Job Details

Job Description

Introduction
SolidarMed is an international development organisation, registered as a non-profit in Switzerland to find long term sustainable solutions to systemic and contextual development challenges in the health sector. Our health programmes are developed in close cooperation with the communities and local health authorities across seven African countries in which we work.

Zambia’s country program works directly with the Zambian government to support the public health system through strategic investments in human resources for health. SolidarMed’s strong mandate to cooperate with the government on nurse education is captured in its memorandum of understanding with the Ministry of Health. SolidarMed Zambia is pursuing collaboration with local government and non-governmental partners and stakeholders The Scaling up the Decentralised Education for Nurses and Midwives Program supports the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Zambia (NMCZ) and ten provincial colleges. Each college is targeted to become the lead college in scaling up the model nationwide.

Policy
Zambia’s health policy landscape reflects a concerted effort to decentralize healthcare delivery to be as close to the community as possible This ambition however is set in a context of severe shortages in health care due to emigration of human resources, a rapidly growing population and constrained budgetary allocations to health. Enhancing human resources for health (HRH), and more investments in the production of a skilled health workforce provide more alignment to meet Zambia’s health goals. The 2022–2026 National Health Strategic Plan (NHSP) emphasizes decentralization as a pivotal strategy to bring healthcare services closer to communities, thereby improving accessibility and responsiveness of the health system.

In tandem with decentralization, the NHSP outlines objectives to strengthen the HRH workforce, aiming to increase staffing from 48% of the establishment in 2021 to 70% by 2026. By 2024 the MOH establishment of 151,394, out of which 82, 059 positions were filled (54%) (Annual Economic Report, 2024). This includes enhancing performance, expanding specialized training, and ensuring equitable distribution of health professionals across the country. The Human Resources for Health Planning & Development Strategy Framework supports these goals by addressing leadership, governance, institutional capacity, and effective HRH strategies to meet growing healthcare demands.

Moreover, the 2022–2026 Digital Health Strategy underscores the importance of integrating digital technologies into healthcare delivery. By leveraging digital tools, Zambia aims to enhance efficiency and quality—critical for supporting decentralized training models and preparing healthcare workers for 21st-century healthcare challenges.

Regarding Public Health Nursing (PHN) programme, the Department of Public Health Nursing at the University of Zambia emphasizes strengthening the public health-care system based on primary healthcare. PHN practitioners are trained to serve communities directly, focusing on health promotion, disease prevention, surveillance, and community diagnosis. This aligns with national policy priorities under the NHSP and broader National Health Policy 2012, which prioritize primary healthcare, human resource development, and community-based service delivery.

Collectively, these policies form a cohesive framework aimed at transforming Zambia’s healthcare system. Decentralization, HRH strengthening, digital innovation, and PHN curriculum development work in synergy to build a more resilient and responsive health system, capable of equipping a skilled health workforce ready to serve diverse communities effectively.

Background
Evaluation of the Public Health Nursing (PHN) Program in Zambia plays a critical role in strengthening Zambia’s health system by preparing nurses to address community health challenges, implement disease prevention strategies, and contribute to national health priorities. However, stakeholders, including nurse leaders, have raised concerns regarding the program’s effectiveness and sustainability. These concerns were raised during the most recent Nurse Leader Education Strategic Meeting held with 150 senior leaders in April 2025 where a Menti.com poll was used to gauge opinion. These concerns include:

• Lack of standardized training modules across institutions
• Inadequate number of qualified lecturers
• Low student pass rates and suboptimal learning outcomes
• New curriculum not fully aligned to WHO Public Health Nursing Standards

These issues have led to calls for a review of the program. In response, SolidarMed seeks the services of a qualified consultant to conduct a comprehensive evaluation to assess the current state of the PHN program, identify challenges and opportunities, and provide actionable recommendations to inform future decisions.

