Reference: G/PGLCA/0412
Location: Castries, Saint Lucia
Duration: Two Years
Closing Date: 25 Jun 2011
Nature of Project: Advisory
Responsible To: Chief Health Planner, Ministry of Health, Saint Lucia
Date of Commencement: As soon as possible
1. Project Background
Saint Lucia has a limited number of qualified, competent health professionals; finding that many of its most qualified and motivated health personnel leave the country for opportunities elsewhere, which are able to provide them with better pay and opportunities for professional development. There is also a geographic imbalance in the placement of appropriately qualified health staff around the country.
Increasing concerns about inequalities in health status, problems of access and falling returns on investment in health care and the difficulty of controlling the growth of costs have prompted the Saint Lucian Ministry of Health, Wellness, National Mobilisation, Human Services and Gender Relation (MoH) to engage in a number of reform activities in order to improve the quality and quantity of health assistance which they provide to their citizens. However, with the Department traditionally being one of the most underfunded agencies of the Government – its limited budget having been further constrained as a result of the global economic downturn – this has proven to be a challenging endeavour.
2. Project Purpose
The purpose of this project is to strengthen the human resource management and development capacity of the Saint Lucian Ministry of Health.
3. Project Outcome
This project is expected to contribute to Saint Lucia’s ability to develop strategies and tools to make more effective use of its public sector professionals for human development.
4. Scope of Work
Summary of Project
An Expert would be employed under this project for a period of 24 months. He / she will work closely with identified key personnel in the Ministry of Health, providing continuous sharing of knowledge and capacity building. The Expert is expected to work particularly closely with key members of the Ministry of Health’s Human Resource Planning Committee, who will be involved in the development of the policy, and who will oversee its subsequent implementation.
The Expert will undertake significant background research into existing Saint Lucian policy documentation, and will conduct a review of comparative studies and best practice and lessons learned from elsewhere (such as retention strategies, recruiting staff on a part time basis, role-sharing) which would inform the development of the policy. He/she will also consult key stakeholders from both the public (including Ministries) and private sectors in order to develop the policy. Key stakeholders would be representative of all key interests, such as (finance, education, social services, labour and planning). This thorough stakeholder analysis will help to ensure that the policy is both comprehensive and that it will gain legitimacy and acceptance amongst all stakeholders. The Expert will oversee the development of an Implementation plan for the policy, and the dissemination of the policy amongst key stakeholders in Saint Lucia.
The capacity needs of the Ministry of Health will be established by the Expert, who will subsequently provide and facilitate training to address those capacity gaps. During the final quarter of the project, a workshop will be held to which health sector representatives from other small Caribbean states facing similar challenges in health workforce planning will be invited. Participants will benefit from lesson sharing and expertise transfer; this is expected to have a positive impact upon the health workforce planning and the wellbeing of the citizens of the countries which they represent.
Project Outputs
1. National Policy on Health Workforce Management and Development accepted by the Ministry of Health
Expected Activities to include, but will not be limited to:
- Review of national and international health sector policies on human resource development and management and lessons learned;
- Interviews with MoH and other key stakeholders;
- Develop policy in consultation with MoH and other key stakeholders.
2. Implementation Plan for National Policy on Health Workforce Management and Development developed and agreed with the Ministry of Health
Expected Activities to include, but will not be limited to:
- Develop an implementation plan for National Policy and agree timeline with MoH and other key stakeholders;
- Hold consultations with MoH and key stakeholders to discuss the Implementation Plan.
3. Familiarisation on the National Policy on Health workforce Management and Development amongst key stakeholders in Saint Lucia's health sector
Expected Activities to include, but will not be limited to:
- Conduct familiarisation sessions on the policy amongst key stakeholders in Saint Lucia;
- Identify key stakeholders and develop and agree a familiarisation plan / schedule.
