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Purpose of consultancy To provide technical, analytical, and coordination inputs to WHO-supported activities in Ukraine focused on public health workforce development, leadership strengthening, health security (IHR/NAPHS), and implementation of competency-based approaches, including support to national “Public Health Workforce Development Programme until 2030” activities and human-centered design initiatives in the blood system workforce.
Background
Achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and health security requires a well-trained, adequately staffed public health workforce (PHWf) capable of delivering Essential Public Health Functions, including emergency preparedness and response. In Ukraine, ongoing public health reform and the impact of the full-scale war highlight the need to strengthen workforce capacity, institutional resilience, and coordinated public health action.
Following approval of the National Programme for Public Health Workforce Development (2025–2030) and its Action Plan (2025–2027), 2026 is a key implementation phase. Priorities include operationalizing competency-based workforce development, updating curricula and professional standards, defining workforce monitoring indicators, and strengthening leadership across the system, with emphasis on translating the competency framework into practical tools for institutions and policy-makers.
Additionaly WHO jointly with the Ministry of Health of Ukraine (MoH) and the Ukrainian Public Health Centre (UPHC), continues implementation of the Public Health Leadership Programme (PHLP), focusing on peer learning, applied leadership practice, and institutionalization within the national public health system.
WHO also supports the implementation of the International Health Regulations (IHR) and the adoption of the National Action Plan for Health Security (NAPHS) for strengthening multisectoral coordination and preparedness in Ukraine.
In parallel, WHO works with the Ukrainian Transplant-Coordination Center on human-centred design initiatives to improve blood donor recruitment and retention, which include post-training mentorship and implementation support for pilot initiatives from August to December 2026.
Furthermore, WHO facilitates quarterly coordination meetings between MoH, UPHC, and regional Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCs), including the upcoming 11th Public Health System Development Retreat in October 2026.
Within this context, WHO seeks a national consultant to contribute to workforce development, leadership, health security, and system-strengthening activities in 2026, with strong proficiency in English and Ukrainian.
Deliverables
- Deliverable 1. Technical inputs, drafting, and review provided for up to 10 technical products on public health workforce development, PH services, and IHR/Preparedness (including frameworks, indicators, curricula, reports, and policy materials). Expected by: 31 December 2026 (or as per individual product timelines within the contract period).
- Deliverable 2. Meeting documentation and coordination materials prepared for up to 10 coordination meetings with MoH, UPHC, and CDCs, including agendas, background materials, minutes, and action points. Expected by: within 5 working days after each meeting, August–December 2026.
- Deliverable 3. Inputs provided to at least 16 consultations, retreats, coordination meetings, and mentorship sessions under PHWf, PHLP, NAPHS, and related activities, including documentation and follow-up notes. Expected by: throughout August–December 2026, with summaries within 5 working days after each event.
- Deliverable 4. At least 3 PHLP experience exchange sessions facilitated, participant database maintained, communication materials prepared, and up to 3 session summaries produced. Expected by: 31 December 2026.
- Deliverable 5. Consolidated synthesis report on human-centred design pilot interventions for blood donor recruitment and retention developed, including lessons learned and implementation outcomes. Expected by: 30 November 2026.
- Deliverable 6. Up to 5 WHO documents proofread (EN–UKR) and up to 3 national documents reviewed for alignment with WHO and international guidance. Expected by: 31 December 2026.
- Deliverable 7. Draft analytical summary prepared on pilot testing of PHWf Competency Self-Assessment Tool, including recommendations for national scale-up. Expected by: 15 December 2026.
- Deliverable 8. Official correspondence drafted for WHO-supported activities with MoH, UPHC, and partners as required throughout the assignment. Expected by: continuously during August–December 2026, as requested.
Qualifications, experience, skills and languages:
Educational Qualifications:
Essential: Bachelor’s degree in Public Health, Health Policy, Health Governance, Medicine or a related field from an accredited/recognized institute.
Desirable: Master’s degree in public health, Health Policy, Health Informatics, Digital Health, Data Science, Epidemiology, Law, Public Administration, or a related field.
Experience
Essential: At least three years of national work experience in public health, health governance, health workforce development, public health leadership, health security, or public health system strengthening. Experience should include collaboration with government authorities, academic institutions, public health organizations, and/or international organizations. Experience in preparation of technical documents, coordination of stakeholder consultations, and organization of capacity-building activities is desirable.
Desirable: Master’s degree in Public Health, Health Policy, Health Governance, Medicine or a related field.
Skills/Knowledge:
Strong analytical, writing, communication, and stakeholder engagement skills.
Ability to prepare technical documents, reports, presentations, and meeting materials in English and Ukrainian.
Familiarity with public health workforce development, competency-based approaches, leadership development, health security, and public health system governance in Ukraine and worldwide.
Ability to coordinate multiple streams of work, synthesize information from different stakeholders, and maintain effective working relationships with national and international partners.
Languages and level required:
Essential: Excellent knowledge of the Ukrainian language; fluency in the English language (reading, writing, and speaking).
Location
Off-site
Travel
The consultant is expected to travel to oblasts depending on operational needs, including stakeholder consultations, data-flow review, institutional coordination, and field-based health information governance activities.
Remuneration
Contract total value: USD 18,000
Monthly rate, daily rate and numbers of the days: USD 3,600 per month; USD 180 daily rate; 20 working days per month; 5 months.
Consultant pay band range: NO-B level
Terms of payment: the payment will be on a monthly basis after provision of Technical Report and approval from Responsible Officer
Expected duration of contract
Target Start Date: 01 Aug 2026
Target end date: 31 December 2026
Contract Duration (Years, Months, Days): 5 months
Additional Information:
- This vacancy notice may be used to identify candidates for other similar consultancies at the same level.
- Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.
- A written test may be used as a form of screening.
- If your candidature is retained for interview, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. WHO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed through the link: http://www.whed.net/. Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and will require individual review.
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