Roster - National Consultant: Strengthening PHC Systems through PCC Approaches

1.Purpose

The main objective of this consultation is:

-To provide technical expertise, capacity building, and implementation support for initiatives aimed at strengthening primary health care (PHC) systems through the integration of people-centred care (PCC) approaches, with focus on noncommunicable diseases (NCDs).

-To support the development, adaptation, and implementation of health literacy initiatives within PHC services, including implementation methodology, tools, training, and strategies that enhance engagement, communication between providers and service users, and self-management support.

2.Background

People-centred care within primary health care

Lebanon is facing a prolonged and multi-layered crisis that has significantly affected the social and economic determinants of health and increased pressure on the public health system. Rising poverty, unemployment, and reduced affordability of health services have heightened population vulnerability and increased reliance on primary health care (PHC) services.

The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) has established contractual agreements with a network of approximately 330 PHC centres across the country.These centres provide a range of services, including preventive care, management of NCDs, maternal and child health services, mental health support, and essential medications.

The World Health Organization (WHO), in collaboration with the MoPH, has supported the integration of people centred care (PCC) approach within PHC services. A pilot initiative implemented between 2023 and 2025 across 5 PHC centres aimed to strengthen the competencies of individual core care team members composed of physicians, nurses, and social workers, and the interprofessional skills through competency-based training, in addition to the establishment of people-participation groups (PPG) (Track A).

Building on the PCC pilot (Track A), the next phase aims to expand the PCC approach to additional PHC centres and strengthen institutional integration of PCC at the facility level and the health system with a focus on service re-organization and NCD care models (Track B). This will be done via assessments, discussions with PHC facilities staff, MoPH and partners including professional orders and academia, and national workshops.

Strengthening health literacy and self-management support for NCDs

NCDs are the leading cause of morbidity, mortality, and disability worldwide. The care and management of people living with NCDs is a major health concern at all levels of the health system. Findings from the WHO STEPwise approach to surveillance (STEPS) 2024 survey show that more than half of adults present multiple NCD risk factors such as smoking, physical inactivity, unhealthy diets, etc. Hypertension, diabetes, overweight and obesity remain widespread in Lebanon.

Tackling NCDs epidemic requires a holistic approach including adaptation at governance level as well as the re-organization of the health delivery system in order to be more efficient in providing care. This also requires substantial service user/patient involvement alongside the availability of care providers and good coordination of care between several health care providers and levels.¹

Health literacy is a critical component of effective health systems and plays a central role in enabling individuals to access, understand, and use health information to make informed decisions about their health.[1] [link removed] In the context of NCD management, improving health literacy contributes to better self-management, improved treatment concordance, and enhanced health outcomes.

In Lebanon, efforts to strengthen NCD care at the PHC level have included the development of the Long-Term Primary Health Care Subsidization Protocols (LPSP), which define standardized service packages for several chronic conditions, including hypertension, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases. To support the implementation of these packages, WHO and the MoPH have developed a health literacy toolkit comprising educational resources for both health care providers and service users. The toolkit includes materials for individual and group education sessions and is based on the Therapeutic Patient Education framework.[2] [link removed] It aims to empower individuals living with NCDs to engage actively in self-management of their conditions.

We propose recruiting a roster of senior public health experts to support the technical PCC interventions, as well as conduct priority interventions to improve quality of care for people living with NCDs at the PHC level, including in vulnerable contexts. These include technical advice for the methodological approaches and implementation of projects, for the development of materials, as well as capacity building and compilation of lessons learnt.

3.Work to be Performed

Output 1: Provide technical support for strengthening primary health care (PHC) systems through the integration of people-centred care (PCC approaches with focus on NCDs) 

-Deliverable 1.1: Provide technical input for the development or adaptation of guidance, tools, and/or operational materials supporting the integration of PCC within PHC services.

-Deliverable 1.2: Support capacity building of PHC teams through the development and/or delivery of training activities, coaching, or technical workshops related to PCC approaches.

-Deliverable 1.3: Contribute to the documentation and lessons learnt of PCC initiatives, including identification of implementation challenges and recommendations for strengthening service delivery.

Output 2: Support the development and implementation of health literacy initiatives within PHC services

-Deliverable 2.1: Contribute to the development and/or adaptation of health literacy tools, educational materials, and implementation methodologies to support individual and group education within PHC services in consultation with service users, health professionals and other partners.

-Deliverable 2.2: Support the development and/or delivery of training and capacity-building activities for health care professionals.

Output 3: Provide technical support for strengthening prevention and management of noncommunicable diseases within PHC systems

-Deliverable 3.1: Provide technical inputs for the design, adaptation, or implementation of strategies and interventions aimed at improving prevention and management of NCDs.

-Deliverable 3.2: Support the development of technical materials, tools, or guidance to strengthen NCD care at PHC level.

-Deliverable 3.3: Conduct needed training and coaching to health care personnel and development of training report.

-Deliverable 3.4: Contribute to assessment and reporting of NCD-related initiatives, including identification of implementation gaps and recommendations for programme improvement.

4.Specific requirements

Qualifications required:

-First university degree in public health, medicine, nursing, nutrition, or another relevant field. 

-Desirable: Master’s in one of the above fields.

Experience required:

Essential:

-5years’ working experience in public health interventions and/or people-centred care approaches

-Experience in curricula development, training and coaching

Desirable:

-Experience in health systems; nutrition and food systems 

-Clinical experience in public health settings

Skills / Technical skills and knowledge:

-Strong communication, interpersonal and organizational skills; training and coaching experience.

-Research skills and experience in research methodologies (qualitative and quantitative)

-Computer Skills: Good knowledge of the Microsoft Office including Word and Excel

Language requirements:

Arabic; English (read, write, speak)

5.Place of assignment

Beirut, frequent field visits to different governorates

6.Medical clearance

The selected Consultant will be expected to provide a medical certificate of fitness for work.

7.Travel

NA