SCOPE OF WORK 

Background

Pathfinder is driven by the conviction that all people, regardless of where they live, have the right to decide whether and when to have children, to exist free from fear and stigma, and to lead the lives they choose. Since 1957, we have partnered with local governments, communities, and health systems to remove barriers to critical sexual and reproductive health services. Together, we expand access to contraception, promote healthy pregnancies, save women’s lives, and stop the spread of new HIV infections, wherever the need is most urgent. Our work ensures millions of women, men, and young people can choose their paths forward.

Frontier Health Markets (FHM) Engage

Frontier Health Markets Engage (FHM Engage) is a global cooperative agreement to provide technical assistance (TA,) supporting local actors to improve the ability of health markets to meet supply-side capacity gaps and consumer preferences, contributing to equitable provision of and access to high-quality family planning (FP) and other health services and products in mixed health systems. Building on over 30 years of USAID investment, FHM Engage focuses on strengthening local health markets by addressing the root causes of market failures in the core market functions to create the necessary behavior change that catalyzes supply and demand and supports sustainable change. In line with this approach, FHM Engage seeks achievement towards two main Results: 

• Result 1: Improved market environment for greater private sector participation in the delivery of health products and services.

• Result 2: Improved equal access to and uptake of high-quality consumer-driven health products, services, and information.

In Pakistan, the FHM Engage project's 5-year work plan focuses on synthesizing evidence and addressing the root causes of private sector market failures in Family Planning (FP) through the Market Development Approach (MDA). The project aims to implement market-based activities that induce sustainable behavior change, catalyzing the core functions of supply and demand. It also supports market functions of Stewardship, Financing, Rules, Regulations, and Norms, and Market Intelligence to optimize health markets' ability to equitably and efficiently increase access to high-quality FP services, products, and information.

With these goals in mind, the work is guided by two key objectives:

• Objective 1: Strengthen Private Sector Stewardship through engagement, mobilization, expansion, dialogue, consensus, governance reform, and facilitation of existing private sector platforms.

• Objective 2: Enhance Public-Private Dialogue (PPD) to support priority market solutions related to Youth-Driven Demand (YDD) for FP services delivered through the private sector.

Rationale for the deliverable:

In Y2 of Frontier Health Markets (FHM) Engage project, data gathered from desk reviews, DHS, co-design sessions and surveys revealed contraceptive preferences among youth: condoms (73%), oral contraceptive pills (OCPs 6%), and emergency contraceptive pills (ECPs 4%). Between the public and private sector access to FP, a comparable percentage of women utilize the private sector for their FP needs, but the overall method mix is predominantly condoms and sterilization. This suggests an opportunity for private commercial sector growth in expanding other contraceptive choices like pills, including the newer generation OCPs, implants, and injectables and newer products that appeal to youth.

Impact Hub identified market gaps to be addressed:Through its work to identify FP methods most attractive to youth, FHM Engage through the private sector platform, Impact Hub is seeking to prioritize a specific need for expanding market supply of short-term methods (STM) sustainably in the Pakistan market.  These methods, particularly newer 4th and 5th generation contraceptive OCPs, are preferred by youth due to their easy accessibility at pharmacies and retail outlets. Expansion of supply can be achieved by catalyzing the production of locally manufactured options.

Scope of Work:

The key objective driving this scope of work is ‘to develop an actionable comprehensive strategy and action plan aimed at expanding the availability and choices of contraceptives in the commercial sector, including newer generation oral contraceptive pills (OCPs) and other new products.’

Key Responsibilities:

1. Initial Assessment and Planning

• Conduct initial orientation meeting with FHM Engage Pakistan team to understand project goals, expectations, and deliverables.  18^th July 2024.

• Coordinate with IH to understand the IH guidelines. 19^th July 2024.

• Review and synthesize the relevant background documents, previous studies, and existing data as a market analysis to understand the current landscape of contraceptive availability in the commercial sector. Week of 22^nd July 2024.

