Senior National STTA: Spatial Mapping Analyst - Evidence for Health (E4H) Programme (ongoing Recruitment)

Posted date


16th November, 2023


Last date to apply


26th November, 2023






Country


Pakistan


Locations


Peshawar






Category


STTA






Type


Consultant


Position


1






Experience


15 years

TORs: Senior National STTA –Spatial Mapping Analyst

Climate Health Vulnerability Assessment In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa And Development Of Climate Health Adaptation Plan

Programme Overview

Evidence for Health (E4H) is a new Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO)-funded programme aimed at strengthening Pakistan's healthcare system, thereby decreasing the burden of illness, and saving lives. E4H (2023-2027) provides technical assistance (TA) to the Federal and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) governments and will subsequently operate in Punjab. The KP and Federal component is being implemented by Palladium along with Oxford Policy Management (OPM).

Through its flexible, embedded, and demand-driven model, E4H KP & Federal will support the government to achieve a resilient health system that is prepared for health emergencies, responsive to the latest evidence, and delivers equitable, quality, and efficient healthcare services. Specifically, E4H will deliver TA across three outputs:

Output 1: Strengthened integrated health security, with a focus on preparing and responding to health emergencies, including pandemics.

Output 2: Enhanced information systems and capacity for evidence-based decision-making to drive health sector performance and accountability.

Output 3: Improved implementation of Universal Health Coverage, with a focus on ending preventable deaths.

E4H works in partnership with the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations & Coordination (M/o NHSR&C) at the Federal level, and the Health Department in KP.

Introduction

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) leads the United Kingdom's (UK's) global efforts to end extreme poverty, deliver the international Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and tackle a wide range of global development challenges. With support from FCDO in Pakistan, the Evidence for Health (E4H) Programme aims to provide technical assistance (TA) to the Department of Health (DOH) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations & Coordination (M/o NHSR&C) to build durable government capacities to strengthen health systems that are resilient and capable of responding to emergencies, responsive to the latest evidence, and supportive of efficient and effective health service delivery – particularly for those who are most vulnerable.

Pakistan is among the top countries that are highly vulnerable to the negative impact of climate change. KP faces an array of challenges especially, including but not limited to natural disasters such as floods, unpredictable rainfall patterns, droughts and heat waves leading to surges in vector-borne infectious diseases and non-communicable diseases. As the implications of climate change on public health are more pronounced, the DOH KP has proposed this TA under output 2 of E4H, intending to assess climate health vulnerability in the province and use evidence to produce a KP Climate Health Adaptation Plan (CHAP), aligned with the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) and the Framework of Action on Climate-Resilient Health Systems in Pakistan.

Background and Problem Statement

KP has experienced serious climatic challenges, leading to life lost, illnesses, and additional burden on an already weak health system. The 2022 floods also affected millions of people in the KP province. Conducting Climate Health Vulnerability Adaptation Assessments (CHVAs) is crucial for effective health adaptation measures. The KP CHVA will determine existing and future risks of climate change on public health and will enable the government to assess the capacity of its health system to effectively respond to challenges.

• During the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) in 2021, the health community agreed on the development of two key initiatives: 1) climate resilient health systems; and 2) low-carbon sustainable health systems.


• The Government of Pakistan approved a multisectoral NAP on Climate Change in 2023. The NAP recognises health as an adaptation priority amidst implementation hurdles.


• The M/o NHSR&C conducted a scoping study, which led to the development of a Framework of Action for Climate Resilient Health Systems in Pakistan in 2023. A key recommendation was the need to conduct a CHVA that will inform future climate health adaptation plans.


• A roundtable discussion among stakeholders was held in September 2023, with agreement to develop a coordination mechanism at national and provincial levels for a coordinated response.


• The KP DOH has initiated sensitisation of stakeholders in the province on climate resilient health systems and has expressed commitment to develop an evidence-informed KP CHAP.

Strategic Approach

• Implement a CHVA in KP to analyse the vulnerability factors, exposure pathways, and gaps in health systems and social factors—the extent to which this will be done may be determined in the inception phase of the TA. The CHVA will assist the DOH in understanding the prevalence of climate-sensitive diseases across the province


• Prepare a baseline of information for KP, assess it and provide to the DOH, which will enable policymakers to understand future changes that may cause or result in health risks related to climate change. The assessment can be linked with the KP Climate Change policyor the Health Policy KP (2016-20).


• Following the CHVA, identify and prioritise interventions to prepare evidence informed costed KP CHAP.


• Incorporate a coordination mechanism to bring together different sectors and stakeholders, communication plan and monitoring & evaluation framework as an integral part of the KP CHAP for effective implementation.

Purpose

The purpose of this TA is to conduct a comprehensive CHVA in KP and use the evidence for the development of KP Climate Health Adaptation Plan. This TA will also involve providing capacity building support and an effective coordination mechanism among climate stakeholders, thus creating an enabling environment for the implementation of a KP CHAP.

Specific Objectives

The overall objectives of the technical support are as follows:

• To institute a coordination, communication, and monitoring mechanism for conducting the CHVA and for the development and subsequent implementation of the CHAP;

• To comprehensively assess climate-health vulnerability across KP province through the CHVA, including clearly identifying at-risk geographical areas, health facilities, and key populations;

• On the basis of the assessment and in alignment with the NAP, to develop a costed CHAP that will serve as the roadmap for adaptation going forward; and

• Through the above, to identify capacity transfer and building initiatives for DOH officials involved so that they are able to conduct a future CHVA independently or with minimum support.

