Tenders Are Invited For Overview Of The Provision Of Care And Training In Dermatology In 5 Sub-Saharan African Countries

Tenders are invited for Overview of the Provision of Care and Training in Dermatology in 5 Sub-Saharan African Countries Consultancy for Mapping and Analysis of Dermatology Services and Training Systems. Presentation of the Pierre Fabre Foundation The Pierre Fabre Foundation (hereinafter the FPF), recognized as a Public Utility in 1999, aims to enable the most disadvantaged populations to access quality care and medicines. In 2023, the FPF is conducting 35 programs in 20 countries on five areas of intervention, including dermatology, which aims, on the one hand, to promote access to dermatological care through tele-expertise and, on the other hand, to improve the holistic management of the needs of people with albinism (hereinafter the PAA) through prevention, training and medical care programs, as well as the provision of school scholarships and socio-economic strengthening. These interventions are part of a dual approach: innovation thanks to its scientific and medical expertise, and sustainability through a partnership approach with local authorities and stakeholders. Since 2015, the FPF has become a recognized player on the issue of albinism, both within the local community of PAAs on the African continent and among political authorities and international bodies, which regularly request its contribution. The FPF and its local partners conduct support programs for approximately 10,000 PAAs in Mali, Tanzania, Malawi, Togo, Uganda, and Côte dIvoire. Presentation of the APPASAAS project Albinism and disability considerations are under-addressed in public policies in the countries concerned. Dedicated care pathways adapted to the specific needs of PAAs are not defined and/or are poorly available, and professionals (healthcare or educational personnel) are often poorly trained in these specific areas. While PAA associations exist across the African continent, they are mostly poorly structured and their actions fragmented. They have few resources to make their voices heard and participate in decision-making processes that affect them. For reasons of access, sustainability, and equity, it is therefore essential to support the associative network towards coordination and operational autonomy, so that PAA organizations can play their role, particularly in terms of information and awareness-raising. This project, through an initial three-year phase, aims to strengthen the protection, prevention and access to care for PAAs in Côte dIvoire, Uganda, Niger, DRC and Madagascar (hereinafter the Project). The Project will seek to complement the programs already undertaken with its own funds by the FPF in some of these countries and intended to achieve the following three convergent results: · Strengthen the capacities of PAA associations by supporting them in their structuring and networking (1); · Improving the orientation towards holistic management of PAA (2); · Contribute to advocacy for the establishment of national policies for the protection of PAAs (3). Background to the diagnosis Due to their lack of melanin, PAAs are particularly vulnerable to serious skin lesions, including actinic keratoses and skin cancers, particularly in tropical countries where sun exposure is intense. Despite the medical urgency of these conditions, health responses often remain limited, inadequate, or nonexistent, particularly in rural areas. As part of its mission to improve access to healthcare for populations in the least developed countries, and in line with its strategic positioning aimed at intervening on major public health issues that are neglected by international actors, the Pierre Fabre Foundation (FPF) has identified dermatology as a priority for action. Indeed, although common dermatoses are often benign, they can develop into severe forms when not properly diagnosed or treated. These pathologies, which affect between 30% and 70% of populations depending on the context, are also particularly stigmatizing due to their visibility, their sometimes contagious nature, and the lack of understanding they generate. Yet, they rarely mobilize health authorities and international donors, which contributes to their invisibility in health policies. Data from several sub-Saharan African countries highlight a very limited supply of dermatological care, both in terms of trained personnel and accessible infrastructure outside of capital cities. The shortage of dermatologists is particularly striking, with sometimes only a few specialists for several million inhabitants. This reality particularly affects people living with albinism, for whom the risk of developing skin cancer is significantly higher. Since 2006, the Pierre Fabre Foundation has been working to improve the management of skin diseases in sub-Saharan Africa, with a particular focus on two areas: first, the deployment of teledermatology in rural areas to strengthen remote diagnostic capabilities; second, support for awareness, support and care programs for people with albinism, who are particularly exposed and vulnerable. In light of these challenges, it appears essential to strengthen dermatological care systems and provide training adapted to local realities. A thorough assessment of the dermatological care offerings, existing initial and continuing training systems, and the specific needs of vulnerable populations, particularly people with albinism, is essential to guide effective interventions. Also, the FPF wishes to benefit from the services of a Consultant in order to carry out an inventory of the provision of care and services in dermatology, as well as training systems in dermatology in the following five (5) countries: Ivory Coast, Madagascar, Niger, Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda (hereinafter the Diagnosis). All tasks will be entrusted to the Consultant. Objective of the inventory The inventory will focus on: · The national strategy of the Ministry of Health, as well as plans and programs covering dermatology where they exist; · An inventory of the stakeholders, CSOs/NGOs and private dermatology services (clinics and private practices) will complete the report in order to have a broad vision of the panel of stakeholders in dermatology; · Information relating to trained and available human resources, the range of services, accessibility of care and patient monitoring in order to have an overall view of the situation; · Identify the training courses existing in the country, identify the training curricula and the number of health professionals trained by socio-professional categories; · A mapping of the actors; · Develop recommendations for use by national stakeholders, primarily health authorities, to guide actions to strengthen the provision of dermatology care and training. Where possible, specific recommendations on the provision of dermatological care for PAAs are expected. Achieving the objectives will require (i) a literature review to identify and centralize key reference documents, (ii) documentary reviews, (iii) interviews with a broad panel of stakeholders involved in access to care and (iv) field visits are to be planned. A mapping of stakeholders and the healthcare offering is expected. All of the activities referred to above to be carried out by the Consultant for the completion of the Diagnosis are hereinafter referred to as the Consultative Services. Expected results The information and data collected during the Advisory Services, as well as the results of analyses and recommendations, will be presented during a final restitution, accompanied by a presentation support. In addition, a report per country will be prepared in order to provide a clear overview of the supply and accessibility of dermatology care services for each of the five (5) countries. A restitution session after the completion of the Advisory Services in each country will be organized as well as a final restitution after the submission of the Final Report. Schedule of Advisory Services and Deliverables Calendar The Advisory Services will be carried out over a maximum period of 6 months. It will be up to the bidder to propose its own schedule, taking into account the start dates of the Advisory Services as well as the final validation of the Final Report. · Start of contract: August 1, 2025 · Delivery of deliverables: December 31, 2025 · End of contract: January 31, 2026 Deliverables The Consultant undertakes to submit to the Pierre Fabre Foundation (i) a Country Report for each of the five countries Ivory Coast, Madagascar, Niger, Republic of Congo, Uganda, then (ii) a final restitution, preferably at the headquarters of the Pierre Fabre Foundation, accompanied by a presentation support, no later than January 31, 2026 . The final country reports are expected to include: · A summary page; · The methodology used (weighting criteria, documentary analysis, interviews conducted); · An inventory of service offerings, HR capabilities, accessibility and training; · An analysis and mapping of the situation; · Recommendations for use by national stakeholders, primarily health authorities, to guide actions to strengthen the provision of care and training in dermatology. Technical and financial proposal The consultant invited to tender must provide the following elements to the FPF: · A technical proposal which must in particular indicate the proposed methodology and the work plan; · The planned intervention schedule, in particular respecting the deadline for submitting the final report; · The detailed financial offer (specify, for each cost, the eligibility conditions and the content of the price; · Consultants CVs The technical and financial offer must be sent to the following address: [email protected] no later than June 30, 2025 . As a reminder, the financial offer must indicate in pa Tender Link : https://www.coordinationsud.org/appels-doffres/?_localisations=afrique%2Casie%2Cmoyen-orient