Call for Consultancy to develop the Kenya Health CSOs Engagement Strategy

INTRODUCTION

The Health NGOs’ Network (HENNET), established in 2005, co-ordinates different Health Civil Society Organizations (CSOs).

Vision: A healthy and empowered Kenyan society.

Mission: As a network we promote civil society’s roles and engagements to transform Kenya’s health sector.

Our core focus areas are: Coordination and representation of Health CSOs, Health Sector Advocacy and policy influencing for the success of UHC, Growth and sustenance of HENNET’s membership/ Health CSOs, development of strategic partnerships and alliances and development of the capacity, resilience and sustainability of HENNET and its members as they promote accountability for the success of Universal Health Care (UHC) in our community.

BACKGROUND

The need to establish a CSO Engagement Strategy emanated from lessons learnt from the Global Financing Facility requirement of in-country RMNCAHN[1]-CSO engagement strategy. From consultations members of the Kenya RMNCAHN Coordination Group hosted by HENNET, saw it fit to have a unifying strategy that is not specific to Global Financing Facility (GFF) operations and not specific to a specific thematic health program. The CSO engagement strategy is a key reference document from which the code of conduct of the coalition will be developed.

GOAL AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STRATEGY

To achieve full and meaningful engagement of Civil Society to contribute to determining and achieving mutual goals and targets in the health and other stakeholder in the sectors.

Objective

To maximize impact, achieve greater results and enhance effectiveness of health programs in Kenya

Specific Objectives

1. Establish co-operative working modalities between CSOs and other stakeholders in the health sectors.
2. Promote meaningful interactions between CSOs and individual partners/stakeholders in a way that enhances complementarity in realizing national health outcomes;
3. Provide operational guidelines on engagement approaches at sub-national, national, regional and global levels.
4. Discuss, clarify and document how civil society can help achieve Universal Health Coverage, contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals, and consider links from health to the economy, human rights and governance.
5. Define and document a framework that defines results areas, institutional arrangements and systems which allow for the civil society to contribute effectively to broader health and an associated action-plan/Roadmap for implementing the Recommendations. This includes, outlining key advocacy agenda and articulate needs including capacity to make the framework operational.

[1] Reproductive, Maternal, Neonatal, Child, Adolescent Health and Nutrition

Deliverables/ Outputs

1. Documentation review
2. Debrief Meetings
3. Inception Report
4. Preparations for consultative meetings (programme, tools etc.)
5. Consultative meetings
6. Preparation of the CSO Charter and Engagement Framework
7. Presentation and validation of Draft Report
8. Finalization and Presentation of final documents. (The final documents will be launched by HENNET)

Deliverables

1. CSO Charter/Statement
2. CSO engagement framework

Implementation Arrangement

1. On a day to day basis, the consultants will be working with and directly reporting to HENNET on all technical matters
2. HENNET will have the overall responsibility of the project, where they will certify every consultancy deliverable and completion of work for payment purpose
3. HENNET is the contracting party for the national consultant. In this regard, HENNET is the sole source of instructions for the intended engagement.

Consultant’s Profile

The consultancy will have the requisite skill set to conduct his/her mission and will be working closely with HENNET. The consultant will demonstrate previous expertise, experience and extensive knowledge of the local/national context of the health. He/she is responsible for delivering quality deliverables in a timely manner.

The consultant will have the following competencies:

• An advanced degree in either of the following: Development Studies, Social and Political Sciences, Public Administration and Management, Public Health or other related fields.
• A minimum of six (6) years’ experience with CSO work in health, including strategic planning and capacity building in the Sub-Saharan region.
• Prior experience developing similar engagement strategies/frameworks.
• Experience of conducting capacity assessments of CSOs/NGOs or relevant organizations and measuring progress.
• Experience of developing and delivering participatory trainings and workshops.
• Strong analytical, quantitative and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to seek and synthesize information from a variety of sources and draw solid conclusion based on in depth analysis.
• Good communication skills, including the ability to write high quality reports, conduct studies and to articulate ideas in a clear and concise style.
• Excellent interpersonal and facilitation skills, teamwork and adept at working with people of diverse cultural and social backgrounds.
• Facilitation and resolving diverse views to reach a common agreement with accuracy and attention to detail.