Country: Myanmar
Closing date: 12 Jan 2016
I. Background
The National Strategic Plan for HIV/AIDS 2011-2015 in Myanmar, developed in 2010, has been revised in 2013 and extended until 2016. More commonly known as “NSP II”, it has three main goals:
To reduce new infections of HIV;
To provide care and support to people living with and affected by HIV; and
To alleviate the socio-economic and human impact of AIDS on the individual, family, community, and society.
To achieve these goals, the NSP II identifies three strategic priorities, namely:
Strategic priority I: Prevention of the transmission of HIV through unsafe behaviour in sexual contacts and injecting drug use
Strategic priority II: Comprehensive Continuum of Care for people living with HIV
Strategic priority III: Mitigation of the impact of HIV on people living with HIV and their families
The plan also involves three cross-cutting interventions:
- Health (including private sector health services), non-health and community systems strengthening
- Favourable environment for reducing stigma and discrimination
- Strategic Information, Monitoring and Evaluation, and Research
The national multisectoral response to HIV and AIDS in Myanmar is implemented by the Government in collaboration with partners including national and international non-governmental organizations, bi- and multilateral agencies, private sector and civil society. Overall, there are approximately 40-45 organizations involved with the national response in Myanmar.
The most important sources of funding for the national response to HIV and AIDS in Myanmar are the GFATM, 3MDG, bilateral and multilateral donors. Myanmar has yet to adopt a decentralized fiscal system for financing development initiatives at the regional, provincial or commune levels.
Myanmar, like other Member States, have committed to submit to the United Nations’ Secretary General, through the UNAIDS Secretariat, a progress report on the achievement of the 10 High Level Meeting targets that countries aim to reach by 2015.
The Global AIDS Response Progress (GARP) includes four main elements of information, namely:
Ø Indicator data to measure progress made with the national response;
Ø A narrative report describing progress, challenges and recommendations;
Ø The National Commitments and Policy Instrument (NCPI); and
Ø The National Funding Matrix summarizing AIDS spending by funding source.
Myanmar’s first NASA exercise was back in 2005, and the second one in 2014 for the years 2012-2013. This exercise is aimed at the years 2014 and 2015. 2014 NASA exercise was very successful and provided much-needed detailed information regarding HIV expenditure as well as detailed data to properly complete the GARP funding matrix. Moreover, this year’s exercise assessing National Aids Expenditures 2014-2015 will be very valuable for the development of National Strategic Plan III and its Operational plan as well as the redaction of the new Global Fund Concept Note.
II. Objectives
The overall objective of the assessment is to capture health and non-health related financial flows and expenditures related to Myanmar’s national AIDS response.
Specific objectives include the following:
(a) to gather data to assess HIV and AIDS financing flows and expenditure in 2014 and 2015;
(b) to make data available that are needed to fill GARP funding matrix; and
(c) to develop national capacity to conduct NASA and strengthen the national resource tracking system to provide continuous key information on HIV/AIDS resource flow in Myanmar.
III. Methodology
A globally recommended methodological approach will be used using six variables (financing sources, financing agents, functions or AIDS Spending categories (ASC), production factors, providers of services and intended beneficiaries). This will allow building the foundations for a national expenditure tracking system that will ensure financial data is regularly collected and used to make decisions about investment of limited resources to address the epidemic.
IV. Scope of Work
Two consultants, one international and one national, will be hired for this assignment.
They will work hand in hand to apply NASA methodologies that have been developed by UNAIDS to assess the financing flows and expenditures in Myanmar for the past two years (2014-2015). The financing flows need to be accounted by reconstructing the financial transactions among the six economic entities described for the financing, production and consumption functions (as described in the “National AIDS Spending Assessment (NASA): Classifications and Definitions”.
To produce the results expected under these TOR, the consultants will conduct a survey involving all of the institutions involved in the response to HIV and AIDS at different levels.
