Resource Tracking / Mapping for COVID-19 Resources


Background

Globally, the Coronavirus pandemic has claimed thousands of lives and put health systems under enormous strain. On 21st March 2020, the Ministry of Health in Uganda confirmed the first case of COVID-19 in the country. As of 20th September, 2021, Uganda had a cumulative total of 3,131 confirmed cases. To adequately respond to the Covid-19 outbreak in Uganda; a preparedness and response plan was developed[1]. The plan was developed in line with the guidance provided by WHO on the prevention and control of the Covid-19 outbreak. Despite Uganda’s preparedness and advanced surveillance system; the threat of a global pandemic of the scale of Covid-19 poses a major challenge. This is because Covid-19 has a higher rate of spread when compared to previous outbreaks[2]. The Covid-19 outbreak imposes additional financial requirements to prevent, detect and respond in a timely and effective manner. The government of Uganda together with the private sector in Uganda and with support from development partners has mobilized resources to respond to the Covid-19 pandemic.

WHO provided detailed guidelines on how to budget for the Covid-19 pandemic. In addition, the Uganda national COVID-19 response task force has guided on how to plan and budget for COVID-19. Financing of the health sector was distorted with requests to reprogram funds from other areas to support the COVID response. Not only has this affected the GOU workplans and budgets, but also, some development partners had to reprogram funds meant for other health interventions to support the COVID response as the need for emergency services increased. With emergency need of supplies globally, the prices for major essential commodities required for the response also escalated affecting the procurement plans and quantities of supplies required in-country.

Given the huge amounts of funding dedicated to the COVID-19 response in Uganda, there needs to be a concerted effort and plan to map and track all of the resources allocated by the GOU and external funds to the COVID-19 response. The overarching goal of this resource tracking exercise is to generate lessons to guide Uganda’s efforts in building a resilient health system and to generate evidence that can be used by the country to ensure availability of adequate resources in a timely manner, coupled with accountability measures, to respond to future outbreaks.

A. Concise Outputs

The overall aim of the assessment is two-fold: firstly, to map and track all the resources that were appropriated to the COVID-19 response to inform investment in building resilient health systems. Secondly, to inform the development of the framework for systematically tracking health security expenditure.

Scope of work

The scope of the assessment will include:

Ø Source and quantification of funds including Domestic public resources, Domestic for-profit and non-for-profit private sector resources and External aid.

Ø How were the funds mobilized?

Ø How were the funds channelled?

Ø What interventions was the money spent on?

Ø Which providers and on what input factors was the money spent on?

Ø What is the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on non-covid spending such as on immunization, infectious diseases, NCDs, etc.

B. Education: Required: Advanced degree in biomedical or related field.

Desired: Advanced degree in health economics, economics, statistics or related degree.

C. Work experience:

At least 10 years’ experience in providing technical assistance to countries in conducting resource tracking exercises for health programmes. Knowledge of Uganda’s health sector will be an added advantage

H. Languages required: Proficiency in written and spoken English.

How to apply

The WHO Representative

60 Prince Charles Drive

P O Box 24578

Kampala

Applications should be sent to babiryea@who.int

N.B. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.