Tenders are invited for Evaluation externe du Programme dAppui au Système de Santé du Sud-Kivu, PASS Closing Date: 31 May 2025 Type: Consultancy Themes: Health/Shelter and Non-Food Items The Swiss Cooperation in the Democratic Republic of Congo (SDC) is commissioning experienced consultants to conduct an evaluation of the South Kivu Health System Support Programme, PASS. 1. Background information and background to the evaluation In the Cooperation Strategy for the Great Lakes Region 2022-2025, Switzerland has committed to supporting the region in its capacity to share and enhance its wealth and potential, to enable populations and communities, particularly young people and women, to meet demographic, environmental and socio-economic challenges while respecting human rights for the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Switzerlands priority themes for 2022-2025 include (i) governance, protection of civilians and conflict prevention; (ii) health and nutrition, and (iii) employment and economic development. In its sub-objective 2, Switzerland aims to improve the health and well-being of the most vulnerable populations through its Support Programme for the South Kivu Health System, PASS. The South Kivu Health System Support Program seeks to achieve this goal by promoting universal health coverage. The programme aims to ensure a minimum package of high-quality services that is accessible to the entire population in a fair and sustainable manner. It is structured around the following main strategic axes: Axis 1 Improvement of the quality of health services: The supply and demand for health services are increased, through an improvement in the quality of health services. In particular, the provision of quality services for maternal health (including sexual and reproductive health) and child health, as well as the nutritional and psychological status of the population in the supported health zones, will be strengthened. In addition to quality, services must be culturally acceptable, youth-friendly, gender transformative, community-integrated and accessible to the poorest households. Switzerland supports access to quality health services for vulnerable populations especially women, children and affected people. The programme focuses on health care and the fight against malnutrition. This is done within a framework of technical coordination and capacity building of health services at the local level. Axis 2 Strengthening good governance of the health sector at the decentralized level: A functioning and resilient health system requires good governance and sustainable financing of the sector. The PASS focuses mainly on the decentralized level (provincial, health zones and health facilities). In order to reduce losses and improve resource allocation, increase transparency and fight corruption, actions aim to strengthen the institutional capacities of state and non-state partners, such as community participation in planning and the involvement of women in management bodies. This is thanks to (i) the revision of the current Performance-Based Financing (PBF) mechanism with indicators at all levels of the health system; (ii) the strengthening of the drug supply system through the regional distribution center (RDC) and (iii) the strengthening of regulatory bodies at all levels of the health pyramid. Axis 3 Epidemiological surveillance and response to epidemics and health emergencies: As part of the implementation of the International Health Regulations (IHR), research activities (public health laboratory), development of epidemiological surveillance capacities and response to epidemics and disasters at the local/community level are prioritized. Prevention and screening measures are reinforced, particularly in sensitive areas and territories and at the community level. Cross-cutting themes: In addition to being priority areas of intervention in phase 5, good governance, the PSEAH and gender equality are integrated and addressed in a cross-cutting manner throughout the programme. Specific actions and indicators in the areas of HIV/AIDS, Gender and Governance have been developed. Communicable disease prevention and screening activities are supported in and around artisanal mining areas bordering the programs intervention health zones. Transparency and coordination (single contract) among donors have been promoted. In line with the do no-harm principle, the regular system of contextual analysis and the policy dialogue in coordination with all stakeholders served as the basis for the development of a Conflict Sensitive Programme Management (CSPM). The PASS South Kivu program that is the subject of this evaluation aims at systemic support from the bottom with a very marked geographical focus. It is a program that supports the Health System Strengthening Strategy (SRSS) and the National Health Development Plan (PNDS) at the decentralized level. It is perfectly aligned with the Great Lakes Strategy 2022-2025 of the