Junior National STTA - Research Associate

KP TA: Revision of the National Health Support Program (NHSP) PC-I for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Programme Overview

Evidence for Health (E4H) is a Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO)-funded programme aimed at strengthening Pakistan's healthcare system, thereby decreasing the burden of illness and saving lives. E4H provides technical assistance (TA) to the Federal, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), and Punjab governments, and is being implemented by Palladium along with Oxford Policy Management (OPM).

Through its flexible, embedded, and demand-driven model, E4H supports the government to achieve a resilient health system that is prepared for health emergencies, responsive to the latest evidence, and delivers equitable, quality, and efficient healthcare services. Specifically, E4H delivers TA across three outputs:

Output 1: Strengthened integrated health security, with a focus on preparing and responding to health emergencies, including pandemics.

Output 2: Strengthened evidence-based decision-making to drive health sector performance and accountability.

Output 3: Improved implementation of Universal Health Coverage, with a focus on ending preventable deaths.

Position Summary

The primary objective of this TA is to ensure that the necessary health system strengthening components are incorporated for the PfR approach. This will be achieved by revising the PC-I to include the required provisions for financial assistance under PfR.

The team of consultants is expected to provide embedded support throughout the rollout of this assignment and be present with the designated focal point - the NHSP team, to ensure seamless coordination and progress.

1. The consultants are required to conduct a thorough review of all relevant documents, policies, and materials, followed by consultations with the NHSP team, other units within the DOH, World Bank, and implementing partners to gain clarity, understanding, and ensuring alignment with ongoing DOH initiatives as well as E4H and partner initiatives.
2. The consultants will review the NHSP PC-I to identify any gaps and propose recommendations to the Project Director (PD) NHSP and DOH.
3. After the suggestions are agreed upon with the PD NHSP and DOH, the team will conduct the costing of the initiatives in PC-I to ensure their financial feasibility, alignment with the objectives, and fulfil the requirements outlined in the PC-I submitted for approval to the relevant authorities.
4. The team is expected to make all necessary revisions to the PC-I, incorporating the changes mutually agreed upon with the PD NHSP and DOH.
5. Additionally, the team will support the preparation of a slide deck, and a concept note with justifications to facilitate presentations to the Provincial Development Working Party (PDWP), Central Development Working Party (CDWP), and the World Bank to expedite the approval process and ensure timely implementation of the initiatives.

Timeline and Days

The level of effort for the role is 25 working days, from December 2024 – March 2025.

Requirement

Technical Expertise

• Bachelor’s degree in economics, Public Administration, Social Sciences or a related field (master’s preferred).
• Proficiency in reviewing and editing documents, ensuring they are clear, accurate, grammatically correct, and formatted according to required templates.
• Experience in facilitating consultations and gathering input from various stakeholders, including government officials, implementing partners, and other relevant entities.
• Ability to collect, analyze, and synthesize data from various sources to support the revision process, including costing, financial analysis, and project assessments.
• Knowledge of project management tools and processes, including managing timelines, tracking deliverables, and coordinating with various team members.
• Experience in drafting technical reports, including progress updates, meeting minutes, and documentation.

Competencies

• Strong organizational and time-management skills for supporting multiple tasks efficiently.
• Proficiency in research methods, including data collection, documentation, and analysis.
• Excellent communication skills to assist in drafting reports, presenting findings, and engaging with stakeholders.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills to effectively present information, interact with stakeholders, and prepare presentations and reports.
• Skilled in teamwork and collaboration with project teams and government officials to achieve common objectives.
• Detail-oriented and capable of maintaining quality documentation for project deliverables.