Background of the Assignment.
South Sudan has a high burden of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), which mainly affect the rural poor communities with already limited access to healthcare and to prevention and control measures. A National Strategic Plan for Integrated Control of NTDs (2008-2011) was developed. Since then, South Sudan has joined the World Health Organization member states that have endorsed several resolutions and targets for prevention, control, elimination and eradication of 17 NTDs of which 13 are known to be in South Sudan. With a vision to have South Sudan free of NTDs by the year 2020, the Ministry of Health is realigning and focusing national prevention, control, elimination and eradication initiatives. The first situational analysis was reviewed and updated over the 2008-2015 period, and would be instrumental for the preparation of the South Sudan Master Plan for NTDs [2016-2020], which forms the basis for harmonization of implementation, monitoring and evaluation of program performance.
South Sudan is among the countries with the highest NTD burden in the world, with nineteen of the twenty infections occurring in South Sudan. These include Dracunculiasis (Guinea Worm), Trachoma, Leprosy, Human African Trypanosomiasis, Onchocerciasis (River Blindness), Lymphatic filariasis (Elephantiasis), Visceral Leishmaniasis (Kala-Azar), Soil Transmitted Helminths, Loiasis, Schistosomiasis (Bilharziasis), Buruli Ulcer, Mycetoma and Nodding Syndrome
Access to water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) is a fundamental human right. Improvements in health and increasing life expectancy across much of the world can be attributed to investments that improve environmental conditions and healthy behaviors. However, inequities in accessing services mean that many of the world’s poorest and most vulnerable communities still lack sustained access to WASH infrastructure of sufficient quality. This leads to ill-health, including neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), which exacerbate social and economic challenges and can trap entire communities in a cycle of poverty and marginalization.
The presence of NTDs is an indicator of the need to improve access to WASH. Many NTDs, such as trachoma, soil transmitted helminths and schistosomiasis, are preventable through practicing the same behaviors, such as reducing open defecation, maintaining sanitation facilities, and hand and face washing with soap. Other NTDs require WASH access to treat the symptoms caused by the disease, such as personal hygiene to reduce the occurrence of acute attacks in people with lymphedema due to lymphatic Filariasis.
Ensuring access to clean water and sanitation facilities, such as working toilets linked with safely managed sanitation services and continuous water supply for hygiene purposes, is a critical first step, but is not enough. WASH infrastructure must be complemented by cross-sectoral integrated programs that bring health, education and WASH and NTD stakeholders together to raise awareness about the link between good health and hygiene and shift long-held cultural norms.
Objective
• To complete and validate a draft national Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) and Neglected Tropical disease (NTDs) (WASH/NTD) coordination framework by providing selected data to finalize the document. The data will be sought from the MOH (NTD programme). The WASH/NTD framework will support the Ministry of Health (MoH) in South Sudan, to initiate coordination mechanism between WASH and NTD program at national level and will lead to a systematic joint program planning and reviews between WASH and NTDs to maximize the existing effort and leverage resources.
Methodology
During this MoH South Sudan national WASH NTD integration framework completion and validation, the following approaches will be followed
• Desk review on existing strategies, policies, guidelines and other documents in country.
• Review the experiences of other countries good coordination practice and incorporate contextual strategies and approaches.
• Engage and Interview key stakeholders as recommended by MoH/Amref
• Conduct participatory and consultative meeting with stakeholders with guidance from Amref/MoH
Scope of Works
• Analyze the existing strategies, policies, guidelines and other documentation relevant to coordination between the WASH partners and the NTD program in South Sudan
• Review relevant experiences on good coordination practice between WASH and NTD program in equivalent country contexts, especially Ethiopia and Kenya and other if any
• Participate and present in the final review meetings with key stakeholders at national level on national framework/guidelines.
• Support in development of meeting schedule and materials including mind maps emphasizing discussion on building upon the existing program strengths and challenges in conjunction with the concerned stakeholders.
• Conducting consultations with key stakeholders (Amref Health Africa, National MoH PC NTD team and others). This will not necessarily be in person and we can use virtual means if need be
• Documenting lesson learnt and transferability/scalability of the case finding approach to other Neglected Tropical Disease (NTDs)
• Support and review the final WASH/NTD framework
• Analysis challenges and opportunities related to the WASH/NTD integration and coordination.
• Indicate and draft joint monitoring mechanism for WASH/NTD coordination
• Collaborate and engage with all key stakeholders through Amref Health Africa
• Develop a final national WASH NTD framework and share with all key stakeholders for feedback and inputs
• Share a final and agreed final national WASH NTD framework
• Buy in and incorporate inputs and feedback from stakeholders during meetings of the framework development process.
Deliverables
An inception report outlining;
• List of the existing strategies, draft NTD/WASH framework, policies, guidelines and other documentation has been reviewed relevant to coordination between the WASH partners and the NTD program in South Sudan
• A detailed activity plans.
• Proposed report structure
• Implementation plan
• Complete and validate the national WASH NTD framework
• Submit a final national WASH/NTD framework (between 25-30 pages)
Consultancy duration
•The total duration for the Completion and validation of the national WASH/NTD framework will be 15 days’ period.
How to Apply
Submit your Technical and Financial Proposal through email only to [email protected] Indicating the Title of the Position you are applying for as your Subject Line by or before September 22,2024 5:00 PM CAT.
ToR_ South Sudan National WASH_NTD Framework_13-08-2024.pdf (506.1 KB)