National Consultant – To develop the health workforce labor market assessment (HLMA) in Tunisia

Purpose of consultancy

The aim of this consultancy is to lead the development of a health workforce (HWF) assessment in Tunisia by conducting a health labor market analysis (HLMA), including an in-depth analysis of emerging policy priorities and formulate recommendations to inform the development of a national HWF policy.

Background

In Tunisia, health workers are unevenly distributed, with a high concentration in coastal governorates and private facilities, leading to gaps in health services delivery. The motivation of health workers, especially in the public sector, is low due to low renumeration levels, difficult working conditions, and limited prospects for career development, especially in the regions outside of Tunis and the coastal regional. This has led to increased migration of health workers – from the public to the private sector in Tunisia and from Tunisia to higher-income countries that offer higher wages and better working conditions.[1]

The ability to address HWF challenges is constrained by a lack of systematic collection and analysis of data, especially from the private sector, to inform planning and policies to address health worker shortages and distribution of the HWF. A HLMA was conducted in Tunisia in 2019 but it was not finalized or validated by the Ministry of Health (MOH). In addition, several policy issues, such as health migration, have taken on increased urgency since 2019. Furthermore, the previous HLMA needs to be enriched by the collection and analysis of private sector data.

An HLMA contributes to a better understanding of the availability, accessibility, acceptability, and quality of the HWF through an analysis of the forces that drive health worker shortages and surpluses, skills mix and geographical imbalances, and suboptimal performance.[2] The HLMA will provide a basis to address the strategic orientation of HWF policy in Tunisia in the context of the National Health Policy (PNS) recommendations and the current context (social, economic and political considerations).

The consultant will provide strategic advice on the definition of the objectives and scope of the HLMA, assess the HWF situation in Tunisia through data collection, quantitative analysis, and consultations with key stakeholders, and propose actionable and impactful policy recommendations. The consultant will work in close collaboration with the WHO Tunisa country office and experts in WHO HQ and the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office (EMRO) and will work in close consultation with the MOH.

Deliverables

There are 4 key objectives of the consultancy:

• Conduct an HLMA with the latest data and evidence available.
• Conduct deep dive analyses of priority policy issues, such as migration of health workers, drawing on both quantitative and qualitative methods for data collection and analysis.
• Analyze the current academic training system for HWF production.
• Produce evidence and data to better estimate future needs of health personnel and design relevant policies to plan for HWF production and retention more effectively.
• Formulate recommendations to inform the development of an evidence based national HWF strategy.

Output 1: Validate methodological approach based on review of the 2019 HLMA and available data and evidence.

Deliverable 1.1: Develop a methodological note for the HLMA development with a synthesis of documentation review.

Output 2: Collection and analysis of data and evidence on HWF in public and private sector.

Deliverable 2.1: Develop questionnaire for data collection from private and public sector stakeholders

Deliverable 2.2: prepare a guide for key informant interviews (KIIs) and focus group discussions (FGDs) with stakeholders.

Deliverable 2.3: Analyze data and draft the HLMA document.

Output 3: Validate and finalize HLMA document.

Deliverable 3.1: Develop Concept note of the validation workshop.

Deliverable 3.2: Submit and finalize HLMA document.

Deliverable 3.3: Prepare policy brief with a summary of the HLMA document and proposed strategic orientations for the development of a national HWF strategy.

Educational Qualifications

Essential: University degree in health economics, public health, statistics, or related field.

Experience

Essential: At least 5 years of experience in HWF assessment and policy development, including collection and analysis of HWF data.

Desirable: Experience of providing technical support for health system analysis studies in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region.

Skills/Knowledge

Knowledge of HWF concepts and labor dynamics.

Strong knowledge of health and labor economics concepts and tools.

Robust understanding of the health system in Tunisia.

Strong analytical skills, including quantitative analysis of health system, HWF, and economic data, and qualitative analysis.

Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to collaborate with partners.

Strong verbal and written communication skills.

Proficiency in MS Office software applications.

Languages and level required

Essential: Expert knowledge of French

Desirable: Expert knowledge of Arabic and working knowledge of English.

Location

Tunisia – WHO Country Office Tunisia

Travel

Not anticipated.

Medical clearance

A signed and stamped medical certificate is to be provided.

Hiring Unit

WHO Country Office Tunisia – Health systems

Remuneration and Expected duration of the contract (Maximum contract duration is 11 months per calendar year)

·Remuneration: national pay grade of NOC.

·Expected duration of the contract: 40 days starting from 1 July 2024

WHO Competencies

Enhanced WHO Global Competency Model: Enhanced WHO global competency model

Interested candidates are strongly encouraged to apply online through Stellis. For assessment of your application, please ensure that:

a)Your profile on Stellis is properly completed and updated.

b)All required details regarding your qualifications, education, and training are provided.

c)Your experience records are entered with elaboration on tasks performed at the time.

Additional information

• This vacancy notice may be used to identify candidates for other similar consultancies at the same level.
• Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.
• A written test may be used as a form of screening.
• If your candidature is retained for an interview, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. WHO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed through the link: http://www.whed.net/. Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and will require individual review.
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• Applications from women and from nationals of non and underrepresented Member States are particularly encouraged.
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• Consultants shall perform the work as independent contractors in a personal capacity, and not as a representative of any entity or authority. The execution of the work under a consultant contract does not create an employer/employee relationship between WHO and the Consultant.
• WHO shall have no responsibility whatsoever for any taxes, duties, social security contributions, or other contributions payable by the Consultant. The Consultant shall be solely responsible for withholding and paying any taxes, duties, social security contributions, and any other contributions which are applicable to the Consultant in each location/jurisdiction in which the work hereunder is performed, and the Consultant shall not be entitled to any reimbursement thereof by WHO.