Regional Planning Consultant - Coordination Framework at Malaria Consortium

Malaria Consortium, established in 2003, Malaria Consortium is one of the world’s leading non-profit organisations specialising in the prevention, control and treatment of malaria and other communicable diseases among vulnerable populations. Our mission is to save lives and improve health in Africa and Asia, through evidence-based programmes that combat targeted diseases and promote universal health coverage.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Regional Planning Consultant - Coordination Framework

Location: Kano
Employment Type: Temporary

Background

• Malaria Consortium is one of the world's leading non-profit organizations dedicated to improving health and saving lives in communities affected by malaria and related inequities in Africa and Southeast Asia.
• The Organization works with communities, government and non-government agencies, academic institutions, and local and international organizations, to deliver scalable, locally led solutions grounded in research and evidence to strengthen health systems, inform policy, and drive sustainable impact through strategic partnerships and organizational excellence.
• Malaria is an urgent health priority in Nigeria, the leading cause of under-five (U5) & maternal deaths, and the second leading cause of all-age mortality.
• Furthermore, reported cases, which are already the highest in the world, are on the rise, suggesting that beyond an expansion of testing and reporting, the malaria burden might be getting worse.
• Achieving further reductions in malaria will require a more nuanced approach that better responds to the considerable sub- national heterogeneity of malaria in Nigeria to target and tailor available resources to where they can have the greatest impact.
• A careful operational planning step will be required to convert states’ strategic visions into a detailed workplan, while improved monitoring and evaluation (M&E) plans and enhanced data visibility will be required to ensure high fidelity implementation and accountability against it.
• Malaria Consortium is a sub-recipient of a grant of Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation with the overarching goal of reduction of malaria burden in Nigeria by supporting and building capacity for sub-national data-driven planning and tailored implementation of malaria programs, through a structured and health systems approach while building out stronger state malaria programs that are positioned to adopt and adapt new malaria tools and create a model for scale-up elsewhere in the country.

Purpose of Assignment:

• The purpose of the terms of reference (TOR) is to support the generation of subnational health systems evidence to inform planning for malaria in Kano state to strengthen the tailoring of specific malaria interventions and optimize their implementation in the specific health systems context in Kano.

Scope:

• The scope of technical assistance involves the development of key LGA malaria operational planning tools and guides which will be used in supporting stakeholders to develop LGA malaria operational plan in alignment with the WHO Reference manual on sub-national tailoring of malaria strategies and interventions 1 and malaria intervention mixes recommended for different LGAs in Kano state.
• The TA will also review the developed tool with the state stakeholders before finalization. The underlisted consultants would be required for this TA:

Methodology:

• The human-centered design / co-creation methodology will be used in the development of the LGA operational planning tools and guides.
• Desk review will initially be undertaken to better understand available published and grey literature (WHO Reference manual on sub-national tailoring of malaria strategies and interventions1 etc) and it would guide in drafting the LGA operational planning tools in conjunction with WHO malaria stratification for Nigeria.
• More importantly, the consultants will be working closely with relevant government stakeholders (national, state and LGA) to jointly develop the LGA Operational planning tools and guides.
• This would ensure adherence with government planning process, increase acceptance and sustainability with respect to the use of the tools and guides.
• The finalized tools and guides will be used to undertake LGA Operational planning & effective implementation of malaria interventions.

Specific Tasks

• Conduct a desk review of existing tools and processes.
• Development of LGA Plan Optimization tool & Trade-off Guide for LGA planning.
• Development of Coordination Framework.
• Assess LGA plan Review Tool & create an LGA plan Review Guide.
• Modification of the LGA Planning & Budgeting Capacity Building Modules (Trainer’s Manual & Trainee’s guide).
• Review of draft tools with state & national government stakeholders.
• Revise the draft tools and guides based on the feedback gotten from stakeholders.
• Draft & Finalize Consultancy Report.

Deliverables

• Inception report.
• Finalized Malaria Operational Plan Optimization Tool.
• Finalized Trade-off Guide for LGA Malaria Operational Planning.
• Finalized Malaria Operational Plan Review Tool.
• Finalized Guide for LGA Operational Plan Review.
• Finalized Malaria LGA Operational Planning Training Module (Trainer’s Manual &Trainee’s Guide).
• Consultancy report.

Qualifications and Experience
Regional Planning Consultants:

• Have at least 12 years of experience in health policy and health system strengthening in public health - related projects and at least 8 years of experience in malaria-based intervention projects in Northern Nigeria.
• Excellent knowledge and demonstrable experience in the development of program tools, especially operational planning tools.
• Excellent knowledge and experience working with stakeholders at the sub-national level in the development of data-driven quality operational plan
• Substantial experience in donor-funded public health-related projects
• Excellent knowledge of malaria prevention and control in endemic settings and National malaria elimination strategies, especially malaria sub-national tailoring of interventions.
• Excellent Knowledge of malaria.
• Subnational tailoring of interventions is an added advantage
• Demonstrate extensive experience in working with Ministries of Health, SMEP, SPHCDA and/or other government sectors and partners.
• Must be familiar with Microsoft office suite (especially Word and PowerPoint) and have excellent report writing skills.
• Availability for the period of this assignment.
• Ability to give attention to details.
• Self-motivated, a team player but also able to work independently.
• Meets tight deadlines and able to work under pressure.

Application Closing Date
23rd March, 2026 before 5:00PM.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online 

Note

• Interested and qualified candidates who are passionate and willing to contribute towards the achievement of our goals should kindly fill the application form.
• Kindly note that applicants who do not follow this specification will be disqualified.
• Only Shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
• Kindly note that applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and as a result, the process may conclude before the advertised deadline. Therefore, early applications are highly encouraged.
• NB: Malaria Consortium does not accept or ask for payment during recruitment. We also would not accept hardcopy CVs; all applications should be sent through the above link
• Safeguarding: Malaria Consortium is committed to protecting children and vulnerable adults and ensuring that all staff, partners, and representatives uphold the highest standards of ethical conduct. Our Safeguarding Policy outlines our responsibility to prevent abuse, harassment, and exploitation in all areas of our work. We expect everyone working with us staff, consultants, volunteers, and partners to adhere to this policy and our Code of Conduct. By following these standards, we help create safe environments and reduce any risk of harm in the communities we serve.