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      Background

The Regional Artemisinin-resistance Initiative (RAI) was launched in 2013 in response to the emergence of artemisinin resistant malaria in the Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS). Funded by the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, the RAI investment in addressing malaria in the GMS has reached more than USD 700 million to Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand, and Viet Nam.

The RAI Regional Steering Committee (RSC) was established in late 2013 as the oversight mechanism for the RAI, following the Global Fund’s Country Coordinating Mechanism (CCM) model. It is a multi-stakeholder governance body that provides strategic guidance, selects recipient implementers, and oversees grant implementation to track progress against program objectives, and allocates/reallocates resources as needed. The RAI RSC Terms of Reference provide for a Secretariat which was established in September 2014 under a hosting agreement with the World Health Organization. Further details of the RAI and the RSC can be found at www.rai-rsc.org.

The RSC, with the support of the Global Fund, has established an Independent Monitoring Panel (IMP), managed by the RSC Secretariat (hosted at WHO Cambodia), and consisting of 3-4 high-level experts. The IMP informs the RSC whether the RAI implementers are on track to achieve the program’s goals and objectives, as well as identifying implementation bottlenecks and issues and suggesting remedial actions to ensure that the RAI grant objectives and targets are achieved and impact is maximized.

Their main objectives are to:

• Provide evidence-based, qualitative, and independent feedback, both to country leadership and to the RSC as the accountable body regionally, on the quality and effectiveness of RAI program implementation; 
• Identify critical bottleneck issues affecting the achievement of programmatic (semi-annual/annual) goals; 
• Support the RSC governance role by providing strategic analysis and recommendations for remedial actions. 

   

   

The IMP Expert consultant will work under the overall guidance and direction of the RSC, to which they report. The IMP is an advisory group to the RSC and has no decision-making authority. IMP members are expected to be completely independent in the conduct of their duties and have no conflict of interest (or will clearly state any conflict for the RSC to determine their ability to serve). They serve in an individual/personal capacity.

      Deliverables

The selected consultant(s) will act as Independent Monitoring Panel Member(s) under the technical guidance of the IMP Chair.

The assignment is based on a combination of desk reviews, interviews/consultations (in-person/remotely) and field visits to RAI implementation areas. The level of effort for the assignment period will be determined in collaboration with the successful applicants. Consultancy fees will be paid for actual days worked. Timesheets are to be submitted to the supervising officer.

Output 1: Conduct situation analysis to take stock of the situation and prepare for in-country activities (desk-based)

Tentative timeframe: Q1 to Q2 (desk-based)

Deliverable 1.1: Collect and analyse available RAI programmatic reports and other relevant program information as available (e.g. program reviews, survey data, LFA reviews, CCM oversight reports, other) for country and regional components;

Deliverable 1.2: Based on available information formulate preliminary analysis reports covering the status of RAI program implementation and identifying the most important challenges / issues requiring further attention, including possible suggestions for in-field scope of work.

Output 2: Conduct in-country missions to assess RAI implementation progress

Tentative timeframe: Q2 to Q3. Locations to be determined among the GMS countries.

Deliverable 2.1: Conduct in-country interviews with RAI implementers (PR, co-PRs, SRs / NMCPs) and other stakeholders, including field level visits / interviews to assess implementation progress and debrief meetings with key partners, both for country and regional components;

Deliverable 2.2: Provide operational, problem-solving support and advice to implementers, including identifying concrete solutions for resolution of critical bottlenecks (wherever possible during missions, in situ);

Deliverable 2.3: As part of a detailed mission reports, formulate suggestions for remedial action for RAI implementers, RSC, CCMs, and other stakeholders as relevant, on how to improve program quality and effectiveness, and if needed, alert the RSC of critical problems that are impeding progress.

Output 3: Provide three programmatic analyses of RAI implementation progress focused on topics agreed by the RSC.

Tentative timeframe: Q1, Q2, Q4. Deliverables to be completed remotely (desk-based).

Deliverable 3.1: Collect and analyse RAI programmatic reports (including Progress Updates of regional PR, and quarterly updates) and other relevant program information as available;

Deliverable 3.2: As part of detailed analytical reports, formulate recommendations for remedial action for RAI implementers, RSC, CCMs, and other stakeholders as relevant, on how to improve program quality and effectiveness.

       Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Educational Qualifications

An advanced degree in medicine, public health, epidemiology, or a related field. 

Experience

• At least fifteen (15) years’ international experience in health policy, global health governance or in the design/implementation/evaluation of health programs, preferably in an advisory capacity at senior levels 
• Experience in high level advocacy and/or leadership of health initiatives or programs. 
• Experience leading or chairing technical or policy-related governance bodies. 
• Experience working on malaria programmes in the Greater Mekong Subregion. 
• Experience working with the Global Fund. 

Skills/Knowledge

• Strong leadership and managerial qualities, ability to manage staff and coordinate a team of independent experts; 
• Strong diplomatic, negotiation, advocacy and interpersonal skills; 
• Proven ability to engage, and build partnerships, across a broad range of stakeholders at senior level (governments, donors, WHO, APLMA, etc.) 
• Significant malaria control and elimination knowledge and experience 

Languages and level required

• Excellent English written and oral communication skills; 
•  Knowledge of the languages of the GMS countries desirable.  

       Location

The work will be performed remotely, except for the travel time specified below. The selected Consultant(s) will work under the overall guidance of the RAI Regional Steering Committee and its appointed delegates (e.g. Executive Committee).

      Travel 

The consultant(s) is expected to travel to the countries of the GMS as a key function of the role. The schedule is to be determined based on liaison with the RSC, other IMP Members, governments, and partners. Each trip is expected to last approximately ten days. Additional travel may be required on an ad hoc basis up to an additional 15 days for the assignment period. 

All travel arrangements will be made by WHO. WHO will not be responsible for tickets purchased by Consultant(s) without the express prior authorization of WHO. While on mission under the terms of this consultancy, the Consultant(s) will receive subsistence allowance. It is the consultant’s responsibility to secure visas including asking for support letter(s) if needed.

      Remuneration and budget 

Rate: The rate will be determined in line with WHO Policy on Short Term Consultancies requiring technical tasks of high political complexity, depth and visibility requiring senior expertise in the technical area by credible, established experts recognized in their specific area of work with over 15 years of relevant experience.

Work schedule (if applicable): It is estimated that the selected consultant(s) will work an average of 5-7 working days per month for the duration of the contract.

Additional Information

• 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. 
• 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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