Roster of Consultants on NTD Health Systems Integration (Supply Chain, Health Financing, Integrated Service Delivery, HMIS/eLMIS & Integrated Disease Surveillance)

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Objectives of the Cluster and of the Immediate Strategic Objectives (Overview of the Cluster): The Expanded Special Project for Elimination of Neglected Tropical Diseases (ESPEN) is part of and contributes to the work of the Disease Prevention and Control cluster in the WHO African region. The strategic agenda of the cluster is to reduce disease burden in the WHO African Region, by guiding disease control agenda in Africa, and using analytics to inform strategic investments and tailored interventions for disease control”. This approach is underpinned by the guiding principles of comprehensive whole of society, people-centred, integrated approaches to disease control. The comprehensive whole of society approaches to disease control involves: (a) coherent implementation of triple response – technical response: implementing diseases specific normative guidance, promoting intervention mixes and deploying medical commodities; health systems response: building capacities of district service delivery systems in disease mapping and stratification, interventions tailoring, and sector/subsector planning; and multi-sectoral response: addressing socio-economic and environmental determinants of diseases through mobilizing non-health sectors, communities and stakeholders; (b) disease control partnership of public and private sectors, health and non-health sectors; and (c) community involvement in targeted high risk communities, focused on managing determinants of diseases, health services demand creation and accountability by local health stewards. The people centred, integrated approaches to disease control involves: (a) integrated guidance on disease control for each health service delivery platform, a move away from stand-alone disease specific guidance; and (b) integrated and efficient disease control investments in strengthening the capacity of appropriate health services delivery platforms through deployment of appropriate technologies and analytics to guide stratification of disease risks across population groups in order to develop and deploy comprehensive packages of interventions appropriate for each population group and health service delivery platform, as well as monitor population access, coverage and impact to leave no one behind.

1. Background and Context

The Expanded Special Project for the Elimination of Neglected Tropical Diseases (ESPEN), hosted by the WHO Regional Office for Africa, supports Member States to accelerate progress towards the targets of the WHO NTD Roadmap 2021–2030, with a strong emphasis on sustainability, country ownership, and health system integration.

As countries transition from vertical, campaign-driven approaches toward integrated and routine service delivery, there is increasing demand for specialized technical expertise at the interface between NTD programmes and core health system functions, including:

• integration of preventive chemotherapy (PC-NTD) medicines into national supply chain systems and eLMIS;
• alignment of NTD data with national health information systems (NHIS / DHIS2);
• integration of NTD interventions into routine and campaign-based service delivery platforms;
• strengthening integrated disease surveillance and response (IDSR) for NTDs;
• embedding NTDs into national planning, budgeting, and health financing frameworks.

To respond flexibly and efficiently to country needs across these domains, ESPEN seeks to establish a Roster of Consultants on NTD Health Systems Integration, from which qualified experts may be drawn on an as-needed basis to support countries, WHO Country Offices, and regional initiatives.

Technical assistance provided through this roster will be coordinated through WHO Country Offices, working closely with Health Systems Strengthening (HSS) focal points and disease-specific teams. Consultants will complement existing capacity and provide targeted support where additional expertise or surge capacity is required.

2. Purpose of the consultancy

The purpose of this roster is to identify, pre-qualify, and retain a pool of technical experts with proven experience in health systems strengthening as it relates to NTD programmes, who can be rapidly mobilized to support:
• country assessments and readiness analyses;
• documentation of country experiences and best practices;
• development of practical tools, frameworks, and guidance;
• implementation support for integration of NTDs into national systems, including strengthening institutional and technical capacity at country level.
Consultants selected for this roster may be contracted for short-term, deliverable-based assignments, depending on programme needs and funding availability.

3. Scope of Technical Expertise Covered by the Roster

Experts included in this roster are expected to contribute, individually or in combination, across one or more of the following domains, working closely with WHO Country Offices, national technical units (including HMIS divisions), and relevant stakeholders.:

a) Supply Chain and Medicines Management
• Integration of PC-NTD medicines into national supply chain systems
• Alignment with essential medicines lists, treatment guidelines, and national supply chain strategies
• Integration with eLMIS, including tracking of stock, consumption, wastage, expiry, and reconciliation
• Analysis of last-mile distribution, campaign logistics, and accountability mechanisms

b) Health Information Systems and Digital Integration
• Integration of NTD indicators into national HMIS (DHIS2 or equivalent)
• Mapping and optimization of NTD data flows across service delivery platforms
• Interoperability between vertical NTD tools and national digital health architecture
• Alignment with national data governance and digital health strategies
• Engagement with national HMIS units/divisions through WHO Country Offices to support alignment of NTD data integration efforts with national priorities and governance structures.

