KPTA RMNCH - Senior Technical Consultant – RMNCH / Maternal & Newborn Health Specialist – Team Lead

Senior National - Technical Consultant – RMNCH / Maternal & Newborn Health Specialist – Team Lead

KP TA - Capacity Strengthening of RMNCH Systems for Perinatal and Neonatal Death Reviews in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

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 goal of this technical assistance is to strengthen the capacity of SBAs in selected districts of KP to implement perinatal and neonatal mortality surveillance and the “Making Every Baby Count” initiative, thereby improving the identification, reporting, and response to preventable neonatal deaths.

We will achieve this by pursuing four objectives:

Objective 1: Build SBA capacity to conduct perinatal and neonatal mortality surveillance and deliver high-quality immediate newborn care in line with national and WHO “Making Every Baby Count” standards.

Objective 2: Establish and operationalise district-level review and response mechanisms for perinatal and neonatal deaths, integrated into existing health governance and data systems.

Objective 3: Institutionalise a sustainable capacity-building and mentorship framework within the DOH KP to strengthen ongoing accountability, data use, and neonatal survival outcomes.

Strategic Approach

Contributions to health systems strengthening

This technical assistance will strengthen KP’s health system by addressing a critical bottleneck—the limited capacity of SBAs and weak mortality surveillance at the PHC level. By embedding perinatal and neonatal mortality surveillance and the “Making Every Baby Count” framework within PHC facilities, the technical assistance enhances data quality, accountability, and quality of care for mothers and newborns. The work directly supports the development and future implementation of District Action Plans (DAPs) focusing on Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health (RMNCH), for which necessary funds will be requested through provincial planning and budgeting processes. Furthermore, it aligns with the Good Governance Reform Roadmap, chaired by the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which identifies expansion of 24/7 Basic Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care (BEmONC) services to PHC facilities as a provincial priority. Through strengthened SBA skills, structured mortality review mechanisms, and improved use of routine data, this technical assistance contributes to building a more resilient, accountable, and responsive provincial health system.

Alignment with other E4H TAs/investments

This technical assistance builds on previous E4H and FCDO-supported efforts that laid the strategic groundwork for health system strengthening in KP, including the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Roadmap and the Quality of Care (QOC) Strategic Plan. It aligns closely with the District Action Plans (DAPs) being developed with a focus on RMNCH, supporting their successful operationalisation and integration into provincial planning and financing processes. The technical assistance also draws on the SBAs Manual developed under FCDO’s earlier Integrated Health System Strengthening Delivery Project (IHSSDP) to ensure standardised training and mentorship across primary health care facilities.

Alignment with other donors (if relevant)

This technical assistance will closely work with the ongoing work of development partners including United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) which supports Maternal and Perinatal Death Surveillance and Response (MPDSR) and Small and Sick Newborn Care (SSNCU); the World Health Organization (WHO) which provides technical guidance for Every Newborn Action Plan (ENAP) implementation and Quality of Care improvement; the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) which contributed strengthening Primary Health Care (PHC) and newborn survival systems; and Jhpiego, which focused on capacity building of midwives and SBAs. This alignment will promote synergy, reduce duplication, and reinforce coordinated action toward achieving provincial RMNCH and neonatal survival goals. Additionally, the team will also coordinate with the broader World Bank–funded initiatives, including the HCIP, National Health Support Project (NHSP), and the Primary Health Care Revamp Project, to ensure alignment, promote synergy, reduce duplication, and reinforce coordinated action toward achieving provincial Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, and Adolescent Health (RMNCAH) and neonatal survival goals.

Scope of Work and Methodology

This technical assistance aims to strengthen provincial and district capacities in KP to institutionalise perinatal and neonatal death reviews in alignment with WHO’s Every Baby Counts framework. By enhancing the skills, systems, and coordination mechanisms of RMNCH structures, the technical assistance will promote data-driven accountability for newborn survival, enabling evidence-based decision-making to reduce preventable neonatal deaths in two selected districts of each province.

The team will work closely with the RMNCH, along with the National Health Support Project (NHSP), Human Capital Investment Project (HCIP), and the Primary Revamp Project, to ensure complementarity, alignment, and sustainability of interventions within the broader provincial health reform agenda.

The technical assistance will be implemented through a phased approach focusing on provincial sensitisation, district-level capacity building, and strengthening accountability and coordination systems.

Provincial-Level Sensitisation and Coordination

District-Level Capacity Building and Implementation

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

Timeline and Days

The level of effort (LOE) for the role is 80 days from November 2025- November 2026.

Requirement

Technical Expertise

• MBBS, BDS, or Nursing degree with a master’s in public health, Maternal and Child Health, or a related field.
• Minimum 15 years of progressive experience in RMNCH programme design, implementation, and technical assistance within government or development partner settings.
• Demonstrated expertise in RMNCH such as maternal, perinatal, and neonatal mortality surveillance and response systems (e.g., MPDSR, Every Baby Counts) and quality improvement processes.
• Proven experience leading and coordinating RMNCH initiatives with provincial health departments, DGHS, and development partners, ensuring alignment with national and WHO guidelines.
• Extensive experience in capacity building and mentoring of health professionals such as Lady Health Visitors (LHVs), nurses, midwives, and medical officers — across primary and secondary care levels.
• Proven track record in managing or providing oversight for donor-funded health system strengthening projects in Pakistan or similar contexts.

Competencies

• Leadership and coordination of complex, multi-level health initiatives.
• Effective stakeholder engagement and consensus-building with government and partners.
• Technical proficiency in RMNCH.
• Advanced analytical, problem-solving, and planning skills with the ability to interpret and use health data.
• Strong communication, advocacy, report writing, and presentation skills for technical and policy audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to build capacity, mentor teams, and facilitate learning across different cadres.
• Proven project management skills with a results-oriented approach and commitment to quality and timeline.