About TB Europe Coalition (TBEC)

Established in 2009, TBEC is a regional advocacy network of civil society organizations and individuals from across the World Health Organization (WHO) Europe region, comprising Western and Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia. The network aims to strengthen the role of civil society within the regional response to TB, and ensure political and financial commitments to end TB.  Currently TBEC has more than 200 members from more than 30 countries in the region. In 2017, TBEC was registered as a legal entity in the Netherlands to step up its regional and national advocacy, capacity building and support to country-led TB advocacy initiatives. The TBEC Secretariat is located in Kyiv and responsible for the coordination, communication, administration, programmatic and policy management of the network. 

Background information on the project:

The current assignment is planned as a synergy of two projects:

1)     TB-REP 2.0 project “Advancing People-Centered Quality TB Care - From the New Model of Care Towards Improving DR-TB Early Detection and Treatment Outcomes”, led by Center for health policies and studies (PAS Center) and financed by the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, is aimed at fostering timely TB case detection and improved treatment outcomes in patients with special emphasis on drug-resistant TB, through meaningful involvement of communities and civil society and integrated people-centered TB care delivery systems able to address the needs of key and vulnerable populations, and continuous technical assistance is provided to countries to catalyze advocacy efforts, assess partnerships and advocacy strategies for civil society organizations (CSOs) and regional stakeholders, as well as forge partnerships with the national TB caucuses.

The developed document will be in line the TB-REP 2.0 project’s line 1.1.2. “Provide assistance to bridge the gap between civil society and the health services to provide people-centered TB services and develop a regional policy document on the roles of civil society and community in people-centered models of care”.

2)     Community Rights and Gender Strategic Initiative (CRG-SI of the Global Fund) project aimed at support to strengthening the capacity of networks and coalitions of TB advocates, TB activists and people affected by TB in Eastern Europe and Central Asia region (EECA).

CRG-SI of the Global Fund project provide TB affected communities and CSOs in countries of the EECA region with a unique opportunity to receive technical support in response to both emerging individual requests as well as in response to a shared need to keep up with the commitments of the Political Declaration of the UN General Assembly High Level Meeting on the Fight against Tuberculosis for the region. The project is funded by the Global Fund to fight HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

The developed document will contribute to activities mobilization of TB communities and CSOs in the direction of multisectoral coordination and accountability framework on delivering the commitments of Political Declaration, that serves as an advocacy tool to foster progress and strengthen the meaningful engagement of civil society and TB affected communities not only to End TB but also having more of an impactful role in health systems strengthening approach.

Objective of the assignment:

The purpose of the activity is to develop “The Strategy of civil society organizations’ and communities affected by tuberculosis’ involvement to achieve national TB targets in the Republic of Tajikistan (with a roadmap for 2021-2023)”. The development of the Strategy will be based on the situation analysis and recommendations resulting from meeting with civil society and TB affected communities, all-stakeholders meetings of the National Dialogue in Tajikistan, as well as taking into account the WHO’s Engage TB and Strategy for Community Engagement in TB Services in Tajikistan (USAID TB Control Program, 2017).

The Strategy will enhance CSO and TB community role and support the implementation of the National Development Strategy of the Republic of Tajikistan until 2030, National Program for Healthcare Strategic Development of the Republic of Tajikistan for the period 2021-2030, National Program for Protecting Population from Tuberculosis in the Republic of Tajikistan – 2021, thus strengthening alignment in multisectoral coordination and accountability on TB approach.

Scope of work:

The Lead Consultant of the Strategy development will be expected:

In cooperation with the TBEC secretariat:

1. To collect information on present role of CSO and multisectoral interaction on TB in the Republic of Tajikistan;
2. Based on discussions during the online meeting with civil society and TB affected community of the National Dialogue in the Republic of Tajikistan (Day 1) and taking into account national TB strategic documents using the solicit approach of multisectoral approach the following should be developed:

• the structure of the Strategy in support of the national strategic documents implementation and agree it with TBEC Secretariat.
• relevant changes in the structure of the Strategy in accordance with received feedback/suggestions from the participants of the meeting of the National Dialogue in the Republic of Tajikistan (Day 1);
• the outline Strategy based on the patient pathway and with respect of different key and vulnerable groups CSO and communities.  

