Consultant

The International Centre for Reproductive Health Kenya (ICRHK) is a Kenya-based Non-Governmental Organization conducting research and intervention projects in Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH). Some of the specific areas of focus for ICRHK include HIV/STI prevention and treatment, addressing Sexual and Gender-based violence (GBV), improving Maternal and Child Health, promoting Family Planning, and addressing the needs of Adolescents in terms of Sexual and Reproductive Health through research.

1. Consultancy for Costing Study of a Point-of-Care (POC) Diagnostic Approach to STI Management (1 Position)

About the Job

• The integration of Point-of-Care (POC) diagnostics into the management of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) has the potential to transform healthcare delivery, particularly in low-resource settings. The Genesis Project in Kenya aims to generate lessons for scaling up POC diagnostics to improve STI management and outcomes in low- and middle-income countries.

To support this goal, we are seeking a consultant to develop a costing study protocol to assess the financial and broader economic implications of introducing POC STI testing across different healthcare settings. Understanding these implications is critical for evaluating feasibility, scalability, and informing policy decisions.
Scope of Work The consultant will undertake the following:

1.  Literature and Contextual Review

• Review relevant project documentation and existing costing frameworks related to POC diagnostics and STI management
• Examine the local healthcare context, focusing on existing STI management practices, service delivery pathways, and how POC diagnostics are currently utilized or could be integrated

  2. Protocol Development:

• Develop detailed protocol outlining objectives, costing methodology, sampling strategy, and ethical considerations.
• Define a cost framework relevant to the POC diagnostic-led approach.

  3. Tool Development: Design data collection tools (e.g., cost logs, facility assessment checklists, surveys) tailored to the POC diagnostic context. Pretest tools in a representative sample of healthcare facilities and refine them based on feedback.    4. Stakeholder Engagement:

• Conduct consultations with key stakeholders, including healthcare providers, facility managers, and program implementers, to validate the protocol and tools.

  5. Analysis Framework:

• Develop a data analysis plan and provide guidance on analyzing the collected data to generate actionable insights on the feasibility and scalability of the POC diagnostic approach

Deliverables

•       A comprehensive protocol for costing data collection for the POC diagnostic-led approach.
•      Validated data collection tools tailored to the context and study objectives.
•     A report on the pretesting process and refinements made to the tools.
•     Training materials for data collectors.
•      Data analysis plan
•     Final consultancy report

Duration and Timeline

• The consultancy is expected to last 30 days, with key milestones as follows:
• Week 1-2: Literature review and protocol
• Week 3: Stakeholder consultations.
• Week 4: Tool development and pretesting.
• Week 5: Finalization of deliverables and submission of the final report.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in health economics (Master’s preferred)
• Experience in costing studies and healthcare/diagnostics
• Strong protocol and tool development skills
• Stakeholder engagement experience
• High professionalism and integrity

Apply Below