Evaluation of Donations of Medicines Eligibility Program for HPIC
Consultant: Independent Evaluation
Health Partners International of Canada
Donations of Medicines Eligibility Program
Technical Activity: Health Partners International of Canada (HPIC) wishes to contract an evaluation expert to carry out an independent evaluation (IE) of criteria for eligibility of HPIC’s eligibility to the Donations of Medicines Eligibility Program (DMEP) managed by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA).
Location: Home based review of materials, with meetings at HPIC Offices in Montreal and Toronto Duration: 14 days, to be conducted and completed before May 14, 2012 (or a reasonable and similar timeline).
DEADLINE FOR COMPLETE PROPOSALS (including workplan and budget): APRIL 23, 2012 and sent to Kendall Nicholson at knicholson@hpicanada.ca
A. Introduction
Health Partners International of Canada (HPIC) is a humanitarian not-for-profit relief and development organization dedicated to improving access to medicine and enhancing health in the developing world. HPIC contributes to well-being by providing donations of essential medicines, supplies and vaccines, building national health sector capacities, and responding to emergencies and health threats. We partner with a network of ministries of health, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and healthcare professionals, with healthcare product companies, and with Canadian government departments; and we count on the financial support of individual donors, foundations and corporations. As of March 17th 2010, HPIC was the only organization mandated by CIDA to implement the Donations of Medicines Eligibility Program that awarded special tax incentives to Canadian pharmaceutical companies who donated medicines to HPIC for projects in the developing world based on a set of criteria. HPIC’s eligibility for the program ended on March 16th 2012 (two year period) and under CIDA guidelines HPIC now must carry out an independent evaluation of their work during the past two years of the program.
B. Background
The 2007 Canadian federal budget announced a new tax incentive for pharmaceutical companies that donate medicines to Canadian registered charities for use in the developing world. The incentive allows for donations of medicines to be made to Canadian charities found eligible by the Minister of International Cooperation. The Minister was given the mandate to accredit charities that can demonstrate that they respect and adhere to international guidelines, policies, and principles with regard to international development and humanitarian assistance, particularly in the context of the delivery of medicines to the developing world. The aim of this program is to ensure that donations of medicines to developing countries are appropriate, demand-driven and based on clear evidence of need within the population, while at the same time encouraging pharmaceutical companies to donate medicines for use by Canadian registered charities in the developing world. Moreover, the program puts in place a framework that addresses the needs of the developing country populations from the moment the donation is given by the Canadian pharmaceutical company until it is delivered to the receipt on the ground, taking into consideration gender equity, sustainability and environmental best practices.
Health Partners International of Canada received eligibility by the Honorable Minister of International Cooperation, Beverley J. Oda, on March 17, 2010 under the Donations of Medicine Eligibility Program as the first and only organization to gain eligibility up to the present moment. According to the information outlined in the letter of accreditation, HPIC is eligible under both streams of the program, namely: Stream 1, Delivering medicines as part of an international development assistance program; and Stream 2, delivering medicines as part of an international humanitarian assistance program. HPIC has been implementing the program since March 17th, 2010 in partnership with our pharmaceutical company partners and our project partners in the field. HPIC’s two year period of eligibility has recently ended, which requires HPIC to submit an annual report accompanied by this Independent Evaluation of criteria for eligibility to the program.
C. Objectives of the Evaluation
The main objective of this IE is to measure the effectiveness and efficiency of program activities, in relation to stated criteria and to produce lessons-learned on how HPIC could improve program management practices.
Objectives
The objectives set by the Canadian International Development Agency are to carry out an independent evaluation that will include an evaluation as to whether HPIC continuously met criteria of eligibility, including:
I. Abiding by the policy framework submitted in HPIC's application to the DMEP, which includes gender equity, sustainability, environmental best practices and, specifically, the ability to maintain control over the medicine donations from receipt from the pharmaceutical companies to delivery to the recipients;
II. Acting in a manner consistent with the principles and objectives of the Interagency Guidelines for Drug donations, issued by the World Health Organization;
III. Possessing sufficient expertise in delivering medicines for use in charitable activities carried on outside Canada;
IV. Possessing sufficient expertise to design, implement and monitor an international development assistance program and an international humanitarian assistance program.
Review overall activities and procedures of HPIC under the DMEP in terms of establishment and delivery of organizational activities assisted by the medicine donations tax incentive. This review will encompass the following aspects:
I. Assess the appropriateness of the program structure as well as planned outputs, activities and inputs;
II. Review the appropriateness of the established executing modalities and managerial arrangements to execute the DMEP in both Canadian offices (Montreal and Toronto) – including the effectiveness of management;
III. Assess the implementation of the project in terms of quality and timeliness of inputs and efficiency and effectiveness of activities carried out.
