Dutystation: Home based
Functional responsibilities
The Country Implementation Support Senior Specialist working under RBM CRSPC will support countries in strengthening the quality and effectiveness of malaria intervention planning, particularly in resource-constrained settings. The consultant will assist Ministries of Health and NMCPs in reviewing and developing evidence-based, costed NSPs, Costed Operational Optimised Plan, addressing implementation bottlenecks, and aligning strategies with broader health priorities to ensure efficient, integrated, and life-saving outcomes. The consultant will also facilitate NMCPs translating these plans into investment cases and funding requests for resource mobilization. The assignment requires highly developed negotiation skills and a proven track record in achieving consensus across multiple stakeholders. The consultant will be expected to visit the country as necessary during the support period.
Assignments could include (but are not limited to) the facilitation of the following:
Comprehensive review of country programme documentation (Malaria programme review and other assessment reports; strategic plans; operational plans, workplans, gap analyses, epidemiological data etc.) to identify bottlenecks, inefficiencies, duplication, and missed opportunities, and assess alignment with the WHO Global Technical Strategy for Malaria and national health priorities;
Develop Country Operational Optimised Plans (COOPs) that reflect clear prioritisation of how the NSP will be operationalized, financed, and linked to the monitoring and evaluation framework and available funding envelopes;
Identify programmatic and financial gaps, and recommend optimisation strategies (e.g., integration, efficiency gains, or prioritisation);
Provide mentoring and knowledge transfer to national teams to institutionalize the COOP development process;
Facilitate workshops and consultations with senior management, national stakeholders, financial and technical partners to ensure alignment, consistency, and consensus on priority intervention areas, strategic direction, and implementation approaches;
Map potential integration opportunities with other health programmes (e.g. RMNCAH, immunization, community health) and propose practical mechanisms for integration at service delivery and system levels;
Review cost and efficiencies of programs and identify areas for potential resource reallocation and improved return on investment;
Provide technical inputs to the development of high-quality funding applications (e.g. Global Fund funding requests), including integration of cross-cutting components;
Provide technical inputs to the country dialogue and partner coordination processes related to GC8 development.
Monitoring and Progress Controls
Key Deliverables:
To be determined based on the specific assignment, possible examples:
Costed Operational Optimised Plan( COOP) and scenarios, cost analyses report, grant proposal, strategic plan including epi data analysis;
Final report submitted to the NMCP Manager/Director outlining the support provided, with an analysis of results, key lessons learned, and actionable recommendations to inform and strengthen future program implementation and external support coordination;
Final report to CRSPC Manager and co-chairs analyzing support provided including recommendations for improving future support to countries.
Education/Experience/Language requirements
Advanced university (master’s) degree desired, preferably in public health, or epidemiology, or social science or related field. A Bachelor’s degree with additional 2 years of relevant experience may be considered in lieu of the requirement of a master’s degree.
Experience
Essential:
Minimum seven (7) years of experience in at least one of the following areas is required:
malaria program implementation,
technical coordination,
global health partnerships;
Experience in planning / implementing / evaluating technical malaria control strategies;
Demonstrated experience in developing or supporting national strategic and operational plans development;
Knowledge of international normative guidance (WHO,etc.);
Knowledge of new malaria tools and technologies (e.g. vaccines, diagnostics, vector control products) and expertise in guiding evidence-based decision-making processes for their adoption, scale-up, and integration—ensuring national prioritization and stakeholder buy-in;
Experience working with Ministries of Health and multilateral stakeholders at the national level;
Strong facilitation, coordination, analytical and report writing skills.
Desirable:
Understanding of the RBM Partnership Program
Knowledge of proposal development, malaria funding mechanisms and malaria programming tools (e.g., stratification, geospatial targeting, costing);
Documented experience of working in complex and politically and technically challenging situations to achieve consensus and effectively manage change;
Experience at national and international levels and working with multiple stakeholders;
Ability to work across programmes and stakeholders to promote integration, efficiency, and strategic alignment in malaria control and elimination efforts.
Language
Oral and written fluency is required in English.
Knowledge of other UN languages is an advantage.
TOGETHER, WE BUILD THE FUTURE
UNOPS – an operational arm of the United Nations – supports the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by successfully implementing its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world.
Our mission is to help people build better lives and countries achieve peace and sustainable development.
We are proud of our people and embrace diversity and are committed to equal employment opportunities. Our workforce brings together approximately 160 nationalities, represented by over 5,000 UNOPS personnel as well as some 7,800 personnel recruited on behalf of our partners. Spread across 80 countries from a range of backgrounds, and languages and have different gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities.
We encourage women and candidates from underrepresented groups in UNOPS to apply. These include candidates from racialized and/or indigenous groups, members of minority gender identities and sexual orientations, and people with disabilities.