Lesotho: Reducing the Burden of HIV/AIDS and Health Systems

This scope of work covers services that will be needed to support MCC in the Lesotho Compact Development. MCC is looking for a contractor that can clearly demonstrate experience in i) analyzing the multi-dimensional drivers of HIV, ii) developing appropriate responses, iii) strengthening health systems, and that can iv) provide evidence of the satisfactory completion of previous assignments to reduce the burden of HIV/AIDS within the past 12-15 years, preferably within Southern Africa. Previous successful experience should demonstrate ability to both design and implement programs that have reduced the burden of HIV/AIDS, citing project, regional or national level impact, result or outcome level indicators that positively changed during the length of activity and/or post activity. This scope of work will require a contractor who is able to assemble a team of experts familiar with evidence-based interventions that have been proven to reduce the HIV/AIDS burden, and strengthened health systems. This team must include expertise in the social, cultural, economic, and governance drivers of HIV, and expertise in analyzing health systems failures, and an understanding of effective responses to all of these. The consultant will need to be able to assess and analyze: a) the Lesotho specific research, program evaluation and data, b) the international body of evidence related to HIV/AIDS reduction, with a strong emphasis on sub-Saharan Africa and southern Africa and c) the qualitative data collected by their own assessment in order to identify the factors preventing Lesotho from reducing the new incidence of HIV/AIDS infections and increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of its health systems. The objectives of this award is to select a Contractor to provide MCC support in: i) Assessing the multi-dimensional drivers of HIV and the challenges to effectively addressing the epidemic: social, cultural, economic, and governance, including political economy and health system drivers; ii) Assessing opportunities to address these drivers through multi-dimensional programming, including supporting health systems reform and improving the public sectors ability to deliver effective preventative and curative care needed to sustainably reduce the social and economic burden of HIVAIDS; iii) Assessing proposed opportunities to implement innovative financing, service delivery mechanisms which enable non-public investment in the sector and improve effectiveness of service delivery, including medical and behavioral approaches; iv) reviewing, assessing, and providing feedback on the GoL's proposed concept notes and papers for reduction and prevention of HIVAIDS transmission, health service delivery and/or health system strengthening and v) Identify and collect, as needed, data to inform the link between economic/income growth and improved health outcomes, and additional data/information needs for "deep dive" project design studies to be carried by the GoL. Additional Option Years will be considered before the end of the Base Period, after which support is needed to review project design studies, collect data as needed, support investment memo development and entry into force planning. vi) Support MCC to due diligence the implementation of the compact by the GoL; and vii) Other duties as required.