Request for Consultant: Support Rehabilitation Assessment Committee in Georgia

Results for Development (R4D) is a leading non-profit global development partner. We collaborate with change agents around the world — government officials, civil society leaders and social innovators — to create strong systems that support healthy, educated people. We help our partners move from knowing their goal to knowing how to reach it. We combine global expertise in health, education and nutrition with analytic rigor, practical support for decision-making and implementation and access to peer problem-solving networks. Together with our partners, we build self-sustaining systems that serve everyone and deliver lasting results. Then we share what we learn so others can achieve results for development, too.

We have a unique and vibrant culture at R4D. Diversity, equity and inclusion are at the heart of our work environment and help advance our mission. Diversity—of ideas, identities, perspectives and backgrounds—is vital to who we are and what we do. We seek people who embrace these values and will help reinforce them. Our work culture is collaborative, creative and entrepreneurial. We operate based on trust and respect. Teams across the organization frequently collaborate on programmatic work and support each other in continuously building a better R4D.

Project Background

The Health Systems Strengthening Accelerator (Accelerator) is a global initiative funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) through a Cooperative Agreement, with co-funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF). Its goal is to strengthen institutions and processes, build local expertise, and support countries as they co-create, innovate, and adapt, in order to build more effective and sustainable health system interventions on their journeys to self-reliance. The program’s approach supports local partners as they lead implementation and find their own pathways to meaningful and lasting health systems change. The Accelerator is led by Results for Development.

The Inclusive Development Hub of USAID’s Bureau for Development, Democracy, and Innovation (DDI) has engaged with the Accelerator to provide technical and analytical assistance to the Government of Georgia in strengthening systems and institutions for rehabilitation. The main goal of the project is to Improve Financial Protection for Rehabilitation among Georgian people, according to population need. The project collaborates with the Ministry of Internally Displaced Persons, Labor, Health and Social Affairs of Georgia (MoIDPLHSA) and their strategic partners to integrate rehabilitation in Georgian health systems financing programs.

Opportunity

In November 2022, the Government of Georgia launched a pilot rehabilitation sub-program under the country’s Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Program. This novel sub-program will be scaled up in 2023 to cover a broader range of rehabilitative services for the population. A newly-formed Independent Assessment Committee will be charged with creating a framework and system for determining patient eligibility and treatment continuation under this program. To support the Government in starting up the Committee’s operations, the Accelerator is seeking a consultant to facilitate strategic planning and capacity building. The consultant will work closely with MoIDPLHSA, the Accelerator, Curatio International Foundation, and other partners to (1) support the committee to develop efficient protocols for measuring patient outcomes and make decisions about patient eligibility, and (2) build capacities of committee members on available resources and good practices, especially on the following topics:

Interdisciplinary approaches for evaluating rehabilitation interventions and the outcomes for patients receiving rehabilitation services

· Qualitative and quantitative measures of rehabilitation outcomes

· Determining patient eligibility and appropriateness of prescribed rehabilitation interventions

· Transparency and accountability measures for the committee and providers

· Structural and administrative management, with a focus on:

o Preauthorization procedures

o Admission and discharge criteria for inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation patients

o Payment procedures for rehabilitation services

Activities and Deliverables

• The consultant will be expected to complete the following tasks:
• Develop a detailed work plan for the implementation of this TOR.
• Facilitate trainings with the Committee to build capacities on the topics listed above (to be conducted both virtually and in Tbilisi, Georgia).
• Facilitate trainings with the Committee to develop a framework for assessing patient eligibility under the rehabilitation sub-program (to be conducted both virtually and in Tbilisi, Georgia).
• Support the Committee to develop a roadmap for sustainable operations, including LOE requirements among members, communication channels, etc.
• Hold routine consultatory meetings with the MoIDPLHA, the Accelerator and the WHO to validate capacity building approaches and provide implementation updates.
• Provide recommendations for how the Committee can be operationalized and strengthened to ensure transparency and efficiency.
• Ensure timely and quality completion of all relevant deliverables and reporting.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree (or higher) in a relevant field (rehabilitation, health management, or similar).
• Minimum of 7 years of professional experience in organizational development, health sector reform, and/or health service evaluation.
• Experience working in international, multi-cultural, and multi-lingual settings
• Willingness to travel to facilitate workshops as needed.
• Thorough knowledge of international tools and benchmarks related to measurement of patient functioning, such as:
• WHO international classification of functioning, disability, and health (ICF)
• Functional Independence Measure (FIM)
• International Standards for Neurological Classification of Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) – ASIA Impairment Scale
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including demonstrated ability to conduct all job functions in English.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• High level of organization, attention to detail, professionalism, proactivity, and reliability.
• Ability to travel to Georgia to conduct in-person trainings.

Period of Employment

• The estimated period of the consultancy is 3 months, beginning February 2023. The level of effort will be discussed during contract negotiations.