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Consultancy Title:   TOR for Consultant to support activities for integration of clubfoot management into the National Health system of Uganda

Organisation: MiracleFeet (MF)

Duty Station:  Kampala, Uganda

Background and Context

MiracleFeet (MF) is a US based NGO that works through local partners in more than 30 low-and middle-income countries around the world to provide quality treatment of clubfoot (CF) using the Ponseti method. Clubfoot is a congenital foot deformity in which a baby is born with her feet turned inward. This condition can be corrected with proper care by trained healthcare personnel. Hence, as part of the organisation’s strategic direction, MF would like to start integrating clubfoot treatment within the health system of Uganda, collaborating with the National and local Governments, especially Ministry of Health (MoH) officials, maternal, newborn and child health organizations and our local implementing partner, National Clubfoot Program of Uganda (NCPU).

As part of the FY23 Operating Plan of Miracle Feet, there are two key deliverables for the advocacy project. They are:

• Advance plans for integration and government readiness to absorb CF treatment in 4 focus countries (Uganda, Philippines, Madagascar, Tanzania).
• Design an “Integration Roadmap” based on the assessed readiness of the 4 focus countries including developing indicators to gauge progress.

To support the integration initiative in Uganda, Miracle Feet is planning to hire a local Consultant, based in Kampala, Uganda. The consultant will be placed at Mu-Jhu Research Collaboration Center at Makerere University https://www.mujhu.org/ under a partnership with MiracleFeet and will be working closely with MoH and NCPU in Uganda.

Envisaged Role of the Consultant

The Consultant will work with the MoH officials and the NCPU team to come up with a clear plan for integration of clubfoot care within the health system of Uganda. Some of the key roles envisaged for this consultancy position are:

• Needs Assessment: Conduct a comprehensive needs assessment to identify the gaps and opportunities in the existing system for managing clubfoot. This assessment should include a review of existing policies, guidelines, and protocols, as well as an analysis of the capacity and resources available at different levels of the healthcare system.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Engage with stakeholders at all levels, including policymakers, healthcare providers, patients and their families, and civil society organizations, to build consensus and create a shared vision for the integration of clubfoot management into the National Health system of Uganda.
• To liaise with MoH, NCPU, National Steering Committee and relevant key stakeholders to understand and support the clubfoot initiatives in the country.
• To influence the health system for clubfoot integration into their health system through constant engagement
• To raise the awareness about clubfoot and its care working with the local implementing partner of MF and MoH activities
• To facilitate development and implementation of a roadmap for clubfoot integration into the National Health Management
• Develop long-range country policy targets for clubfoot treatment.
• Contribute to realistic milestones for governments’ integration activities over the next three years
• Capacity Building: Develop and implement a capacity-building plan to train healthcare providers on the diagnosis, treatment, and management of clubfoot. This plan should also include training on the use of appropriate equipment and the implementation of standardized protocols.
• Monitoring and Evaluation: Establish a monitoring and evaluation framework to track progress toward the integration of clubfoot management into the National Health system of Uganda. This framework should include indicators to measure the effectiveness of interventions, identify challenges and opportunities for improvement, and ensure accountability.
• Advocacy and Communication: Develop and implement an advocacy and communication strategy to raise awareness of the importance of clubfoot management and the benefits of integration into the National Health system of Uganda. This strategy should include targeted messaging for different stakeholders and the use of various communication channels.
• Sustainability Planning: Develop a sustainability plan to ensure that the integration of clubfoot management into the National Health system of Uganda is sustainable in the long term. This plan should include strategies for resource mobilization, capacity-building, and institutionalization of clubfoot management within the health system.
• Identify and engage top networks and stakeholders to cultivate/align with around global and national goals.
• Position and represent clubfoot in strategic national conferences and events, coalitions, panels, and in-country working groups

Key Activities

• To consolidate the advocacy work that has been done till now in Uganda in collaboration with MoH, NCPU and any other key stakeholders.
• To design an advocacy strategy and roadmap for clubfoot integration with budget and timeline. This could focus on Data management system – including clubfoot data into MoH’s health management system; to incorporate clubfoot management in the district planning; advocate for resource allocation for clubfoot management in the
• District budget system; advocate for the establishment of clubfoot clinics in the Regional Hospitals and strengthening EDR activities; as the National Clubfoot Steering Committee has been formed, we need to prepare a TOR for their operationalisation; facilitate discussion around the integration of clubfoot into the curriculum of physiotherapy colleges
• To facilitate half-yearly meeting of the National Clubfoot Steering Committee in consultation with MoH
• To work with MoH to implement the strategy and roadmap as per the agreed timeline
• To support MoH to conduct a pilot on clubfoot data integration in the HMIS. To document the entire process and submit ongoing and final reports.

