Call of Proposals: International consultant on cost-effectiveness analysis in Albania 

ECOM –Eurasian Coalition on Health, Rights, Gender and Sexual Diversity is a regional non-governmental association registered in Tallinn, Estonia, and working on the response to HIV epidemics among gay men and other MSM, and transgender people in Eastern Europe and Central Asia.

ECOM is one of the pre-qualified providers of the Global Fund’s CRG program and is now providing technical assistance to communities and key populations of Albania for conducting BUDGET ADVOCACY AND COST-EFFECTIVENESS AND EFFICIENCY ANALYSES of HIV and STI services for key populations in Albania.

The 2020-2022 Global Fund transition grant to Albania of US$ 1.6 million focuses on preparing the country to transition from Global Fund funding towards domestic funding. The grant will support national and public institutions in developing strategies to strengthen structures that will ensure continued and sustainable national HIV and TB programs. The grant will prioritize interventions to address the TB and HIV burden in the country, to ensure that key populations are being reached.

Civil Society Organizations and community-based organizations in Albania implementing HIV prevention programmes targeting KPs face challenges accessing domestic funding. There is no full visibility on the funding opportunities, and ability of community-based organizations to access such funding. The national commitment to support a dedicated budget line for KP HIV services has not yet materialized and the breakdown of the current budget of the primary health care system does not provide the necessary clarity as to whether it includes only administrative staff costs or community-based interventions. There is no apparent role for CSOs in the TB sector.

Given the efforts that CSOs have previously made in providing services to key populations in Albania, it is important for them to be actively engaged in the process of transition that the country is undergoing. Assessing the efficiency and effectiveness of community-led interventions will allow them to advocate for budgetary allocations for community-led service delivery activities and to strengthen their collaboration with public institutions through the finalization of a social contracting process.

This technical assistance will support the analysis of efficiency and effectiveness of services provided to key populations by CSOs and establish the baseline for CSOs to advocate for a transition plan including social contracting to ensure sustainability of the national response to HIV and TB among key populations.

The objectives of the technical assistance are to conduct an analysis of the efficiency and effectiveness of services provided to key populations by civil society organizations in Albania and to assess the service package costs required for civil society organizations to implement HIV and tuberculosis interventions with a goal of achieving 90-90-90 global targets as part of the social contracting mechanism.

1. Develop the TOR for a desk review of relevant documents to map out services provided by civil society organizations to key population groups including risks, benefits, roles and responsibilities of different CSOs. Desk review will be conducted by a national consultant.
2. Prepare a draft case studies on the cost-effectiveness and efficiency analysis, as well as an analysis of existing public funding channels and directions for their development (based on desk review of relevant documents).
3. Together with a consultant of budget advocacy, prepare a program and methodology for a first meeting in Albania with civil society to discuss prepared cases.
4. Together with a consultant of budget advocacy, conduct the first meeting for civil society, present the methodology, mapping and research results. Collect recommendations of the discussion.
5. Together with budget advocacy consultant develop a national funding report. Finalize the report, communicate with stakeholders from civil society, international organizations and ministries.
6. Together with a consultant of budget advocacy, conduct the second meeting with stakeholders, approve recommendations for the development of national funding report (for example, national grants or social orders, etc.).
7. Together with a consultant of budget advocacy and national consultant, prepare case study for the CRG-SI (Consultant report – 3-5 pages).

10.11.2020 – 25.12.2020

A contract for the provision of services will be signed between the consultant and ECOM, according to which ECOM will not be responsible for any taxes paid by the consultant. All taxes and any other payments required by the law of the country of residence of the consultant are paid by the consultant independently. 

In the event of  visits to Albania, ECOM will cover the costs of the flights and accommodations for the consultant additionally. 

The period for completing the work should not exceed 19.5 working days (including in-person meetings). In the event it is not possible to attend the meetings, the number of working days will be reduced.

– At least 5 years of work experience in the field of HIV and TB services

– Experience in the development and analysis of cost-effectiveness and efficiency analyses

– Experience in conducting activities for communities and key populations 

– Experience in the analysis of legislation, provided services, and review of documents

– Experience in organizing and conducting meetings with decision-makers

– English language (oral and written)

– The Albanian language is an advantage

Interested candidates are invited to submit their applications by e-mail to: contact@ecom.ngo with the subject “CE_Albania”. 

For any additional questions, please contact Alexander Poluyan, ECOM’s Communications Coordinator, at: alexandr@ecom.ngo

Application deadline: November, 5, 2020, 23:59 (GMT +3) 

– Information about the company or a resume for individuals (resume of each team member for group applications), with confirmation of the required experience. 

– Brief financial proposal in Euros (no more than 19.5 working days); 

– Previously developed documents – reviews, studies, etc. (link or attached documents).