E4H FED-TA – STRATEGIC ENGAGEMENT AND PISTR ADVISOR

The Senior National STTA – Strategic Engagement and PISTR Advisor will play a pivotal role in supporting the completion, validation, and strategic positioning of the Pakistan Immunisation Sustainability, Transition and Local Vaccine Production Roadmap (PISTR) 2026–35. This position involves leading in-country engagement, stakeholder consultations, and high-level advocacy to ensure the roadmap’s successful adoption and implementation. Working closely with the International Health Financing Expert, the advisor will facilitate data collection, coordinate with government counterparts, and drive consensus-building efforts. The role also requires navigating complex institutional and political landscapes to promote immunisation sustainability, local vaccine production, and related financing mechanisms within Pakistan’s federal and provincial health sectors.

Key Responsibilities

- Provide in-country support to access, verify, and consolidate federal and provincial data for the PISTR financial model, investment case, and roadmap development.
- Lead and facilitate consultations with key stakeholders including ministries (NHSR&C, Finance, Planning, Commerce), DRAP, and provincial health departments to gather input and validate assumptions.
- Co-lead the stakeholder validation and consensus-building process for the PISTR, ensuring incorporation of feedback and agreed revisions.
- Assess the political economy and stakeholder landscape to identify decision-makers, institutional interests, approval pathways, and potential implementation challenges related to immunisation sustainability and local vaccine production.
- Develop and implement a targeted Advocacy and Engagement Plan to position the PISTR on government and partner agendas, including senior-level engagement and preparation of concise, audience-specific materials.
- Support dialogue with ministries on financing pathways, public-private partnerships (PPP), viability gap funding, and government off-take arrangements, while respecting the technical leadership of the International Health Financing Expert.
- Facilitate regulatory and institutional readiness discussions between NHSR&C, DRAP, and other stakeholders to identify gaps and priority actions for WHO-standard local vaccine production.
- Assist in defining transparent government-led criteria for private-sector and technology-transfer partner engagement, ensuring alignment with PPP and procurement requirements.
- Organize consultations with potential private-sector investors and technology-transfer partners to document interests, constraints, and follow-up actions.
- Engage development partners to explore technical, financial, and implementation support opportunities aligned with PISTR priorities.
- Lead the strategic presentation and positioning of the final PISTR at high-level forums such as NICC and the ADB meeting, fostering ownership and identifying next steps for government and partners.
- Collaborate with NHSR&C to clarify immediate post-PISTR actions, responsible institutions, required approvals, and priority follow-up activities.
- Document key decisions, stakeholder positions, outstanding issues, and sequenced next steps to support ongoing government-led implementation beyond the TA period.

Required Qualifications

- Advanced degree in public health, health policy/management, health economics, public policy, or a related discipline.
- Minimum of 15 years of relevant experience in health policy or health systems, with significant senior-level engagement in government, advocacy, and stakeholder management within Pakistan.
- Strong understanding of federal and provincial decision-making processes and demonstrated ability to navigate complex institutional and political-economy environments.
- Proven experience in immunisation programs, health financing, public-private partnerships, and/or local manufacturing is highly desirable.

Preferred Qualifications and Benefits

- Experience working with multilateral and bilateral development partners and familiarity with Pakistan’s health sector financing landscape.
- Demonstrated skills in strategic advocacy, stakeholder engagement, and consensus-building at senior government levels.
- Ability to produce clear, concise briefing materials and presentations tailored to diverse senior audiences.
- The assignment is expected to span approximately 35 days between October and December 2026, including up to 10 days of in-person travel and engagement within Pakistan.

This role offers the opportunity to contribute directly to strengthening Pakistan’s immunisation sustainability and local vaccine production capacity, supporting long-term health security and system resilience.