Specialist - Primary Health Care (PHC) Framework and Transition
Dhaka
- Organization: UNOPS - United Nations Office for Project Services
- Location: Dhaka
- Grade: LICA 10
-
Occupational Groups:
- Public Health and Health Service
- Medical Doctor
- 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. WHO will provide technical assistance, policy advice, and coordination support to ensure that the reform measures are effectively implemented and aligned with global best practices in health system strengthening.
Role Purpose
The consultant will develop an integrated Primary Health Care (PHC) Boundary Framework and Urban PHC Transition Model that define and institutionalize the PHC service package across Bangladesh. The framework will ensure a standardized package of essential services, medicines, diagnostics, and a skilled workforce embedded within existing rural and urban facility tiers.
This assignment aims to establish clear functional boundaries for PHC delivery to transition from fragmented, project-based systems to a sustainable, institutionalized model within the national health structure.
Objectives of the Assignment
- Review and map existing PHC service packages, delivery mechanisms, and integration points in both rural and urban contexts.
- Define the PHC boundary encompassing essential promotive, preventive, curative, rehabilitative, and palliative services suitable for existing facility tiers (community clinics, union sub-centres, upazila health complexes, and urban primary health centers).
- Develop a list of essential medicines, diagnostics, and supplies required for the PHC package.
- Recommend an appropriate mix and distribution of multidisciplinary health workers for PHC delivery.
- Align the PHC boundary with existing delivery platforms, referral systems, and national standards.
- Propose implementation and monitoring mechanisms for sustaining the PHC boundary within health sector reform initiatives.
Functions / Key Results Expected
The consultant/team will address the entire PHC continuum across rural and urban contexts, covering public, NGO, and private providers.
Situational Review and Mapping
- Conduct literature and policy reviews, key informant interviews, and focus group discussions.
- Map PHC facilities and workforce across rural and urban areas.
- Identify overlaps, fragmentation, and integration gaps between DGHS, DGFP, and LGD-managed facilities.
- Analyze best practices from comparable low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).
Drafting of PHC Boundary Framework
- Define PHC service packages by level of care (rural and urban) encompassing promotive, preventive, curative, rehabilitative, and palliative services.
- Develop service delivery standards including staffing structure, skills mix, essential medicines, diagnostics, and equipment norms.
- Ensure inclusion of MNCAH, NCDs, mental health, and health promotion interventions.
- Integrate gender, equity, and community engagement dimensions.
Integration within Existing Facility Network
- Map public and NGO-managed facilities to align PHC package with service capacity and infrastructure.
- Recommend adaptation measures for union and urban primary health centers to deliver standardized PHC packages.
Referral and Coordination Systems
- Design structured referral and back-referral pathways between PHC, secondary, and tertiary levels.
- Integrate ICT-based referral tracking and patient follow-up systems with unique health IDs.
Stakeholder Consultation and Validation
- Conduct consultations with MoHFW divisions, LGD, City Corporations, NGOs, and development partners.
- Incorporate technical and policy feedback through workshops and validation meetings.
Finalization and Reporting
- Prepare final Integrated PHC Service Package and Urban PHC Transition Framework with operational guidelines.
- Present findings and recommendations to MoHFW, WHO, and other stakeholders.
Expected Deliverables:
Sl No. |
Activities |
Deliverables |
Timeline |
1 |
Situational Analysis & Mapping |
Situational Review Report – including PHC facility/service mapping, analysis, and gap assessment |
Day 1-10 |
2 |
Development of PHC Boundary Framework |
Draft PHC Boundary Framework – encompassing essential services, medicines, diagnostics, and team composition |
Day 11-20 |
3 |
Design of Urban PHC Transition Model |
Urban PHC Transition Framework – outlining institutionalization roadmap, governance, and financing structure including PPP mechanism |
Day 21-28 |
4 |
Stakeholder Engagement & Validation |
Stakeholder Consultation Report – synthesis of inputs and validation findings |
Day 29-33 |
5 |
Knowledge Sharing & Capacity Building |
Technical Presentation / Workshop Materials – for MoHFW and WHO |
Day 34-36 |
6 |
Finalization & Submission |
Final PHC Boundary Report – incorporating feedback, recommendations, and implementation roadmap |
Day 37-40 |
Skills
Competencies
Education Requirements
Required
- Bachelor’s degree in Medicine with Master’s degree in Public Health, Health Systems, Health Policy, or related discipline.
Desired
- PhD in Public Health, Health Systems, or related field.
Experience Requirements
Required
At least 5 years of professional experience in PHC system design, service package development, or health systems strengthening.
Desired
Demonstrated experience in developing PHC service packages and supporting integration within national systems.
Strong understanding of Bangladesh’s health system architecture, including urban and rural delivery mechanisms.
Experience working with MoHFW, LGD, UN agencies, or development partners.
Experience in managing transitions from project-based to institutionalized health delivery systems.
Familiarity with WHO PHC frameworks and SDG-related health targets.
Strong analytical, facilitation, and technical writing skills.
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.