Job Description

Purpose of the Consultancy

The purpose of this assignment is to provide support for cancer prevention and control with a special focus on the national level implementation of the WHO Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer (GICC) and the Global Platform on Access to Childhood Cancer Medicines (GPACCM).

Background

Each year, an estimated 400,000 children worldwide develop cancer. The majority of children living in low- and middle-income countries are unable to consistently obtain or afford cancer medicines. As a result, nearly 100,000 children die each year. Close to nine in ten children with cancer live in low- and middle-income countries and survival in these countries is less than 30%, compared with 80% in high-income countries.

WHO in collaboration  and St Jude Children's Research Hospital  under the WHO Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer (GICC) has established a collaborative initiative to increase care access, quality, and integration of childhood cancer in national and global agendas. The overall objective of the GICC is to measurably improve health outcomes and to reduce suffering for children by scaling-up the capacity of Member States to provide quality services for children with cancer, and to increase prioritization of childhood cancer in national priority benefit packages.

Pakistan is one of the countries in the Eastern Mediterranean Region earmarked for the collaborative support of WHO and St. Jude. Pakistan officially joined the GICC in 2022 and has also been included in the second cohort of countries benefiting from GPACCM in 2025. To continue support for GICC and GPACCM interventions under this collaboration, there is need to hire a consultant who will work on this initiative with government and all stakeholders.

Scope of work

The consultant will work closely with the technical teams at MoNHSR&C, provincial departments of health, WCO Pakistan and EMRO to achieve the following:

·             follow up with relevant stakeholders at national and sub-national levels to provide technical input in the development, implementation, and follow-up of GICC interventions.

·             Liaise with WHO and Ministry teams for successfully supporting the GPACCM missions to Pakistan including the political dialogue mission and the country assessment mission.

·             Prepare agenda for, and follow up on the execution of workshops, seminars, and meetings.

·             Review program reports, proposals, and other documents relevant to the GICC / GPACCM and ensure regular documentation of best practice and technical reports on progress, achievements and constraints.

·         Communicate with stakeholders at the local level for promoting the agenda of childhood cancer and meaningful engagement of people with lived experience supported by developing an outline draft for the guiding booklet.

·           Conduct monitoring activities for childhood cancer needs at the national level to inform planning and achieve relevant objectives, including by integrating childhood cancer in the broader national and sub-national cancer agendas.

·           Collect and compile data, including analysis related to the above-mentioned areas, to generate evidence-based information to support sound decision-making and reorientation.

·           Collaborate with national and international stakeholders to develop an actionable implementation plan for GPACCM.

·           Undertake field visits to attend field health coordination meetings.

 Technical Supervision

The selected Consultant will work under the direct supervision of:

Responsible Officer:  Technical Officer RMNCAH

Manager: Team Lead HPLC

Qualifications and Expertise:

Qualifications required

            University degree in medicine or public health. An advanced degree in oncology is desirable.

Experience Required

·         At least two years of relevant experience in NCD prevention and management with specific experience in cancer prevention and control.

·         Experience in dealing with childhood cancer would be an asset.

·         Experience in working with local community and National authorities including private sector.

·         Work experience with UN system or international non-governmental organizations.

·         Experience in developing countries.

Skills Required:

·         Excellent interpersonal, oral communication, writing and documentation skills.

·         Ability to meet tight deadlines and to work effectively under pressure.

·         Language: Excellent command of English and the local language - both spoken and written.

Place of assignment

The selected candidate will be based in Islamabad. (field travel may be required)