Background
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.
- Rational for the national WASH /NTD integration framework development * Influencing government and other WASH program to prioritize the provision of WASH in NTD endemic districts and to harmonize messages between sectors.
- Advocating for joint planning, monitoring and implementation of NTD and WASH interventions in NTD endemic areas
- Promoting for the most effective WASH and behavioural interventions for NTDs prevention in identified hotspots
- Articulate the vision of the MOH in terms of program quality standards to be adhered to by all partners implementing WASH interventions within NTD program, to achieve global and national targets
- Facilitate coordination and integration across agencies and sectors by setting out key integrated actions and coordination structures
- Enhance the targeting of WASH interventions for improvement of health outcomes in South Sudan, with a specific emphasis on NTDs as prioritization criteria in selection of beneficiary areas or communities.
- Ensure that interventions result in sustained impact on disease distribution and severity, and contribute to broader health, wellbeing, equity and poverty-reduction objectives
Objective: The primary objective of the development of the WASH/NTD Framework is:
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.
Scope of Work: The consultant selected for this assignment will be required to successfully conduct the following technical tasks:
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Analyse the existing strategies, policies, guidelines and other documentation relevant to coordination between the WASH partners and the NTD program in South Sudan
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Review relevant experiences on good coordination practice between WASH and NTD program in equivalent country contexts, especially Ethiopia and Kenya and other if any
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Participate and present in the final review meetings with key stakeholders at national level on national framework/guidelines.
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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.
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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
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Documenting lesson learnt and transferability/scalability of the case finding approach to other Neglected Tropical Disease (NTDs)
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Support and review the final WASH/NTD framework
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Analysis challenges and opportunities related to the WASH/NTD integration and coordination.
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Indicate and draft joint monitoring mechanism for WASH/NTD coordination
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Collaborate and engage with all key stakeholders through Amref Health Africa
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Develop a final national WASH NTD framework and share with all key stakeholders for feedback and inputs
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Share a final and agreed final national WASH NTD framework
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Buy in and incorporate inputs and feedback from stakeholders during meetings of the framework development process
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.
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Review the experiences of other countries good coordination practice and incorporate contextual strategies and approaches.
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Engage and Interview key stakeholders as recommended by MoH/Amref
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Conduct participatory and consultative meeting with stakeholders with guidance from Amref/MoH
Deliverables The consultant will be responsible for the following 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
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Complete and validate the national WASH NTD framework
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Submit a final national WASH/NTD framework (between 25-30 pages)
Duration of Assignment: The entire assignment is expected to take a maximum of 5 weeks, with key milestones as follows:
Day 1: Preparation and start of work
Day 2 -4: Discuss and engage the key stakeholders to get their buy in
Day 5-6: Conduct desk review
Day 7-9: Initiate and develop draft framework.
Day 10 -12: Final WASH and NTD integration framework for the country
Day 13-15: Organize and conduct final participatory review meetings with key stakeholders at national and others
Budget Applicants are expected to submit a detailed budget with line items for:
Team costs (Training, transport, and per diem).
Professional fees for:
Data collection tools.
Data analysis and report production.
Qualifications: The successful consultant or firm should possess the following qualifications:
Demonstrated experience in conducting large-scale public health development of frameworks, especially in neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) and WASH in South Sudan
Expertise in development of national policies or frameworks and data analysis.
Strong knowledge of NTD and WASH interventions.
Proven ability to work in challenging field environments with diverse populations.
Fluency in English; local language skills (Juba Arabic) are an asset.
Application Process: Interested consultants or agencies should submit:
A cover letter detailing their approach to the CES.
A draft survey protocol.
Curriculum Vitae (CV) of the lead consultant and core team members.
A budget proposal.
All applications and inquiries should be directed to the email address Jobs.SouthSudan@Amref.org with a subject line *“*completion and validation of WASH/NTD Framework for the Ministry of Health, Republic of South Sudan ” to reach on or before 5.00 PM CAT 8th Nov 2024.
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