4. Saint Lucian Ministry of Health personnel key capacity needs established and addressed through training
Expected Activities to include, but will not be limited to:
- Conduct MoH capacity needs baseline assessment;
- Review national and international data on Saint Lucia's health sector workforce management and capacity;
- Conduct interviews with the MoH and other key stakeholders in Saint Lucia's health sector to review MoH capacity;
- Conduct site visits to health facilities and health training centres;
- Develop and agree health workforce capacity building plan with the MoH;
- Facilitate Capacity building of the health workforce;
- Propose a implementation plan for any further necessary capacity building activities;
- Support MoH representative to join and participate in Saint Lucian Peer Mentoring Group.
5. Saint Lucian Ministry of Health assisted in the development of operational guidelines and structure for the new Human Resources Department
Expected Activities to include, but will not be limited to:
- Develop operational guidelines for the Human Resources Department with the Ministry of Health;
- Provide recommendations to the Ministry of Health on the structure of the Human Resources Department;
- Revise and / or develop appropriate job descriptions for key positions, as required.
6. Lessons learned by Saint Lucia in improving its health workforce planning are shared with representatives from other small Caribbean states
Expected Activities to include, but will not be limited to:
- Develop and disseminate a report on the experience of Saint Lucia in improving its health workforce planning amongst national and international stakeholders;
- Facilitate a workshop to discuss lessons learned, attended by representatives from other small Caribbean states;
- Provide post workshop remote support to representatives from other small Caribbean states on health workforce planning.
5. Implementation Arrangements
The Adviser will be based at the Ministry of Health for the duration of the project (2 years), and will be supervised by the Chief Health Planner, Ministry of Health, Wellness, National Mobilisation, Human Services and Gender Relations.
The project will be managed by the Technical Cooperation & Strategic Response Group (TCSRG) of the Commonwealth Secretariat, with technical support provided by the Health Section of the Social Transformation Programmes Division (STPD).
The Commonwealth Primary Contact Point (PCP) and STPD will be kept informed on project progress during implementation, and be given the opportunity to provide feedback at the mid-term evaluation.
Monitoring and Evaluation of the project will take place during the course of its implementation. The Adviser will be expected to provide an Inception Report within two months and six-monthly Progress Reports to his / her designated Project Manager, TCSRG, at the Commonwealth Secretariat. A mid-term evaluation of the project will take place after one year.
6. Transfer of Expertise
The Commonwealth Secretariat attaches particular importance to the transfer of expertise and knowledge to counterparts. The expert in his/her discussions with the Reporting Officer should draw attention to the need for key staff to be assigned as counterparts at the beginning of the assignment. This should be reported on in the Inception Report (normally due after three months). A training programme for key counterpart staff should be produced by the expert and agreed with the Reporting Officer. An update should be provided on this in the first Progress Report (normally due after six months).
7. Experience & Qualifications
The successful candidate should possess the following experience and qualifications:
Professional Experience
- Extensive experience of human resource management development and planning;
- Proven experience of working at a government / ministry level;
- Proven experience of organisational development and change management;
- Extensive managerial experience at a senior level;
- Experience in capacity development / training;
- Experience of working in the Caribbean island states / other small state jurisdictions would be an advantage.
Educational Qualifications
- Advanced degree (Masters Degree or equivalent) in Human Resources, Social Planning and Policy Development, Health Services Management or other relevant subject from a recognised and reputable tertiary or research institution.
8. Submission of Application
Applicants who are nationals of Commonwealth member countries and who meet the post criteria are invited to apply with a detailed CV including names and contact details of three referees and the Personal History Form* to:
Mrs Puja D Sharma
HR (CFTC), Commonwealth Secretariat
Pall Mall, London UK
SW1Y 5HX
p.sharma@commonwealth.int
Phone: + 44 207 747 6531
Fax: + 44 20 7747 6520
*The Personal History Form (PHF) may be downloaded from the Secretariat Website on the Employment / Vacancies / Long term Assignment (Overseas) page, along with the Skill Codes booklet required to complete the PHF. The form is only available in PDF format.
The application should be forwarded to the contact officer as an attachment to an email / by post / fax.
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