Consultant – Review and Update of the National Health Policy & Strategic Plan

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Qualifications

Terms of Reference (ToR) for Consultant – Review and Update of the National Health Policy and National Health Strategic Plan (NOC level)

1. Background

The Ministry of Health (MOH) is undertaking a review and update of the National Health Policy (NHP) and National Health Strategic Plan (NHSP) to ensure alignment with current national priorities, global health agendas, and emerging health challenges. The NHP provides the strategic framework for equitable, accessible, and quality health services, while the NHSP operationalizes these objectives through actionable strategies, targets, and timelines.

Since the adoption of the current NHP (2017), significant developments—including the evolving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) agenda, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the rise of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), and the impact of COVID-19—have necessitated an updated, evidence-based, and costed strategic approach.

To support this process, the Ministry of Health (MOH) seeks the services of a consultant to work closely with the Technical Working Group (TWG) in facilitating the review, update, validation, and costing of the NHP and NHSP. The WHO Country Office is providing technical assistance and catalytic funding for the initial phase, including the recruitment of a national consultant.

2. Objectives of the Consultancy

- Provide technical expertise in reviewing and updating the NHP and NHSP.
- Ensure the revised policy and plan are evidence-based, aligned with global and regional commitments, and responsive to current and emerging health challenges.
- Support the integration of costing and a robust Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) framework into the revised NHSP.
- Facilitate inclusive stakeholder consultations at national and subnational levels.

3. Scope of Work

The consultant will:
1. Document Review and Analysis – Review the 2017 NHP and NHSP, related policy documents, and relevant global/regional frameworks; identify achievements, gaps, and lessons learned.
2. Stakeholder Engagement – Design and facilitate consultations with government, civil society, development partners, and community representatives.
3. Technical Drafting – Prepare the revised NHP (2025–2035) and costed NHSP (2025–2030), including an implementation matrix, ensuring inclusion of equity, gender, resilience, and digital health.
4. Costing and M&E Framework – Lead the costing exercise aligned with national health financing policies; develop a robust M&E framework aligned with SDGs and UHC targets.
5. Validation and Finalization – Present drafts for review by TWG, senior management, and political bodies; incorporate feedback into final documents.
6. Reporting – Prepare progress updates and a final consultancy report.

4. Expected Deliverables

- Inception report with detailed methodology and work plan.
- Draft revised National Health Policy (2025–2035).
- Draft costed National Health Strategic Plan (2025–2030) with implementation matrix.
- M&E framework aligned with SDGs and UHC indicators.
- Stakeholder consultation and validation reports.
- Final endorsed NHP and NHSP documents.
- Final consultancy report summarizing the process, findings, and recommendations.

5. Duration and Timeline

The consultancy will run for (two months). A detailed work plan with milestones will be developed in the inception phase.

6. Reporting and Supervision

The consultant will report to the National Technical Working Group and work under the guidance of the WHO Country Office, in close collaboration with the Planning Department of the Ministry of Health. Regular coordination meetings will be held bi-weekly or as required.

7. Qualifications and Experience

Essential Requirements

·         MSc/MPH in Public Health, Health Policy, Health Economics, or a related field.

·         Minimum of 10 years’ proven experience in health policy development, strategic planning, and health systems strengthening.

·         Demonstrated experience in costing exercises and developing Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) frameworks.

·         Strong facilitation, analytical, and stakeholder engagement skills.

·         Proven ability to deliver high-quality technical reports and policy documents within agreed timelines.

·         Familiarity with Lesotho’s health sector context, including its governance, financing, and service delivery structures.

Desirable Requirements

·         Previous experience working with Ministries of Health, WHO, or other UN/international agencies.

·         Knowledge of global and regional health frameworks (e.g., SDGs, UHC, WHO Global Health Strategies).

·         Experience in integrating cross-cutting issues such as equity, gender, resilience, and digital health into policy frameworks.

·         Strong communication and presentation skills, including ability to facilitate multi-stakeholder consultations.

8. Payment Terms

Payment will be made in installments based on satisfactory delivery of agreed milestones as outlined in the consultancy contract.

 

Annex: Work Plan & Timeline – Consultancy for NHP & NHSP Review

Activity

Aug 20–31

Sep

1–7

Sep 8–14

Sep

15–21

Sep

22–28

Sep

29–Oct 5

Oct

6–12

Oct

13–19

Oct

20–21

Inception Phase: Inception report, methodology, work plan

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Document Review: Review 2017 NHP/NHSP, policies, global frameworks

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Stakeholder Mapping & Consultation Planning

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Stakeholder Consultations (national & subnational)

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Technical Drafting: Revised NHP & NHSP

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Costing Exercise for NHSP

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M&E Framework Development

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Validation Workshops

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Finalization of Documents

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