Primary Health Care (phc) Strategy Development Consultant

Artemis Outsourcing Ltd is a regionally focused multidisciplinary consulting firm providing technical assistance in Human Resource Management. Our client in the NGO sector is seeking to engage a Primary Health Care Strategy Development Consultant (individual consultant, or team leader of a multidisciplinary joint application) to support the Ministry of Health in developing the Kenya Primary Health Care Strategic Framework 2027 - 2032 and updating the Primary Care Network (PCN) Guideline.

Period: Approximately 60 working days over a 6-month period (October 2026 - March 2027)

Reporting to: Director, Primary Health Care, through the Head of Division, Primary Health Care Networks (Secretariat)

Background

• Kenya is firmly committed to achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC), anchored in the constitutional right to the highest attainable standard of health and in the global ideals of the Alma Ata (1978) and Astana (2018) Declarations, which recognize Primary Health Care (PHC) as the foundation of equitable, accessible and people-centred health services. The Kenya Primary Health Care Strategic Framework (KPHCSF) 2019 - 2024 and the Primary Care Networks (PCN) Guideline 2021 have been instrumental in advancing this agenda, within the context of ongoing UHC reforms including the Primary Health Care Act 2023, the Digital Health Act 2023, the Facility Improvement Financing Act 2023 and the Social Health Insurance Act 2023.
• The upcoming 2027 - 2032 Strategic Framework will build on the lessons of the End-Term Review (ETR) of the previous framework, with a focus on the full operationalization and functionality of PCNs and on integrated, quality, resilient and equitable PHC services across the life course, including RMNCAH, immunization, nutrition, non-communicable diseases and injuries, mental health, rehabilitation, palliative care, surveillance, and emergency preparedness and response. Inclusivity will be a central priority, with deliberate attention to vulnerable and marginalized groups, persons with disabilities, refugees and migrants, and the urban poor, alongside stronger community participation, multisectoral action, digital transformation, referral systems and domestic financing.

Purpose of the consultancy

• The purpose of this technical assistance (consultancy) is to provide the Ministry of Health's Directorate of Primary Health Care with strategic and technical support for the development of the KPHCSF 2027 - 2032, building on the achievements and lessons learned from the implementation of the KPHCSF 2019 - 2024. Informed primarily by the findings and recommendations of the End-Term
• Review (ETR) of the 2019 - 2024 framework, the consultancy will support the identification of priority areas, formulation of strategic directions, objectives, and designing of implementation arrangements to strengthen primary health care and guide its transformation over the 2027 - 2032 period.

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES

The specific objective of this technical support will include;

• Review and synthesize evidence from the implementation of the KPHCSF 2019 - 2024, including the ETR and other PHC evidence, to identify achievements, gaps, emerging challenges, lessons learned, and future priorities.
• Assess the evolving PHC landscape and engage key stakeholders at national and county levels, development partners, professional bodies, academia, civil society, private sector, and communities to inform the strategic direction of the framework.
• Develop the KPHC Strategic Framework 2027 - 2032 by defining its vision, strategic objectives, priority interventions, results framework aligned with the Ministry of Health's strategic planning guidance and updating the Kenya PCN implementation guideline with provisions for contextualization to different socio-ecological zones such as the ASALs; Rural agrarian areas; and Cities, municipalities and urban areas.
• Strengthen equitable and people-centred PHC by integrating community health services, digital health innovations, multidisciplinary teams, and ensuring the needs of adolescents, persons with disabilities, refugees, migrants, urban poor, gender inclusivity imperative, and other underserved populations are addressed.
• Develop implementation and sustainability mechanisms including monitoring, evaluation and accountability frameworks, costing and prioritization of interventions, financing and resource mobilization strategies, and validation of the final KPHC Strategic Framework 2027 - 2032.

