JOB DESCRIPTION

General Information

Publication for

Partner

Partner Name

WHO World Health Organization

Position Title

Specialist – Primary Health Care Supply chain readiness

Job Category

Programme

Duty Station(s)

Dhaka

Seniority Level

Mid Level

ICS Level

ICS 10

Contract Type

ICA – LICA – Specialist – Retainer

Contract Level

LICA 10

Posting Start Date

21-Nov-2025

Posting End Date

28-Nov-2025

Duration

3

Job Highlight

This is an excellent opportunity to contribute to significant health sector reforms in Bangladesh, working closely with key stakeholders such as the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the World Health Organization. The role offers a unique chance to shape the future of healthcare in the country, enhance your project management and coordination skills, and gain valuable experience in international health development.

About the Project Office

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) is implementing a range of reform measures to strengthen the resilience, efficiency, and equity of the health system in line with the recommendations of the Health Reform Commission (2025). These reforms aim to align Bangladesh”s health system with the principles of equity, participation, and accountability ensuring that health is realized as both a constitutional right and a public good. In this regard, the Ministry has prepared a comprehensive proposal titled “Health Sector Transformation in Bangladesh”, outlining the strategic priorities, implementation modalities, and expected outcomes of the reform agenda. The proposal emphasizes eight key strategic areas including governance and institutional reform, primary healthcare restructuring, workforce planning, financial sustainability, digital transformation, medicine regulation, documentation of transition strategies, and stakeholder communication. The Ministry seeks the technical and strategic partnership of the World Health Organization (WHO) to support the implementation of these reform initiatives.

Job Specific Context

Despite notable progress in expanding Primary Health Care (PHC) coverage across the country, substantial gaps remain in service readiness, workforce distribution, and supply chain efficiency. Rural and urban disparities in service availability and quality persist, while fragmented administrative structures and human resource systems often hinder effective coordination within the evolving health reform landscape. These challenges directly impact the continuity, quality, and equity of care delivery at the PHC level.

Achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) requires that PHC facilities are functionally ready – with adequate human resources, essential medicines, diagnostics, equipment, and reliable supply chain mechanisms. Ensuring supply-side readiness is therefore a critical determinant of PHC performance, sustainability, and resilience, particularly in the context of emerging health sector reforms and decentralization efforts.

In line with this, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) has initiated a reform-driven assignment to develop an evidence-based Supply-Side Readiness Plan. This plan will serve as a strategic instrument to improve coordination among service delivery, workforce deployment, logistics management, and essential medicines supply across all PHC facilities. The initiative is also aligned with national priorities and the recommendations of the Health Sector Reform Commission Report 2025, which emphasizes institutional restructuring for better efficiency, accountability, and service integration.

Role Purpose

The consultant will develop an integrated Primary Health Care (PHC) Boundary Framework and Urban PHC Transition Model that define and institutionalize the PHC service package across Bangladesh. The framework will ensure a standardized package of essential services, medicines, diagnostics, and a skilled workforce embedded within existing rural and urban facility tiers.

This assignment aims to establish clear functional boundaries for PHC delivery to transition from fragmented, project-based systems to a sustainable, institutionalized model within the national health structure.

Objectives of the Assignment

1. Review and map existing PHC service packages, delivery mechanisms, and integration points in both rural and urban contexts.
2. Define the PHC boundary encompassing essential promotive, preventive, curative, rehabilitative, and palliative services suitable for existing facility tiers (community clinics, union sub-centres, upazila health complexes, and urban primary health centers).
3. Develop a list of essential medicines, diagnostics, and supplies required for the PHC package.
4. Recommend an appropriate mix and distribution of multidisciplinary health workers for PHC delivery.
5. Align the PHC boundary with existing delivery platforms, referral systems, and national standards.
6. Propose implementation and monitoring mechanisms for sustaining the PHC boundary within health sector reform initiatives.

Functions / Key Results Expected

A. Situational Review

• Review the existing policy, institutional, and operational arrangements for PHC service delivery in both urban and rural Bangladesh.
  Map PHC coverage, governance structures, workforce distribution, and resource flows.
• Identify key implementation challenges, opportunities, and lessons from ongoing pilots and global models.

B. Framework Development

• Design a scalable implementation framework for PHC expansion in urban wards and rural unions.
• Define governance, service delivery, workforce, financing, digital health integration, and monitoring components.
• Develop a costed Supply-Side Readiness Plan, including strategies for facility management, workforce optimization, and essential supply assurance.
• Specify key operational standards and sustainability mechanisms.

C. Stakeholder Engagement

• Conduct structured consultations with MoHFW departments, LGD, city corporations, NGOs, and development partners.
• Facilitate technical workshops for review, validation, and refinement of the draft framework.

