Hiring Office: UNFPA Botswana
Purpose of consultancy:
The Ministry of Health together with its partners including UNFPA, BITRI, BOCRA collaborated to undertake a three-phase proof of concept (pilot) project in which medical products including blood products, drugs and commodities are transported through the use of remotely piloted aircrafts (drones) as an innovation to improve health care delivery in general. The phased intervention aims to revolutionize the supply chain to improve accessibility and availability of drugs and life saving commodities, including blood and blood products for hard-to-reach communities, while also saving costs, reducing lead delivery times and inefficiencies by using drone technology. This is consistent with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) agenda which identifies innovation as critical to accelerating progress towards the global development aspirations. Phase I of the pilot project which entailed co-creation, prototyping, community engagement and experimentation was successfully completed in 2021. In a bid to harness innovation to leapfrog progress towards achievement of SDG Goal 3 - Good Health and Wellbeing, and following the outcomes and lessons learnt from phase I, the MoH has taken a decision to progress the project to phase II. This phase will explore delivery of live products (including drugs, blood and blood products) within the Okavango Health District.
This phase also includes development of a business model to inform stakeholder investment in the project. The choice and adoption of a model for integrating drones in support of the supply chain of health products in Botswana to reach the furthest left behind remains a question. It is against this background that the services of a team of consultants is sought to support this exercise which will conduct an in-depth analysis of existing models in Africa and beyond; and to propose suitable models for the Botswana Medical Drones delivery project.
Scope of work:
Specifically, the consulting team will follow a stepwise approach and focus on the following objectives:
Step 1: Build a case for ‘How’
a) Conduct an analysis of the financial, regulatory, and socio-cultural aspects of drones-for-health systems, with bias towards similar systems in Africa (including Rwanda, Ghana and Benin) and/or upper middle-income countries.
b) For Botswana, financial, regulatory and socio-cultural aspects may be determined by consultations with key informants, communities within the vicinity of Phase I implementation sites and those proposed for Phase II.
Step 2: Develop and fine tuning the Botswana Drones for health business model
c) Informed by the analysis, propose at least two business models for the use of drones in Botswana in support of the health sector supply chain, including the details of their viability backed by approximate quantitative data (A comparison of the two business models in other countries will be ideal).
d) Develop a partnership framework for each of the proposed models; exploring opportunities for external funding, domestic resources and innovative financing.
e) Facilitate a Design Thinking iterative workshop to:
i) Guide the choice of model as informed by the economic, internal regulation of the use of drones and the socio-cultural factors.
ii) Secure initial inputs and feedback on the proposed partnership framework
Step 3: Securing national ownership and endorsement of the business model
f) Develop a final report integrating the final business model for Botswana including advantages and disadvantages, and highlighting institutional and regulatory aspects, partnerships and financial implications. The final report will also include a roadmap for implementation of the business model.
Major Activities/Expected Deliverables
a) The inception report outlining a detailed methodology and work schedule
b) Detailed analytical report based on objectives a), and b) above.
c) Report on the Design Thinking workshop
d) Final business model for the Botswana Medical Drones Delivery project with an agreed partnership framework, and roadmap for implementation.
Duration and working schedule:
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The assignment shall not exceed a period of 30 working days spread across 3 months (payment will only be towards the 30 working days) |
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No |
Task |
No of days |
|
1 |
Consultative meeting with the Ministry of Health / UNFPA technical team to determine the scope of work |
1 |
|
2 |
Development of Consultancy Inception Report with detailed methodology and work plan |
2 |
|
3 |
Presentation of the Inception report to a Technical Working Group (TWG) |
1 |
|
4 |
Literature review including review of key national strategic documents |
7 |
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5 |
Data collection including stakeholder consultations |
5 |
|
6 |
Data Analysis and drafting of the analytical report |
5 |
|
7 |
Preparation, facilitation and report writing for the Design Thinking Workshop |
4 |
|
8 |
Drafting of the final business model report |
3 |
|
9 |
Validation of the final business model by the TWG, and revisions to incorporate comments from TWG, finalising and submission |
2 |
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30 days |
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Place where services are to be delivered:
Predominantly home-based, but the consultants may be required to undertake missions at district level for data collection purposes.
Delivery dates and how work will be delivered:
The consultancy will run from August 8th, 2022 to November 8th, 2022 while deliverables will be submitted electronically.
Monitoring and progress control, including reporting requirements, periodicity format and deadline:
The consultancy progress will be monitored and submissions reviewed jointly by a TWG comprising the Ministry of Health, UNFPA, BOCRA, BOTRI and other partners who will approve all submissions.
Supervisory arrangements:
The consulting team shall work under the direct supervision of the UNFPA BCO Strategic Information (administration of contract), and under the overall guidance of the technical working group (approval of all deliverables).
Expected travel:
Travel is anticipated to facilitate the data collection in selected districts, the Design Thinking workshop and a workshop to validate the final report.
Required expertise, qualifications and competencies, including language requirements:
The consulting team will comprise of an international and local consultant who meet the following requirements;
International consultant (lead)
a) An advanced university degree in Economics, Business administration, Global Health, Development Practice, Social Sciences or equivalent.
b) At least 7 years of progressive experience in business administration, health care administration, development policies;
c) Skills in innovation and / or supply chain technology, particularly in the use of drones in healthcare would be an asset;
d) Experience in ecosystem and business model analysis would be an asset;
e) Excellent oral and written communication skills including production of analytical report and high-level workshop facilitation skills
Local Consultant
a) Advanced university degree in global health, public health, health care administration, development practice or equivalent;
b) Demonstrated successful experience in applying both qualitative and quantitative techniques to develop evidence-based publications, strategies, guidelines, policy briefs and reports.
c) Experience working with government counterparts within the developing country context or UN system will be an asset.
d) Excellent interpersonal and strong communication skills, in both written and verbal English.
Inputs / services to be provided by UNFPA or implementing partner (e.g support services, office space, equipment), if applicable:
The Ministry of Health and its partners will provide relevant information materials.
How to apply: Interested applicants should send a technical and financial proposal, letter of motivation and a detailed CV with the subject clearly stating: "Consultancy - Development of business model" to bid.esaro@unfpa.org.
For any further clarification, please email makatane@unfpa.org