SCOPE OF ASSIGNMENT

The consultancy assignment will encompass the following key areas:

Review of Existing Evidence and Policy Documents

• Review the Kenya Primary Health Care Strategic Framework 2019 - 2024, its End-Term Review (ETR) report, relevant national health and related policies, strategies, guidelines, and global PHC commitments and frameworks including WHO/UNICEF Operational Framework for Primary Health Care: Transforming Vision Into Action and WHO/UNICEF Primary Health Care Measurement

Framework and Indicators.

• Assess progress, achievements, challenges, gaps, and lessons learned from implementation of the previous framework and other aligned policy documents.
• Analyse emerging health and development trends, including demographic changes, epidemiological transitions, urbanization, climate-related health risks, health financing reforms, and digital health transformation.
• Undertake a comprehensive assessment of the current PHC landscape, including community health services and PCNs, service quality, referral systems, governance, financing, human resources for health, community participation, resilience, equity, multisectoral collaboration for health, and health information systems.
• Identify opportunities, risks, and priorities that will shape PHC strengthening over the 2027 - 2032 period.

Stakeholder Mapping and Consultations

• Design and facilitate consultations with key stakeholders in health and other relevant sectors, including national and county governments, development partners, professional associations, the private sector, academia, civil society organizations, and community representatives.
• Document stakeholder perspectives and build consensus on strategic priorities, implementation approaches, financing arrangements, and accountability mechanisms.

Develop key documents:

• Develop the Kenya PHC Strategic Framework 2027 - 2032
• Facilitate the articulation of the framework's vision, mission, goal, guiding principles, strategic objectives, priority interventions, and expected outcomes.
• Mainstream equity, quality of care, community participation, gender, disability inclusion, refugee and migrant health, urban health, digital transformation, and resilience within the framework.
• Ensure strong alignment with UHC priorities, the Kenya Health Sector Strategic Plan, coherence with the Community Health Strategy 2027-2032, and other relevant national and global commitments on PHC and UHC.

Develop the Results and Accountability Framework

• Develop a results framework with indicators, baselines, targets, and performance measurement approaches.
• Define governance, coordination, accountability, and reporting mechanisms for implementation of the framework, with clear roles and responsibilities across the two levels of government.
• Develop a monitoring, evaluation, learning, and accountability framework.

Implementation Planning

• Develop an implementation framework outlining resource requirements, financing options, and implementation responsibilities.
• Propose approaches for resource mobilization, sustainability, and efficient use of available resources.
• Review and Update the Primary Health Care Network Guideline
• Draw from assessments of the implementation of the PCNs and the PCN Guideline 2021.
• Propose revisions to enhance service integration, continuity of care, referral coordination, and operationalize multidisciplinary team arrangements across all levels of care.
• Propose mechanisms for monitoring and evaluating PCN functionality and approaches to institutionalization of PCNs across Kenya's diverse settings, with due consideration of community and population health needs and health provider (public-private) mix.

Validation and Finalization

• Prepare draft and final versions of the Strategic Framework and the updated PCN guideline.
• Facilitate stakeholder validation workshops and incorporate feedback into the final document. Key stakeholders include the National MOH, Council of Governors and County
• Governments, professional associations, civil society organizations, communities, other relevant government ministries, departments and agencies, the private sector, academia and research institutions, and development partners (funders and implementers).
• Support dissemination and presentation of the finalized KPHCSF 2027 - 2032 and the updated PCN guideline, With summary slide decks.

