International Consultant for Health Cluster Coordination Support

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Qualifications

1. Area of expertise

Humanitarian Health Coordination and Emergency Preparedness

2. Purpose of consultancy

To provide operational, strategic and field-level support to the WHO-led Health Cluster coordination mechanism in Cox’s Bazar, with emphasis on partner coordination, strategic planning, Health and Nutrition (H&N) integration, emergency preparedness and response, funding and donor analysis, referral and service-transition processes, field health coordination, and monitoring and reporting.

3. Background

The Rohingya humanitarian response in Cox’s Bazar requires sustained Health Cluster coordination to ensure continuity of essential health services, effective partner engagement, integration with Nutrition services, and timely preparedness and response to emergencies. The Health Cluster Coordination Support Consultant will operate within the WHO-led Health Cluster coordination mechanism in Cox’s Bazar, reporting directly to the Health Cluster Coordinator. The Consultant will work closely with WHO technical and information management teams, the field coordination structure, the Refugee Coordination Platform (RCP), the Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner (RRRC), UN agencies, NGOs, donors, technical working groups and other relevant counterparts. The assignment requires timely delivery of high-quality coordination products, proactive follow-up of operational issues, and regular field engagement in the Rohingya response.

4. Deliverables

The International Consultant will coordinate the WHO-led Health Cluster coordination mechanism in Cox’s Bazar through routine partner coordination, strategic planning, Health and Nutrition integration, referral and service-transition processes, emergency preparedness and response, and monitoring and reporting. Key duties include coordinating with the Health Cluster and SAG meetings, inter-sector and donor engagement, preparation of reports and monthly bulletins, field coordination missions, JRP 2027 planning and donor analysis, maintenance of Health and Nutrition integration and referral mapping tools, follow-up on health facility transitions and service continuity, and coordination and reporting during emergencies such as floods, landslides, and outbreaks.

Under the overall guidance of the WHO Representative to Bangladesh and direct supervision of Health Cluster Coordinator, the consultant will be expected to carry out the assignments:

Output 1

Routine Health Cluster coordination and partner engagement: Health Cluster coordination mechanisms are consistently strengthened with timely documentation, partner follow-up, and effective representation in inter-sector and bilateral forums.

Activities

Activity 1.1: Coordinate the monthly Health Cluster Coordination Meeting and SAG meeting, including agenda preparation, partner inputs, presentation materials and follow-up.

Activity 1.2: Coordinate Health Cluster representation in RCP/inter-sector, donor and partner bilateral meetings as assigned, and prepare concise technical inputs or talking points when required.

Activity 1.3: Draft and revise situation reports, cluster reports, and cluster bulletins based on validated technical and operational information.

Activity 1.4: Follow up and review the Information Management products, ensuring the team finalizes the monthly bulletins on time.

Activity 1.5: Undertake joint or Health Cluster field coordination missions to priority camps, health facilities and operational sites, including visits related to service gaps, H&N integration, referrals, facility handovers/relocations and emergency response.

Deliverables by 30 November 2026

• Monthly report of Health Cluster representation and partner engagement.

• Monthly bulletin.

Output 2

Strategic planning, funding analysis and donor support: Strategic and funding-related Health Cluster products are updated and quality-assured to support prioritization, resource mobilization and external engagement.

Activities

Activity 2.1: Review and refine the JRP strategic objectives, targets and planning assumptions, including the 2027 planning cycle as applicable.

Activity 2.2: Review and provide Health Cluster inputs to donor briefs, concept notes, allocation narratives, country analyses and related products, including technical validation of targets and cluster figures.

Deliverables by 31 December 2026

• The health cluster section on JRP 2027.

• A report on the health cluster donors disaggregated by activities.

• Monthly bulletin.

Output 3

Health and Nutrition integration, referral systems, and service transition: Operational integration between the Health and Nutrition Clusters and the continuity of referral and facility services are coordinated through updated readiness tools, coordination, and documented action follow-up.

Activities

Activity 3.1: Maintain the health and nutrition facility-level readiness matrix and contribute to community-level integration planning, transformation tracking, and joint assessments.

Activity 3.2: Coordinate Health and Nutrition taskforce meetings, joint field visits, and follow-up with the Nutrition Cluster and implementing partners.

Activity 3.3: Maintain and update the Health Cluster referral-system mapping matrix and coordinate follow-up on PHC/HP handovers, relocations, and funding-related service continuity risks.

Deliverables by 31 January 2027

• Health and Nutrition integration readiness matrix.

• Referral-system mapping matrix.

• A report on the transition of health facilities.

• Monthly bulletin.

Output 4

Emergency preparedness, response analysis and inter-sector reporting: Health Cluster emergency preparedness and acute-event coordination are strengthened with timely, accurate information and response updates

Activities

Activity 4.1: Contribute to multi-sector monsoon preparedness and response checklists, contingency planning and emergency preparedness products.

Activity 4.2: Coordinate Health Cluster inputs to RCP Inter-Flash Updates, emergency calls and OCHA response analyses, including camp targets, reach and response status.

Activity 4.3: Coordinate rapid response and documentation during acute incidents such as flooding, landslides, outbreaks or other events affecting health service delivery.

Deliverables by 31 January 2027

• Emergency preparedness report

• Monthly bulletin

Qualifications, experience, skills and languages:

5. Educational Qualifications

Essential: First university degree in medicine, public/health policy, social sciences or related field.

Desirable: Additional training or certification in humanitarian health coordination, emergency preparedness and response, or Health Cluster coordination.

Experience

Essential: 5 to 10 years of relevant professional experience with UN agencies and/or international NGOs, including experience in Health Cluster/Health Sector coordination in humanitarian or Refugee Coordination Model settings.

Desirable: Experience in humanitarian emergency preparedness and response, inter-sector coordination, donor engagement, and health service coordination in refugee or complex emergency settings.

Skills/Knowledge

Essential: Strong knowledge of humanitarian health coordination and emergency preparedness, including the cluster approach, Health Cluster guidance, 4Ws framework, and Humanitarian Response Plan formulation and cycle. Strong stakeholder engagement, facilitation, analytical, reporting, and communication skills, with the ability to work effectively with UN agencies, government counterparts, NGOs, donors, and other partners.

Desirable: Knowledge of WHO emergency coordination mechanisms, the Incident Management System, Refugee Coordination Model, Health and Nutrition integration, referral systems, and health service transition processes in humanitarian settings.

Languages required: Essential: Expert knowledge of English

6. Location

On site: WHO Emergency Sub-Office, Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh.

7. Travel: The consultant is expected to travel to the camps.

Computer Literacy: MS Office Suite

8. Remuneration and budget (travel costs are excluded):

Remuneration: Remuneration currency – USD, Band level B, Monthly rate USD 7,400, exclusive of per diem, travel costs or other expenses

Living allowance: As per policy

Expected duration of contract:  3 months from 01 November 2026 to 31 January 2027

Additional information

1. This vacancy notice may be used to identify candidates for other similar consultancies at the same level.

2. Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.

3. A written test may be used as a form of screening.

4. 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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9. An impeccable record for integrity and professional ethical standards is essential. 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 (https://www.who.int/about/who-we-are/our-values) into practice.

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12. Consultants shall perform the work as independent contractors in a personal capacity, and not as a representative of any entity or authority.

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