TERMS OF REFERENCE

Medical Education Consultant/Advisor:

Location :Hargeisa, Somaliland

Institution: National Health Professions Commission

Type of Contract :Individual Consultant

Post Level :International Consultant/Secondee

Reporting to :Executive Director

Expected Duration of Assignment : 6 Months (February 2022)

1. Background.

The Nordic International Support Foundation (NIS) is a non-profit organization, headquartered in Oslo. NIS work with international donors, national governments, community leaders, national civil society groups and other key stakeholders to support processes that facilitate recovery from conflict through a variety of means, and currently implement projects in Somalia, Mali and Myanmar.

The NIS-administered Support to Somali Experts Secondment and Capacity Building Programme (SES), funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), aims to support the efforts of the Swedish government in seconding high-capacity Somali diaspora and local experts to a range of national institutions in Somaliland for the implementation of the National Development Plan (NPD). By helping to provide high-capacity diaspora experts to weakened government institutions, this programme seeks to boost their capacity to function and implement government policy. While the provision of experts under a single programme will not remedy all the capacity constraints faced by government, this programme will help to build the core competencies necessary to achieve longer-term and more ambitious development goals in the years ahead.

About NHPC

The Somaliland National Health Professions Commission is a statutory body with the mandate of regulating, accrediting, and licensing health facilities, health training institutions and health workers in the country. In 1999, an Act of the Republic of Somaliland Parliament was passed to establish the National Health Professionals Commission (NHPC). The Act defined the functions of the Commission in order to register health professionals, health care institutions and facilities. The mandate of NHPC is to protect the public, all consumers of health care services, and to provide guidance on educational, professional, and ethical issues to health practitioners.

NHPC since its formation in 2001, NHPC went through a spate of challenges that made it non-func tional until 2006 when stakeholders met and re-emphasized the need for a stronger health system regulatory body. In 2008, efforts were made to reconstitute the NHPC and changes were made and/or envisioned to be made to minimize past shortcomings and utilize the previous positive experiences.

Currently, the National Health Professions Commission (NHPC), which is the sole authority entrusted by the Somaliland government to safeguard the health of the Somaliland population is implementing the Health Regulation Act (19/2001) to eliminate the non-regulatory practices that are deteriorating the health status of the Somaliland community. Therefore, the full implementation and enforcement of the Health Regulatory Act is vital in the protection of the public and the guiding of health professions which are aimed to reduce/eradicate the consistent hazards and risks the public has been exposed to for so long as a result of non-regulatory practices.

Background Information & Justification

Despite the challenges, the NHPC continued to be seen as a key platform for the overall promotion of standards and a central body in work on regulatory issues in the longer term. The Act remains to be as relevant and valid today as in 1999, it has been reviewed and updated. Moreover, the destruction sustained by the large public health care sector due to the armed conflict in the 80s allowed the proliferation of a vast private health care sector. Furthermore, reconstitution of all major public regulation divisions followed periods of massive health care privatization.

In line with such explosion of private health care, one of the fastest-growing sectors remain private dental health clinics, with unknown exact number of clinics in Somaliland.

According to WHO, oral diseases are the most common non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and affects people throughout their lifetime, causing pain, discomfort, disfigurement and even death. Dental and oral health is a global public health priority as dental caries is 5-8 more common than asthma and is the second most frequent condition in school children around the world. Therefore, it is crucial for the public to access dental and oral health care of good quality in Somaliland.

The current staff of the Commission is inadequate to cope with the magnitude of the work and needs the recruitment of a highly qualified Dental and Oral Health Consultant. This will strengthen the technical capacity of NHPC.

General activities:

} the Dental and Oral Health Consultant will be responsible for the following duties and responsibilities:

} Quality control dental health care providers and dental clinics through quality standards set by NHPC guidelines.

} Provide professional support and training staff in implementing guidelines.

} Review and revise current guidelines that NHPC utilizes to register and license dental health facilities and practitioners.

} Support the regulatory board with theoretical and practical examinations to evaluate the level of knowledge of national and international graduates before licensing.

} Research internship opportunities for graduates at public and private facilities and access the possibility of establishing a dental referral hospital.

} Advice and support the ethics committee in dental malpractice, patient neglect and misconduct.

} Detailed List of expected tasks:

} Facilitate and promote high quality dental and oral health care in Somaliland.

} Reduce dental and oral health service variation and inequalities by revising current accessing guidelines.

} Work closely with key stakeholders to develop and deliver good quality dental and oral health for the population.

} To provide independent and objective advice to NHPC to ensure the best possible commissioning outcomes for population oral health and dental services are achieved that reflect local needs and priorities.

} To work closely with dental educators and training departments to ensure dental workforce, education and development needs are identified and met.

} Together with NHPC’s team, access and accredit dental school education programs. Review available dental school curriculums and their adherence to international dental and oral health education and training standards.

} To set up Dental and Oral Health Advisory Group to ensure that the NHPC fulfils their statuary duties regarding oral health improvement and addressing oral health inequalities.

} Develop and support the establishment of Somaliland’s first Dental Association together with local oral health professionals.

Contract and Reporting Arrangements:

The Specialist will report to the Executive Director National Health Professions Commission (NHPC).

He/She shall submit the reports summarized below, for the respective period. All documents/reports will be issued in English, submitted in both hard and electronic copies.

a) Work plan: A work plan will have to be developed with the Supervisor during the first week of assignment which will provide clear and time bound activities to successfully implement the outputs of the assignment.

b) Monthly Progress Reports: The Specialist shall prepare monthly concise reports with the relevant information on progress, and emerging challenges.

c) Annual Progress Reports: The Specialist shall prepare annual concise reports with the relevant information on progress, highlighting achievements, emerging challenges and recommendations to ensure a successful of a risk-based supervision approach implementation.

d) Final Report: Before the end of the assignment, the Specialist shall submit a final report detailing all the activities undertaken. The report will outline achievements and challenges and lessons learnt.

Required Qualifications and Experience:

} Master’s Degree in Dental and Oral Health Science (Doctor of Dental Surgery/MSc in Dental Sciences).

} Preferably, the candidate also holds a master’s in public health.

} A minimum of five years of professional experience in a dental and oral health care setting and patient care.

} Preferably experience in accessing and accrediting dental and oral health care settings and dental training institutions.

} In-depth knowledge and understanding of public and social services delivery obtained through direct work experience in Somaliland.

} Excellent analytical skills, ability to synthesize and present complex processes and issues.

} Ability to meet tight deadlines and work independently without supervision.

} Excellent interpersonal and communications, including oral, written, and negotiating skills.

} The candidate has no conflict of interest.

Qualifications and Experience.

Core Competencies:

} Demonstrated commitment to the government policies and national development plan.

} Sensitivity and adaptability to cultural, religion, nationality and other national core values.

} Highest standards of integrity, discretion and loyalty.

} Functional Competencies:

} Relevant skills on the topic and in particular on research and drafting policies.

} Advanced computer skills including Microsoft Office and web-based applications.

} Proven ability to deliver quality output working under tight deadlines.

} Excellent communication and facilitation skills.

} Strong and proven research and analytical skills.

} Communication

} Fluency in English and Somali, both written and oral (Advanced level) speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately. Writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors’ language, tone, style and format to match audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.