The International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Regional Network on Equity in Health in east and southern Africa (EQUINET), in co-operation with the East, Central and Southern African Health Community (ECSA-HC) are calling for expressions of interest from researchers in Kenya to undertake a baseline study entitled Managing the Migration of Human Resources for Health in Kenya: the Impact on Health Service Delivery. EQUINET in co-operation with ECSA is implementing in east and southern Africa research and programme support on the retention of health workers and on management of out- migration of health personnel. IOM is dedicated to the effective management of health workers migration in Kenya through participation in a migration Technical Working Group (TWG). Representatives include: Federation of Kenya Employers, Nursing Council of Kenya, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Labour, ILO, IOM, and WHO. The TWG acts as a form of support to a National Steering Committee (NSC) co-chaired by the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Labour. The TWG has developed the following research agenda, of which this consultancy makes up the third and final component: 1. Managing the Migration of Human Resources for Health in Kenya: A Policy Review 2. Managing the Migration of Human Resources for Health in Kenya: Dynamics, Trends, Magnitude, and Data Collection/Management 3. Managing the Migration of Human Resources for Health in Kenya: the Impact on Health Service Delivery In view of this, ECSA, EQUINET, and IOM have joined efforts to commission a detailed review and critical analysis on the impact of the migration of health workers on health service delivery. The main objective of the research is to assess the social and economic ‘costs and benefits’ of migration of health workers in Kenya both internally and externally on health service delivery, to identify mechanisms of monitoring enabling an effective management of the dynamics of the migration of HRH and assist decision makers in formulating policies that reduce negative impacts and maximize possible positive effects on health services. The consultancy will thus aim, in Kenya, to a) Identify trends in the movement of health personnel and the impact on workforce equilibrium. b) Evaluate these trends and working patterns of human resources for their distributional impact on health service provision, coverage, access and equity and performance c) Identify priority areas of impact in relation to national health and health system goals. d) Select, justify and analyse relevant indicators and propose monitoring mechanisms within current routine health information and human resource management information systems to foster situation assessment, planning and management of health professional migration and its impact on performance of health services e) Make detailed recommendations and suggest strategies for the effective management, monitoring and oversight of the migration of health workers, drawing on relevant existing experience and approaches, and including policy and operational measures to mitigate negative effects of migration. f) Present the research to the Technical Working Group (TWG) and the final report at a public Stakeholders’ validation workshop attended by the National Steering Committee (NSC). The study will be based on sound and reliable information by analyzing and reporting on relevant current and retrospective quantitative and qualitative data drawn from secondary reports, information systems gathered through meetings with relevant government officials, health professionals, other resource persons and stakeholders and interviews with key informants. An interim report will be expected by September 23 and a final report by October 28 2007. The consultant will be invited to speak at a Workshop hosted by IOM and the East African Community (EAC) on the Migration of Human Resources for Health in Nairobi in 2007, with logistic costs for this separately paid. The meeting will provide an opportunity to present evidence based studies to key decision makers to enhance discussion on managing the migration of health workers at the policy level. The consultant will also be required to present at the Regional EQUINET and ECSA meetings on health worker retention and migration in 2008, with logistic costs for this separately paid. This is an open call. Applications should be emailed by 5:00pm July 27 2007 and must include: 1. A concept note outlining a. the research questions, methods to be used and major indicators b. a list of key informants, stakeholders, and institutions to be interviewed 2. CV and contact information (including email) that makes clear the applicants experiences and skills of relevance to this work; including publications that the applicant has produced in an area related to that of the commissioned paper; and 3. A sample of a paper written by the applicant in an area closely related to that of the commissioned paper Applications should be sent by 27 July 2007 to admin@equinetafrica.org and ckisia@iom.int with ‘Health worker migration research’ in the subject line. The successful applicant will be notified by August 3 2007.