c) Integrated Service Delivery
• Assessment and design of integrated delivery platforms (e.g. MDA integration, school-based, community-based, PHC platforms)
• Campaign integration across diseases and programmes
• Transition planning from campaign-based to routine delivery models

d) Integrated Disease Surveillance
• Integration of NTD surveillance into IDSR frameworks
• Strengthening post-elimination and post-validation surveillance systems
• Use of routine and sentinel data for NTD surveillance and response

e) Health Financing and Sustainability
• Integration of NTDs into national planning and budgeting cycles
• Analysis of financing flows and sustainability of NTD interventions
• Alignment with domestic resource mobilization and donor transition strategies

4. Typical Assignments and Deliverables

Assignments under this roster may include, but are not limited to:
• Country or multi-country readiness assessments for integration of NTDs into national systems
• Mapping of systems architecture, data flows, and governance arrangements
• Documentation of country experiences, lessons learnt, and best practices
• Development of maturity frameworks, assessment tools, and reference checklists
• Facilitation of technical consultations, validation workshops, and learning exchanges
• Development of practical roadmaps and costed implementation plans
• Clarification of roles and responsibilities across Ministries of Health, WHO (CO, RO, HQ), and partners
• Support WHO Country Offices in developing and implementing engagement strategies with national HMIS units and relevant technical departments.
• Capacity building of WHO Country Office staff (including NTD focal persons, HSS focal points, and MCATs) and Ministry of Health counterparts to support sustainable implementation of integration efforts.
• Data analysis, interpretation, and generation of knowledge products (e.g. analytical reports, policy briefs, peer-reviewed publications) to inform decision-making and document country experiences.
Each consultancy will have specific terms of reference, deliverables, timelines, and payment schedules defined at the time of contracting.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential:

• Advanced university degree (Master’s level or higher) in public health, health systems, pharmacy, supply chain management, health informatics, epidemiology, or a related field.
• Equivalent combination of education and relevant professional experience may be considered.

Experience

Essential:

• A minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible professional experience in health systems strengthening, public health programmes, or related technical areas, with a focus on low- and middle-income country settings.
• Demonstrated experience supporting integration of disease-specific programmes or commodities into national health systems, including one or more of the following:
  - Health information systems (e.g. HMIS, DHIS2); - Supply chain and logistics management information systems (e.g. eLMIS); - Integrated service delivery platforms (routine services or campaigns); - Disease surveillance systems (e.g. IDSR). - Proven experience working with Ministries of Health, including national or subnational departments responsible for planning, service delivery, surveillance, supply chain, or health financing.

Desirable:

• Knowledge of monitoring and evaluation frameworks and indicators relevant to health systems strengthening and NTD programmes.
• Direct experience supporting NTD programmes, particularly preventive chemotherapy, surveillance, or morbidity management, at national or regional level.
• Experience conducting multi-country or regional assessments in the WHO African Region or similar contexts.
• Hands-on experience with DHIS2, national eLMIS platforms, or integrated digital health architectures.
• Experience documenting and analysing country experiences, best practices, and lessons learnt related to programme or systems integration.

Functional Knowledge and Skills

• Strong understanding of national health systems and decentralised service delivery.
• Familiarity with DHIS2, eLMIS, IDSR, and national planning and budgeting processes.
• Knowledge of monitoring and evaluation frameworks and indicators relevant to health systems strengthening and NTD programmes.
• Ability to analyse complex systems and translate findings into practical, actionable recommendations.
• Excellent analytical, writing, and facilitation skills.

WHO Competencies

• Teamwork.
• Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences.
• Communication.
• Producing Results.
• Building and Promoting Partnerships across the Organization and Beyond.

Use of Language Skills

Essential: Expert knowledge of English, or French, or Portuguese.
Desirable: Working knowledge of any other UN official languages.

Contractual Arrangements

• Inclusion in the roster does not guarantee a contract.
• Contracts will be issued on a case-by-case basis, depending on programme needs.
• Assignments may be remote, in-country, or blended.
• Duration and remuneration will vary according to the scope of work and available funding.

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 each location/jurisdiction in which the work hereunder is performed, and the Consultant shall not be entitled to any reimbursement thereof by WHO.
• Consultants working in Switzerland must register with the applicable Swiss cantonal tax authorities and social security authorities, within the prescribed timeframes (Guidelines issued by the Swiss Mission are available at: https://www.eda.admin.ch/missions/mission-onu-geneve/en/home/manual-regime-privileges-and-immunities/introduction/Manuel-personnes-sans-privileges-et-immunites-carte-H/Non fonctionnaires et stagiaires.html

For roster VNs

The purpose of this vacancy is to develop a list of qualified candidates for inclusion in this advertised roster. All applicants will be notified in writing of the outcome of their application (whether successful or unsuccessful) upon conclusion of the selection process. Successful candidates will be placed on the roster and subsequently may be selected for consultancy assignments falling in this area of work or for similar requirements/tasks/deliverables. Inclusion in the Roster does not guarantee selection to a consultant contract. There is no commitment on either side.

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