Purpose of consultancy

This consultancy is for providing technical support for the development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the National Action Plan (NAP) on substandard and falsified (SF) medical products in South Africa. The consultant is expected to directly work with the South Africa Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA), hereafter referred to as “the leading institution” of South Africa for this activity as well as the WHO Country Office, national stakeholders. interested technical and financial supporting partners. Additionally, the role aims to enhance the capacity of South Africa through targeted support and alignment with the strategies for prevention, detection and response to SF medical products.

Background

Substandard and falsified medical products have been identified as one of the urgent global challenges of this decade. The global threat and routes to the market of SF medical products have grown exponentially with the ever-increasing demand for medical products. Entry of substandard and falsified medical products into the supply chain undermine efforts made towards ensuring access to quality, safe and efficacious medical products. A combined multi-sectoral collaboration is seen as one of the essential strategies to prevent, detect and respond to substandard and falsified medical products in the national supply chain. On this premise a handbook for National Action Planning for prevention, detection and response strategies on substandard and falsified medical products was developed by WHO to facilitate a multi-pronged and multisectoral approach to prevent, detect and respond to SF medical products.

Objectives

The consultant is expected to lead in obtaining the following project objectives;

1.Country policy coherence to facilitate implementation of strategies for prevention, detection and response to SF medical products through appropriate multi-sectoral collaborative efforts.

2.Strengthened collaboration and capacity of stakeholders to prevent, detect and respond to SF medical products.

3.Promotion of partnerships for a sustained implementation of the prevention, detection and response to SF medical products strategy.

Deliverables

• Deliverable 1: Coordinate and support SAHPRA and South Africa in the implementation of the National Action Plan for SF medical products.

·Activity 1.1: Strengthening leading agency’s capacity to prevent, detect and respond to SF medical products: Contribute to the enhancement of SAHPRA role in preventing, detecting and responding to SF medical products in collaboration with selected key stakeholders by coordinating and facilitating meetings and information sharing.

• Deliverable 2: Development of budgets and work plans in South Africa, integrating the prevention, detection and response strategy for SF medical products taking into consideration South Africa specific supply chain risk assessments.

·Activity 2.1: Conduct a situation analysis, evaluate and prioritize South Africa-specific risks and identify and address gaps in readiness to implement the NAP for SF medical products.

·Activity 2.2: Develop checklists, milestones and key performance indicators (KPIs) and update the work plans accordingly.

·Activity 2.3: Provide regular progress reports on activities to WHO and national stakeholders.

• Deliverable 3: Provide technical expertise in strategic operationalization of the implementation of the NAP for SF medical products.

·Activity 3.1: Strategic implementation of NAP for SF medical products: Contribute to the planning and conducting of meetings and workshops to improve readiness to implement the NAP for SF medical products and to develop strategies for effective implementation.

• Deliverable 4: Monitoring and Evaluation of the implementation of the NAP for SF medical products.

·Activity 4.1: Provide technical expertise and contribute to the implementation of NAP for SF medical products activities and tailor response strategies to the unique challenges that arise.

·Activity 4.2: Collaboratively develop and implement monitoring, evaluation and learning processes from the implementation of the NAP for SF medical products with SAHPRA , national stakeholders and partners.

Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Educational Qualifications:

Essential:

• Advanced university degree in applied Global Health, Public Health, Pharmacy, Pharmacology, Medical Sciences, Pharmaceutical Regulatory Sciences,or its equivalent.

Experience:

Essential:

• At least 7 years of relevant experience at national, regional, or international levels in public health programs.
• Proven experience in operational planning and management within a large organization, preferably in the health sector.

Desirable:

• Relevant work experience in strengthening country capacities in the regulation of pharmaceuticals and other medical products.

Skills:

• Strong coordination and leadership skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal abilities.
• Ability to engage and communicate effectively and diplomatically with internal stakeholders and external partners.
• Statistical analysis, Quantitative and Qualitative analysis skills.
• Data management skills.

Languages required:

Essential:

Expert knowledge of English