Back Consultant - Development of Medical Supplies Strategic Plan, Papua New Guinea

Purpose of the Consultancy

The purpose of this consultancy/assignment is to provide technical support to the NDoH in developing a Medical Supplies Strategic Plan that is evidence-based, context-specific, aligned with national and provincial health and development strategies, inclusive of all key stakeholders, and feasible, costed, and implementable.

Background

Achieving universal health coverage (UHC) requires access to safe, effective, quality, and affordable medical products, including essential medicines and vaccines. Health or medical supply chain systems are essential for an effective and efficient healthcare system by ensuring the uninterrupted supply of safe, effective, quality-assured essential medicines and health supplies.  

The Government of Papua New Guinea (GoPNG), through the National Department of Health (NDoH), recognizes the critical importance of an efficient, reliable, and sustainable medical supply system to ensure equitable access to essential medicines and health commodities. In light of ongoing challenges in procurement, distribution, and stock management, the NDoH seeks to develop a comprehensive Medical Supplies Strategic Plan (MSSP) to guide reforms and investments over the next 5–10 years,  aligned with key national frameworks and priorities, including:  

• National Health Plan, 2021–2030, specifically Key Result Area 5 (KRA 5): Strengthening Health Systems, and Objective 5.5 (Improve the medical supply chain to ensure adequate, affordable, and continuous availability of safe and good-quality medicines that can be used rationally at all times).  
• National Medicines Policy, whose goal is to ensure that high-quality medicines are accessible and affordable to the entire population at all times and that they are used rationally, outlining the principles for the medicines selection, procurement, storage, inventory management, distribution, use, etc in the country.  
• National Health Reform Agenda, which emphasizes strengthening health systems, improving service delivery, and ensuring sustainable access to quality health commodities.  
• Strengthening procurement and supply management is one of the strategic priorities of the Papua New Guinea- WHO Country Cooperation Strategy 2024-2028 and for ensuring a resilient health system in Papua New Guinea (PNG).

  This MSSP will also reflect international best practices and lessons learned from previous supply chain assessments and interventions.

  Deliverables

  In collaboration with the NDOH and WHO, the assignment will be carried out through the following approaches:

  1. Situational Analysis

     1. Review existing policies, strategies, and reports related to medical supplies and logistics.
     2. Assess the current supply chain system, including procurement, warehousing, distribution, and information system.
     3. Identify key bottlenecks, risks, and opportunities.
     4. Stakeholder Engagement
        1. Facilitate consultations with key stakeholders, including NDoH divisions, provincial health authorities, development partners, and private sector actors..
        2. Ensure inclusive participation, particularly from rural and remote provinces.
        3. Strategic Plan Development
           1. Draft the MSSP including vision, goals, strategic objectives, and key interventions.
           2. Develop an implementation roadmap with timelines, responsible parties, and performance indicators.
           3. Propose a monitoring and evaluation (M&E) framework.
           4. Costing and Resource Mobilization
              1. Provide a high-level costing of the strategic plan. (If feasible)
              2. Identify potential funding sources and sustainability mechanisms.
              3. Validation and Finalization
                 1. Present the draft MSSP to stakeholders for validation.
                 2. Incorporate feedback and finalize the document for endorsement by the NDoH.

                    The Consultant is expected to deliver the following outputs: 

                    Output 1: Assessment of the current supply chain system in Papua New Guinea
                    Deliverable 1.1: Inception report with consultancy/assignment plan, approaches, and methodologies to carry out the assignment  
                    Deliverable 1.2: Overview report of existing government policies, strategies, and reports related to medical supplies and logistics.  
                    Deliverable 1.3: Comprehensive situational assessment report on the current medical supply chain system, including key bottlenecks, risks, and opportunities  

                    Output 2: Draft MSSP with relevant supporting documents 
                    Deliverable 2.1: A Draft outline of the MSSP, including its vision, goals, strategic objectives, key interventions, stakeholders, etc.  
                    Deliverable 2.2: Minutes of consultations with relevant stakeholders on the MSSP development   
                    Deliverable 2.3: Draft MSSP  
                    Deliverable 2.4: Proposed implementation roadmap with timelines, responsible parties and performance indicators, and other key components as required.  
                    Deliverable 2.5: A monitoring and evaluation (M&E) framework of the draft MSSP.  
                    Deliverable 2.6: MSSP with costing and suggested recommendations for resource mobilization and sustainability.

                    Output 3: Final draft MSSP consulted with relevant stakeholders  
                    Deliverable 3.1: Final draft MSSP consulted with relevant stakeholders & Medical Supplies Task Force.
                    Deliverable 3.2:  Final draft MSSP supporting documents, such as the implementation roadmap, M&E, and costing  
                    Deliverable 3.3:  Report(s) and presentation materials presented at validation workshop and meetings (if applicable) 
                    Deliverable 3.4: Technical briefs (Senior Executive Management paper) on the MSSP required for high-level discussions on the MSSP endorsement.  
                    Deliverable 3.5: Technical summary with a direction on where improvements are needed for strengthening the procurement and supply chain in PNG.  

