (USG) entities working in the country. Additionally, the incumbent shall liaise with technical and administrative backstops in USAID/Washington as necessary. As a technical member of USAID/Liberia's Health Office, the incumbent is expected to work closely with various sub-sectoral teams in the Mission to plan and implement a broad range of programs. The incumbent will have broad latitude in exercising judgment and is responsible for carrying out the function of this position according to USG policies, professional knowledge, and operational best practices. The incumbent will report to USAID/Liberia's Health Office Director or designee. The incumbent is expected to respond flexibly and capably to a wide-range of work-related requirements including Washington policy and operational requests and ad hoc assignments as dictated by unforeseen operational requirements at the discretion of the Health Office Director. C. Duties and Responsibilities: The incumbent will fulfill a range of supervisory and oversight responsibilities, including program management and implementation, analytical, evaluative and a broad scope of administrative duties. Program management duties include technical leadership, as well as effective and efficient oversight and monitoring to ensure program performance, objectives and results are achieved in accordance to work plans and formal agreements. This includes stewardship over financial and other resources. The program management responsibility requires continued/regular contact with implementing partners (both contractors and grantees), GOL institutions and officials, civil society organizations, private and corporate sector partners, and donors. The responsibilities of the Systems Strengthening Advisor are prioritized as follows: •1. Health Systems and WASH Strategy Support (40%) Support MOHSW to make more rapid, visible progress in health financing and other systems to improve equity, accountability, and health outcomes. Guide the development and implementation of USAID's ongoing strategies to support key health systems. Lead efforts to assess and address policy and institutional constraints that affect access and use of water in Liberia and identify priority issues requiring policy reform, such as utility reform, institutional strengthening, benchmarking, and regulatory reform. Identify and coordinate among the various USG and internal USAID water and sanitation-related activities and players. Actively engage with government, other donors and organizations involved in the sector within Liberia in order to promote collaborative planning toward long term sustainable solutions. Compile, analyze, and disseminate reports to USAID mission staff and USAID/Washington on health systems, health financing, and WASH issues and accomplishments. •2. Partner Relationships (30%) •· Advise and collaborate with senior government officials on important implementation and policy issues related to health financing, health service delivery, and health systems strengthening. Contribute expertise and guidance to MOHSW and County Health and Social Welfare Teams (CHSWTs) to strengthen systems necessary for implementing USAID-funded activities. •· Establish and maintain productive collaborative relationships with a wide range of partners and stakeholders, the MOHSW, county governments, WHO, other donors, and NGOs to effectively assure that USAID's activities are collaborative and complementary. •· Coordinate technical assistance to provide a supportive legal and policy environment that enables public health programs to operate at a high level of service. •· Participate and contribute to technical and coordination meetings hosted by the MOH and other partners. •· Develop and implement strategies for improved networking by partners and sharing of best practices learned in the course of implementing health activities, in order to accelerate program implementation and impact. •3. Program Management and Oversight (30%) Monitor financial, logistical and reporting aspects of USAID-supported programs, assuring compliance with USAID legal and reporting requirements. Supervise the design and implementation of water programs and activities with the goal of ensuring that program design and implementation will achieve planned results and USAID goals. This includes preparing statements of work or program descriptions, requests for proposals/applications, Acquisition and Assistance requests, decision memos, Congressional Notifications, inter-agency agreement letters, etc. Complete certification requirements and become an AOTR (Agreement Officer's Technical Representative) or COTR (Contract Officer's Technical Representative) for the Municipal Water project and other projects that may be assigned as needed. Ensure program implementation achieves planned results, document developmental impacts and resolve any implementation issues in an efficient and professional manner. This includes reviewing quarterly and annual program and financial reports from program partners, paying particular attention to the data pertaining to: Activity performance indicators as identified within the Performance Management Plan (PMP) and Operational Plan; Program objectives achievement, methodology and lessons learned paying particular attention to inputs, output and expected outcomes including economic, social, cultural, and technical factors; Financial indicators (e.g., expenditures, burn rate/pipeline analysis and congruity of expenditures against activities; and Incremental funding needs. Work closely with USAID Engineers to approve design and engineering documents for construction or repair of water supply capital works. Participate in, coordinate, and manage evaluations and assessments that are conducted in conjunction with GOL, international organizations, and/or other donors. Work closely with the USAID Liberia Office of Financial Management to review and assess monthly accruals and disbursements, and track funding pipelines to ensure compliance with the ADS guidelines. D. Position Title of Direct Supervisor : Health Office Director, USAID/Liberia (or designee) E. Supervisory Controls: The incumbent may supervise FSN health program managers as needed. II. QUALIFICATIONS: In order to be considered for this position, a candidate must meet the Required Minimum Qualifications listed below. Consideration and selection will be based on panel evaluation of the Required Minimum Qualifications and Evaluation Factors. Additionally, interviews and writing samples may be requested. Applicants are encouraged to address each of the criteria on a separate sheet describing specifically and accurately what experience, training, education, or awards that are relevant to each. Failure to address the minimum qualifications and evaluation factors may result in your not receiving credit for all pertinent experience, education, training, and awards. Required Minimum Qualifications: A graduate degree in a relevant field - e.g. public health, public administration, or management with a concentration of public health, international health, or water supply engineering. Minimum 8 years progressively responsible experience working for a U.S. Government Agency or a development organization, of which at least 3 years served in a developing country context supporting health and development programs. Experience with health systems strengthening, innovative health financing, and/or water, sanitation and hygiene preferred. Written and spoken fluency in English is required. Familiarity with US government initiatives and legislation relating to development assistance, USAID programming policies, regulations, procedures, and documentation requirements for strategy and project design, implementation, management, and evaluation. III. EVALUATION FACTORS Candidates will be evaluated and ranked based on the following selection criteria: Education (20 points) •1. Minimum of a Master's Degree in public health, public administration/policy, management, international development, or other related field of study. Work Experience (40 points) : •1. Minimum of eight years of progressively responsible experience in designing, implementing and managing health system strengthening programs; at least three years of this experience in a developing country context supporting health and development programs focusing on WASH, Health Financing, Health Information Systems, or Human Resource Development. Preference will be given to candidates with experience in Africa on systems strengthening, institutional or organizational development, or water supply and utility services management. •2. Demonstrated experience with an international organization or donor agency. Familiarity with USG policies would be preferred. •3. Demonstrated experience working with developing country policy makers, program managers, and health service providers. •4. Demonstrated technical leadership, strategic planning, policy experience and problem solving skills working on complex projects in a highly sensitive environment. Abilities and Skills (40 points) •1. Strong interpersonal and communication skills including ability to collaborate with host-country officials in program implementation and interact with partners, contractors and other stakeholders at senior levels. •2. Ability to facilitate meetings and make oral presentations logically and persuasively to senior officials and partners in a multi-cultural context. •3. Ability to work effectively in a team environment and communicate highly technical health information to both health and non-health audiences, and achieve consensus on policy, project, research, and administrative matters. •4. Strong computer, verbal, and writing skills required. Must be fluent in English and have proven ability to communicate quickly, clearly, and concisely in both speech and writing. Maximum Points Available: 100
- Web Link
-
FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/spg/AID/OM/LIB/SOL-669-11-000006/listing.html)
- Place of Performance
- Address: USAID LIBERIA, MONROVIA, Louisiana, Liberia
- Record
- SN02554017-W 20110831/110829235852-73ef6b55735f6eac8da26eac24c73233 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
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