Review of Pacific Open Learning Health Net (POLHN)

Terms of Reference

Review of Pacific Open Learning Health Net (POLHN)

(Draft 25 January 2017)

Background

At the Pacific Health Ministers Meeting (PHMM) in 1999, the Palau Action Statement recognised the increasing importance of distance education. WHO was asked to look into methods of implementation and specific course needs for the Pacific. At the PHMM in 2001, WHO was invited to present their findings on this topic. The meeting recommended the development of eLearning in any country be based foremost on an assessment of training needs and demand. A report commissioned by WHO and produced by Hezel and Associates in 2001 made recommendations for Pacific healthcare learning center (PHCLC)[1].

In 2003, WHO with funding from the government of Japan and in response to requests from Pacific Health Ministries established the Pacific Open Learning Health Network (POLHN) [2] to assist in meeting the needs for continuing education through open learning. In ten countries, learning centres were equipped with network, computers and various other peripherals. Reference materials and course materials were developed and sent out to the learning centres. Country Task Forces were established and local staff were trained in the countries. Then, eight pilot courses were offered in the first half of 2004[3].

The review conducted in 2011[4] concluded that “POLHN was on track to complete most objectives and impact on stakeholders have been positive. POLHN provides crucial services to professionals in the healthcare sector. As many academic institutions in the PICs are in the early stages of adoption of online learning, it is crucial for WHO to continue to provide assistance for sustainability.” Deriving from the findings of this review, 11 recommendations were made to WHO and POLHN.

From 2007 to 2016, the numbers of learning centres, enrolled students, courses taken and log-ins have increased as shown in the figure below.

Having acknowledged this success, there are a number of challenges identified during the POLHN focal points’ meetings in 2015 and 2016 and from other various forums. For example, since POHLN commenced, there has been a huge developments in relation to the courses offered online for free, for formal qualification, for continuing education and so forth. So, the question would be how is POHLN positioned, and how should it be positioned in changing environment. In addition, the linkage between POLHN and the health workforce development and planning in the Pacific needs to be strengthened. For example, at the PHMM in 2013, Pacific leaders had identified a number of health workforce issues affecting countries in the region, which include:

• shortage of specific personnel and skill sets, and recruitment, retention and an ageing workforce;
• access to education and training opportunities to meet current shortages and continuing professional development (CPD) requirements;
• public sector working conditions, institutional capacity and financial constraints to improve;
• the implications of increasing mobility of health personnel, both internally and internationally; and
• others such as inequitable distribution; health worker performance; the unique requirements of small populations scattered throughout remote, rural and outer island settings and over wide geographical distances.

The question would be how is POLHN positioned to address these Pacific regional and national health workforce issues, whether it can be a core vehicle for health workforce development in the Pacific or one of a myriad of mechanisms, whether it will be a vehicle for individually chosen for continuing professional development (CPD) or a mechanism for organizational/system-initiated approaches for CPD in the Pacific. Besides these questions, its sustainability, countries’ ownership, quality assurance of courses provided and governing mechanism of POLHN would be other important questions that would need to be addressed.

Purpose/Specific Objective of the Activity

In the context of the vision of Healthy Islands and Universal Health Coverage, the review will;

1. Provide in-depth review of the initial concept and design of POLHN, its evolvement from 2003 and its relevance in the future;
2. Compile achievements, lessons learnt and challenges of POLHN from its inception in 2003; and
3. Make recommendations to strengthen (or reshape) the program in changing environment as an integrated, adaptable and sustainable component of health workforce development and planning in the Pacific for the next 5- 10 years, which will be in line with the decisions and commitments from the Pacific Heads of Health and Pacific Health Ministers Meetings.