Swiss Cooperation and the Swiss foreign policy on health. The programme contributes to achieving the targets of the 2030 Agenda goals. The current phase was planned for 2021, adding elements of analysis in sectoral political economy to the achievements of the previous phases. A study commissioned by the SDC in the Political Economy of South Kivu[1] attempts to extrapolate the elements, balances and personal motivations that dictate the functioning (or even dysfunction) of the health system (deviance between the normative framework and the actual functioning). Issues such as the pricing of care, the drug circuit, mutual health insurance companies, the coordination of support at the provincial level (transparency) or the management of human resources are particularly sensitive. Phase V of the PASS (01.05.2021-31.12.2025) is implemented in 10 health zones (HZs) by GIZ (the SZs of Kaziba, Minova, Mubumbano, Mwana, Nyangezi, Nyantende, Ruzizi and Uvira) and Caritas Congo in 2 SZs (Kalehe and Kirotshe). However, other contributions have been made on an ad hoc basis until mid-2024. To fight the epidemic in Mpox, a financial contribution was made to UNICEF at the end of 2024 to finance prevention and case management activities in the province of South Kivu. The total budget for PHSA Phase V is 11.7 million Swiss francs. The SDCs new cooperation programme for the DRC 2026-2029 is currently being prepared. A priori, the health theme is maintained in the health and basic services thematic axis with a focus on maternal and child health. 2. Evaluation Objective, Scope and Direction Evaluation Objective The evaluation will provide the necessary analyses for the SDC team and its partners to decide on the content and focus of the follow-up to Swiss interventions and support in the field of health (including modifications for the PSaMI 2024-2028 programmatic phase). Scope The breadth and depth of the evaluation will be determined by the indicative questions that the evaluation seeks to answer (see chapter below). The evaluation will focus on the impact of the program on the health system of South Kivu and on the health of the populations benefiting from the program. The period is limited to/from 2021-2025 (Phase V of the PASS), from 01.05.2021 to 31.12.2025. The geographical extent corresponds to the health zones of Kalehe, Kaziba, Kirotshe, Minova, Mubumbano, Mwana, Nyangezi, Nyantende, Ruzizi and Uvira. Orientation The evaluation of the PHSI Programme must follow the OECD/DAC criteria: relevance, coherence, effectiveness, efficiency, impact and sustainability. The priority and exclusion of certain criteria must be explicitly mentioned in the consultants offer and in the final evaluation report. Indicative Evaluation Questions / Priority Focus Area The evaluation process will be carried out in three stages (i) analysis and review, with preliminary recommendations; (ii) decisions by the SDC management and (iii) possible adaptations of the current phase of the SPAMI or other ongoing projects in the field of health. Etape 1, ANALYSE et PERPSECTIVE en accord avec le document de projet et ses annexes, lanalyse devra informer sur la performance du programme. Ainsi, le cadre danalyse se référera aux critères OCDE/DAC de pertinence, defficacité, defficience, dimpact et de durabilité du programme. Lanalyse identifiera les résultats obtenus (attendus et inattendus), les contraintes rencontrées, les leçons apprises et les perspectives datteindre des résultats attendus. En particulier, lévaluation sintéressera aux questions suivantes : Pertinence de lapproche systémique décentralisé : dans le contexte des programmes verticaux et des stratégies de mise en uvre dautres bailleurs au Sud-Kivu, évaluer la pertinence de lapproche dappui holistique décentralisé sans ancrage au niveau central, adoptée par la DDC. Proposer des pistes de capitalisation de lexpérience DDC dans une perspective dapproches multisectorielle et intégrée qui convolent à la fois des réponses à des situations de crise et de renforcement des systèmes de santé dans un contexte de fragilité. Réfléchir aux options pour institutionnaliser / pérenniser les mécanismes dappui techniques fournis par le programme (refreshers ; formation spécifiques, crisis modifiers, etc.) dans une optique de formation continue. Gouvernance décentralisée : Lévaluation déterminera la valeur ajoutée de lapproche systémique promue par le PASS (équilibre et interaction entre lInspection Provinciale de la Santé, structure déconcentrée, qui représente le niveau national, le ministère provincial en charge de la santé et la Division Provinciale de la Santé, qui sont des structures décentralisées). Lévaluation indiquera comment le travail avec le SUN, lUNICEF et autres agences (PAM, OMS, FAO) et projets DDC (par ex. projet Nutrition, santé durgence) sarticule pour la nutrition. A exam Tender Link : https://reliefweb.int/job/4149951/evaluation-externe-du-programme-dappui-au-systeme-de-sante-du-sud-kivu-pass
