Local Consultant to Review the Current National Quality Assurance (QA) and Quality Improvement (QI) Strategy and Develop a New QA and QI Strategy

Cordaid seeks to engage an individual consultant for the following:

Background

The Government of Zimbabwe has received funding from the World Bank-Global Financing Facility to implement the Zimbabwe Health Sector Development Support Project (HSDSP) Additional Financing V. The objective of the programme is to sustain coverage and improve the quality of an integrated package of Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health Plus Nutrition (RMNCAH-N) services, as well as strengthen COVID-19 response and institutional capacity to manage performance-based contracts consistent with the Recipients’ ongoing health initiatives. Cordaid is the Programme Implementing Entity.

The Quality Assurance (QA) and Quality Improvement (QI) Strategy 2016-2020 has been guiding the implementation of QA and QI activities in Zimbabwe. The Ministry of Health and Child Care (MOHCC), together with key stakeholders including national and sub-national policy makers; community representatives and civil society, professional organizations, academia, researchers and development partners, will conduct a review of the Quality Assurance and Quality Improvement Strategy. The results of this Strategy review will guide the implementation of the Quality Assurance, and Quality Improvement, patient safety as well as inspection activities across MOHCC Zimbabwe from 2022-2026 in Zimbabwe. The review will ascertain whether the current National Strategy covering the period 2016-2020 achieved its specific objectives.
In view of this, through HSDSP AFV, Cordaid wishes to engage a local consultant to support MoHCC in reviewing the 2016-2020 QA and QI strategy and in developing the QA and QI strategy for 2022-2026.

Roles and Responsibilities:

• Conduct desk review of documents (Quality Strategy, other Ministry documents and department specific) and reports ( Quarterly, Support visits, Departmental Reports, etc.) as outlined further below;
• Identify key informants in consultation with Quality Assurance and Patient Safety (QAPS) Department and the QA and QI TWG
• Develop interview guide to interview key informants in consultation with Quality Assurance and Patient Safety Department and the QA and QI TWG
• Conduct interviews and focus group discussions with key informants at National, Province, District and Facility level

• Jointly develop a draft report on the implementation of the 2016-2020 strategy and new strategy
• Present the draft documents to QA and QI TWG for comments
• Finalize the draft documents based on the feedback from QA and QI TWG members
• Submit the final draft documents to MoHCC and the World Bank for approval

The consultant will conduct the following during the desk review and interviews to help her/him review the implementation of the 2016-2020t QA-QI strategy and provide specific inputs toward revising the new QA-QI strategy
• Assess the implementation of the MOHCC quality improvement and quality assurance related activities i.e., 5S (Sort, Set, Shine, Standardize and Sustain), KAIZEN and Total Quality Management (TQM) activities.
• Review of existing MOHCC National Health Strategy 2021-2025; Human Resource for Health (HRH), community and other program related health strategic plans for coherence, alignment, complementarity amongst other dimensions and proffer way forward as necessary.
• Assess the extent to which the MOHCC Quality management system (5S, KAZIEN and TQM will benefit the health sector with the available resources
• Identify on-going changes external to the health sector that need to be taken into account during implementation. (e.g. environmental, political, administrative, socio-cultural, economic and demographic changes)
• Assess the functionality of the QA and QI governance structures at different levels of the health care and adherence to roles and responsibilities as well as
• Assess strengths and weaknesses the client satisfaction systems on quality of the health care services and proffer mechanism to improve the system
• Identify and address critical factor(s)for ensuring sustainability and scaling up of QA and QI activities aiming at improving quality of care

Key Deliverables:

1. Key informant interview guide
2. Report on the implementation status of the 2016-2020 QA and QI strategy that would be reviewed by MoHCC team
3. Final QA and QI Strategy 2023-2027

Required qualifications:

• First degree in Medicine or in Nursing or Pharmacy, Laboratory with Master’s in Public Health or a related postgraduate degree.
• Sound understanding of concept of Quality Assurance and quality improvement system of Zimbabwe Health sector. ToT on QA and QI would be a plus
• Hands on experience in implementing or leading implementation of QA and QI activities would be a plus

• At least 10 years of working experience in the health sector in Zimbabwe.
• Proven experience of supporting/overseeing implementation of quality assurance and improvement projects in Zimbabwe in the past 5 years.
• Proven experience of supporting the development or review of strategy and/or similar documents in the health sector in Zimbabwe in the past 5 years.
• Registered with Medical/Nursing/Pharmacy/ Laboratory Council.
• Excellent communication skills and command of English.
• Must possess excellent qualitative analytical and writing skills
• Must be able to meet tight deadlines
• Must be a team player
• Excellent communication skills and command of English

Working condition:

The local consultant will be working under the direct supervision of the Quality Assurance and Patient Safety Directorate within MoHCC and Cordaid.

Reporting Structure:

The Consultant will directly report to the Cordaid Team Leader and Director of Quality Assurance and Patient Safety Directorate within MoHCC

Duration of Contract:

The contract will be for a maximum of 45 working days.