Area of Expertise

National Consultant – Thalassemia Program

Purpose of consultancy

The purpose of this consultancy is to recruit a consultant to provide technical expertise in the planning, development, and monitoring of Thalassemia programs, aligning with the Maldives Blood Services (MBS) strategic goals and the WHO 2024-2025 biennium workplan.

Background  

Maldives Blood Services (MBS) operates under the Ministry of Health (MoH), playing a crucial role in the nation’s healthcare system by ensuring the availability and safety of blood and blood products. Given the high prevalence of thalassemia, the government has prioritized establishing a specialized thalassemia hospital, enhance diagnostic capabilities, and implement effective prevention and management through a comprehensive 10-year plan. MBS seeks a consultant to oversee the implementation of this plan, develop effective messaging, and support to establish robust policies to enhance access to safe and quality assured Thalassemia care.

Terms of Reference

• Develop and implement a detailed plan for WHO-supported activities aligned with the government’s strategic action plan.
• Oversee the implementation of the Thalassemia masterplan (2024-2034), including regular monitoring and stakeholder engagement.
• Contribute to the Implementation of the National Blood Policy (2018) where relevant to Thalassemia programs.
• Develop and execute a communication plan with support from MBS technical experts, to raise public awareness and engagement in Thalassemia prevention and management.
• Support the development of robust policies to enhance Thalassemia prevention, treatment, and management by collecting, and analyzing available data to inform policy recommendations and program improvements.

Deliverables

Monthly progress report on status, actions and next steps towards achieving the activities outlined in the TOR.

Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Educational Qualifications

Essential: Bachelor’s Degree in Medicine, Nursing, Public Health or a related health field.

Desirable: Master’s Degree in Public Health or a related health field.

Experience

Essential: Minimum of 5 years of experience in program management, public health planning or healthcare administration.

Desirable: Experience working in the Maldives healthcare system in areas related to transfusion medicine, genetic disorders or chronic disease management.

Skills/Knowledge

• Demonstrated ability in strategic planning, program development, and implementation.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a focus on data-driven decision making.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to effectively engage with stakeholders at all levels.
• Proficiency in using computer software for data analysis, reporting, and presentation (e.g., Microsoft Office Suite, statistical software).
• Experience in developing and implementing health promotion and communication strategies.

Languages and level required (Basic/Intermediate/Advanced):

Essential

English – read, write, and speak at expert level

Dhivehi – read, write, and speak at expert level

Location

On site: Maldivian Blood Services, Ministry of Health Male’, Maldives.

Travel

Local Travel maybe required as per needs of MBS or WHO.

Remuneration and budget (travel costs are excluded):

Remuneration: MVR 30,000 per month (depending on qualification)

Living expenses (A living expense is payable to on-site consultants who are internationally recruited): n/a

Expected duration of contract: 1 year

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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• This assignment is subject to local recruitment and will be filled by persons recruited in the local commuting area of the duty station/assignment location.