Objectives of the Evaluation
1. Assess alignment with national health policies and strategic plans
Including the Zambia National Health Strategic Plan and HRH strategies.
(Ensures the program supports national health priorities and workforce planning.)
2. Benchmark the PHN curriculum against WHO international and regional best practices
(Ensures Zambia’s program is competitive, modern, and aligned with global trends.)
3. Evaluate NMCZ data on lecturer qualifications, capacity, and workloads.
(Quality of instruction directly impacts student outcomes and standardization efforts.)
4. Identify factors contributing to poor student pass rates and learning outcomes
Including student, faculty, and institutional factors.
(Addresses urgent concerns affecting program credibility and effectiveness.)
5.     Analyze current demand for and plans for funded positions for public health nursing graduates in the MOH, public and private sector recruitment plans.

6.     Develop practical, evidence-based recommendations
To improve the quality, effectiveness, and sustainability of the Public Health Nursing Program.
(Purpose-driven and directly informs high-level decisions, including continuation or reform of the program)

Scope of Work
The consultant will:

Conduct a desk review of existing program documents, policies, and strategic plans.

Undertake key informant interviews and focus group discussions with stakeholders, including:

• Students, lecturers, and alumni
• Public health nursing experts, WHO, ICN, ECSACOM etc
• Training institution administrators
• Regulatory bodies and healthcare employer Ministry of Education – healthy learners
• Ministry of Mines –public health and safety
• Ministry of Local Government and Housing – local council public health departments

Analyze quantitative and qualitative data, including student performance statistics.

Observe selected teaching sessions and clinical placements.

Facilitate a stakeholder validation workshop.

Produce a comprehensive evaluation report and a concise policy brief.

Deliverables
The consultant will be responsible for delivering the following:

Deliverable Timeline
Week 2 – Inception Report (methodology, tools, and work plan) (2 weeks)

Week 5 – Mid-Term Progress Report (fieldwork status and initial findings) (2-3 weeks)

Week 7 – Draft Evaluation Report (preliminary analysis and recommendations) (2 weeks)

Week 8 – Stakeholder Validation Workshop (1 week)

Week 9 – Final Evaluation Report (revised based on feedback) (1 week)

Week 10 – Policy Brief (targeted at MOH and NMCZ) (1 week)

Timeline
The consultancy is expected to be completed within 10 weeks, with key milestones outlined in the table above.

Management and Oversight
The consultant will report to the SUDEN Program Manager and will receive technical and logistical support from:

Ministry of Health (MoH)

Nursing and Midwifery Council of Zambia (NMCZ)

Training institutions offering the PHN program

SolidarMed / SUDEN

These partners will assist with access to stakeholders, data, and relevant institutions

Payment Schedule
The budget will be finalized in the contract. Payment will be disbursed in three tranches upon submission and approval of deliverables:

20% upon acceptance of the Inception Report

30% upon submission of the Draft Evaluation Report

50% upon approval of the Final Report and Policy Brief

Consultant Qualifications
The consultant (or team) should possess the following qualifications:

• A Master’s or PhD in Public Health, Community Based Health or Nursing, Clinical Medical Education, or a related field
• At least 10 years of experience in nursing education program evaluation, curriculum development, or public health workforce development
• Proven analytical, research, and report-writing skill
• Strong communication and facilitation skills, especially with diverse stakeholders
• Track record developing regional benchmarks for public health standards and added advantage
• Previous experience with major associations/regional blocks/academies that focus on public health teaching standards and added advantage.
• Previous experience working in the Zambian health sector an added advantage.

Conclusion
This evaluation will serve as a foundation for evidence-based decision-making on the future of Zambia’s Public Health Nursing Program. By identifying key strengths, challenges, and opportunities, the assignment will contribute to shaping a more effective, high-quality, and sustainable approach to public health nursing education and practice in Zambia.

Work Location
During the period of engagement, the consultant will be flexible in virtual as well as in person facilitation and collaboration as needed and in discussion with SolidarMed’s Program Manager, based in Lusaka.

Submission of application
Proposals, CV’s including evidence of delivery on similar projects should be delivered no later than the 30th of July by 17.00 hours (CAT/Zambian time).

Interested consultants who require any clarifications may contact: [email protected]

Eligible consultants/firms should submit their CVs with a cover letter detailing the methodology and a daily rate (inclusive of tax, per diems, travel and other incidental costs) electronically to [email protected]