Identify good practices as well as areas for improvement and lessons-learned in delivering DMEP. This review will encompass the following aspects:
I. Review the relevance of program objectives and timelines;
II. Assess the project management’s strategies for lessons-learned and the use of adaptive management practices in program implementation;
III. Asses the quality and timeliness of monitoring, evaluation and reporting practices;
IV. Assess the outputs, outcomes and impact achieved to date by the program on in-country governance of medicine systems;
V. Examine if the project has had significant unexpected effects, whether of beneficial or detrimental character.
Evaluation Criteria The following evaluation criteria should be considered as part of the focus of the evaluation process:
i. Relevance: extent to which program activities as well as the intended outputs and outcomes are consistent with the WHO Guidelines and the needs of the intended beneficiaries.
ii. Validity: extent to which the program design and management is logical and coherent.
iii. Effectiveness: extent to which the program activities intended results have been achieved through HPIC’s expertise in delivering medicines in development and humanitarian assistance programs.
iv. Efficiency: how resources (such as funds, expertise and time) have been used and converted to results.
v. Sustainability: extent to which benefits of program activities continue after external program assistance has come to an end.
vi. Impact: what changes in human development are brought about by project activities, directly or indirectly, intended or unintended.
vii. Gender Equity: extent to which the program accounts for gender differences when implementing program activities; and, how gender considerations are mainstreamed into program interventions.
viii. Environmental Best Practices: extent to which the program accounts for environmental best practices when implementing project activities; and, how environmental best practices are mainstreamed into program interventions.
D. Methodology/Approach
Methodology: The evaluation methodology proposed by the consultants will be discussed, validated and agreed upon with HPIC before it is implemented.
The structure of the evaluation process should include the following:
i. A review and analysis of the design and organizational structure of the program, including consistence with the principles and objectives of the WHO Guidelines for Drug Donations.
ii. A review of the activities, inputs, outputs, and outcomes of the program in terms of HPIC’s expertise in delivering medicines for use in charitable activities in the developing world.
iii. An analysis of the performance of HPIC in both their international development and humanitarian assistance programs on the basis of the criteria for eligibility.
The IE will include findings on the following information sources and ensure the following methodology strategies are ensured:
i. Documentation review (desk study)
ii. Visits to HPIC two offices (Montreal and Toronto)
iii. Interviews and questionnaires with the following stakeholders (not an exhaustive list):
a. HPIC management and staff
b. Program partners (intermediaries) who partner with HPIC to bring the medicine donations to the projects in the field
c. Pharmaceutical company partners who receive the special tax incentive
d. HPIC Board of Directors
e. Program beneficiaries
f. Other stakeholders as necessary
iv. Participatory techniques and other relevant approaches in the gathering and analysis of data.
The IE will maintain the following principles:
i. Provide evidence-based information that is credible, reliable and useful.
ii. Provide as much data as to the use of best practices in gender equity and environmental best practices as possible.
iii. Ensure that the key principles of participation and rights-based approach are used throughout the process.
Consultant Competencies and Qualifications: HPIC anticipates engaging an individual that should have the following qualifications:
i. 7 years proven expertise and experience in conducting evaluations (including at least 5 years of conducting evaluations on the international level) of small- and mid-size international development organizations;
ii. At least 5 years of technical knowledge and experience in medicine donations as part of international development and humanitarian programs;
iii. Sound results-based management knowledge;
iv. Holding a relevant masters degree;
v. Clear understanding of relevant and necessary international environmental best-practices;
vi. Understanding of gender equitable and mainstreaming practices;
vii. Fluency in technical written and spoken English;
Resources Available: During the assignment, the consultant will have access to the following resources:
i. The consultant will have access to an office space at the HPIC offices in Canada.
ii. HPIC will provide access to documentation and printed documents as necessary.
iii. HPIC will arrange necessary interviews, focus groups and discussions as needed.
E. Deliverables and Deadlines
Deliverables
I. Draft independent evaluation report. The report should be logically structured, contain evidence-based findings, conclusions, lessons and recommendations. Prior to submission of the final report, the draft version shall be reviewed and circulated for comments to HPIC management, program partners and beneficiaries.
II. Final independent evaluation report. With a maximum of 20 pages (not including annexes), the final report will be submitted upon review and acceptance of the draft report and presented in a way that will make the information accessible and comprehensible.
III. Evaluation executive summary. The evaluation report should include a comprehensive and information-rich executive summary. The summary will be used as a stand-alone product to enhance the readership of the evaluation.
Timeframes
The IE is expected to commence in late April 2012 and be completed by May 14, 2012 (or a reasonable and similar timeline).
F. Remuneration and Terms of Payment
1. 50% of the agreed costs will be paid upon signing of contract; and 50% upon the submission and approval of the final independent evaluation report.
2. HPIC will negotiate accommodations and travel arrangements as well as other associated costs while traveling between the two HPIC offices.
The consultant is responsible to abide by HPIC administrative instructions as well as policies and procedures of HPIC.
DEADLINE FOR COMPLETE PROPOSALS (including workplan and budget): APRIL 23, 2012 and sent to Kendall Nicholson at knicholson@hpicanada.ca
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