Consultant-CSL/HPD - Surveillance Integration and Transition Models-Gates Foundation Funded Initiative Band Level C

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Qualifications

Purpose of the consultancy

Lead Intervention 1 of the Gates Foundation-funded initiative on sustaining polio detection and response through integrated multi-pathogen surveillance. Develop and apply a common mixed-methods approach in two countries, oversee evidence collection and validation, and turn the findings into transition lessons and recommendations.

Background

WHO EMRO's 36-month initiative uses polio transition to assess how surveillance functions, staff, laboratories, reporting and financing can move into integrated national systems while retaining essential poliovirus surveillance performance and accountability. Intervention 1 will assess post-GPEI transition in two EMR countries through documents, programme data, workflow mapping and interviews, producing O1.1 transition evidence and lessons and O1.2 practical integration models and recommendations.

Planned timelines:

Start date: 25 October 2026

End date: 25 April 2027

Work to be performed

The consultant will:

-               Develop a common mixed-methods assessment approach and tools

-               With WHO EMRO, Country Offices, government focal points agree country engagement, sampling and fieldwork plans.

-               Lead documentary review in both countries, reconstruct transition chronologies, extract selected indicators and map surveillance and laboratory workflows.

-               Direct country data collection with designated WCO national staff, oversee interviews and other fieldwork, and assure consistent evidence quality across countries.

-               Analyze in each country:

o              the transition pathway, implementation, adaptations, barriers, enablers and unintended effects; and

o              the policy, institutional, workforce and financing context shaping surveillance sustainability.

-               Integrate the desk review and country evidence into O1.1: two country transition assessment reports and a cross-country comparative synthesis. The synthesis should draw together the implementation and context analyses, identifying evidence-based lessons from both countries.

-               Lead country review meetings and a regional/global technical consultation to validate lessons and test their relevance across contexts. Present evidence, facilitate discussion and document responses to disagreements.

-               Use O1.1 and consultation findings to prepare O1.2: practical transition models and integration recommendations.

-               Submit monthly updates on progress, the workplan, risks, quality assurance and outstanding requirements.

-               Submit drafts to CSL and the IDS-TWG subcommittee and address consolidated comments through the agreed review cycles.

Outputs and deliverables  

Output 1 — The common method and country implementation arrangements are in place

Deliverable 1.1 — Inception, methodology and country implementation package. One package establishing the common approach and arrangements for data collection in both countries.

Minimum required content:

• A common mixed-methods framework based on MRC process evaluation, covering transition history; surveillance and laboratory functions; governance, financing, workforce and coordination; data pathways; context, mechanisms and resilience under stress.
• Tools for document requests and extraction, transition timelines, stakeholder sampling, interviews, workflow mapping, quantitative extraction and evidence comparison. Respondents should include Ministry of Health surveillance, laboratory, polio/VPD, finance and planning staff; WHO partners and subnational implementers.
• An Ethics and Data Governance Plan covering required reviews and clearances; informed participation and recording consent; confidentiality, anonymization and secure data management; ownership and permitted use; breach reporting; and WHO and national requirements. Confirm all clearances before data collection.
• An analysis plan for documentary, quantitative and qualitative evidence, triangulation, comparison and conflicting or missing data.
• A country implementation plan agreed with each WHO Country Office, government focal points and national consultant.
• Mission coordination, including dates, participants, appointments, briefings, access and logistics.
• A risk register for access, participation, data quality, ethics, timing and deliverables, with mitigation and escalation. Include alternative data collection, engagement and mission arrangements where insecurity or access constraints require them.
• An assignment workplan covering fieldwork, missions, analysis, meetings, consultation and delivery dates.

Output 2 — Country evidence is collected and two complete transition assessments are produced

Deliverable 2.1 — Two stand-alone country assessments integrating documents, available programme data, workflow mapping, interviews and fieldwork.

The senior consultant will lead documentary review and coordinate missions and data collection with each national consultant, reviewing evidence and assuring consistent use of the common method.

Each country report will assess four linked areas:

1.       Intervention description. Describe transition objectives and scope, the functions, assets and capacities affected, institutions and actors, and a verified chronology. Cover surveillance and laboratory arrangements before, during and after transition.

2.       Implementation process. Compare planned and actual implementation. Examine actor roles and coordination, resources, reach and sequencing, variation across functions and administrative levels, and operational adaptations, barriers and enablers.

3.       Mechanisms of change. Examine how actors and institutions responded and how changes in governance, financing, workforce and operations affected surveillance integration and continuity. Identify intended and unintended effects and remaining operational risks.

4.       Context. Assess policy and institutional arrangements, mandates, accountability, financing and budget responsibilities, external dependence. Explain how conflict, outbreaks, fiscal constraints or restructuring shaped implementation and sustainability.

Output 3 — Lessons from the two countries are comparatively synthesized

Deliverable 3.1 — Cross-country synthesis of evidence and lessons. One analysis comparing and interpreting the two country experiences, their pathways and mechanisms, rather than repeating or combining the country report sections.