                    📚 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗮 𝗝𝗼𝗯 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗡 𝗶𝗻 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯! 🌍🤝 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗡𝗘𝗪 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗿𝘂𝗶𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗚𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗡 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗨𝗡𝗛𝗖𝗥, 𝗪𝗙𝗣, 𝗨𝗡𝗜𝗖𝗘𝗙, 𝗨𝗡𝗗𝗦𝗦, 𝗨𝗡𝗙𝗣𝗔, 𝗜𝗢𝗠 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀! 🌐

                    ⚠️ 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐍𝐨𝐰: 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐢𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐚 𝐣𝐨𝐛 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐍𝐎𝐖!

                    Output 4:  Technical reports  
                    Deliverable 4.1:  Monthly reports  
                    Deliverable 4.2: Final technical report with all deliverables (outputs 1-4) at the end of the assignment  

                    Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

                    Educational Qualifications:   

                    Essential: University degree in pharmacy, business administration, and health economics. 
                    Desirable: Postgraduate qualification in health policy, global health procurement and supply chain management, business administration, or other relevant field from a recognized university. 

                    Experience

                    Essential: At least five years of experience working in the areas of global health supply chain management and national procurement and supply chain management with a focus on supply chain planning.
                    Proven experience in health systems strengthening, particularly in supply chain management  
                    Demonstrated experience in strategic planning and policy development 
                    Desirable: Familiarity with the PNG health system and development context is highly desirable

                    Skills / Technical skills and knowledge

                 3. Demonstrate an understanding of supply and logistics as a system of organizations, people, technology, activities, information, and resources involved in moving a product or service from supplier to customer. 
              4. Understand the discipline of planning, organizing, and managing resources to bring about the successful completion of specific project goals and objectives. 
           5. Possess basic knowledge of supply chain activities, including product selection, quantification and forecasting, inventory management, storage and distribution etc.  
        4. Ability to work independently and in close collaboration with WHO, national governments and stakeholders. 
     5. Demonstrate a commitment to engage teams in other departments or divisions of the organization. 
  2. Demonstrate skill in effective communication, problem solving, and negotiating with a focus on party interests. 
• Strong facilitation, analytical, and report-writing skills

   

  Language

  Being fully fluent in written and spoken English is essential.

  Location

  The consultant will support this work remotely.

  Travel

  Travel to travel to Port Moresby (POM) and outside POM, as necessary.

  Remuneration and budget

  Remuneration : TBD
  Expected duration of contract: 3 months, October 2025 to January 2026 

  Additional Information

  • This vacancy notice may be used to identify candidates for other similar consultancies at the same level.
  • Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.
  • A written test may be used as a form of screening.
  • If your candidature is retained for interview, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. WHO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed through the link: http://www.whed.net/. Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and will require individual review.
  • For information on WHO's operations please visit: http://www.who.int.
  • The WHO is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The WHO recruits workforce regardless of disability status, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, language, race, marital status, religious, cultural, ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds, or any other personal characteristics. 
  The WHO is committed to achieving gender parity and geographical diversity in its workforce. Women, persons with disabilities, and nationals of unrepresented and underrepresented Member States (https://www.who.int/careers/diversity-equity-and-inclusion) are strongly encouraged to apply for WHO jobs. 
  Persons with disabilities can request reasonable accommodations to enable participation in the recruitment process. Requests for reasonable accommodation should be sent through an email to reasonableaccommodation@who.int 
  • An impeccable record for integrity and professional ethical standards is essential. WHO prides itself on a workforce that adheres to the highest ethical and professional standards and that is committed to put the WHO Values Charter (https://www.who.int/about/who-we-are/our-values) into practice.
  • WHO has zero tolerance towards sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct (i.e., discrimination, abuse of authority and harassment). All members of the WHO workforce have a role to play in promoting a safe and respectful workplace and should report to WHO any actual or suspected cases of SEA, sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct. To ensure that individuals with a substantiated history of SEA, sexual harassment or other types of abusive conduct are not hired by the Organization, WHO will conduct a background verification of short-listed candidates.
  • WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.
  • Consultants shall perform the work as independent contractors in a personal capacity, and not as a representative of any entity or authority. 
  • WHO shall have no responsibility for any taxes, duties, social security contributions or other contributions payable by the Consultant. The Consultant shall be solely responsible for withholding and paying any taxes, duties, social security contributions and any other contributions which are applicable to the Consultant in each location/jurisdiction in which the work hereunder is performed, and the Consultant shall not be entitled to any reimbursement thereof by WHO.
  • Please note that WHO’s contracts are conditional on members of the workforce confirming that they are vaccinated as required by WHO before undertaking a WHO assignment, except where a medical condition does not allow such vaccination, as certified by the WHO Staff Health and Wellbeing Services (SHW). The successful candidate will be asked to provide relevant evidence related to this condition. A copy of the updated vaccination card must be shared with WHO medical service in the medical clearance process. Please note that certain countries require proof of specific vaccinations for entry or exit. For example, official proof /certification of yellow fever vaccination is required to enter many countries. Country-specific vaccine recommendations can be found on the WHO international travel and Staff Health and Wellbeing website. For vaccination-related queries please directly contact SHW directly at shws@who.int.
  • In case the recruitment website does not display properly, please retry by: (i) checking that you have the latest version of the browser installed (Chrome, Edge or Firefox); (ii) clearing your browser history and opening the site in a new browser (not a new tab within the same browser); or (iii) retry accessing the website using Mozilla Firefox browser or using another device. Click the link for detailed guidance on completing job applications: Instructions for candidates.