D. Finalization and Validation

• Prepare the final Implementation Framework document incorporating stakeholder feedback.
• Present the framework to the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC), MoHFW, and WHO for final endorsement.

Expected Deliverables:

Sl. No.

Activities

Deliverables

Timeline

1

Situational Analysis & Supply Chain Readiness Mapping

Readiness Assessment Report – including mapping of PHC coverage, facility readiness, and supply-side bottlenecks in workforce, infrastructure, and essential commodities.

Day 1–15

2

Development of Draft PHC Implementation Framework

Draft PHC Implementation Framework – encompassing governance, financing, workforce, supply chain, and service delivery components.

Day 16–25

3

Stakeholder Consultation & Validation Workshops

Stakeholder Consultation Report – summarizing multi-stakeholder feedback, consensus, and recommendations for PHC supply-side reform.

Day 26–33

4

Preparation of Final Supply-Side Readiness Plan

Final Supply-Side Readiness Plan – including implementation roadmap, costed action plan, monitoring indicators, and risk-mitigation framework.

Day 34–45

5

Technical Presentation and Knowledge Sharing Session

Technical Presentation / Workshop Materials – for dissemination and policy dialogue with MoHFW, WHO, and development partners.

Day 46–48

6

Final Review and Submission

Consolidated Final Report – integrating all feedback, recommendations, and approved implementation roadmap.

Day 49–50

Skills

Foreign Policy, Health Policy, Planning, Policy Analysis, Stakeholder Management

Competencies

Develops and implements sustainable business strategies, thinks long term and externally in order to positively shape the organisation. Anticipates and perceives the impact and implications of future decisions and activities on other parts of the organisation.

Treats all individuals with respect; responds sensitively to differences and encourages others to do the same. Upholds organisational and ethical norms. Maintains high standards of trustworthiness. Role model for diversity and inclusion.

Acts as a positive role model contributing to the team spirit. Collaborates and supports the development of others. For people managers only: Acts as positive leadership role model, motivates, directs and inspires others to succeed, utilizing appropriate leadership styles.

Demonstrates understanding of the impact of own role on all partners and always puts the end beneficiary first. Builds and maintains strong external relationships and is a competent partner for others (if relevant to the role).

Efficiently establishes an appropriate course of action for self and/or others to accomplish a goal. Actions lead to total task accomplishment through concern for quality in all areas. Sees opportunities and takes the initiative to act on them. Understands that responsible use of resources maximizes our impact on our beneficiaries.

Open to change and flexible in a fast paced environment. Effectively adapts own approach to suit changing circumstances or requirements. Reflects on experiences and modifies own behavior. Performance is consistent, even under pressure. Always pursues continuous improvements.

Evaluates data and courses of action to reach logical, pragmatic decisions. Takes an unbiased, rational approach with calculated risks. Applies innovation and creativity to problem-solving.

Expresses ideas or facts in a clear, concise and open manner. Communication indicates a consideration for the feelings and needs of others. Actively listens and proactively shares knowledge. Handles conflict effectively, by overcoming differences of opinion and finding common ground.

Education Requirements

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in Medical Science.

Desired

• An advanced degree in Public Health, Health Systems, Health Policy, or Public Administration. PhD in Public Health, Health Systems, or related field.

Experience Requirements

Required

• Minimum 7 years of experience in PHC system design, implementation planning, or health systems strengthening.
• Proven experience in developing implementation or operational frameworks for health programs
• Strong understanding of Bangladesh’s health system and policy environment.
• Experience working with government, UN agencies, or development partners.

Desired

• Experience in large-scale program design and sector program planning.
• Demonstrated ability to engage in multi-stakeholder processes and policy dialogues.

Language Requirements

LanguageProficiency LevelRequirementEnglishFluentRequiredBengaliFluentRequired

Additional Information

• Please note that UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes.
• Please note that UNOPS will at no stage of the recruitment process request candidates to make payments of any kind.
• Applications to vacancies must be received before midnight Copenhagen time (CET) on the closing date of the announcement. Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process, which involves various assessments.
• UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures, languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. UNOPS seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce.
• Qualified women and candidates from groups which are underrepresented in the UNOPS workforce are encouraged to apply. These include in particular candidates from racialized and/or indigenous groups, members of minority gender identities and sexual orientations, and people with disabilities.
• We would like to ensure all candidates perform at their best during the assessment process. If you are shortlisted and require additional assistance to complete any assessment, including reasonable accommodation, please inform our human resources team when you receive an invitation.

Terms and Conditions

• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post.
• For retainer contracts, you must complete a few mandatory courses (they take around 4 hours to complete) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS. Refreshers or new mandatory courses may be required during your contract. Please note that you will not receive any compensation for taking courses and refreshers. For more information on a retainer contract here.
• For more details about the contract types, please click here.
• All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda.
• It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.