TORs: Senior National STTA –Spatial Mapping Analyst

Climate Health Vulnerability Assessment In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa And Development Of Climate Health Adaptation Plan 

Programme Overview

Evidence for Health (E4H) is a Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO)-funded programme aimed at strengthening Pakistan's healthcare system, thereby decreasing the burden of illness, and saving lives. E4H (2023-2027) provides technical assistance (TA) to the Federal, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), and Punjab governments. E4H works in partnership with the Health Department in KP. Through its flexible, embedded, and demand-driven model, E4H delivers TA across three outputs:

Output 1: Strengthened integrated health security, with a focus on preparing and responding to health emergencies, including pandemics.

Output 2: Enhanced capacity for evidence-based decision-making to drive health sector performance and accountability.

Output 3: Improved implementation of Universal Health Coverage, with a focus on ending preventable deaths.

Introduction

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) leads the United Kingdom's (UK's) global efforts to end extreme poverty, deliver the international Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and tackle a wide range of global development challenges. With support from FCDO in Pakistan, the Evidence for Health (E4H) Programme aims to provide technical assistance (TA) to the Department of Health (DOH) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations & Coordination (M/o NHSR&C) to build durable government capacities to strengthen health systems that are resilient and capable of responding to emergencies, responsive to the latest evidence, and supportive of efficient and effective health service delivery – particularly for those who are most vulnerable.

Pakistan is among the top countries that are highly vulnerable to the negative impact of climate change. KP faces an array of challenges especially, including but not limited to natural disasters such as floods, unpredictable rainfall patterns, droughts and heat waves leading to surges in vector-borne infectious diseases and non-communicable diseases. As the implications of climate change on public health are more pronounced, the DOH KP has proposed this TA under output 2 of E4H, intending to assess climate health vulnerability in the province and use evidence to produce a KP Climate Health Adaptation Plan (CHAP), aligned with the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) and the Framework of Action on Climate-Resilient Health Systems in Pakistan.

Background and Problem Statement

KP has experienced serious climatic challenges, leading to life lost, illnesses, and additional burden on an already weak health system. The 2022 floods also affected millions of people in the KP province. Conducting Climate Health Vulnerability Adaptation Assessments (CHVAs) is crucial for effective health adaptation measures. The KP CHVA will determine existing and future risks of climate change on public health and will enable the government to assess the capacity of its health system to effectively respond to challenges.

• During the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) in 2021, the health community agreed on the development of two key initiatives: 1) climate resilient health systems; and 2) low-carbon sustainable health systems.
• The Government of Pakistan approved a multisectoral NAP on Climate Change in 2023. The NAP recognises health as an adaptation priority amidst implementation hurdles.
• The M/o NHSR&C conducted a scoping study, which led to the development of a Framework of Action for Climate Resilient Health Systems in Pakistan in 2023. A key recommendation was the need to conduct a CHVA that will inform future climate health adaptation plans.
• A roundtable discussion among stakeholders was held in September 2023, with agreement to develop a coordination mechanism at national and provincial levels for a coordinated response.
• The KP DOH has initiated sensitisation of stakeholders in the province on climate resilient health systems and has expressed commitment to develop an evidence-informed KP CHAP.

Purpose

The purpose of this TA is to conduct a comprehensive CHVA in KP and use the evidence for the development of KP Climate Health Adaptation Plan. This TA will also involve providing capacity building support and an effective coordination mechanism among climate stakeholders, thus creating an enabling environment for the implementation of a KP CHAP.

Specific Objectives

The overall objectives of the technical support are as follows:

1. To institute a coordination, communication, and monitoring mechanism for conducting the CHVA and for the development and subsequent implementation of the CHAP;
2. To comprehensively assess climate-health vulnerability across KP province through the CHVA, including clearly identifying at-risk geographical areas, health facilities, and key populations;
3. On the basis of the assessment and in alignment with the NAP, to develop a costed CHAP that will serve as the roadmap for adaptation going forward; and
4. Through the above, to identify capacity transfer and building initiatives for DOH officials involved so that they are able to conduct a future CHVA independently or with minimum support.

Scope of Work and Methodology

Throughout this assignment, a team of local consultants will work in collaboration and under the oversight of an international expert, who will provide guidance and technical support. The team will cover the following scope of work:

Thoroughly and critically analyse published and available tools for CHVA and conduct a cross-comparison of commonly used tools such as the World Health Organisation Strategic Toolkit for Assessing Risks (STAR) tool, Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Building Resilience against Climate Effects (BRACE) tool, and the Health Canada Climate Change and Health Vulnerability and Adaptation Assessment (CCHVAA) etc. After selecting the tool, the scope of work will be as follows:   

1. Formation and activation of KP technical working group (TWG) on climate resilient health systems and Steering Committee
2. Analysis of the vulnerability factors, exposure pathways, and gaps in health and social system to develop an understanding of the prevalence of climate-sensitive diseases across the diverse geographical landscapes of KP
3. Employment of an iterative methodology in data collection and analysis to adapt and refine the process based on evolving insights
4. On the basis of the assessment, projection of future health risks
5. Identify and prioritise policies and programmes to increase the climate-resilience of health systems
6. Establish an iterative process for managing and monitoring health risks with both consultations of internal and external stakeholders
7. Examine the possibility of the development of intersectoral linkages with an aim of improving health
8. Incorporate key results into a costed CHAP for KP
9. Ongoing knowledge translation and dissemination of messages to stakeholders, community partners, and other organisations to promote positive public policy change.

A focal point nominated by the Director General of Health Services and another from the KP Health Sector Reform Unit will be actively engaged, where possible, in capacity development regarding complex and holistic analyses and the development of a KP CHAP.

Timeline and LOE

The timeline for this TA is May, 2024 – July 31, 2024 for 25 working days.

Requirements

• Postgraduate degree in GIS and IT
• Minimum 15 years' experience in the relevant field.
• Strong understanding and experience in GIS.
• Strong report writing and data analytics skills.
• Planning and delivering work; Analysis and use of information; Decision-making; Working with others.