Senior National - IHR Advisor 

FED TA: Technical Support to the International Health Regulations (IHR) Coordination Secretariat at the National Institute of Health, Islamabad

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 goal is to accelerate the operationalisation and impact of the IHR Coordination Secretariat at the NIH.

Specific objectives are to:

• Provide technical expertise to establish the Secretariat's core functions, including coordination, surveillance monitoring and assist in policy guidelines development.
• Develop key foundational documents, including a strategic work plans, operational manual, and monitoring & evaluation framework, aligned with JEE priorities.
• Facilitate the establishment of critical multi-sectoral coordination mechanisms and holding regular meetings of the technical working groups.

Strategic Approach

Contributions to Health Systems Strengthening: This TA will fundamentally strengthen the health system by building a resilient and efficient  IHR Coordination Secretariat for health security to be able to perform its mandate functions i.e. coordination with one health stakeholders and communications; dissemination of disease surveillance trends and alert generation, outbreaks; monitoring & assessment of public health events; coordinate outbreak response; risk communication; implementation of priority activities including preparedness and health emergency management. These aspects will directly enhance the Leadership and Governance building block by establishing coordination protocols and accountability mechanisms for managing health threats. By strengthening Health Information Systems through improved data analysis and risk assessment functions, it ensures information translates into timely action. Furthermore, it reinforces Service Delivery by ensuring that outbreak responses are coordinated and do not compromise routine health services, thereby making the entire health system more robust and responsive to shocks.

Alignment with other E4H TAs/Investments/National Standards:  The Secretariat will be a key integration point for various technical assistance (TA) streams, ensuring they contribute coherently to national health policies and strategies,

including the National Action Plan for Health Security (NAPHS) 2024-28 based on the 2023 JEE, Multisectoral Health Workforce Strategy (2025-34)  and the upcoming National Health and Population Policy (2026-35)

Alignment with other donors (if relevant): The Secretariat will adopt a "One Donor" coordination model to prevent duplication and maximise the impact of external investments. By convening stakeholders through its governance platforms, it will ensure donor activities are strategically aligned with national priorities, guide investments to the most critical gaps, and foster collaborative partnerships that enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of all external support for Pakistan's health security. The TA will collaborate especially with UKHSA, JSI and WHO in IHR related activities.

Scope of Work and Methodology

The team will perform the following functions:

Strategic Work Planning

• Facilitate a collaborative process to develop a strategic work plan directly aligned with the key priority areas of NAPHS 2024-28 and JEE 2023 recommendations.
• Develop a comprehensive plan that outlines the strategies with one health approach for enhancing preparedness and response capacities, standard operating procedures, capacity building around core capacities , roles and responsibilities for all stakeholders during a pandemic.

Coordination and Governance Facilitation

• Provide secretarial support to convene the meetings of the National IHR Technical Committee and key Technical Working Groups (TWGs - Prevent, Detect, Respond).
• Establish and maintain robust coordination mechanisms with the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), Provincial IHR focal points (one health), public health emergency operations centres, and other relevant entities.

Monitoring, Assessment, and Information Sharing

• Monitor global health events and assess their potential impact on Pakistan.
• Compile and analyse national surveillance and response data to support the National IHR Focal Point in meeting mandatory reporting requirements to the WHO.
• Facilitate the transparent and timely exchange of information between provincial IHR secretariats and relevant national bodies
• Draft consistent communication plan to inform the public, healthcare professionals, and government agencies about the pandemic and recommended actions.

Capacity Building

• Map existing capacities and gaps in IHR implementation across the country.
• Coordinate and facilitate training programs and technical assistance to build core capacities at national and sub-national levels.
• Conduct regular simulation exercises and after-action reviews to ensure that response teams are familiar with their roles and responsibilities.

Policy and Guideline Development

• Provide technical assistance to the government in developing and updating national , strategies, and SOPs related to health emergencies, emerging threats, and infectious disease control.
• Focal Point: The TA team will work under the guidance of the National IHR Focal Point, and the IHR Focal Point in the  Ministry of NHSR&C.

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

Capacity Building: This is an embedded, collaborative TA model designed as a hands-on capacity-building exercise as well as regular modular trainings. Knowledge and skills will be transferred to government counterparts to ensure long-term sustainability.

Institutionalisation: All outputs (e.g., work plans, SOPs, M&E frameworks) will be developed under supervision of NIH lead and focal point in the Ministry to ensure ownership and will be formally handed over for integration into their systems.

Transition Planning: The plan will include a clear transition plan outlining the steps for the Secretariat to operate independently after the conclusion of the TA.

Responsibilities

The IHR Advisor will work to achieve the following:

1. Inception Report
2. Secretariat Strategic Work Plan & Operational Manual
3. Meetings of the National IHR Technical Committee and key Technical Working Groups (TWGs - Prevent, Detect, Respond).

Timeline and Days

The level of effort (LOE) for the role is 60 days from Nov 2025 – Mar 31, 2025.

Requirement

Technical Expertise

• PHD/ Postgraduate degree in Public Health.
• 15+ years of experience in IHR (2005) implementation, health emergency management, multi-sectoral coordination.

Competencies

• Planning and delivering work;
• Analysis and use of information;
• Decision making;
• Influencing