THE GLOBAL FUND: Case Management Programme for Key Populations

EOI Number: MAC-GF-1-2018

Issuance Date: February 15, 2017

Call for Expression of Interest (EOI) from Individual Consultant/s to support Case Management Assessment as National Consultant

The Malaysian National Strategic Plan to End AIDS (NSPEA) covering the period 2016-2030 has outlined ambitious national targets. The NSPEA seeks to expand Malaysia’s response to HIV such that, by 2020:

• 90% of PLHIV are tested and know their status
• 90% of those eligible for anti-retroviral therapy (ART) are enrolled on ART, and
• 90% of those on ART have achieved viral load suppression.

 

For these reasons, the Principal Recipient (PR) of the Global Fund (GF) grant in Malaysia, the Malaysian AIDS Council (MAC) submitted a Reprogramming Request (RR) to change the focus of GF supported activities from a largely HIV prevention focus among key populations (KPs) to a scaled-up programme to recruit key populations for testing and treatment, and assist adherence by KPs to antiretroviral treatment (ART) and for opioid dependent people who inject drugs (PWID) to methadone maintenance therapy (MMT). In line with this goal, the Case Management Program has been developed and being implemented.

OBJECTIVES OF THE ASSESSMENT

The overall objective is to evaluate the effectiveness and impact of the Global Fund investment in the Case Management (CM) Program in Malaysia, and the extent to which – and how – the Case Management can form part of the sustained country HIV response past Global Fund financing.  The National consultant will support the international consultant to assess three main areas:

Effectiveness:

1. a)To assess the effectiveness of the case management across the 3 different KPs (MSM, PWID, TG and SW) in relation to legal and social barriers, socio economic challenges and the nature of each key population.
2. b)To assess and compare the evolution on outreach and prevention model to the Case Management model under Global Fund as well as to compare the existing non-Global Fund project models with the Case Management model in relation to the specific objectives of each models, cost efficiency, civil society organizations (CSOs) and service delivery providers’ linkage, workforce against workload and beneficiaries satisfaction.

Impact:

1. a)To evaluate the extent to which and how, the Case Management have helped enable Malaysia to achieve the goals and objectives of the NSPEA, 2016 – 2030 (90-90-90 national target by 2020) and how goals and objectives set in the Global Fund grant agreement have contributed to achieving the national targets and a better national HIV response in relation to site selection against epidemiology trend and specific key population needs and estimated size.
2. b)To evaluate the extent to which and how the case management model is able to achieve impact in relation to workforce capacity, gender and protection issues, stigma and discrimination, and legal and social barriers.

Sustainability:

1. a)To assess SR and case workers capacity in relation to workload, resources and local remuneration scheme for a sustained workforce and community-led HIV response.
2. b)To assist Malaysia to identify a sustained and integrated HIV program model for future implementation and areas for alignment with government system in relation to the domestic HIV financing allocation, community needs, barriers and quality data management that is confidential and protected at all levels.
3. c)To support Malaysia to use the finding from the evaluation of the Case Management Program to help inform investment decisions and effort to improve the quality, efficiency and sustainability of the response past Global Fund Financing.

SCOPE OF WORK

The assessment of the Case Management program should cover the three main objectives in the context of national and sub-national program that the Case Management supports. The scope of works for the National Consultant includes conduct;

Desk Review

1. a)Review and analyze grant budget, specifically cost inputs including cost of missed and lost-to-follow-up for Case Management workers and results against targets to determine the cost effectiveness of the program,  analyze budgets and results against targets, including opportunity cost of missed and lost-to-follow-up cases for HIV prevention, outreach and treatment adherence program conducted under Government funding.
2. b)Review TORs of Case Management workers against outreach workers and analyze differences in scope of work, level of effort and impact against reaching programmatic targets.

 

Site Visit

1. a)Conduct site visits to Health Clinics, SR and outreach sites for each key population in 4 different states to evaluate the feasibility of the programme, health facilities and living environment for each key population.

Focus Group Discussion (FGD)

1. a)Develop FGD guidelines and assessment tools for the Case Management
2. b)Conduct and facilitate the FGDs in 4 different states for each KP where issues, gaps and challenges are more prominent than others states. The FGDs involve, case management workers and managers, healthcare providers and other relevant stakeholders.
3. c)Conduct FGD with various stakeholders to get input transition and sustainability plan for the Case Management program.

Key Informant Interview (KII)

1. b)Conduct key informant interview (KII) service delivery and enabling environment in relation to the Case Management program.
2. c)Present key findings KII and recommendations to key stakeholders

Stakeholder Engagement

1. a)Liaise with stakeholders especially MOH at national, state and district level for site visitation approval and meeting arrangement.
2. b)Update CCM members on the assessment process and progress.

DURATION OF THE CONSULTANT ASSIGNMENT

A total number of 26 days of engagement should cover all scope works mentioned with the initial timeline stated. However, the timeline is subject to changes to suit the consultant’s time flexibility no later than March 29^th 2018.

1. a)Inception report 26 February 2018
2. b)Site assessments 26 February – 10 March 2018
3. c)Stakeholder meeting, 26  February – March 2018
4. d)Final report, 29 March 2018

CRITERIA FOR THE CONSULTANT

1. a)Sound knowledge of the HIV and AIDS epidemic in South East Asia and in Malaysia particularly
2. b)Sound knowledge of the Global Fund’s New Funding Model, processes and templates
3. c)At least 7 years’ experience working with PLHIV and KPs
4. d)Extensive experience in conducting policy implementation review
5. e)Extensive experiences in research methodology
6. f)Extensive experiences in facilitating and analysing focussed group discussions
7. g)Proven ability to work with diverse populations in a respectful, non-judgemental and ethically sound manner.
8. h)Good communication and writing skills
9. i)Familiarity working with government and CSOs;

 

 Note: Consultancy rate is based on qualification and experience. Candidates with strong background in Public Health, HIV/AIDS work, and possess project assessment/evaluation skills are encouraged to apply.

If interested, please submit an EOI Letter and Curriculum Vitae (CV) on or before 6:00pm on 21 February 2018 to [email protected], cc [email protected] . Only shortlisted candidates will be notified.