This will include:

1. Gaps, challenges, and opportunities in the existing contraceptive market.

2. Analyze consumer preferences, demand trends, and demographic data.

3. A stakeholder analysis, including key players in the distribution (public & private) pharmaceutical industry, healthcare providers, and regulatory bodies. 

• Prepare an overview of consultations to be had with stakeholders, compose groups, get availability for different rounds of group consultation. 31st July 2024.

• Conduct stakeholder consultation meetings with representatives of FHM Engage, CIP and Impact Hub and relevant market actors from manufacturing, pharmaceutical, distribution, social marketing, and others to gather insights, market intelligence, and inputs. - August 2024

2. Stakeholder Engagement

• Organize and facilitate 2-3 structured stakeholder consultations, to gather insights and inputs.

• Engage with pharmaceutical companies, manufacturers, distributors, healthcare professionals, and other supply chain stakeholders for a market assessment for potential of market expansion of contraceptive choices.

• Document, synthesize and finalize the outputs of the stakeholder consultations  to inform the strategy development.

Stakeholder Engagements will ideate on the following:

1. Define the vision, mission, and strategic goals for the initiative.

2. Develop specific, measurable objectives aligned with the overall goals.

3. Identify and prioritize strategic initiatives and actions to achieve the objectives.

4. Formulate a regulatory engagement and compliance strategy to facilitate the introduction of new contraceptive products.

3. Action Plan Formulation

• Develop a detailed action plan, including specific activities, timelines, responsible parties, and required resources.

• Outline strategies for pricing, distribution, and supply chain management.

• Design promotional and educational initiatives to raise awareness and increase uptake of contraceptive products.

• Create a risk management plan to address potential challenges and obstacles.

4. Implementation Plan

• Provide a phased implementation plan with clear milestones and deliverables, as a long-term strategy for relevant stakeholders to take forward.

• Recommend a monitoring and evaluation framework with key performance indicators (KPIs) and metrics.

• Develop feedback mechanisms for continuous improvement and adaptation of the strategy.

5. Documentation and Reporting

• Synthesize and finalize the outputs of the consultations, as an actionable strategy document and action plan for review and feedback from key stakeholders.

• Revise, finalize and handed over the final report to the FHM Engage team.

• Present the final strategy and action plan at the project dissemination event in September to the relevant stakeholders.

In line with this, a contract is intended for consultancy based on the deliverables and outcomes outlined in the table below:

Deliverables:

Supervision and Administrative Support:

• Technical support and supervision will be provided by Senior Program Advisor - SBC and Health Markets, Pathfinder International.

• Administrative support regarding non-technical inquiries and submission/approval of invoices will be provided by the Advisor - SBC and Health Markets, Pathfinder International.

Qualifications and Experience Required:

• Proven experience in developing strategic plans, preferably in the healthcare or pharmaceutical sectors.

• Expertise in market analysis, stakeholder engagement, and project management.

• Knowledge of contraceptive products and reproductive health is highly desirable.

• Strong analytical, writing, facilitation, and communication skills.

• Ability to work collaboratively with diverse stakeholders.

• Ability to articulate and document outputs of discussions.

Project Management:

• Sharing progress updates with the FHM Engage project manager, as required.

• Adherence to agreed timelines and deliverables.

Equal Employment Opportunity Employer Statement

Pathfinder International provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

Safeguarding and Protection Statement

Pathfinder is committed to the safeguarding and protection of the people we serve and our staff. We have zero tolerance for any type of behavior that inflicts harm on children, young people, adults, our staff, and partners including sexual abuse, harassment, bullying, and exploitation. We do everything possible to ensure that we recruit only those who are suitable to work with us. We expect that everyone we hire will abide by our safeguarding and related policies and will report any suspected or known violations. This job is subject to a range of vetting checks as legally permitted in the country where they are being hired. By applying, the job applicant acknowledges they understand our intent to verify suitability to work with us.