Africa Mental Health Foundation (AMHF) Job Vacancy : Health Economist Consultant

Vacancy: Health Economist Consultant

1.0 Introduction: Africa Mental Health Foundation (AMHF): Africa Mental Health Foundation (AMHF) is a registered non-governmental organization (NGO) licensed to work both locally and regionally. 

AMHF has a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Government of Kenya to undertake mental health and substance use research to inform policy, practice, and the provision of innovative, appropriate, affordable, available and accessible mental health and substance use services to all. 

The Foundation was founded in 2004, and has offices in Gakuo Court building, 1st Floor, Lower Hill Road off the Haile Selassie Avenue, Nairobi and within the Education Offices in Machakos sub-County.
 

2.0 Project DescriptionIn November 2012, AMHF received a grant from Grand Challenges Canada to implement a project entitled, The Kenya Integrated Intervention Model for Dialogue and Screening to Promote Children’s Mental Wellbeing (KIDS).

The project, being implemented in Machakos and Makindu sub-Counties in the former Eastern Province over a period of three years, aims to promote the mental well being of school children through prevention and development of appropriate pathways to care.The goal of the project is to reduce the negative consequences of mental illness through improved mental well-being of primary school children guided by AMHF’s dream of creating a generation that achieves their social-economic and cognitive potential and passing it along to the next generation, thus breaking the vicious cycle of the interaction between poverty and mental illness.

The project has three objectives: 

1. To promote mental well being and prevent mental ill health and disorders in 5,740 primary school children (6-13 years) in 12 primary schools in Machakos and 12 primary schools in Makindu sub-Counties;

2. To facilitate interventions for children with mental illnesses identified from the 5,740 primary school children and;

3. To evaluate the efficacy of the KIDS Model.The main stakeholders for this project are school-going children, parents, teachers and lay and trained health professionals.

Other stakeholders include the Ministries of Education and Health and donor and civil society organizations in health and education. KIDS interventions include:

a) Peer clubs in 24 schools in Machakos and Makindu sub-Counties. As at now peer clubs have been either established or reestablished in 12 schools in Machakos (Kimutwa, Katumani, Kwa Kavoo, Kathi, Makakoi, Love, Kamweleni, Mang’auni, Mbembani and Kyanzau Primary Schools) 12 more will be started in Syumile, Kilongoni, Yiani, Muundani, Makusu, Tunguni, Ndonguni, Sekeleni, Ngiwa, Nguumo, Mutaantheu, Kwambae and Muundani Primary Schools in Makindu sub-County by January, 2015.

b) Training of teachers on life skills administration and peer clubs establishment and management. The life skills for this assignment are: decision making, problem solving, critical thinking, effective communication, interpersonal communication, self awareness, coping with emotions, coping with stress, and self awareness. So far four instructors from each of our 12 target schools in Machakos have been trained on how to establish and manage peer clubs. The four are currently running clubs and teaching life skills in their schools.

c) Psychoeducation training sessions targeting parents, village managers, church leaders, and other stakeholders in the area. Training sessions are ongoing in Machakos sub-county.

d) Training of formal and informal health workers on identification, treatment and follow up of children with mental ill-health and mental illnesses. Formal and informal health workers from five facilities in Machakos sub-County have been recruited to participate in the training.
 

3.0 Consultancy Purpose and ObjectivesThe Foundation wishes to recruit the services of a Health Economist Consultant to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of the components of the project and also establish the cost of scale up.

The consultant will assess:

1. The cost-effectiveness of KIDS interventions;
2. The burden of mental ill health and/or mental illness (individual, family and government with a view to generalizing to the entire country);
3. The cost benefit analysis and/or savings of KIDS interventions;
4. The opportunity cost.

3.1 Tasks, Responsibilities and Outputs of the Consultancy1. Review relevant literature related to the assignment;

2. Suggest appropriate methodology to assess different dimensions of the cost-effectiveness of each of the various components of the projects: the peer clubs, assessment of children’s mental health, interventions in health facilities, life skills training, psychoeducation training, and training of teachers amongst the other components related to the study;

3. Develop tools for data collection to establish the cost-effectiveness of the various KIDS components;

4. Present a draft and within a month the final report to AMHF clearly showing the cost-effectiveness of all the components of the KIDS Project. The report should have a minimum of the following (it is advisable that this is done in consultation with relevant stakeholders):

i. Recommendations for improvement
ii. Policy and practice implications
iii. Realistic and actionable recommendations to relevant national and county governments for purposes of scale up

5. Prepare and submit to AMHF a final report (incorporating AMHF recommendations) in two hard-bound copies and a soft copy. (The contents of the report will be agreed upon together with AMHF before the final submission);

6. Draft and within one month finalize a scientific paper on the cost effectiveness of KIDS targeting an impact-rated journal on health economics.
 

3.2 Duration of the assignmentThe assignment is expected to run for six months starting November 2014.

The consultant selected will be required to have the personnel and other resources ready to start the assignment then.

3.3 ApproachThis shall be participatory with envisaged knowledge transfer to the staff at AMHF.

The consultant will work jointly with AMHF and her partners/collaborators in the implementation of the project.

4.0 Expected Profiles of the Consultant(s)The suitable consultancy firm should possess;

• A good understanding of the health and education sectors. 
• Experience in mental health work and interventions will be an added advantage;
• Proven and extensive experience in economic evaluation of health projects;
• Post graduate training in health economics, economics or related disciplines;
• Consultancy experience;
• Proficiency in data management and report writing.

5.0 Response Proposal SpecificationsThose interested in the consultancy must include in their application a detailed technical and financial proposal with the following components:

1. Technical proposal

• Understanding and interpretation of the TOR;
• Methodology to be used in undertaking the assignment;
• Proposal work plan; showing realistic timelines, qualifications, roles and responsibilities of the proposed personnel (curriculum vitas of all proposed personnel must accompany the proposal) and the cost;
• Relevant experience related to the assignment.

2. Financial Proposal – showing the cost estimates of the assignment

• Consultant’s daily rate in Kenya shillings;
• Activity costs;
• Other costs e.g.travel and printing.

Proposals should be emailed to Jane Kimani via jane.kimani@amhf.or.ke so as to reach her by 17th October 2014.

6.0 Evaluation and Award of ConsultancyAMHF will evaluate the proposals and award the assignment based on technical and financial feasibility as well as experience.

AMHF reserves the right to accept or reject any proposal received without giving reasons and is not bound to accept the lowest or the highest bidder.