National Consultant

Contractual Arrangement: External consultant

Contract Duration (Years, Months, Days): 4 months

Job Posting: Oct 5, 2025, 9:24:41 PM

Closing Date: Oct 20, 2025, 4:59:00 PM

Primary Location: Philippines-Manila

Organization: WP_PHL Philippines

Schedule: Full-time

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Please note that the deadline for receipt of applications indicated above reflects your personal device's system settings.

Purpose of consultancy

The World Health Organization (WHO) Philippines is looking for an individual who will be tasked to support the WHO Philippines Country Office and the Department of Health - Disease Prevention and Control Bureau's (DPCB) National Malaria Elimination Program (NMEP) in providing technical support to the National Malaria Elimination Program of the DOH-Diseases Prevention and Control Bureau (DPCB) in the Philippines as the short-term consultant (STC) to support the conduct of a Malaria Program Review (MPR) and update the National Malaria Elimination Strategy,

Background

Malaria is on the verge of malaria elimination. It is no longer a major public health threat in most parts of the Philippines, with substantial progress made in reducing transmission, expanding diagnostic and treatment services, and achieving subnational elimination. More than 87% reduction in malaria cases since ,000 cases), and 98% in related mortality. Eighty-eight percent (88%), 72 of 82 provinces declared malaria free based on the DOH AO No Guidelines in Evaluation of Low Endemic Provinces for Declaration A Malaria-Free. Eighty-one (81) of 82 provinces are reporting zero indigenous malaria.

Palawan is the only province out of 82 that hosts indigenous malaria transmission in only 6 municipalities (Rizal, Bataraza, Brookes Point, Quezon, Narra, Sulfrano Espaniola. As of 20 June 2025, a remarkable 79% (899 cases) reduction in malaria cases and zero deaths were reported compared to same period in 2024 in Palawan due to Government-led response in enhanced surveillance and reporting, targeted interventions, promoting partnerships and collaborations, and increased access to healthcare services (PhilHealth coverage of OPD care). The country is on track toward achieving elimination by 2030, in alignment with the WHO Global Technical Strategy for Malaria 2016–2030 and Sustainable Development Goal 3.3.

Current malaria strategies included: Philippines National Strategy for Malaria Control and Elimination ; Malaria Transition, Elimination and Sustainability Plan (MTESP ; and Palawan Malaria Accelerated and Sustainability Plan They all provided a solid foundation for strengthening surveillance, expanding elimination efforts, and consolidating gains. However, remaining transmission in specific provinces—particularly in remote, indigenous, and conflict-affected areas—necessitates a recalibrated and innovative strategy to sustain momentum and achieve nationwide malaria elimination.

Despite national gains, residual malaria transmission persists in specific foci across Mindanao and Palawan. Challenges contributing to ongoing transmission include: Hard-to-reach populations and mobile/migrant groups; Limited access to healthcare and vector control in isolated communities; Climate-sensitive transmission patterns; Underreporting and delayed case detection; and Funding constraints for elimination-specific activities. To address these challenges, there is a need to develop an updated national strategy that is: Data-driven and risk-stratified; Responsive to subnational epidemiology; Integrated with broader health system and community platforms.

The process for updating the Philippines Malaria Elimination Strategy for 2026–2030, will consider lessons learned, evolving challenges, and new tools for surveillance, case management, prevention of re-establishment of malaria transmission, integrated approaches, community engagement, multisectoral collaboration, sustained leadership and financing.

A short-term consultant, an individual, is needed to: Assess current malaria epidemiology, stratification, and operational gaps; Provide lead technical support and coordinate the review implementation progress, outcomes, and lessons from the 2021–2025 strategic plan; Develop an updated strategic priorities, targets, and interventions for 2026–2030; and Submit a comprehensive technical report of the assignment, the MPR report; and the draft National Malaria Elimination Strategy

Deliverables

This work will involve the following under the direct supervision and guidance of the Team Leader, WHO Country Office Philippines, to and update the National Malaria Elimination Strategy, The activities to be undertaken include, but are not limited to the following outputs:

Output 1: Support the conduct of a Malaria Program Review (MPR)

Deliverable 1.1: Assess current malaria epidemiology, stratification, and operational gaps including key interventions and risk factors for observed trends.

Deliverable 1.2: Conduct desktop review of relevant documents, program reports, guidelines, and literature materials including from DOH and Agencies and technical and development partners such as WHO, Global Fund, among other key stakeholders.

Deliverable 1.3: Provide lead technical support and coordinate the review implementation progress, outcomes, and lessons from the 2021–2025 strategic plan.

Deliverable 1.4: Develop program review data collection tools including but not limited to questionnaires, interview guides, and focus group discussion guides

Deliverable 1.5: Support data collection in the field, analyze, summarize key findings and recommendations, and provide feedback including during consultations and workshops.

Output 2: Develop an updated strategic priorities, targets, and interventions for 2026–2030

Deliverable 2.1: Facilitate discussion and obtain consensus during consultations.

Deliverable 2.2: Serve as lead writer, develop draft National Malaria Elimination Strategy , seek and collate input from consultations with DOH, WHO, development partners and key stakeholders: strengthening alignment with WHO recommendations, regional frameworks, and the Universal Health Care (UHC) law; and ensuring multisectoral and community-level engagement in the strategy development process.

Deliverable 2.3: Produce and submit a comprehensive technical report of the assignment, a final MPR report; and a final publishable version of the National Malaria Elimination Strategy adhering to specified formatting and quality standards.

Qualifications, experience, skills and languages
Educational Qualifications:

Essential: University degree in public health, epidemiology, or other related fields.

Desirable: Postgraduate degree in public health, epidemiology, or other related fields.

Experience

Essential: At least ten (10) years of experience in public health, surveillance and response, and project management.

Experience with both quantitative and qualitative methods of data collection and analysis, scenario planning and policy development.

Demonstrated skills in conducting program reviews, performance evaluation, integrated malaria management, malaria elimination in the Philippines and/or elsewhere.

Desirable: At least ten (10) years of experience in malaria or infectious diseases program implementation, monitoring, and evaluation with or for government health agencies in a multistakeholder environment like in the Philippines. Has led or played significant role in at least three (3) similar/related consultancies. Work experience with the WHO or other UN agencies.

Skills/Knowledge:

Excellent organizational, communication, writing and interpersonal skills.

Knowledge in public health and epidemiology

Knowledge of project planning and implementation.

Ability to work harmoniously as a member of a team, adapt to diverse educational and cultural backgrounds, and maintain a high standard of personal conduct.

Languages and level required :

Essential: Expert knowledge of both written and spoken English and Filipino

Location

On site: Manila, Philippines

Travel

The consultant is expected to travel locally.

Remuneration and budget :

Remuneration: Php 220,000.00 / monthly

Expected duration of contract: 4 months, September 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: Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and will require individual review.
• For information on WHO's operations please visit:
• 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 ) 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

• 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 ) 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
• 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.

---