Community Pharmacy Network Specialist
Dhaka
- Organization: UNOPS - United Nations Office for Project Services
- Location: Dhaka
- Grade: LICA 10
-
Occupational Groups:
- Social Affairs
- Pharmacy
- Civil Society and Local governance
- Closing Date: 2025-12-02
General Information
Job Highlight
About the Country/Multi-Country Office
Since 1972 WHO has been a key partner of the Government of Bangladesh and provided technical advice and support for the development and improvement of the health of the country’s population.
The organization has been supporting the Government, and working in collaboration with other partners, for the attainment of the highest possible level of health by all. It has been providing support for the development and strengthening of the country’s public health systems. Currently WHO support is guided by a broad framework known as the WHO Country Cooperation Strategy (CCS) for 2014-2017.
Job Specific Context
|
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) is implementing a range of reform measures to strengthen the resilience, efficiency, and equity of the health system in line with the recommendations of the Health Reform Commission (2025). These reforms aim to align Bangladesh's health system with the principles of equity, participation, and accountability, ensuring that health is realized as both a constitutional right and a public good. In this regard, the Ministry has prepared a comprehensive proposal titled "Health Sector Transformation in Bangladesh", outlining the strategic priorities, implementation modalities, and expected outcomes of the reform agenda. The proposal emphasizes eight key strategic areas including governance and institutional reform, primary healthcare restructuring, workforce planning, financial sustainability, digital transformation, medicine regulation, documentation of transition strategies, and stakeholder communication. The Ministry seeks the technical and strategic partnership of the World Health Organization (WHO) to support the implementation of these reform initiatives. A well-structured and transparent career pathway is critical for improving motivation, retention, and performance of the health workforce. In Bangladesh, the health workforce comprises various cadres including doctors, dentists, nurses, midwives, technologists, and public health professionals who play vital roles in service delivery. However, limited opportunities for career advancement, unclear promotion criteria, and lack of standardized progression frameworks have been identified as major factors contributing to job dissatisfaction and attrition, particularly in rural and hard-to-reach areas. To address these challenges, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MOHFW), with technical support from the World Health Organization (WHO), intends to develop career pathways for key health worker cadres. These pathways will outline structured progression routes, competency requirements, promotion criteria, and professional development options aligned with national HRH policies and global best practices. |
Role Purpose
The purpose of this consultancy is to develop a comprehensive concept paper outlining the establishment of a community pharmacy network in Bangladesh. The paper should incorporate best practices from regional models, tailored to the local context, to ensure effective implementation and sustainability.
Objectives of the Assignment
To review the existing situation of the current landscape of community pharmacies in Bangladesh, including distribution, regulatory frameworks, and service offerings.
Propose a concept on the structure of the Pharmacy network in Bangladesh, including capacity building, regulatory, and accreditation systems to ensure quality standards and compliance within the network.
Functions / Key Results Expected
The consultant will undertake the following tasks:
Situational Analysis:
current landscape of community pharmacies in Bangladesh, including distribution, regulatory frameworks, and service offerings.
Identify operational challenges such as inventory management, supply chain issues, and regulatory compliance.
Assess the current regulatory framework governing community pharmacies.
Literature Review:
Conduct a review of existing community pharmacy models in the region to draw good practices.
Analyze the applicability of these models to the Bangladeshi context, considering socio-economic and infrastructural factors.
Model Development:
Design a community pharmacy network model suitable for Bangladesh, incorporating lessons learned from regional experiences.
Develop a phased implementation strategy, prioritizing regions based on need and feasibility.
Standards and Regulatory Recommendations, including monitoring:
Good Pharmacy Practice Standards for the Participating Pharmacies
Propose an accreditation and regulatory framework to ensure the quality and safety of services within the network, and a comprehensive framework for monitoring.
The consultant will work under the overall supervision of the Health Services Division (MoHFW) and the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC), in close coordination with the Special Assistant and his team, as well as the WHO Country Office (Team Lead – Health Systems and Technical Officer, EDM. Regular progress updates and deliverables will be reviewed jointly.
Training Framework:
Develop a training and capacity-building plan for pharmacy personnel.
Expected Deliverables:
S.No. |
Activities |
Deliverables |
Timeline |
1 |
Situational Assessment and Data Collection – Conduct desk review, field consultations, and analysis of the existing status of community pharmacies, service coverage, licensing, and regulatory oversight mechanisms. |
Situational Analysis Report – Comprehensive assessment of the current state of community pharmacies in Bangladesh, including service gaps, compliance issues, and opportunities for strengthening. |
Day 1–8 |
2 |
Design of Community Pharmacy Network Model – Develop a detailed concept paper outlining the proposed community pharmacy network model, covering regulatory frameworks, service standards, integration with primary healthcare, and implementation strategies. |
Concept Paper – Structured document proposing the community pharmacy network model, including governance structure, operational mechanisms, and regulatory requirements. |
Day 9–15 |
3 |
Capacity-Building Framework Development – Prepare a structured plan for the training and professional development of pharmacy personnel to support the implementation of the network. |
Training Plan – Comprehensive plan for capacity building of pharmacy staff, including curriculum outline, training modalities, and institutional delivery arrangements. |
Day 16–20 |
Skills
Competencies
Education Requirements
Required
Advanced degree (Master’s or PhD) in Public Health, Pharmacy, Health Systems Management, or a related field.
Experience Requirements
Required
Minimum 5 years of relevant professional experience in pharmacy practice, health systems strengthening, or pharmaceutical policy.
Proven experience in designing and implementing pharmacy network models, preferably in low- and middle-income countries.
Familiarity with regulatory frameworks governing community pharmacies.
Strong analytical, conceptual, and report-writing skills.
Excellent facilitation and communication abilities.
Proficiency in data analysis and modeling tools.
Desired
Experience working with government health institutions and development partners.
Language Requirements
| Language | Proficiency Level | Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| English | Fluent | Required |
| Bengali | Fluent | Required |
Additional Information
- Please note that UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes.
- Please note that UNOPS will at no stage of the recruitment process request candidates to make payments of any kind.
- Applications to vacancies must be received before midnight Copenhagen time (CET) on the closing date of the announcement. Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
- Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process, which involves various assessments.
- UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures, languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. UNOPS seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce.
- Qualified women and candidates from groups which are underrepresented in the UNOPS workforce are encouraged to apply. These include in particular candidates from racialized and/or indigenous groups, members of minority gender identities and sexual orientations, and people with disabilities.
- We would like to ensure all candidates perform at their best during the assessment process. If you are shortlisted and require additional assistance to complete any assessment, including reasonable accommodation, please inform our human resources team when you receive an invitation.
Terms and Conditions
- For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post.
- For retainer contracts, you must complete a few mandatory courses (they take around 4 hours to complete) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS. Refreshers or new mandatory courses may be required during your contract. Please note that you will not receive any compensation for taking courses and refreshers. For more information on a retainer contract here.
- For more details about the contract types, please click here.
- All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda.
- It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.
Applications from non-qualifying applicants will most likely be discarded by the recruiting manager.