Key Deliverables

Some of the key deliverables include:

• Needs assessment report: A comprehensive report that outlines the findings of the needs assessment identifies gaps and opportunities for improvement in the existing system for managing clubfoot and provides recommendations for action.
• Advocacy and communication strategy: A strategy for raising awareness of the importance of clubfoot management and the benefits of integration into the National Health system of Uganda, including messaging for different audiences and communication channels.
• Advocacy Road Map with implementation plan for integrating clubfoot into National health system
• ToR s for the National Steering Committee and the meeting minutes Organizations of meetings and preparation of meeting reports
• Declaration note/ clubfoot management guideline Pilot report on clubfoot data integration in the HMIS
• Monitoring and evaluation framework: A framework for tracking progress toward the integration of clubfoot management into the National Health system of Uganda, including key indicators, data collection methods, and reporting mechanisms.
• Sustainability plan: A plan for ensuring the long-term success of the integration of clubfoot management into the National Health system of Uganda, including strategies for resource mobilization, capacity-building, and institutionalization of clubfoot management within the health system.
• Standardized protocols and guidelines: Develop standardized protocols and guidelines for the diagnosis, treatment, and management of clubfoot that are tailored to the context of the National Health System of Uganda.
• Data analysis and reporting: Analyze data collected through the monitoring and evaluation framework, and provide regular reports to stakeholders on progress towards the integration of clubfoot management into the National Health system of Uganda.
• Policy recommendations: Develop policy recommendations for the integration of clubfoot management into the National Health system of Uganda, taking into consideration factors such as financing, human resources, and governance.
• Identify and engage top networks and stakeholders to cultivate/align with around global and national goals.
• Position and represent clubfoot in strategic national conferences and events, coalitions, panels, and in-country working groups

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Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

The consultant needs to have:

• A consultant should have at least a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field such as public health or a related field. A master’s degree or higher in a relevant field is desirable.
• Considerable experience in managing large scale health programs working closely with the government system.
• Prior experience in advocacy and influencing.
• Good understanding of the Uganda’s Health System
• Excellent written and oral communication skills

Experience:

• A consultant should have significant experience working in healthcare, preferably in developing countries.
• Experience in the management of clubfoot is highly desirable. The consultant should also have experience in project management, needs assessment, capacity building, monitoring and evaluation, and policy development.
• Skills: A consultant should have excellent communication, facilitation, and interpersonal skills. They should be able to work effectively with diverse stakeholders, including policymakers, healthcare providers, patients and their families, and civil society organizations. Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, as well as proficiency in data analysis and report writing, are also essential.
• Knowledge: A consultant should have a solid understanding of the health system of Uganda, including policies, guidelines, and protocols related to the management of clubfoot. They should also have knowledge of the latest trends and best practices in the management of clubfoot, as well as the principles of health system strengthening.
• Language: A consultant should be fluent in English, which is the official language of Uganda. Knowledge of other local languages in Uganda is an added advantage.
• Professionalism: A consultant should be able to work independently, demonstrate integrity, and maintain a high level of professionalism at all times. They should also be able to work effectively in a team environment and be willing to collaborate with other consultants, stakeholders, and partners.

The position is initially for six months.

How to Apply:

You are invited to express your interest for this consultancy opportunity by submitting the following materials by email to Ms. Revathy Rugmini (Deputy Director of Programs) via email Revathy.Rugmini@miraclefeet.org, with the Subject: Consultancy to support advocacy initiative for clubfoot integration – Uganda.

• Curriculum Vitae
• Covering letter explaining interests, qualifications relevant to this assignment and highlighting any experience with health advocacy and or health systems integration work.
• Copy of a writing sample
• Any examples of advocacy initiative reports
• Names and email/phone numbers of at least two professionals who have worked with you in health-related projects

Deadline: 26^th March 2023

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