Consultant - Strengthening Research Governance and Clinical Trial Ecosystems in the Western Pacific Region

Purpose of consultancy

To provide technical expertise in advancing country and regional initiatives to strengthen research governance and clinical trial ecosystems in alignment with WHO priorities under the Research, Ethics and Innovation (REI) Unit, Division of Data, Strategy and Innovation (DSI), WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific.

Background

The WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific (WPRO), through the Research, Ethics and Innovation (REI) Unit under the Division of Data, Strategy and Innovation (DSI), works with Member States to strengthen national research and innovation systems for health. This includes improving research governance, enhancing ethics oversight, and building enabling environments for innovation and clinical research.
In line with the World Health Assembly Resolution WHA75.8 on strengthening clinical trials and the Global Action Plan on Clinical Trial Ecosystem Strengthening (GAP-CTS), WHO supports Member States to assess, benchmark, and develop national strategies to advance their clinical trial ecosystems. Parallel to this, REI assists countries in reinforcing research governance mechanisms through ethics capacity-building, research prioritization, and implementation research training to promote evidence-based decision-making.
The consultancy will contribute to these goals by developing analytical outputs, training materials, and documentation that facilitate regional and country-level implementation of these initiatives.

Deliverables

Output 1. Strengthened clinical trial ecosystems in Member States
Deliverable 1.1: Coordinate and provide technical input to situation analyses of clinical trial ecosystems across selected Member States, in collaboration with national counterparts and WHO country offices.
Deliverable 1.2: Support the application of WHO’s Global Action Plan on Clinical Trial Ecosystem Strengthening (GAP-CTS) by facilitating technical discussions and country-level planning activities.
Deliverable 1.3: Facilitate Member State pilot implementation of the Clinical Trial Unit Maturity Framework (CTU-MF), including documentation of lessons learned and coordination of follow-up actions.
Deliverable 1.4: Identify and consolidate examples of good practices in clinical validation of health AI tools in low-resource settings to inform regional learning and policy dialogue.

Output 2. Enhanced research governance and capacity in Member States
Deliverable 2.1: Provide technical and coordination support for regional and country-level capacity-building workshops on implementation research, including preparation of materials and facilitation notes.
Deliverable 2.2: Organize and document regional training sessions on research prioritization for health, synthesizing key recommendations for national planning.
Deliverable 2.3: Develop a draft training curriculum and related tools for Research Ethics Committees and national research authorities to strengthen ethical review of AI-enabled health technologies.

Method(s) to carry out the activity

• Reviewing relevant WHO frameworks, tools, and country documents to inform technical inputs;
• Participating in coordination and technical meetings with WHO staff and national counterparts;
• Supporting the planning, facilitation, and documentation of regional and country-level activities (including workshops, consultations, and pilot exercises);
• Providing technical input and drafting materials, presentations, or guidance notes as needed; and
• Ensuring that all deliverables are aligned with WHO’s strategic priorities, ethical standards, and quality assurance requirements.

Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Educational Qualifications:

Essential: University degree in a relevant field such as public health, epidemiology, health sciences, public policy, technology management, or a related discipline from a recognized institution.
Desirable: A doctoral degree in public health is desirable.

Experience

Essential: Minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in the design and implementation of public health or research-for-health programmes.
Experience in coordinating multi-stakeholder research or innovation activities, preferably in international or regional settings.
Desirable: Experience working with WHO, other United Nations agencies, or major international organizations in the field of health research, ethics, or innovation.
Experience collaborating with health research institutions in developing countries within the Western Pacific Region.

Skills/Knowledge:

Strong writing skills
Research and Analytical Skills
Communication and Reporting Skills
Familiarity with WHO frameworks and tools related to research governance, clinical trials, and innovation.
Knowledge of the Global Action Plan on Clinical Trial Ecosystem Strengthening (GAP-CTS) and ethical aspects of emerging technologies such as AI in health.

Languages and level required

Expert knowledge of English

Location

Off site: Home-based

Travel

The consultant is expected to travel to country missions attached to the scope of work as needed.

Remuneration and budget:

Remuneration: Band level B, USD 350 - USD 400 (monthly)
Expected duration of contract : 11 months, January to November 2026

Additional Information:

• This vacancy notice may be used to identify candidates for other similar consultancies at the same level.
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• A written test may be used as a form of screening.
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