Technical Support for Convening IHR Coordination (Taskforce & TWG) Meetings

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 (2023–2027) provides technical assistance (TA) to Punjab, Federal, and KP governments, implemented by Palladium in partnership with Oxford Policy Management (OPM).

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

• Output 1: Strengthened integrated health security and preparedness.
• Output 2: Strengthened evidence-based decision-making for accountability and performance.
• Output 3: Improved implementation of Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

Background

• In follow up of Joint External Evaluation (2023) of 19 technical areas under (IHR 2005), a National Action Plan Health Security 2024-28 was developed in consultation with all provinces with technical assistance from E4H. It also includes a governance and coordination mechanism for IHR (2005) to oversee implementation of the National Action Plan for Health Security (NAPHS) 2024–28, including Punjab operational plan in Punjab.
• Approved during the second E4H Steering Committee meeting, this governance and coordination framework established clearly defined roles for health, livestock, environment, PDMA, Rescue 1122, and food sectors to enhance inter-sectoral coordination and improve preparedness for health security threats, particularly those linked to climate change.
• Despite the framework’s approval, operationalisation has remained incomplete, with gaps in routine coordination meetings and weak linkages between provincial and national IHR focal point, NIH.
• The Health & Population Department (H&PD) requires structured support to institutionalise the coordination mechanism, revitalise the IHR Taskforce, and advocate for the formation of Technical Working Groups (TWGs) across Prevent, Detect, and Respond pillars, ensuring alignment with IHR 2005 framework and federal-level NAPHS milestones.

Problem Statement

Although a governance and coordination mechanism for IHR has been established within NAPHS 2024-28, it has not been effectively operationalised. Weak linkages  between provincial and federal functions, along with the absence of routine coordination forums, constrains Punjab’s ability to implement the NAPHS priority activities and ensure sustained health security preparedness across One Health sectors in Punjab.

Goal and Objective(s)

The overall goal of this TA is to strengthen cross-sectoral coordination, efficiency, and policy responsiveness in Punjab’s health security governance through the operationalisation of the IHR mechanism.

We will achieve this by pursuing 3 objectives:

• Objective 1: To activate the IHR Taskforce/Technical committee and establish functional Technical Committees/Working Groups (Prevent, Detect, Respond) as routine coordination mechanisms in Punjab.
• Objective 2: To support the convening of at least two IHR Taskforce/Technical Committee meetings focused on reviewing progress and initiating implementation of priority NAPHS II activities under Punjab’s operational plan.
• Objective 3: To document and follow up on agreed action points to ensure visible and sustained progress on IHR coordination and implementation efforts across the province.

Strategic Approach

Contributions to health systems strengthening

The operationalisation of the IHR governance mechanism in Punjab represents a strategic continuation of work initiated under the first phase of TA in 2024, which established the foundational framework. With formal approval secured through the E4H Steering Committee, the current TA shifts focus to embedding this mechanism into institutional routines, strengthening structured coordination, aligning resources, and instituting performance monitoring. This effort enhances Punjab’s ability to prevent, detect, and respond to health emergencies through an integrated, multi-sectoral approach under the One Health paradigm.

Alignment with other E4H TAs/investments

This TA builds directly on the earlier E4H-supported development of the IHR governance framework within NAPHS 2024-28. It complements ongoing health security efforts by formalising roles, enabling routine engagement across health, livestock, environment, and food safety sectors, and supporting coordinated decision-making and crisis response.

Alignment with other donors

The TA aligns with Pakistan’s commitments under the International Health Regulations (IHR 2005) and contributes to progress on the Joint External Evaluation (JEE) and the National Action Plan for Health Security (NAPHS) 2024–28. By tracking and advancing the Punjab NAPHS operational plan, this TA ensures coherence with national benchmarks and fosters accountability, complementing other donor-supported health security investments.

Scope of Work and Methodology

The scope of this TA encompasses the notifications, operational rollout and institutional embedding of a multi-sectoral IHR governance mechanism in Punjab, with emphasis on activating coordination platforms, convening IHR Taskforce/Technical Committee and TWGs meetings, formalising operating procedures, and to institutionalise the M&E framework previously developed through E4H support. The TA will adopt a participatory, systems-based approach which will combine policy reviews, stakeholder consultations, and coordination support to enhance the province’s compliance with NAPHS 2024–28 and International Health Regulations (IHR 2005).

The assignment will be delivered over a five-month period and structured in three sequential phases:

Phase 1: Inception and Planning

• Conduct initial consultations with H&PD and key one health departments (SH&MED, livestock & poultry, environment, food safety, rescue 1122 and PDMA).
• Develop a succinct Inception Report and slide deck outlining scope, stakeholder roles, risks, and coordination plan.

Phase 2: Convening and Embedded Support

• Facilitate two IHR Taskforce/Technical Committee meetings to track progress against implementation of NAPHS key recommendations for Punjab and one meeting each for the three TWGs after being notified.
• Advocate and document agendas (thematic agendas addressing: prevent, detect and respond pillars of IHR), support preparation of presentation, minutes of meeting, and agreed follow-up actions.
• Provide ongoing embedded support to the and Director Health Services CD & EPC for coordination and documentation.

Phase 3: Reporting and Finalisation

• Develop a and Final Report and Conclusion Slide Deck comprising notified minutes of meetings, progress against agreed action points.
• Submit deliverables for institutional knowledge, record and follow up.

This structured and participatory methodology will ensure that the TA delivers not only technically sound outputs but also fosters departmental ownership, enhances inter-sectoral coordination and cooperation, and contributes to sustainable provincial health security governance aligned with national priorities.

Sustainability: Capacity Building, Institutionalisation, and/or Transition Planning

• Knowledge products, including minutes of meetings, action trackers, and final reports, will be archived within H&PD for ongoing reference and replication.
• Building on the earlier E4H-supported development of the NAPHS framework, this TA will reinforce institutional ownership and ensure continuity of progress at the provincial level.

Deliverables

1. Inception Report with Readiness Note & Slide Deck.
2. IHR Taskforce Meeting Report 1.
3. Three TWG Meeting Reports (Prevent, Detect, Respond).
4. IHR Taskforce Meeting Report 2.
5. Final Report & Conclusion Slide Deck.

Position: IHR / Public Health Expert

Level: Mid National

LOE: 110 days

Period: Sep 2025 – Mar 2026

Role Requirements
Provide technical input to operationalise governance mechanism, support Taskforce/TWG meetings, and guide technical alignment.

Technical Expertise

• Postgraduate in Public Health, Policy, or Health Systems.
• 10+ years’ experience in IHR governance and multi-sectoral coordination.
• Familiarity with One Health and health security preparedness.

Core Competencies

• Planning & delivering work; Policy alignment; Stakeholder engagement; Decision-making.

Deliverables/KPIs
Same as above.