Scope of Work and Methodology

Throughout this assignment, a team of local consultants will work in collaboration and under the oversight of an international expert, who will provide guidance and technical support. The team will cover the following scope of work:

Thoroughly and critically analyse published and available tools for CHVA and conduct a cross-comparison of commonly used tools such as the World Health Organisation Strategic Toolkit for Assessing Risks (STAR) tool, Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Building Resilience against Climate Effects (BRACE) tool, and the Health Canada Climate Change and Health Vulnerability and Adaptation Assessment (CCHVAA) etc. After selecting the tool, the scope of work will be as follows:

• Formation and activation of KP technical working group (TWG) on climate resilient health systems and Steering Committee

• Analysis of the vulnerability factors, exposure pathways, and gaps in health and social system to develop an understanding of the prevalence of climate-sensitive diseases across the diverse geographical landscapes of KP

• Employment of an iterative methodology in data collection and analysis to adapt and refine the process based on evolving insights

• On the basis of the assessment, projection of future health risks

• Identify and prioritise policies and programmes to increase the climate-resilience of health systems

• Establish an iterative process for managing and monitoring health risks with both consultations of internal and external stakeholders

• Examine the possibility of the development of intersectoral linkages with an aim of improving health

• Incorporate key results into a costed CHAP for KP

• Ongoing knowledge translation and dissemination of messages to stakeholders, community partners, and other organisations to promote positive public policy change.

A focal point nominated by the Director General of Health Services and another from the KP Health Sector Reform Unit will be actively engaged, where possible, in capacity development regarding complex and holistic analyses and the development of a KP CHAP.

Deliverables

Table 1: Expected outputs of this TA will be:

Anticipated Outputs*

Markers of Success

Inception Report

• A detailed plan including timelines, methodologies, risk management strategies, and a stakeholder engagement plan

• A preliminary literature review providing initial insights into the links between climate variability and health outcomes in similar geographic and demographic contexts

Inception report approved by the KP Health Department

Data Collection and Analysis Report

• Detailed datasets, along with the methodologies used for data collection to ensure transparency and repeatability in future CHVAs

• An analysis report depicting the correlation between climatic variables and health outcomes in KP

Analysis report endorsed by the TWG

Comprehensive CHVA

• Comprehensive documentation of the findings of the CHVA, entailing current vulnerabilities, projected risks, and the affected populations and regions within KP

• Case studies and/or vignettes illustrate climate-sensitive health risks' real-life implications, adding qualitative depth to the quantitative data

• Evidence-informed policy recommendations detailing strategies for enhancing the climate-resilience of health systems in KP

• A reflection on the implementation, challenges faced, and lessons learned to inform future CHVA efforts

• Suggestions for areas that need further research or immediate intervention based on the findings of the CHVA

CHVA report approved by the KP Health Department

KP CHAP including a Coordination Mechanism and Monitoring and Evaluation Framework

• A detailed, costed KP CHAP with specific SMART indicators for evaluation.

• The KP CHAP should include components related to communication, coordination, monitoring and evaluation etc.

• A tailored M&E framework including modelling exercises to regularly assess, manage, and adjust the recommended policies and programmes

• Toolkits and guidelines on how to utilise the M&E framework to ensure the adaptation strategies remain relevant and effective in the long term

KP CHAP approved by the KP Health Department/Steering Committee

Four Policy Briefs

Adoption or consideration of the recommendations by relevant authorities; increased public or institutional discussions on the topics they address

Four Policy briefs endorsed by TWG

Capacity Building and Transfer of Knowledge

• A structured training programme for DOH staff and relevant stakeholders, covering the basics of the CHVA, data management, and analysis

• Manuals and/or guidelines on executing the CHVA, adapted to the KP context, ensuring that knowledge transfer is sustainable and replicable

• At minimum one workshop/webinar, in collaboration with international experts, to share global best practices and methodologies in conducting a CHVA

• User-friendly knowledge products, such as policy briefs, infographics, and video snippets to disseminate CHVA findings among diverse stakeholder groups

Documentary evidence/ reports

• Anticipated outputs will be used as direct evidence of the successful execution and completion of the TA workstream

Table 2: Expected outcomes of the TA will be:

Anticipated Outcomes**

Measures of Success

KP Health Department uses the KP CHVA and KP CHAP results to incorporate findings and actions into the new KP Health Strategy and reforms agenda.

Official documentation of amended strategies or the release of a new policy/strategic plan that cites the CHVA and CHAP.

Evidence of future provincial sub-sectoral health strategies and plans considering climate-health as a cross cutting issue.

The publication of provincial sub-sectoral health strategies/plans that explicitly reference the findings of the KP CHVA and recommendations of the KP CHAP.

Collaboration with Other Development Partners

The team is also responsible for identifying the donors and development partners providing support in this area. It is crucial to engage actively with these development partners and ensure their participation in the CHVA and linking with the notified health and climate change TWG at the Federal level. The team will also map the partners' contributions to the DOH's provincial CHAP.

Timeline and TA Provider Requirements

The timeline for this TA is January 1, 2024 – July 31, 2024 for 30 working days.

Requirements

• Postgraduate degree in GIS and IT


• Minimum 15 years' experience in the relevant field.


• Strong understanding and experience in GIS.


• Strong report writing and data analytics skills.


• Planning and delivering work; Analysis and use of information; Decision-making; Working with others.