Consultant-Lead Development of GC8 Funding Request-CSL Unit, CDP/HPD, EMRO, Egypt. Band C

..

Qualifications

1.       Purpose of the Consultancy

To lead the development and finalization of a complete, technically sound, evidence-based and submission-ready Global Fund GC8 Middle East Response (MER) funding request, including all required annexes, health products and procurement documentation, performance frameworks, budget packages, and prioritized above allocation requests.

2.       Background

The Global Fund has allocated up to US$46,969,200 to the Middle East Response (MER) Multi-Country Grant for the 2026–2028 allocation period (Grant Cycle 8, GC8). The allocation covers HIV, tuberculosis (TB), malaria and resilient and sustainable systems for health (RSSH) interventions in Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, Palestine, Syria and Yemen. Eligible disease components include Iraq (TB), Lebanon (HIV), Libya (TB), Palestine (HIV/TB), Syria (HIV/TB), and Yemen (HIV/TB/malaria). The funding request must be submitted through the Full Review Funding Request modality and should, wherever feasible, be developed as a single integrated multi-component application.

The Global Fund's GC8 strategic shifts emphasize sustainability, self-reliance, integrated service delivery, value for money, innovation, health systems strengthening, community engagement, and improved alignment with domestic and partner financing. The MER allocation operates within a challenging operating environment characterized by ongoing humanitarian crises, population displacement, disrupted health services, and constrained domestic and external financing. The funding request must therefore prioritize the continuity of essential HIV, TB and malaria services while strengthening health systems and community systems to improve long-term sustainability and resilience.

To support the preparation of a high-quality, evidence-based, technically robust and competitive funding request, WHO EMRO, acting as Technical Support Group for the MER grant, seeks a senior consultant to lead and coordinate the development of the GC8 funding request package.

3.       Planned timelines (subject to confirmation)

50 working days within below duration

Start date: 15 October 2026

End date: 30 April 2027

4.       Work to be performed

Working closely with the Project Management Unit (PMU of the MER grant hosted in IOM Jordan and under the direct supervision of the Regional Advisor CSL (Chair of the MER Technical Support Group), the consultant will:

1.       Lead the overall development and coordination of the MER GC8 funding request process.

2.       Facilitate inclusive multi-country stakeholder consultations and country dialogue processes.

3.       Develop the integrated HIV, TB, malaria and RSSH funding request utilizing the epidemiological, programmatic, financial and strategic analyses provided by EMRO (these will be obtained through programme reviews coordinated by EMRO through separate consultancies that precede this assignment).

4.       Support the TSG in prioritization of investments consistent with the GC8 strategic shifts and MER allocation letter.

5.       Develop the Prioritized Above Allocation Request (PAAR) and pipeline of Unfunded Quality Demand (UQD).

6.       Lead preparation and finalization of health products management, quantification, procurement and supply chain packages.

7.       Ensure full compliance with Global Fund GC8 guidance, technical requirements and submission timelines.

8.       Support review processes and incorporation of comments from stakeholders, technical partners, and the Global Fund Secretariat.

Output 1

Country priorities, gaps and strategic directions are consolidated for the MER GC8 funding request.

Deliverable 1.1

Develop and finalize a consolidated assessment of key gaps, challenges, priority needs and strategic directions for HIV, TB and malaria programmes, as well as relevant health systems strengthening interventions, across the six MER countries.

Deliverable 1.2

Synthesize country priorities, implementation experiences and lessons learned from MER4 implementation, including opportunities for integration, community engagement, sustainability and transition preparedness in a multi-country strategic analysis and investment rationale report.

Output 2

Final submission-ready MER GC8 Full Review Funding Request package incorporating TSG recommendations, including all annexes, budget documents, health products package, PAAR and supporting documentation in line with Global Fund requirements and WHO technical recommendations.

Deliverable 2.1 - First complete draft of the MER GC8 Funding Request.

Draft the consolidated GC8 Funding Request narrative including:

• Programme design – development of programme goals, objectives, outcomes targets; development of a results-based framework; preparation of a regional theory of change and identification of priority interventions for HIV, TB and malaria programmes.
• Ensure alignment of the HIV component with MER allocation guidance including expansion of antiretroviral treatment coverage, efficient testing modalities such as among TB patients, Index testing and community testing where relevant strengthening linkage to treatment and retention in care, prioritization of services for key populations and vulnerable groups and leveraging CSO networks to reduce stigma and discrimination and enhance demand creation for treatment
• Prioritize interventions in the tuberculosis component focused on intensified case finding, migrants, internally displaced populations and prison and detention centre populations, strengthening diagnostic networks, optimized screening algorithms, introduction of innovative diagnostics such as near point of care (nPOC) molecular tools, shorter all-oral treatment regimens and integration of TB services into primary healthcare.
• Ensure that Yemen-specific malaria investments include malaria prevention and vector control, optimization of insecticide-treated net distribution, improved malaria case management, antimalarial drug resistance surveillance and introduction of innovative malaria interventions as appropriate.
• Support RSSH investments in community systems strengthening, laboratory systems strengthening, health information systems and data systems, sustainability of Global Fund investment including COVID-19 Response Mechanism (C19RM) investments, public financial management strengthening and integrated service delivery and health systems resilience.