Minimum required content:

• Compare transition pathways and implementation processes.
• Identify common patterns, differences and exceptions.
• Identify mechanisms supporting or constraining surveillance continuity and integration.
• Explain how context shaped implementation, outcomes and sustainability.
• Identify lessons supported by evidence from both countries.
• Distinguish lessons that depend on institutional, financial or operational conditions.
• State the limits of the design and available evidence.
• Identify priority questions for technical consultation.

Output 4 — The evidence and lessons are technically reviewed

Deliverable 4.1 — Technical consultation and record. Lead one regional/global consultation to review comparative evidence, test the transferability of lessons and inform final models and recommendations.

The consultant will:

• Prepare a briefing pack of evidence, lessons, uncertainties and discussion questions.
• Prepare the agenda, session plan and materials.
• Present the main country and comparative findings.
• Facilitate discussion with country, polio/VPD, surveillance, laboratory, emergency, health-system, financing and partner stakeholders.
• Test the lessons across different contexts and transition conditions.
• Record agreement, disagreement, uncertainty and new evidence.
• Prepare a consultation record and response matrix showing how input shaped the final recommendations.

Output 5 — Practical transition models and recommendations are finalized

Deliverable 5.1 — Practical transition models and recommendations. One policy brief drawing on the comparative evidence and consultation.

Minimum required content:

• Prioritized recommendations for countries at different transition stages.
• Recommendations for WHO, governments and technical and financing partners.
• Link each major recommendation to its evidence.
• A brief for senior policy and decision-makers.
• Handover notes for Interventions 2–4, identifying usable findings, further assessment needs and limits of inference.

Output 6 — The findings are prepared for dissemination

Deliverable 6.1 — Dissemination and technical archive.  

Minimum required content:

• Deliver one webinar on findings, transition lessons, models and recommendations.
• Provide its agenda, slides, participant list and brief record of discussion and follow-up.
• Prepare audience-specific communication materials, such as a findings summary, slides or web content, subject to WHO clearance.
• Archive final editable methods, tools, country reports, synthesis, consultation record, recommendations, communication and handover materials.

Provide a closure note on completed products, decisions, outstanding actions, owners and handover to Interventions 2–4

Data ownership and publication  

All materials produced or compiled for this assignment are subject to WHO’s contractual and intellectual-property provisions. The consultant must provide WHO with complete, documented, usable versions. Retaining, reusing, sharing or publishing assignment data or confidential information requires prior written WHO authorization. External outputs arising from the assignment require applicable WHO technical, communications, ethics and publication clearances, and any required country clearance, before submission, presentation or dissemination.

Required Qualifications

Advanced university degree in public health or epidemiology with additional qualification in implementation science, health systems or closely related field. A doctoral degree is desirable.              

Experience:

•          At least 10 years of experience in public health research, programme evaluation, surveillance or communicable disease.
•          Demonstrated leadership of mixed-methods studies, implementation research, process evaluation or evaluation of public health interventions.
•          Experience designing qualitative data collection, sampling approaches, documentary review, operational workflow analysis and triangulation of multiple evidence sources.
•          Strong experience in polio, VPD, surveillance and/or integrated disease surveillance
•          Proven ability to lead multi-country analytical work, coordinate national consultants and produce high-quality technical reports for policy and programme audiences.
•          Evidence of scientific writing, including authorship of peer-reviewed publications or comparable analytical products.

Experience - desirable

•          Experience with GPEI transition, polio legacy planning or integration of polio assets into broader health systems.
•          Experience working with WHO, ministries of health or other UN/multilateral organizations.
•          Experience in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, including fragile, conflict-affected settings.

Skills/ Technical knowledge

•          Advanced mixed-methods analysis skills; ability to interpret routine quantitative surveillance and programme data.
•          Excellent English drafting, editing, presentation and facilitation skills.
•          Ability to work independently, manage several contributors and deliver agreed products on time.

Language

-      Essential: Expert knowledge of written and spoken English

-      Desirable: Knowledge of Arabic.

Location: Remote

Medical clearance:

The selected Consultant will be expected to provide a medical certificate of fitness for work.

Travel

From: Tentative Nov 2026 to December 2026

Purpose: Scoping and method-adaptation round: confirm country priorities, evidence access, stakeholder sample, tools, authorizations, workplan and fieldwork arrangements.

From: Tentative February 2027 to April 2027

Purpose: Assessment and data-collection round: guide the documentary review, interviews, workflow mapping and selected data extraction; resolve evidence gaps and support early factual validation.

(If travel is involved, a medical certificate will be required.) All travel arrangements will be made by WHO – WHO will not be responsible for tickets purchased by the Consultant without the express, prior authorization of WHO. While on mission under the terms of this consultancy, the Consultant will receive subsistence allowance. Visas requirements: it is the consultant’s responsibility to fulfil visa requirements and ask for visa support letter(s) if needed.

 Additional Information section

•          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.
•          Remuneration is in line with WHO consultant established rates
•          Successful candidates will be included in the roster for consideration for future contractual engagement via a consultancy, as they become available. Inclusion in the roster does not guarantee any future contractual relationship with WHO
•          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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