REQUEST FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST: RECRUITMENT OF A POOL OF CONSULTANTS

Background
The Africa Christian Health Associations (ACHAP) is a regional organization that provides a platform for Christian health associations (CHAs) and networks in more than 30 countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Our work empowers CHAs to improve health services and outcomes while also aligning with broader national health strategies. ACHAP has implemented cross-country projects in HIV, Sexual and Reproductive health, Maternal child and adolescent health, WASH and Nutrition, and COVID emergency response. ACHAP has worked to strengthen institutional and technical capacity for community and facility service delivery systems. ACHAP also enhances citizen participation and transparency through engagement of community gatekeepers and faith and political leaders.

Objective
ACHAP is looking to build a database of highly qualified consultants to support various aspects of health systems strengthening, particularly for faith-based health initiatives and healthcare platforms, from time to time.

We seek experienced consultants to provide technical expertise across the following health systems strengthening areas, focusing on both faith-based healthcare providers and national health systems:

• Health Governance and Policy
• Health Financing
• Human Resources for Health (HRH)
• Health Information Systems (HIS) and ICT
• Medical Supply Chains
• Service Delivery & Quality Improvement for specific focus areas
• Community Health Systems
• Health Infrastructure Development
• Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, and Learning (MERL)
• Public Health Emergency Preparedness & Response

SCOPE OF CONSULTANCY

Consultants will work on projects that include but are not limited to:

• Supporting faith-based health networks and regional platforms in developing policies and strategies that enhance health outcomes.
• Working with faith and community leaders to strengthen health systems within faith-led hospitals, clinics, and health programs.
• Conducting technical capacity assessments and gap analyses for both public health systems and faith-based organizations.
• Designing and implementing health system reforms and interventions that improve the sustainability of faith-based healthcare services.
• Strengthening governance, service delivery, and resource management in faith-based and public health systems.

CONSULTING AREAS & KEY FOCUS

1. Health Governance & Policy

• Health Policy Development: Assisting faith-based organizations and regional platforms in developing health policies aligned with both religious values and national health goals.
• Faith Sector Governance: Strengthening governance frameworks in faith-run health institutions, including leadership and accountability**.**
• Strategic Planning for Faith Platforms: Supporting faith networks in developing long-term health strategies that address gaps in service delivery.
• Advocacy with Governments & Policy Makers: Building capacity of faith actors to engage with governments, regional bodies, and policymakers to advocate for the recognition and integration of faith-based health services within national health strategies, ensuring policies are inclusive of faith-run health facilities and services.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Building capacity of faith actors to engage with donors, international organizations, and government bodies to ensure the alignment of faith-based health efforts with broader national health systems, securing resources, and fostering collaboration for better health outcomes.

2. Health Financing

• Health Financing Models: Advising faith-based health providers on sustainable financing models, including partnerships with donors and faith-based insurance schemes.
• Resource Allocation for Faith Networks: Supporting efficient allocation of resources in faith-led health facilities and identifying innovative financing solutions.
• Financial Management: Strengthening financial management practices within faith-based health institutions and platforms.
• Capacity Building and Training of the CHA staff on financial management, budgeting, and resource mobilization enhances financial literacy within the organization for better management of funds.
• Resource Mobilization and Fundraising Strategies-Assist CHAs in designing and implementing fundraising strategies to secure funding from diverse sources such as grants, donors, or public-private partnerships. This includes writing grants, elaboration of proposals, and other new funding opportunities.
• Health Services Costing and Budgeting-Through the use of cost-benefit analyses and development of appropriate budgets for health programs, consultants ensure that CHAs understand the true cost of delivering health services and can plan for sustainability.
• Sustainability and Risk Management: They will help identify potential financial risks and develop strategies for mitigating those risks.
• Policy and Compliance with Regulations: to ensure compliance with the local health financing policies, tax regulations, and donor requirements.
• Grants Management: Supporting faith-based health institutions and regional platforms in securing, managing, and reporting on donor-funded grants, ensuring compliance with donor requirements and sustainability of funded initiatives.