In particular, the international consultant will be required to undertake the following tasks:
I. Desk review and preparatory work
1.1 Review information and data from various sources.
1.2 Meet with the NAP and partners in Nay Pyi Taw and the NASA Steering Committee to:
1.2.1 Be briefed on national epidemic and response
1.2.2 Explain NASA methods and lessons learned from other countries
1.2.3 Refine NASA work plan to produce the desired outputs and outcomes
1.2.4 Finalise the data collection instruments
II. Capacity development
2.1 Facilitate a meeting to introduce NASA aims and methods to stakeholders.
2.2 Train NASA team in specific data collection methods and tools, how to operate NASA tool and carry out the data entry, cleaning, analysis and interpretation.
2.3 Advise NAP and NASA Team on technical issues (onsite and via email).
III. NASA Data Collection and Analysis
3.1 Collect data from various sources
3.1.1 Collect data from secondary sources of information (e.g., financial reports).
3.1.2 Conduct a self-administered survey.
3.1.3 Carry out interviews with key organizations to obtain/clarify financial data
3.2 Process and analyse the data collected from different sources
3.2.1 Clean, analyse and interpret the data
3.2.3 Organize the data in a systematic way for easy future reference
3.3 Stakeholder validation of NASA preliminary results
3.3.1 Prepare and facilitate a meeting to validate NASA findings
3.3.2 Incorporate comments and suggestions from stakeholders
IV. Completion of data analysis and report drafting
4.1 Complete the data analysis based on recommendations made by stakeholders
4.2 Prepare a draft report including the findings and recommendations for the future
4.3 Incorporate comments of the Steering Committee and key stakeholders to finalise report
4.4 Complete GARP National Funding matrices for 2014 and 2015.
The international consultant will be supported by a national consultant who will be responsible in particular for the preparation of the in-country mission, compilation of data from existing sources, mapping of the national response, organization and facilitation of meetings with representatives of various institutions and collection of additional information and data that may be needed after the international consultant has already left the country and the analysis and interpretation of the data including the preparation of tables and graphs.
V. Expected Deliverables
- A workplan that has been agreed by NAP, UNAIDS and the Steering Committee
- An outline of the methodological approach and instruments to collect data for the NASA (assessment tools and guidance)
- Agendas, ppts and materials to be used to conduct workshops and meetings
- Raw and processed data obtained from the survey contained in an organized data base (filed according to organization in different folders)
- All of the hard copies and electronic data files containing relevant data
- Copy of background and other documentation used to inform and train team members
- Improved capacity of national staff measured through their level of interest in NASA and ability to conduct this kind of survey in the future on their own.
- A comprehensive report with findings following agreed structure, including graphs and tables and reflecting comments of SC and stakeholders.
VI. Expected level of effort and timeframe:
The international consultant will be engaged for a total of 32 days from 1 February to 30 March 2016 of which s/he will spend at least 25 days in the country. S/he is expected to work hand in hand with the national consultant and train and mentor this person on site and remotely. Data to complete GARPR 2015 should be available by March 25, 2016. The final report will need to be completed by March 30, 2016.
VII. Collaboration and reporting:
The consultant hired under these TOR will work under the overall supervision of the UNAIDS Country Coordinator and the day-to-day supervision of the Strategic Information Adviser and Investment and Efficiency Adviser. The consultant will closely together with the national consultant and coordinate efforts effectively with the NAP, UNAIDS and other partners.
VIII. Qualifications required:
◦ University degree in health economics, M&E, accountancy, social sciences or a related field
◦ At least seven years of professional experience including relevant experience in resource tracking, national accounts and spending assessments
◦ Thorough knowledge and relevant practical experience with implementing NASA in development countries a requirement
◦ Good understanding of HIV epidemics and national responses; a knowledge of the Myanmar context is an asset
◦ Experience with conducting surveys in developing countries and with the management and analysis of large quantitative data sets
◦ Excellent analytical, management and coordination skills
◦ Outstanding interpersonal, communication and facilitation skills
◦ Proficiency in spread sheets and word processing applications
◦ Strong oral and written English writing skills and experience in report writing
How to apply:
Interested candidates are requested to send their application with updated CV and cover letter to the Country Director, UNAIDS Myanmar, No. 137/1, Thanlwin Road, Kamayut Township, Yangon (Tel: +95 1 534498, 504832, 503816, 538087, 538938) or to htwey@unaids.org.
Please note that the deadline for application submission is 12 January 2016.