Pharmacy Officer

Contract

This is a No grade contract. More about No grade contracts.

Background

The World Health Organization and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria collaborate to implement strategic initiatives to accelerate the end of AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria as epidemics and strengthen systems for health. The partnership aims to address some persistent challenges that impede progress against the three diseases and protect hard-won gains from new pandemics like COVID-19. WHO and the Global Fund have a long and successful partnership working together to scale up HIV, TB and malaria interventions and strengthen health systems in many countries. Through focused efforts and catalytic investments, this collaboration has contributed to significantly reduce the disease burdens of HIV, TB and malaria worldwide, saving millions of lives since 2002.

“The COVID-19 pandemic, more than ever, reinforces the need to strengthen partnership to achieve shared goals of ending the epidemics. “The partnership supports countries to develop more effective responses to the HIV, tuberculosis and malaria epidemics and build the resilient health systems they need to reach the most vulnerable.”

“Together, WHO and the Global Fund have proven to be a powerful force that builds on strong in-country support and regional presence, technical leadership, and financial resources to strengthen systems for health and accelerate the end of AIDS, TB and malaria as epidemics. “This partnership helps overcome the multiple challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, safeguard and expand HIV, TB and malaria programs and strengthen the system.”

1.1 World Health Organization and the Global Fund support to Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone receives support from both the World Health Organization and the Global Fund. The relationship between Sierra Leone and Global Fund came into existence in May 2005, whilst that with WHO started on 9 May 1956 when it was admitted as Associate Member and became an official member of WHO at its Independence on 27 April 1961 and currently a Member State of the WHO African Region.

The Global Fund currently classifies Sierra Leone as a CORE country. Based on the Global Fund Board’s decision in November 2022 on the funding available for the 2023-2025 allocation period, Sierra Leone has been allocated US$126,444,674 for HIV, tuberculosis (TB), malaria and building resilient and sustainable systems for health (RSSH). This process involves country dialogue between all actors involved in the response and selecting a principal recipient to implement the grant. In this context, the RSSH grant from the Global Fund was integrated into the disease components (HIV/AIDS, TB, and Malaria for the period July 2021-June 2024. The RSSH grant is implemented by the Principal Recipients –Ministry of Health.

To mitigate the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on programs to fight AIDS, tuberculosis (TB) and malaria and initiate urgent improvements in formal and community health systems, Sierra Leone has benefitted from Global Fund’s COVID-19 Response Mechanism (C19RM) since April 2021. As the pandemic evolves and countries transition from an emergency response, the C19RM funding continues supporting resilient and sustainable systems for health (RSSH) and pandemic preparedness with an extension to 30 June 2023 and through C19RM Portfolio Optimization for implementation through to 31 December 2025.

In preparing and submitting Funding Requests and Grant Makings, Sierra Leone bas been benefitting from WHO’s technical assistance the latest one being under WHO’s “South-South Learning and Strategic support to countries”, where the country, among 10 other countries received support to develop a resilient and sustainable systems for health (RSSH) component in a HIV, TB, or malaria funding request to the Global Fund.

To increase and to sustain the implementation of activities under the NFM3/GC6, the Ministry of Health as the main PR has invited WHO and other agencies in Sierra Leone with the comparative advantage to support the country to main the tempo for implementation.

2. Justification

Considering the increasing need to fight HIV/TB/Malaria and strengthen the health system in general in Sierra Leone, and in accordance with the Global Fund procedures, Sierra Leone has identified the need for extra support to be able to implement the activities agreed between the Principal Recipients through CCM and the Global Fund. WHO, being associated with the Global Fund, the CCM and the Principal Recipient MOH, is seen as a reliable partner to the Ministry on its programmes with the Global Fund through the provision of technical assistance in various forms and thereby being in the known of the challenges confronting the implementation of the Global Fund’s funded initiatives and activities.

The Ministry of Health is seeking technical assistance from WHO to support the implementation of some of its Global fund activities under GC6 and C19RM till June 2024. With prior discussions with the parties involved and given the short time of the grant, there is an understanding for the recruitment of two RSSH Experts as consultants (One international and one National) to support the Ministry in the implementation of the Grant Cycle 6 with focus on RSSH component of the agreements.

3. Scope of Work

Under the supervision of the Coordinator of Health Systems and working closely with Health teams, the Resilient and Sustainable Systems for Health (RSSH) ATM program Manager, the National Consultant shall work to facilitate and support the PR with issues related to the implementation of a component of their national ATM and general systems strengthening programmes. The programmes and the strengthening of systems present highly complex technical, epidemiological, and political contexts for implementing ATM control and elimination embedded in an equally complex health system.

The Consultant(s) is expected to have a clear understanding of WHO policies and guidelines on the specific intervention area and an in-depth knowledge of the technical aspects of ATM prevention and control in endemic countries and the relevant health systems components required for success. The assignment also requires highly developed negotiation skills and a proven track record in achieving consensus across multiple stakeholders. The consultant must have vast experience in pharmaceuticals and procurement of health products based on local and international standards. The consultant(s) will be expected to be onsite.

4. Duties and responsibilities

The objective of the assignment:

The Consultant(s) must have expertise in at least one of the intervention areas listed below to provide the targeted support required. In addition, experience in contextualizing these health system pillars within or complementing the ATM programmes is needed.