3. Human Resources for Health (HRH)

• HRH Strategy Development: Supporting the development and implementation of policies and strategies for recruitment, retention, and capacity building of health workers in faith-based organizations.
• Health Worker Capacity Building for Faith Networks: Providing training programs for staff in faith-led health facilities. (specify areas of competence)
• Retention and Motivation Strategies: Creating incentive schemes tailored to faith-based healthcare workers.

4. Health Information Systems (HIS) & Information Communication Technology (ICT)

• Health Data Management: Establishing and improving data collection, analysis, and reporting systems to support evidence-based decision-making in faith-based and public health facilities.
• Digital Health Solutions: Implementing electronic health records (EHR), mobile health (mHealth) applications, telemedicine systems, and other digital solutions tailored to the needs of faith-based health networks.
• Data Governance & Security: Developing policies and systems for data privacy, security, and governance in health information systems, ensuring compliance with regulatory and ethical standards.
• ICT Infrastructure Development: Supporting the design and implementation of ICT infrastructure, such as networking, cloud-based solutions, and hardware, to improve access to health data and enhance communication across health facilities.
• System Integration & Interoperability: Enhancing the integration of health information systems across multiple facilities, including faith-based networks, to enable seamless data sharing and interoperability.
• Capacity Building for ICT & HIS: Training healthcare staff on the use of HIS and ICT tools, ensuring they can effectively manage and utilize digital systems to improve patient outcomes.
• Telemedicine & Remote Health Services: Utilizing ICT platforms to provide telemedicine services, enabling remote consultations and expanding access to specialized care in underserved areas.
• ICT Support for Health Communication: Leveraging ICT platforms to develop websites, mobile apps, and other digital tools that facilitate health communication, promote IEC materials, and enhance health education and advocacy efforts.

5. Medical Supply Chains

• Supply Chain Strengthening for Faith-Based Health Facilities: Ensuring effective procurement, storage, and distribution of medical supplies within faith-led hospitals and clinics.
• Pharmaceutical Management in Faith Networks: Strengthening pharmaceutical supply chains in faith-based facilities.
• Logistics Systems for Faith Health Providers: Optimizing logistics systems to ensure uninterrupted supply of medical products.

6. Service Delivery & Quality Improvement

• Quality Improvement in Faith-Based Health Services: Developing and implementing quality improvement frameworks in faith-based health facilities.
• Patient-Centered Care in Faith Networks: Supporting the adoption of patient-centered care models within faith-led healthcare services.
• Clinical Pathways in Faith-Based Hospitals: Optimizing clinical processes to enhance service delivery.
• Engagement of Subject Matter Experts (SMEs): Collaborating with SMEs in various medical specialties, health management, and public health to improve service delivery, train staff, and provide technical guidance in specialized health services such as maternal health, infectious diseases (specify), mental health, and non-communicable diseases (NCDs).

7. Community Health Systems

• Community Health Programs: Strengthening community health systems through faith networks, including building capacity of faith leaders as champions and advocates for health at community level.
• Health Promotion in Faith Communities: Developing health education programs aligned with faith-based values for community outreach.
• Community Surveillance in Faith Networks: Setting up systems for community-based disease surveillance through faith networks.

8. Health Infrastructure Development

• Facility Design for Faith-Based Hospitals: Planning and designing health infrastructure for faith-led health institutions.
• Infrastructure Assessments for Faith-Based Facilities: Conducting evaluations of existing faith-based healthcare facilities and providing recommendations for improvement.
• Sustainable Health Infrastructure for Faith Organizations: Implementing environmentally sustainable designs for faith-led hospitals and clinics.

9. Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, and Learning (MERL)

• MERL in Faith-Based Health Programs: Developing and implementing monitoring and evaluation systems within faith-based health programs.
• Impact Assessments for Faith Networks: Conducting health impact assessments to measure the effectiveness of faith-based health interventions.
• Learning & Adaptation for Faith Health Programs: Facilitating continuous learning and adaptation in faith-based health programs.
• Program evaluations and reports; facilitate desk reviews, baselines, and periodic timed project evaluations.

10. Public Health Emergency Preparedness & Response

• Emergency Preparedness: Developing emergency preparedness and response frameworks for faith-based health organizations.
• Infectious Disease Surveillance: Implementing early warning systems for infectious disease outbreaks through faith networks.
• Health Security in Faith Networks: Strengthening the capacity of faith-based healthcare providers to respond to public health emergencies.