1. Participate at the all-stakeholders online meeting (Day 2) of the National Dialogue planned for December, 2020;
2. Present the outline Strategy at the all-stakeholders online meeting (Day 2) of the National Dialogue;
3. Together with the civil society consultant finalize the Strategy of Civil Society Organizations and Communities Affected by Tuberculosis’ Involvement to Achieve the National TB Targets in the Republic of Tajikistan (with the 2021-2023 Roadmap) after the all-stakeholders online meeting, based on discussions, feedback and comments on the outline Strategy from the TBEC Secretariat and other partners of the National Dialogue.

Expected outcomes:

The Lead Consultant, will be expected to submit the following deliverables, in English or Russian, to the TBEC:

• The structure of the Strategy.
• PowerPoint presentation of the outline Strategy.
  • Final Strategy of civil society organizations’ and TB affected communities’ involvement to achieve national TB targets in the Republic of Tajikistan (with the roadmap for 2021-2023).

Qualification requirements:

The Lead Consultant, providing consultancy services, is expected to have a strong background in TB and civil society, as well as good understanding of overall context of the TB programs specific to the country(s) environment.

Consultant should meet the following qualifications:

Experience/Knowledge

• Educational background in public health, health policy epidemiology, public administration and in other relevant fields (or commensurable working experience).
• Knowledge and understanding of the national and regional responses to TB, particularly on WHO recommended strategies for people-centred TB care in the EECA region;
• Understanding of TB epidemiology, TB policies and interventions, and health systems in the country;
• Familiarity with the donor’s withdrawal and transition policies as well as needs of key and vulnerable populations in two targeted countries;
• Familiarity with the civil society and TB affected communities’ actors in the country and the country-specific social context they operate in;
• Proven experience in developing recommendations for people-centred TB approach;
• Experience of providing consultancy services under regional projects is an asset.

Skills

• Ability to formulate conclusions, and recommendations for strengthening TB prevention, care and control activities and intersectoral cooperation between TB stakeholders;
• Good writing and reporting skills;
• Cultural-sensitive communication skills;
• Ability to work independently and respond to feedback in a timely and professional manner;
• Proven ability to meet deadlines.

Languages

• Knowledge of Russian is required.
• Knowledge of English is desirable.

Duration of the assignment and remuneration provisions:

• The work is expected to start after signature of the specific agreement with individual consultant.
• The duration of agreement is December 2020.
• Remuneration will be paid in US Dollars, so Consultant shall have a USD bank account.
• The Consultant will be responsible for the payment of taxes according to the laws of his(her) country of residence

Conditions:

1. Individual consultants are invited to submit expression of interest for the consultancy services mentioned above.

1. TBEC offers the following type of cooperation:

• Consultancy Agreement with an Individual Consultant/Expert. The Consultant will be responsible for the payment of taxes according to the laws of his(her) country of residence. Remuneration will be paid in US Dollars, so consultant shall have a USD bank account.

3. The contract will be awarded on the competitive basis to a Consultant/Expert with the highest qualifications and meeting all requirements described in Terms of References (ToR[1]). Consultant will be evaluated based on the qualifications.
4. Consultancy fee for a given assignment will negotiated with a Consultant/Expert with the highest evaluation results.

         5. Your expression of interest should contain the following documents:

ü  CV with proven experience and qualifications (in Eng/Rus, not more than 3 pages).

ü  Motivation letter (in Eng/Rus, not more than 3 pages), clearly describing existing experience in the area of the proposed assignment

Failure to meet this requirements will lead to automatic disqualification of application;

6. All documents for expression of your interest should be submitted electronically to Anna Medvedenko, Administrative Officer, TBEC, at the following address [email protected]u

7. The deadline for receipt of your expression of interest: December 10, 2020, 6 PM, Kyiv time. Late proposals will be rejected.

8. Selected candidate will be contacted by December 11, 2020. 

9. The evaluation and selection will be conducted through procurement procedures set out in the TB-REP2.0 sub-grant agreement between TBEC and PAS Center, as a TB-REP2.0 Principle Recipient of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria and are aligned to the World Bank Guidelines. Questions regarding procurement procedures as well as other related to the topic of the current request can be addressed to Anna Medvedenko, Administrative Officer, TBEC, at the following address [email protected].