Description of activities to be carried out

• Summarize POLHN’s key figures.
  • Input and expenditure to POLHN from 2003 to 2016
  • POLHN’s products (platform itself, the contents, the reach (learning centres and focal points), workshops, etc) from 2003 to 2016
  • POLHN utilization (courses taken, postgraduates completed, etc) from 2003 to 2016
  • Impact of POLHN utilization
• Provide in-depth review of the initial concept and design of POLHN, its evolvement from 2003 and its relevance in the future. The review will include POLHN’s different elements such as the e-learning platform and courses (POLHN website), e-learning centres/labs, e-learning facilitators (POLHN country focal point), and e-learning network with academia and other e-learning providers.
  • What was the initial concept and design and how has it evolved?
  • Is it still suitable to the current situation and the changing environment?
  • What can be revised theory of change and/or logical framework of POLHN in the future?
• Compile achievements, lessons learnt and challenges.
  • Is the implementation plan (POLHN’s implemented or planned activities) likely to lead to the intended outcome?
  • Are all the elements of POLHN essential to the achievement of its objectives? Are all program elements being implemented effectively and efficiently?
  • Are the resources used efficiently? Is the value for money being obtained? Are there cost effective alternatives?
  • What institutional and governance arrangements in place? What is needed within and across the sectors, departments and agencies etc to improve the effectiveness of POLHN interventions?
• Make recommendations to strengthen (or reshape) the program in changing environment as an integrated, adaptable and sustainable component of health workforce development and planning in line with the decisions and commitments from the Pacific Heads of Health and Pacific Health Ministers Meetings.
  • As per the  changing environment, propose how POLHN should be positioned in the future
  • Recommend whether it can be a core vehicle for health workforce development in the Pacific or one of a myriad of mechanisms; and whether it will be a vehicle for individually chosen for continuing professional development (CPD) or a mechanism for organizational/system-initiated approaches for CPD in the Pacific
  • Propose changes needed to ensure that high impact interventions are prioritised (and is there evidence of which should be high impact interventions) and propose areas where POLNH needs to invest more or to drop/reduce the investment
  • Propose a proper management and governance mechanism in operating POLHN including what kind of relationship POLHN will have with Pacific Health Ministries, academia (University of South Pacific, Fiji National University and others), other open learning initiatives (Massive open online courses (MOOCs) and public and private providers in the  subregion and globally) and SPBEQ (Secretariat of the Pacific Board for Educational Quality)
  • Propose ways to improve POLHN’s sustainability and Pacific countries’ ownership to POLHN
  • Propose monitoring, reporting and evaluation framework based on draft theory of change and/or logical framework
  • Propose the implementation plan for these recommendations

Method(s) to carry out the activity

• Quantitative/qualitative/case studies/mixed methods analysis 
• Document review and analysis
• Interviews
• Synthesis
• Consultations, workshops with key stakeholders/partners

Description of the tasks/process involved in carrying out the activity

• Inception Report: This is a proposal with overall review design, detailed methodology and content structure for the final report.
• Document review.
• Interim report with key POLHN’s figures and the draft theory of change or logical framework.
• A consultation workshop with stakeholders to discuss the draft report. The HoH (Heads of Health) meeting in April 2017 can be one of the venues.
• Final report, recommendations and implementation plan.

Timeline/Duration of assignment
           From 20 February to 19 May 2017

Qualification

• Expert in program design and evaluation
• Significant knowledge about changing global environment in education and training, particularly online systems
• Pacific experience can be beneficial

Proposed activities

1st field visit to Suva, Fiji and initial consultation on methodology                  February
Document review, existing data analysis and interim report                            February/March
Further in-depth study, synthesis, and draft final report                                   March/April
2nd field visit to Suva and consultation workshop(s) on draft final report     April
Complete the final report with implementation plan                                         May

Deliverable(s) to be submitted during and after the period of the assignment including manner of delivery and payment

• 0% upon signature of the contract
• Inception Report submitted and approved by the technical officer: by 3 March 2017 (30% payment)
• Interim report with key POLHN’s figures and draft theory of change or logical framework submitted and approved by the technical officer: by 17 March 2017 (35% payment)
• Final report submitted and approved by the technical officer: by 19 May 2017 (35% payment)

Detailed cost and budget breakdown
(please submit your quotation as per below template, the template can be revised as per your preference)

Description                                                             Unit amount                              Unit cost (USD)                                Total (USD)

Contractual fee (can be more than one person)
Travel costs*
Other expenses (please specify)

* Requirement: minimum 5 working days stay in Suva, Fiji between 20 Feb to 3 Mar 2017 and the other minimum 10 working days stay in Suva, Fiji between 17 Apr to 5 May 2017.

Interested should submit their proposal to wpfjidpsprocurement@who.int by 15 February 2017. Please indicate Tender Notice No. 53809 as subject to all submissions.