Consultant on Noncommunicable Diseases to Support the Continuity/Delivery of NCD Services in Ukraine

Purpose of consultancy

In support of the NCDs Unit in WHO Ukraine Country Office, the overall objective of this position is to strengthen the capacity of the primary health care (PHC) network to deliver an integrated package of NCD/CVD services tailored to the needs of populations affected by the emergency, including displaced and conflict-affected populations, as part of the emergency response and recovery.

Background

NCDs cause 84% of deaths in Ukraine, driven by tobacco, alcohol, poor diet, and physical inactivity. Since 2022, the war has severely compounded this burden: attacks on health infrastructure, disrupted medicine supply chains, and displacement of 3.6 million people have interrupted treatment for people living with NCDs, risking life-threatening complications from loss of routine care, dialysis, and insulin access. WHO's 2026 Humanitarian Appeal names NCDs a priority, especially in frontline and hard-to-reach areas, while WHO's 2025 Operational Review found continued gaps in integrating NCD care into emergency preparedness and response. This work addresses that gap, strengthening continuity of NCD services in emergency-affected areas.

Deliverables

Deliverable 1: Facility selection criteria and mapping approach prepared and agreed with WHO and relevant counterparts. Expected by: 30 September 2026

Deliverable 2: Confirmed list of target PHC facilities in prioritized oblasts prepared. Expected by: 30 September 2026

Deliverable 3: Facility profiles completed for selected PHC facilities. Expected by: 30 September 2026

Deliverable 4: Summary report on NCD service capacity gaps and priority support needs prepared. Expected by: 30 September 2026

Deliverable 5: Training package and format for PHC-based NCD/CVD service delivery reviewed/adapted and finalized. Expected by: 31 October 2026

Deliverable 6: Training plan for target PHC facilities prepared. Expected by: 30 September 2026

Deliverable 7: Training sessions delivered for PHC teams in prioritized oblasts, with at least 150 health professionals trained by the end of the project. Expected by: 28 February 2027

Deliverable 8: Training reports prepared after each training round, including participant lists, pre/post-assessment results where applicable, key issues raised and recommendations for follow-up. Expected by: Monthly, last day of each month

Deliverable 9: Supervision notes prepared for selected PHC facilities, documenting progress and implementation challenges. Expected by: Monthly, last day of each month

Deliverable 10: Equipment needs summary for selected PHC facilities prepared. Expected by: 30 September 2026

Deliverable 11: Technical inputs to procurement specifications provided, as required. Expected by: Monthly, last day of each month (as required)

Deliverable 12: Equipment distribution/use follow-up matrix maintained and updated regularly. Expected by: Monthly, last day of each month

Deliverable 13: Issues affecting equipment use documented and communicated to WHO for follow-up. Expected by: Monthly, last day of each month (as required) 

Deliverable 14: Standardized patient and caregiver education package for hypertension, diabetes, and stroke survivors drafted/adapted. Expected by: 31 December 2026

Deliverable 15: Patient education implementation framework and patient-facing materials finalized and ready for use. Expected by: 31 October 2026

Deliverable 16: PHC teams trained to deliver structured patient education, contributing to the overall target of at least 150 trained health professionals by the end of the project. Expected by: 28 February 2027

 Deliverable 17: Brief implementation report prepared on use of patient education materials in target PHC facilities. Expected by: 31 December 2026
Deliverable 18: Technical inputs to HPV test procurement and supply planning provided, as required. Expected by: Monthly, last day of each month (as required)
Deliverable 19: PHC cervical cancer screening implementation note prepared. Expected by: 31 October 2026
Deliverable 20: Screening referral pathway guidance/job aid drafted or adapted. Expected by: 30 January 2027
Deliverable 21: Monitoring updates on HPV test distribution/use, screening uptake and referral follow-up provided. Expected by: Monthly, last day of each month (required)

Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Educational Qualifications

Essential: First University Degree in medicine, public health, nursing, or a related discipline
Desirable: Postgraduate qualifications in public health, primary health care, family medicine, or a related discipline.

Experience

Essential: 

• At least 3 years of professional experience in public health, primary health care, or clinical care, including experience in NCD/CVD prevention, screening, diagnosis, or management.
• Experience supporting the design or delivery of clinical training for primary health care providers (e.g., family doctors, nurses, PHC managers), including on NCD/CVD protocols.

Desirable:

• Experience with PHC facility assessment, mapping, or baseline data collection, including in prioritized or conflict-affected areas.
• Experience providing technical inputs to procurement or specification of laboratory and diagnostic equipment for primary health care.
• Experience with cervical cancer screening programmes (including HPV testing) or other primary care-based cancer screening/prevention services.
• Experience developing patient and caregiver education materials, job aids, or counselling tools for chronic disease management.
• Experience working in humanitarian, conflict-affected, or fragile settings, including PHC service delivery for displaced or conflict-affected populations.
• Established professional collaboration with the MoH and/or the NHSU.

Skills/Knowledge: 

Desirable:

• Knowledge of WHO PEN and national clinical protocols for NCD/CVD prevention, screening, diagnosis, and management at primary health care level.
• Knowledge of training design and delivery approaches for health workers, including supportive supervision and post-training follow-up.
• Knowledge of procurement and supply planning processes for basic laboratory/diagnostic equipment and HPV tests.
• Knowledge of patient education and behaviour-change communication approaches for hypertension, diabetes, and stroke follow-up care.
• Ability to work independently and communicate effectively with the MoH, NHSU, PHC facility staff, and WHO technical and procurement teams.

Languages and level required :

Essential: Good command of English required.
Excellent Ukrainian required.

Location

On-site: Kyiv, Ukraine 

Travel 

The consultant is expected to travel and to obtain necessary security training in the first month. 
In-country travel may be required, including to frontline and conflict-affected areas, subject to WHO security clearance, applicable travel advisories, and full medical clearance.

Remuneration

Contract total value for 7 months: USD 25,200
Monthly rate, daily rate and numbers of the days: USD 3,600 (monthly), USD 180 (daily, based on NOB expert rate)
Consultant pay band range: NOB
Terms of payment: Payment will be on a monthly basis after provision of Technical Report and approval from Unit Lead, NCDs Management. Final payment should be made upon successful completion of the contract and submission of all deliverables, the final technical report, and the financial statement by 31 March 2027.

Expected duration of contract 

Target Start Date: 1 September 2026
Target end date: 31 March 2027
Contract Duration (Years, Months, Days): 7 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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