FED TA Embedded - Junior STTA Research Associate

Junior National - Research Associate

E4H FED TA: Embedded Technical Support to the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulation & Coordination (M/o NHSR&C)

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 technical support aims to promote evidence-informed planning, improve data-driven policy dialogue, and institutionalise performance tracking mechanisms at both the federal and district levels.

Specific Objectives

The objective of this embedded technical support is to strengthen institutional capacity within the M/o NHSR&C to effectively monitor progress toward UHC, and other evidence for health and dissemination of information with different stakeholders, especially related to:

Strategic Approach

Contributions to health systems strengthening: This embedded support directly contributes to health systems strengthening by providing real-time technical assistance, and capacity building, within the M/o NHSR&C. Key contributions include enhancing the generation and use of critical evidence for decision-making through the development of flagship knowledge products such as the UHC Monitoring Report, the Health Financing and Budget Snapshot, and the HRH Snapshot. It strengthens coordination and data flow with provincial health departments and revitalises district-level governance by sustaining the ICT DH&PMT platform for actionable local planning and follow-up.

Alignment with other E4H TAs/Investments/National Standards: The activities under this TA are fully aligned with existing E4H technical assistance streams and national health strategies and plans. The support ensures close collaboration with federal and provincial officials, regulatory entities, and technical departments, fostering a coherent and synergistic approach to system strengthening

Alignment with other donors (if relevant): No direct financing from other development partners or CSOs is foreseen in this TA. However, the WHO may be approached for a joint event on UHC Day for the formal dissemination of the UHC Monitoring report.

Scope of Work

Phase I

UHC Monitoring Report 2026

• Desk review of global, national, and provincial/district surveys, reports, and administrative data (e.g., PDHS, MICS, data from HIS), etc.
• Data relevant to the country's UHC situation will be collected, analysed, and synthesized at the national, provincial/federating area, and district levels. This will include coordinating with national and provincial stakeholders to gather more information/data as needed.

Budget Analysis Brief

• Review Budget documents, the latest Pakistan Economic Survey, and other literature. Collect, analyse, and synthesise the latest budget, including Budget data for 2026-27at the national and provincial levels and produce Health Budget Analysis 2026 brief and share information with stakeholders.
• Provide the Ministry with further technical advice on financing issues and proactively participate in relevant activities.

HRH Snapshot

• Coordinate with national regulatory councils, provincial and area Health Departments, Healthcare Commissions, Higher Education Commission, and multi-sectoral stakeholders for the health workforce for data acquisition throughout the year.
• Compilation and analysis of workforce data and development of HRH Snapshot, presentation, and other advocacy material.

Other Technical Support

• Technical support to the Health Minister, the Secretary Health, and the Director General of the Health Office
• Coordinate with the regulatory entities including DRAP, PMDC and PNMC and facilitate in health workforce governance and regulation.
• Strengthening digital health governance by supporting coordination with provincial health departments to ensure timely, consistent data flows and effective operationalisation of the National Digital Health Hub (NDHH).
• Other technical support as required by the M/o NHSR&C, especially to collect and share information on queries from the PM office, Parliament, and other line ministries

DH&PMT Meetings in ICT

• Provide technical facilitation for DH&PMT meetings in ICT, its documentation, and follow-up on actions agreed upon

Phase II (Subject to Programme Extension and availability of funding)

UHC Monitoring Report 2026

• Develop a UHC Monitoring Report 2026 and share it with stakeholders for feedback and suggestions before finalisation.
• Development of a brochure on the UHC SCI at the national, provincial/ area, and district levels based on the final report.
• Dissemination event preferably in partnership with WHO

HRH Snapshot

• Develop and finalised the Human resource for health snapshot
• Provide the Ministry with further technical advice on HRH-related issues and proactively participate in relevant activities.

Other Technical Support

• Technical support to the Health Minister, the Secretary Health, and the Director General of the Health Office
• Coordinate with the regulatory entities including DRAP, PMDC and PNMC and facilitate in health workforce governance and regulation.
• Strengthening digital health governance by supporting coordination with provincial health departments to ensure timely, consistent data flows and effective operationalisation of the National Digital Health Hub (NDHH).
• Other technical support as required by the M/o NHSR&C, especially to collect and share information on queries from the PM office, Parliament, and other line ministries

DH&PMT Meetings in ICT

• Provide technical facilitation for DH&PMT meetings in ICT, its documentation, and follow-up on actions agreed upon

The designated staff (Deputy Directors) of the Ministry, Director Programmes, DHO ICT, and HPSIU, under the leadership of the Director General (Health) and Secretary Health, will all be actively engaged in the activities.

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

Capacity Building: This TA will build sustainable capacity within the M/o NHSR&C, ensures skills transfer is directly applicable to the Ministry’s daily responsibilities, fostering long-term analytical and managerial expertise.

Institutionalisation: This TA is structured to ensure the institutionalisation of core evidence-generation processes. It will transition the development of flagship annual products, including the UHC Monitoring Report, Health Financing Snapshot, and HRH Snapshot from a model of external project support to a sustainable, Ministry-led activities.

Transition Planning: Sustainability will be ensured through a phased transition of responsibilities to government counterparts. The embedded experts will initially lead and co-facilitate activities, gradually shifting to Ministry as the officials proficiency.

Responsibilities

The Research Associate will be responsible for:

Phase I

Phase II

Timeline and Days

The level of effort (LOE) for the role is Max 15 days/month each (Phase I - Apr 01, 2026-Sep 2026) (Phase II - Oct 01, 2026-Mar 31, 2027).

Requirement

Technical Expertise

• Post Graduate degree in public health and relevant filed including software engineering for digital health activities facilitation.
• Minimum 5 years’ experience in research, health systems, information systems, software development and public health.
• Strong understanding of monitoring and evaluation principles.
• Technical support to the Minister and DG Health office.
• Excellent writing and communication skills

Competencies

• Analysis and use of data, Teamwork and Communication Skills