Consultancy: Development of a Botswana business model for scale-up of the Drones-for-Health Project.
Looking to hire: An international consultant and local consultant.
Duty Station: UNFPA Botswana Country Office
Duration of contract and timelines: The assignment will not exceed 30 working days spread across 3 months.
Deadlines for applications: 27 September 2022, 17h00 NY time
Purpose of Consultancy:
Development of a Botswana business model for scale-up of the Drones-for-Health Project
Scope of Work:
The Ministry of Health together with its partners including UNFPA, BITRI, BOCRA collaborated to undertake a three-phase proof of concept (pilot) project in which medical products including blood products, drugs and commodities are transported through the use of remotely piloted aircrafts (drones) as an innovation to improve health care delivery in general. The phased intervention aims to revolutionize the supply chain to improve accessibility and availability of drugs and life saving commodities, including blood and blood products for hard-to-reach communities, while also saving costs, reducing lead delivery times and inefficiencies by using drone technology. This is consistent with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) agenda which identifies innovation as critical to accelerating progress towards the global development aspirations. Phase I of the pilot project which entailed co-creation, prototyping, community engagement and experimentation was successfully completed in 2021. In a bid to harness innovation to leapfrog progress towards achievement of SDG Goal 3 - Good Health and Wellbeing, and following the outcomes and lessons learnt from phase I, the MoH has taken a decision to progress the project to phase II. This phase will explore delivery of live products (including drugs, blood and blood products) within the Okavango Health District.
This phase also includes development of a business model to inform stakeholder investment in the project. The choice and adoption of a model for integrating drones in support of the supply chain of health products in Botswana to reach the furthest left behind remains a question. It is against this background that the services of a team of consultants is sought to support this exercise which will conduct an in-depth analysis of existing models in Africa and beyond; and to propose suitable models for the Botswana Medical Drones delivery project.
Specifically, the consulting team will follow a stepwise approach and focus on the following objectives;
Step One: Build a case for ‘How'
- Conduct an analysis of the financial, regulatory, and socio-cultural aspects of drones-for-health systems, with bias towards similar systems in Africa (including Rwanda, Ghana and Benin) and/or upper middle-income countries.
b. For Botswana, financial, regulatory and socio-cultural aspects may be determined by consultations with key informants, communities within the vicinity of Phase I implementation sites and those proposed for Phase II.
Step Two: Develop and fine tuning the Botswana Drones for health business model
a. Informed by the analysis, propose at least two business models for the use of drones in Botswana in support of the health sector supply chain, including the details of their viability backed by approximate quantitative data (A comparison of the two business models in other countries will be ideal).
b. Develop a partnership framework for each of the proposed models; exploring opportunities for external funding, domestic resources and innovative financing.
c. Facilitate a Design Thinking iterative workshop to;
- Guide the choice of model as informed by the economic, internal regulation of the use of drones and the socio-cultural factors.
- Secure initial inputs and feedback on the proposed partnership framework.
Step Three: Securing national ownership and endorsement of the business model
- Develop a final report integrating the final business model for Botswana including advantages and disadvantages, and highlighting institutional and regulatory aspects, partnerships and financial implications. The final report will also include a roadmap for implementation of the business model.
Major Activities/Expected Deliverables:
a)The inception report outlining a detailed methodology and work schedule
b) Detailed analytical report based on objectives a), and b) above.
c) Report on the Design Thinking workshop
d) Final business model for the Botswana Medical Drones Delivery project with an agreed partnership framework, and roadmap for implementation.
Duration and working schedule:
The assignment shall not exceed a period of 30 working days spread across 3 months (payment will only be towards the 30 working days)
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Place where services are to be delivered:
Predominantly home-based, but the consultants may be required to undertake missions at the district level for data collection purposes.
Delivery dates and how work will be delivered:
The consultancy is to commence as soon as possible up to November 8th, 2022 while deliverables will be submitted electronically.
Monitoring and progress control, including reporting requirements:
The consultancy progress will be monitored and submissions reviewed jointly by a Technical Working Group (TWG) comprising the Ministry of Health, UNFPA, BOCRA, BOTRI and other partners who will approve all submissions.
Supervisory arrangements:
The consulting team shall work under the direct supervision of the UNFPA BCO Strategic Information (administration of contract), and under the overall guidance of the technical working group (approval of all deliverables)
Expected travel:
Travel is anticipated to facilitate the data collection in selected districts, the Design Thinking workshop and a workshop to validate the final report.
Required expertise, qualifications and experience:
NB: The consulting team will comprise of an international and local consultant who meet the following requirements;
International Consultant (lead)
- An advanced university degree in Economics, Business administration, Global Health, Development Practice, Social Sciences or equivalent.
- At least 7 years of progressive experience in business administration, health care administration, development policies;
- Skills in innovation and / or supply chain technology, particularly in the use of drones in healthcare would be an asset;
- Experience in ecosystem and business model analysis would be an asset;
- Excellent oral and written communication skills including production of analytical report and high-level workshop facilitation skills
Local Consultant
- Advanced university degree in global health, public health, health care administration, development practice or equivalent;
- At least 5 years of progressive experience in business administration, health care admin, development policies
- Demonstrated successful experience in applying both qualitative and quantitative techniques to develop evidence-based publications, strategies, guidelines, policy briefs and reports.
- Experience working with government counterparts within the developing country context or UN system will be an asset.
- Excellent interpersonal and strong communication skills, in both written and verbal English.
Inputs / services to be provided by UNFPA or implementing partner (e.g support services, office space, equipment), if applicable:
The Ministry of Health and its partners will provide relevant information materials.
How to apply:
Interested applicants should send a short letter of motivation and a detailed CV with the subject clearly stated "Consultant, Development of a Botswana business model" to email address: bid.esaro@unfpa.org
Your CV should highlight relevant experience in delivering similar work with relevant links.
UNFPA will only respond to those applicants in whom we have further interest
Application closing date: 27 September 2022, 17h00 New York Time.
The United Nations does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process (application,interview, processing, training) or other fee, or request information on applicants’ bank accounts or HIV status.
We are no longer accepting applications for this position.