KEY DELIVERABLES

Below are key deliverables to achieved by the consultant

• Inception Report and Work Plan: A detailed inception report outlining the methodology, approach, stakeholder engagement strategy, detailed work plan, implementation schedule, data collection and stakeholder consultation tools, National and County governance/coordination arrangements, and quality assurance mechanisms for development of the KPHCSF 2027 - 2032 and updated PCN guideline, with risk management plan
• Evidence Review and Situational Analysis Report: A comprehensive review and synthesis of evidence to inform the new Strategic Framework and to revise the PCN guideline from ETR report of KPHCSF 2019 - 2024, PHC performance trends and review of relevant policies, legislation, strategies, guidelines, assessment of PHC system performance, emerging opportunities and challenges and identify strategic priorities for 2027 - 2032.
• Stakeholder Consultation Report: Documentation of stakeholder consultations conducted at national and county levels including; stakeholders' expectations and roles, emerging policy and implementation issues, consensus priorities identified and key findings and recommendations. Further, facilitate participatory planning processes and broad stakeholder engagement with the Ministry of Health and across divisions/directorates/programs/SAGAs of the Ministry of Health, Council of Governors, county governments, development partners, communities, professional associations, civil society organizations, academia/research entities, and the private sector to foster shared ownership and inform sound strategic priorities and directions.
• Revision of the PCN guideline: Assess implementation and functionality of the PCN approach, Gap analysis and recommendations for strengthening the model. Summarize lessons from PCN Assessment reports and draft revised PCN Guidelines with attention to contextual adaptations for various contexts including agrarian/rural, urban and peri- urban, ASAL and refugee-hosting settings
• Results Framework and Monitoring and evaluation Framework: Develop a comprehensive performance and accountability framework. Integrate rights and results-based management principles by establishing clear indicators, targets, monitoring mechanisms and learning agenda using internationally recognized PHC monitoring frameworks and measurable implementation milestones, to support accountability and drive measurable progress toward UHC and SDGs.
• Implementation Plan and Financing Arrangements: Develop a realistic implementation and financing framework for the strategy including costing strategic interventions, resource requirements by strategic objective, financing gap analysis, county and national financing considerations, sustainability and efficiency measures frameworks implementation roles and responsibilities.
• Validation Workshop Materials and Reports: Facilitation of stakeholder review and validation processes comprising of validation workshop presentations, facilitating stakeholder review sessions and revising the framework to reflect stakeholder inputs.
• KPHCSF 2027 - 2032: Prepare a first complete draft of the Strategic Framework. Work with the Ministry of Health Planning Unit and partners to ensure a fully costed implementation plan with proposed resource mobilization strategy to support strategy implementation while identifying short-, medium-, and long-term priorities, key milestones, institutional responsibilities, and monitoring arrangements and ensure final submission of the final framework incorporating all agreed comments.
• Updated PCN Guideline: develop a revised and standalone PCN Guideline aligned to the Strategic Framework and current UHC reforms, with strong provisions for institutionalizing PCNs and their functionality assessment, monitoring and evaluation.
• Dissemination Package and Executive Presentation: Prepare communication products to support launch and dissemination, including drafting strategic Framework and PCN guideline summary brief, High-level PowerPoint Slide Deck (20-25 slides) and stakeholder dissemination plan.
• Undertake additional strategic tasks: Some roles may include planning and program development responsibilities as assigned by the Director for Primary Health Care or designated authority, ensuring responsiveness to emerging and contextual priorities.

Key qualifications

• A health professional with advanced university degree in public health, medicine, public Policy, health economics, or other relevant fields is required, individual or as team leader for a multidisciplinary (joint) application is mandatory.
• A minimum of ten years of progressive hands-on relevant work experience in thedevelopment of national health policies and strategic plans in Kenya or a similar context is required.
• Strong background and expertise in evidence synthesis and evidence-informed human rights and results-based strategic planning and programme design.
• Demonstrated understanding of WHO/UNICEF Primary Health Care frameworks and health systems transformation based on the Kenya Health Policy framework, relevant UHC Strategies, reforms and plans, and the unique role of devolved health architecture and varied epidemiological and demographic settings, climate change and environmental hazards, health security and impacts on PHC delivery.
• Experience facilitating multisectoral strategic planning processes will be an added advantage.
• Proven track record in similar collaborations with the Ministry of Health in Kenya.
• Experience in writing/drafting strategic/policy documents concisely with demonstrable recency.
• A visionary professional with proven experience in effective stakeholder engagement and

promoting meaningful participation in planning processes for health systems transformation.

• Strong communicator with ability to present technical concepts clearly and articulately.
• Fluency in English and Kiswahili, both oral and written, is a mandatory requirement.