Consultant - Technical Assistant at World Health Organization (WHO)

World Health Organization (WHO) is the directing and coordinating authority for health within the United Nations system. It is responsible for providing leadership on global health matters, shaping the health research agenda, setting norms and standards, articulating evidence-based policy options, providing technical support to countries and monitoring and assessing health trends.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Consultant - Technical Assistant

Location: Abuja
Schedule: Full Time
Contractual Arrangement: External consultant
Contract Duration: 2 months
Organization: AF-NGA Nigeria
Department: Food and Drugs Services on the development of the 3rd edition of the National Drug Distribution Guidelines and Implementation plan - (2406217)

Background 

• The department of Food and Drugs Services of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has, as part of her mandate, to promote the health of all Nigerians through the formulation of national policies, development of guidelines and strategies and initiation of legislation aimed at ensuring that food, medicines & other health commodities, chemicals, cosmetics, medical devices and drinking water available in Nigeria are safe,  efficacious and of good quality by ensuring provision of ethical pharmaceutical services in the public and private sectors of our health care delivery system nationwide.
• To ensure promotion of health through the distribution of health commodities to achieve universal health coverage, there is a need to review 2nd edition of the National Drug Distribution Guidelines which aimed at establishing a well-ordered drug distribution system in Nigeria with an objective to ensure that all drugs in the national drug distribution system are safe, efficacious, effective, affordable, and of good quality.
• It is pertinent that emerging trends and barriers are considered and integrated into the current guidelines particularly from the experience of the supply chain disruption of the covid-19 pandemic and the recent trends in substandard and falsified products.

Purpose of the Consultancy

• The objective of the consultancy is to support the DFDS to develop the 3rd edition of the NDDGs and implementation plan which is a crucial document in the health supply chain system.
• The framework for the operationalization of the central medical stores will articulate the governance system for the management of the network of the federal central, federal axial, state central and the state axial warehouses; the private sector to include the Coordinated Wholesale Centers.

Method(s) to carry out the activity:
In collaboration with a core working group approved by the honorable minister of health, the relevant officer of the department of Food and Drug Services and with technical guidance of the WHO, the consultant is expected to:

• Conduct in-depth desk review of the 2012 NDDG and  current drug management practices and come up with recommendations
• Engagement of key stakeholders in the private and public manufacturing sector and distribution sector as well as in the National health supply chain space.
• Prepare the agenda for the workshops and write reports 
• Facilitate Stakeholder engagement workshop to validate the final draft NDDG and waste Drive
• Using information gathered from the workshop and package the report to come up with the NDDG.
• Develop a comprehensive report on the activity and implementation plan.
• Perform any other assigned duties by the Director DVD/FDS/FMoH related to the above task to achieve the objectives of the consultancy.

Expected and measurable output(s):

• Implementable NDP developed for the Nigerian Pharmaceutical Sector and Nigerian health system that reflects current and emerging realities including antimicrobial resistance.
• The policy is expected to have; targets that are realistic with evidence-based strategies for their achievement and an implementation plan.

Number of days and details as to how the work must be delivered (reporting requirement):

• The work will be delivered in 42 days over a period of 3 months in consultation with the core working group approved by the honorable minister of health and the leadership of the Department of Food and Drug Services FMOH and technical guidance of WHO.

S/N Key Tasks  No of Days:

• Conduct in-depth desk review of the 2012 NDDG and current drug management practices and come up with recommendations - 7
• Workshop for Drafting of the new NDP - 3
• Consultants Produce Zero draft of revised NDP & Draft Associated Guidelines - 7
• 2nd Workshop: Consultants presents Draft Zero of NDP & and associated guidelines for review and development of implementation plan - 3
• Consultant produce finalized Draft of NDP & Associated guidelines - 7
• Consultant to produce final version for Stakeholders Validation including implementation plan - 6
• Validation Workshop - 2
• Final revision by consultant based on feedback from validation workshop and share with core technical group - 7
•  Total No of days: 42.

Qualifications and experience
Education:

• Essential: A University degree in pharmacy.
• Desirable: A postgraduate degree in pharmacy procurement and supply chain management.

Work Experience:
Essential:

• Minimum of 7 years experience of Expertise in health system planning and policy development.

Desirable:

• Relevant professional experience with WHO and/or UN agencies, or relevant non-governmental organizations. 
• A broad Program management experience and adequate knowledge of the Nigeria pharmaceutical & Healthcare sectors Evidence of similar work done.

Skills and knowledge:

• Timely submission of Report
• Quality of Work done
• Good team player
• Initiative
• Quantity of Work done.

Language requirements:

• Excellent proficiency in English is essential.

Travel:

•  No international travel is planned given the scope of the mission.

Medical clearance:

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

Hiring Unit:

• Human Resources for Health

Remuneration and Expected duration of the contract (Maximum contract duration is 11 months per calendar year):

•     Remuneration: TORs are classified at the national pay of NOC level.
•     Expected duration of the contract: 30 days tentative starting from 02/09/2024.

Competencies:

• Producing results
• Teamwork
• Communicating effectively
• Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences.

Application Closing Date
21st August, 2024.