Deliverable 2.2 - Funding Landscape Analysis and Investment Prioritization

The consultant shall conduct funding landscape analyses, map domestic and external financing, identify funding gaps and financing opportunities, support alignment with other financing partners, including Gavi, the World Bank, multilateral development banks and bilateral donors, develop prioritization scenarios consistent with the reduced funding envelope and support identification of opportunities for integrated investments and efficiencies.

Prepare and/or coordinate the completion of all required application documents and annexes, including:

• Programmatic Gap Tables
• Funding Landscape Table
• Implementation Arrangement with maps
• Essential Data Tables that inform a prioritization report
• HIV, TB and Malaria Programme Essentials
• Relevant technical annexes
• Any additional Global Fund required supporting documents

Deliverable 2.3 – Develop budget package, program split package and performance framework.

The consultant shall support development of detailed budgets and budget narratives, develop grant architecture and implementation arrangements, prepare performance frameworks and monitoring indicators, support program split analyses and justifications and ensure consistency between targets, interventions, budgets and health products requirements.

Deliverable 2.4 - Submission-ready Health Products Management, Procurement and Supply Chain Package.

The consultant shall lead the preparation and finalization of all health products and procurement-related documentation required for submission. This will include:

·         Health product analysis which reviews commodity requirements and supply chain systems, assesses current procurement arrangements and challenges and identifies supply chain risks and mitigation measures.

·         Support forecasting and quantification for HIV medicines, diagnostics and prevention commodities, TB medicines and diagnostics, malaria prevention, treatment and diagnostic commodities and cross-cutting laboratory and RSSH commodities.

·         Develop procurement and supply management strategies which assess opportunities for procurement efficiencies, review options for leveraging the Global Fund Pooled Procurement Mechanism (PPM) and Wambo.org, support market-shaping and value-for-money approaches and ensure consistency between programme targets, procurement plans and budgets.

Deliverable 2.3 - Quality Assurance and Finalization

Revise and finalize the funding request package based on technical reviews and feedback received from WHO, IOM/PMU, national programmes, partners and the Global Fund Country Team. This includes finalizing the funding request package and supporting annexes and ensuring consistency across all grant documents and submission materials.

Output 3 - Stakeholder coordination and submission readiness are ensured.

Deliverable 3.1 - Country dialogue and stakeholder consultation report.

Coordinate with national programme managers, WHO staff, IOM/PMU and partners to ensure timely preparation and quality assurance of all funding request components. Ensure that consultations comply with Global Fund requirements for inclusive and transparent country dialogue and document stakeholder recommendations and consensus priorities.

5.       Specific requirements

- Qualifications required:        

Master’s degree in public health, Epidemiology, Health Systems, International Health, Health Policy, or another relevant health-related discipline.

- Experience required:

Essential

• At least 10 years of progressively responsible experience in public health, health systems strengthening, integrated service delivery, disease control programmes and/or universal health coverage.
• Demonstrated experience in the development of Global Fund funding requests, grant proposals, strategic plans, programme reviews or investment cases including multi-country or regional grants.
• Experience in HIV, TB, malaria and RSSH programming. Experience in health systems strengthening and grant design.

Desirable:

• Previous experience supporting the Middle East Response grant.
• Familiarity with humanitarian and conflict-affected settings.
• Experience working with WHO, the Global Fund, UNAIDS, Stop TB Partnership, RBM Partnership or similar organizations.
• Experience supporting Technical Review Panel-quality submissions.

 Skills / Technical skills and knowledge:

• Strong technical knowledge of HIV, TB and malaria programmes.
• Advanced knowledge of health systems strengthening and integrated service delivery approaches.
• Excellent understanding of Global Fund funding request requirements and grant architecture.
• Strong analytical and strategic planning skills.
• Excellent facilitation, stakeholder engagement and coordination skills.
• Excellent report writing and proposal development skills.
• Ability to synthesize inputs from multiple countries and stakeholders into a coherent strategic document.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and deliver high-quality outputs within tight deadlines.

Language requirements:

• Expert knowledge of written and spoken English.
• Knowledge of Arabic is an asset.

6.       Place of assignment

The consultant will work primarily from his/her place of residence and will coordinate remotely with WHO EMRO, WHO country offices, IOM/PMU, national programmes and partners. Travel may be required as outlined below.

7.       Medical clearance

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

Travel (If travel is involved, a medical certificate of fitness for work 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.

·         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's workforce adheres to the WHO Values Charter and is committed to put the WHO Values into practice.

·         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.

·         Interested candidates are strongly encouraged to apply on-line through Stellis. For assessment of your application, please ensure that:
 (a) Your profile on Stellis is properly completed and updated;
 (b) All required details regarding your qualifications, education and training are provided;
(c) Your experience records are entered with elaboration on tasks performed at the time.