• Health product management, supply chain and systems strengthening.

• Laboratory systems

• Health sector governance and planning

• Integrated service delivery and quality of care (ex. RMNCAH: malaria prevention in pregnancy – IPTp and ITNs, diagnosis and treatment)

• Planning, direction, and governance of the health sector

• Health product management systems

• Strengthening laboratory systems

• Oxygen therapy and respiratory care systems

• Community systems and responses

• Other cross-cutting considerations: private sector involvement

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The Consultant will be expected to carry out the following tasks to meet the objectives mentioned above:

• Provide strategic and technical support for the development of national policies, guidelines and plans for TB, HIV and Malaria prevention and care; laboratory strengthening,

• Provide strategic and technical support on assessing the epidemiological and programmatic situation, designing, and implementing interventions, and mobilizing resources for effective implementation of the priority activities, from the Global Fund for AIDS, Tuberculosis Malaria and RSSH.

• Strengthen community systems and community-led programs and help integrate them into health systems.

• Strengthen the supply chain to ensure that medicines, laboratory services and health products are available when and where needed.

• Facilitate the quantification, technical specification, and procurement process of Equipment for Regulatory/Quality Assurance

• Strengthen the creation and use of health data at all levels so that Sierra Leone and communities can make decisions based on the latest evidence.

• Provide technical support to monitor and facilitate the implementation of the GC6 f RSSH and ATM activities by conducting programme reviews and technical missions, facilitating capacity-building activities, collecting, and analyzing programmatic and surveillance data, designing and supporting programmatic and operational research, as well as preparing documents for various purposes including policy recommendations, technical communications, advocacy materials, donor proposals and reports.

• Strengthen collaboration with international technical and funding partners, including technical institutions, financial institutions, and bilateral donors, and facilitate the timely Mobilization of more multisectoral opportunities to improve services' scope, quality, and affordability.

• Strengthen partnerships between different sectors and harmonies and integrate GC6 disease programmes with overall health systems, strengthening strategies and interventions so that programs and services are sustainable and can reach more people.

5. Deliverables

Under the coordination of WHO, MOH and CCM, the consultant(s) will have to carry out the main deliverables as follows:

To be determined based on the specific assignment up to June 2024 with possible examples:

• Provide a clear plan on GC6 and C19 activities, including RSSH components of a Global Fund funding that can be implemented within the required period of June 2024

• Give an updated operational plan to support the Pharmacy Council in implementing its key priority activities with GF funding.

• Updated operational plan on how to support the implementation of prioritised activities under GC 6

• Final report to WHO/MOH/CCM analysing support provided, including recommendations for improving future support to Sierra Leone.

• The Consultant shall prepare monthly activities report outlining procurements executed and status.

• At the end of each month, the Consultant shall produce a report outlining the implementation status of GC6/C19 Procurement activities.

6. Qualifications, experience, skills, and languages

(1) Education

Required:

• Medical Degree from a recognized university and or with a postgraduate degree or equivalent in public health/pharmacy and/or social sciences or any other relevant field.

Desirable:

• A senior expert with extensive experience in public health, pharmacy, medicine, statistics and health systems.

(2) Work experience

Essential

• Minimum of 5 years’ experience working on multilateral grants, including experience with the Global Fund for RSSH, TB, HIV, and malaria control at subnational, national, and international levels in developing countries

• Minimum five years of experience in public health, pharmacy, medicine, statistics, or health systems at the national and international levels.

• Experience in processing procurement in line with national and international SOPs.

• Experience in the practice of procurement of goods and works and the acquisition of services under donor funding conditions.

• Practical experience in programme reviews and strategic plan development

• Experience drafting technical briefs.

• Experience in proposal and report writing.

• Ability to communicate effectively (written and oral) in English with a working knowledge of the French language,

• Competence with standard MS Office software (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)

Desirable:

• At least five (5) years of international experience working with UN and international NGOs, bilateral or multilateral agencies

• Competencies

• Functional competencies:

• Good knowledge and experience in Health systems strengthening in resource-challenged environments.

• Have international experience in writing Funding Request and Grant Making, particularly on the RSSH component.

• Good understanding of the theme

• Good knowledge of hospital environments

• Analytical and synthesis skills and communication skills, particularly with various actors

• Have a good knowledge of fieldwork.

• Justify at least 10 years of experience in the field.

Skills/Knowledge

• An extensive background in WHO mandate in public health, policies and strategies and supporting Member States in implementing health strategies.

• He or she will be well conversant with WHO norms, standards and guidelines in medical product quality, safety, and efficacy.

• The consultant shall be conversant with the Microsoft Office software, programs or applications and must have the equipment, such as a computer, mobile phone, internet connectivity and other technical means needed for the successful delivery of this consultancy.

• Writing and communication skills, and particular expertise in preparing documents and writing for WHO, with evidence of persuasive writing skills.

• Ability to work in a multicultural environment.

• Excellent analytical skills and ability to effectively collect, analyze, organize, distil, and present information.

• Good understanding of the global health challenges and responses for low resource settings

• Good understanding of other global multilateral funding platforms for health and ATM programmes

Language level required.

• Expert knowledge of English (spoken and written)

Technical Supervision

· Selassi Amah D’ALMEIDA, Coordinator Health Systems, [email protected]

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Added 6 months ago - Updated 5 months ago - Source: who.int