Call for Consultancy

Our Client is a human rights non-governmental organization working to promote and protect health-related human rights in Kenya. They do this by providing legal services and support, training professionals on human rights, engaging in advocacy campaigns that promote awareness of human rights issues, conducting research and influencing policy that promotes evidence-based change. Our Client advocates for a holistic and rights-based system of service delivery in health and for the full enjoyment of the right to health by all, including the vulnerable, marginalized and excluded populations in four thematic areas.

BACKGROUND OF THE CONSULTANCY

Our Client, with support from the International Treatment Preparedness Coalition Global (ITPC), is implementing the Solidarity Project, funded by UNITAID, which aims to prevent, remove, or overcome IP-related barriers that hamper access to health products, to increase equitable access to affordable and appropriately formulated medicines, biologics, vaccines, and diagnostics for people in low and middle income countries (LMICs).

This project is implemented against the backdrop that while patents and other intellectual property (IP) rights can incentivize innovation, they can also contribute to global health inequity, especially in low and middle income countries (LMICs), which often lack access to affordable health products, including for global health emergencies and path-breaking new health products (such as long-acting [LA] technologies) for HIV, TB, HCV (hepatitis C virus), as well as noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and numerous other conditions. The impact of global health inequity has been especially harsh for key and vulnerable populations (KVPs).

It is in this context that Our Client seeks to generate evidence to inform national strategies in Kenya, Uganda, Senegal, and Malawi and build arguments to influence decision-makers to act, using policy options that are available under TRIPS flexibilities to increase affordability of medicines.

To this end, Our Client seeks to undertake a market intelligence study that will be critical in identifying priority health products for intervention under the Solidarity Project in these four countries. Through the studies, critical data will be collected that include epidemiology and safety, efficacy, implementation costs and delivery concerns, and potential impact of health products; their registration status, procurement, and demand; community needs as well as pricetracking. For this study, the primary focus will be on HIV and TB. (Data on HCV and cervical cancer could also be collected).

CONSULTANCY SCOPE OF WORK

Our Client is seeking at least four (4) National Consultants (one in each of the 4 Countries). However, depending on the need and limitations on competencies in the disease areas mentioned herein, Our Client may decide to involve more than one Consultant per Country. The Consultant(s) will be engaged to collect and analyze market data on a pre-determined medicine’s list. This data is intended to support in;

1. The identification of priority ARVs and TB medicines for intervention

2. The development of strategic interventions for each drug identified.

CONSULTANCY DELIVERABLES

The Consultant will;

- Collect market data at national level to include;

- Marketing authorizations for ARVs and anti-TB medicines (filed, not filed, approved, date of approval, date of expiry)

- Pricing information for private and government procurements (trade names, manufacturers, distributors/suppliers, prices without taxes/procurement fees, and volumes)

- Number of patients on treatment and number of patients that will be on treatment next year (forecast).

- Procurement mechanism: public tenders, direct purchases, assisted international public tenders and budgets for medicines procurement for each disease area.

- Volumes of medicines procured in 2023 for each international nonproprietary name being procured by the Ministry of Health in the disease areas.

- Information on manufacturer (name) of each medicine (INN) procured by the Ministry of Health in 2023

- Important observations for the treatment programs supply or procurements by Ministry of Health from perspective of timeliness of supplies/procurements, any treatment options/volumes optimization processes happening, etc.

- Collect descriptive information to include;

- Treatment regimens obtained from Ministry of Health (number of people on treatment)

- Epidemic estimates (how many people diagnosed; how many on treatment; how many virally suppressed/cured, how many waiting for treatment).

- Recommended regimens under national treatment guidelines for HIV and TB

- Regulatory lists - national essential medicines lists, and which important HIV and TB medicines are absent

- Existing procurement procedures through Global fund, MoH, PEPFAR, etc

- Existing simplified procedures for marketing authorizations (e.g. for WHO prequalified, or FDA tentatively approved generic medicines)

- Transparency, accessibility of government procurement data and freedom of information laws.

CONSULTANCY EXPECTED OUTCOME

The Consultant will;

- Complete and submit an inception report, prepared after an inception meeting, detailing the general understanding of the assignment, approach, work plan, budget and deliverables

- Final work plan with timelines as agreed on with Our Client

- Develop a results and resources framework for the planned period

- Conduct research

- Develop a final draft study report

- Hold stakeholder meeting(s) to validate the study report and

- Finalize and submit the final study report.

CLIENT ROLE

Our Client shall provide overall supervisory support for the assignment and administrative support in relation to the validation meeting. These roles shall be further defined at the inception meeting.

DESIRED COMPETENCIES

- Bachelor’s Degree in Pharmacy, Public Health, or any other related discipline

- Minimum of Seven (7) years of experience collecting and analyzing market or procurement data

- Experience working in or for the nonprofit, philanthropic sector or in any other related field

- Training and or certification in HIV, TB, public health, human rights, international development, pharmacy, or related field

- Experience in market monitoring or procurement of HIV and TB medicines, preferably in any of the countries mentioned herein - Kenya, Malawi, Senegal, or Uganda

- Experience coordinating and partnering with Civil Society Groups

- Knowledge of the treatment and management of HIV and access to essential medicines is highly desirable

- Experience working in a research institution, conducting research, and leading or managing research programs and projects with proven research experience in the development of similar literature

- Ability to produce high-quality output in a timely manner while understanding and anticipating evolving client and stakeholder needs

- Excellent writing and editing skills in English

- Be able to work independently within the stipulated time

- High level of integrity, confidentiality, trust and dependability with a strong sense of urgency

- Results-oriented, entrepreneurial, self-motivated, self-starter, who is flexible and adaptable to rapid change and has the ability to work in a fast-paced, high demand environment

- Good consultative and influencing skills with the ability to build strong working relationships across all levels

- Strong interpersonal, communication and presentation skills with a good focus on organization, and enhanced multitasking abilities

- Ability to present data clearly and in a non-ambiguous manner to all relevant stakeholders

DURATION OF THE CONSULTANCY ASSIGNMENT

The assignment should be completed within 30 consultancy days upon signing the agreement.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

If you are interested in this exciting opportunity, have the requisite experience, skills and education and have worked within the human and health rights space and more so driving the agenda herein, we are interested in meeting you to see how you can work together with Our Client, through this Consultancy. Please share with us the following;

1. Your CV.

2. Expression of interest which illustrates;

- Your skills, qualifications and previous relevant work experience and how your experience matches the consultancy objectives as well as your interest for this position

- Defines your proposed approach to this Consultancy assignment, as well as proposed timelines and an activity-based budget.  

- Your Consultancy fees (daily rate) aligned to the working days of consultancy mentioned herein.

HOW TO APPLY

Please address the above to the Recruiting Manager, detailing why you are our candidate of choice to recruitment@mal-consultancy.com with the subject of your application being “Expression of Interest to Conduct Market Intelligence Study in (Name of Country of Interest).” All applications received will be subjected to a fair and competitive review process. Only shortlisted Consultants will be contacted. 

This call for Consultancy will close on Monday 8th April 2024 at 5.00 pm EAT.