Technical Specialist - Health Reform Initiative

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.

The Government of Bangladesh has launched an ambitious Health Sector Transformation Agenda to position health as a constitutional right and a public good. Guided by the Health Sector Reform Commission, the agenda aims to ensure universal access to affordable, high-quality services through four strategic shifts: legal recognition of the right to health, institutional renewal, service delivery transformation, and strengthened financing, medicines, and digital health platforms. Citizen participation, gender sensitivity, and social accountability are central to these reforms, ensuring they remain inclusive and people-centered.

To implement this vision, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) has identified priority areas including governance, health financing, workforce development, medicines, and service delivery. A multidisciplinary consulting firm will support the development of policies, plans, legal frameworks, and political processes for reform. To ensure coherence and strategic alignment, MoHFW will engage a Technical Advisor. The Advisor will provide technical leadership and guidance to the firm, review and strengthen policy and technical outputs, and facilitate effective coordination between the reform team, WHO, and MoHFW.

The purpose of the consultancy is to provide strategic and technical guidance to advance Bangladesh’s health sector reform initiatives taken by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoH&FW), Government of Bangladesh. The consultant will integrate global and regional best practices, enhance the quality and coherence of the reform team’s outputs, and facilitate evidence-based dialogue between MoHFW, WHO, and consultants to drive informed policy decisions.

Objectives of the Assignment

• To provide strategic advice and coordination support to MoHFW and WHO in the planning, implementation, and monitoring of health sector reforms.

• To ensure policy alignment and integration of reform initiatives across divisions, directorates, and levels of the health system.

• To facilitate multi-stakeholder engagement, including inter-ministerial coordination, political dialogue, and development partner collaboration.

• To support the institutionalization and sustainability of reform initiatives through policy frameworks, financing mechanisms, and integration into the next Country Cooperation Strategy (CCS) and sector program.

• To guide evidence-based decision-making through policy briefs, analytical inputs, and reform monitoring frameworks.

The consultant will:

1. Technical Review and Guidance

• Review draft strategic documents, policies, and technical papers prepared by consultants and partners.

• Provide constructive feedback to strengthen reform strategies and ensure alignment with national, regional, and global priorities.

• Offer policy advice and technical guidance on priority reform areas.

1. Evidence and Best Practices

• Identify and recommend international best practices and lessons learned for contextual adaptation in Bangladesh.

• Ensure harmonization of consultant inputs across thematic areas (e.g., governance, financing, service delivery, workforce, medicines, health information).

1. Stakeholder Engagement and Coordination

• Participate in and facilitate meetings with the consultant team, WHO, and MoHFW decision-makers.

• Provide technical input to MoHFW–WHO policy dialogues, workshops, and reform steering committee meetings.

• Guide efforts to mobilize political commitment and build consensus among government, private sector, development partners, and political parties.

• Convene and facilitate high-level dialogues to foster shared ownership and collective action.

1. Strategic Communication and Knowledge Sharing

• Contribute briefing notes, technical papers, and presentations for senior decision-makers.

• Mentor and provide technical leadership to working teams to ensure quality assurance, policy coherence, and strategic focus throughout roadmap development

Required

• Bachelor’s degree Medical Science is required with an advanced degree in Public Health, Health Policy, Health Systems, or related field.

Desired

• PhD is a preferred qualification.

Required

1. Minimum seven  years of experience in health systems reform, public administration, or policy development at national or international levels.

2. Proven track record in health governance, institutional restructuring, and reform implementation.

3. Strong understanding of Bangladesh’s health sector context, including MoHFW structure, sector program, and development partner coordination mechanisms.

4. Experience engaging with high-level government officials, political leaders, and donor agencies.

5. Strong technical expertise in: 

1. Health policy development and health systems strengthening and Implementation of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) strategies.
2. Health governance, financing, service delivery, and 
3. Health workforce issues in both national and global contexts.

Desired

• Excellent report writing and presentation skills 

• Excellent communication, negotiation, and report-writing skills in English and Bangla.

• Demonstrated leadership and ability to work in complex, multi-stakeholder environment

• 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. 
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• 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. 
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