National Consultant to Support Finalization of The Health Sector National Adaptation Plan (H-Nap) 2026–2030

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BACKGROUND Climate change is increasingly straining Tanzania’s health systems, amplifying risks such as vector-borne diseases, waterborne infections, food insecurity, and poor air quality. Rising temperatures, prolonged droughts, floods, and extreme weather events are disrupting healthcare delivery and damaging infrastructure, including energy, water, sanitation, and supply chains. Vulnerable groups such as children, women, outdoor workers, and urban poor communities are disproportionately affected, facing heightened risks to health and livelihoods. Tanzania’s ranking of 148 in the ND-GAIN Index (2018), with high vulnerability (0.535) and low readiness (0.295), underscores the country’s limited capacity to respond effectively to climate-related health challenges.
Recognizing these threats, the Ministry of Health (MoH), in collaboration with UNICEF, WHO, the Vice President’s Office, and other stakeholders, initiated the development of the Health National Adaptation Plan (H-NAP) 2026–2030. The draft plan builds on a vulnerability assessment that highlighted increased incidence of water-, vector-, and foodborne diseases, rising gender inequalities, and disruption of healthcare services due to climate impacts. It also identified the need to strengthen resilience in health facilities and communities, ensuring continuity of care during climate shocks.
The H-NAP aims to provide a structured framework for building climate-resilient health systems by integrating adaptation strategies into national health planning. It emphasizes evidence-based interventions, stakeholder engagement, and alignment with WHO standards.
It is in this context that the World Health Organization seeks to engage a national consultant to finalize the document, with particular focus on heat-health interventions, cross-sectoral collaboration, and sustainable implementation mechanisms that protect vulnerable populations and strengthen national readiness.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this consultancy is to provide technical expertise and guide finalization of the Health National Adaptation Plan (H-NAP) 2026–2030 by ensuring the accuracy and relevance of information, integrating heat-health interventions, and aligning strategies with WHO guidance and Tanzania’s national health priorities. The consultancy will involve capitalizing on vulnerability assessments, strengthening the existing action plan to address climate-sensitive diseases and infrastructure resilience, embedding gender-sensitive and equity-focused approaches, and ensuring the plan reflects sustainable development potential, country ownership, and efficiency in protecting vulnerable populations.

SCOPE OF WORK

The consultant will undertake the following tasks in close collaboration with the MoH technical team and the international consultant:
• Stakeholder engagement: Facilitate consultations with MoH, WHO, UNICEF, civil society, academia, and DPG Health to ensure broad input and ownership.
• Technical validation: Support validation of climate-sensitive health data, including maternal and neonatal health indicators, and ensure integration into the H-NAP.
• Framework development: Assist in designing a conceptual framework linking climate change determinants to health outcomes, guiding prioritization of interventions.
• Data updates: Update and refine data on climate-sensitive diseases, extreme weather impacts, and health infrastructure vulnerabilities.
• Heat-health integration: Ensure the action plan includes specific measures for heat-health risks, such as early warning systems, occupational safety protocols, and community awareness campaigns.
• Cross-sectoral linkages: Propose mechanisms for engaging non-health sectors (e.g., agriculture, water, energy, urban planning) in implementing adaptation measures.
• Problem-tree analysis: Guide the use of problem-tree analysis to define key focus areas and intervention pathways.
• Operational planning: Advise on scheduling, virtual meetings, and coordination mechanisms to ensure effective participation of MoH technical teams.
• Action plan review: Scrutinize the draft action plan to ensure interventions are practical, cost-effective, and geographically inclusive.
• Finalization support: Work with the international consultant to produce the final H-NAP document ready for stakeholder validation and adoption.

TIME FRAME

The assignment must be completed within 4 months from the time of commissioning.

KEY COMPETENCIES AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

Education (Qualifications)

Essential: A Bachelors’ degree plus a Masters’ degree in relevant field e.g. Public Health, Environmental Health Sciences, Climate Change.

Experience

Essential:
• Minimum of 5 years working in health systems strengthening, climate change adaptation, or related areas, with demonstrated experience in Tanzania or similar contexts.
• Strong knowledge of climate-sensitive diseases, heat health risks, and pathways linking climate change to health outcomes.
• Experience in developing or reviewing national health strategies, adaptation plans, or policy frameworks aligned with WHO guidance.
• Ability to validate, update, and interpret health and climate data, including maternal and neonatal indicators, and translate findings into actionable interventions.
• Proven ability to work with government ministries, development partners, civil society, and research institutions to build consensus and ensure inclusive participation.
• Skills in coordinating technical teams, organizing consultations, and managing timelines to deliver outputs efficiently.
• Excellent writing, reporting, and presentation abilities to produce clear, evidence-based outputs and facilitate knowledge sharing
• Familiarity with Tanzania’s health system, governance structures, and socio-economic challenges to ensure recommendations are practical and context-specific.

Desirable:

• Substantial experience of working in collaboration with National Ministries, Non-Governmental, and other UN Organizations.
• Prior work with WHO or other UN agencies on health or climate-related projects.
• Ability to support institutional strengthening by guiding MoH teams and transferring knowledge on climate-health linkages and adaptation planning.

Languages

• Fluency in both Kiswahili and English to facilitate effective communication with stakeholders.
• Excellent writing, reporting, and presentation abilities to produce clear, evidence-based outputs and facilitate knowledge sharing.

Other Skills (e.g. IT)

Excellent knowledge of Microsoft applications (e.g. Excel, Word, PowerPoint, etc).

MANAGEMENT PLAN

The consultant will work closely with the selected international consultant, Ministry of Health team from Mainland and Zanzibar and WHO Country Office to ensure smooth completion of the assignment.

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.
• For information on WHO's operations please visit: http://www.who.int.
• WHO is committed to workforce diversity.
• WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.
• Applications from women and from nationals of non and underrepresented Member States are particularly encouraged.
• WHO prides itself on a workforce that adheres to the highest ethical and professional standards and that is committed to put the WHO Values Charter into practice.
• WHO has zero tolerance towards sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct (i.e., discrimination, abuse of authority and harassment). All members of the WHO workforce have a role to play in promoting a safe and respectful workplace and should report to WHO any actual or suspected cases of SEA, sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct. To ensure that individuals with a substantiated history of SEA, sexual harassment or other types of abusive conduct are not hired by the Organization, WHO will conduct a background verification of final candidates.
• Consultants shall perform the work as independent contractors in a personal capacity, and not as a representative of any entity or authority. The execution of the work under a consultant contract does not create an employer/employee relationship between WHO and the Consultant.
• WHO shall have no responsibility whatsoever for any taxes, duties, social security contributions or other contributions payable by the Consultant. The Consultant shall be solely responsible for withholding and paying any taxes, duties, social security contributions and any other contributions which are applicable to the Consultant in in each location/jurisdiction in which the work hereunder is performed, and the Consultant shall not be entitled to any reimbursement thereof by WHO.