E4H FED TA: POPULATION POLICY ADVISOR

This senior advisory role offers a unique opportunity to provide strategic technical assistance to Pakistan’s Population Programme Wing (PPW) and the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations & Coordination (M/o NHSR&C) under the Evidence for Health (E4H) programme. The position focuses on strengthening national population policy engagement, supporting the implementation of the National Population Stabilisation Programme (NPSP) 2026–35, and facilitating federal-provincial coordination. The advisor will work closely with the newly established National Population Council (NPC) and other key stakeholders to translate high-level population stabilisation commitments into actionable policies and coordinated implementation. Additionally, the role includes providing cross-cutting strategic support to M/o NHSR&C and E4H on health sector priorities related to evidence-based decision-making and universal health coverage.

Key Responsibilities

- Provide strategic policy advice and technical support to PPW for effective engagement with the NPC and other government forums on population stabilisation and human capital development.
- Translate NPC decisions and NPSP priorities into clear, actionable follow-up plans with assigned responsibilities and timelines.
- Facilitate federal-provincial consultations and coordinate implementation efforts, consolidating priorities and resolving bottlenecks through established governance mechanisms.
- Develop and maintain monitoring frameworks, including decision/action trackers and progress reports, to support senior-level decision-making and accountability.
- Support PPW in engaging with development partners, UN agencies, and donors to align resources and technical assistance with population stabilisation goals.
- Provide senior strategic advisory support to M/o NHSR&C and E4H on selected priorities under Outputs 2 and 3, focusing on stakeholder engagement, political economy analysis, risk management, and resolution of policy and institutional challenges.
- Coordinate closely with E4H Output Leads to ensure strategic coherence across health security, evidence-based decision-making, and universal health coverage initiatives.
- Lead institutional strengthening efforts by building capacity within PPW for policy analysis, intergovernmental coordination, and decision follow-up, embedding sustainable tools and processes.
- Prepare comprehensive handover packages documenting progress, outstanding actions, and capacity transfer milestones to ensure continuity and government ownership.

Required Qualifications

- Postgraduate degree in Public Health, Demography, Health Policy, Public Administration, or a related discipline.
- Minimum of 15 years’ experience working with federal and/or provincial governments on population policy, strategic planning, and reform.
- Proven expertise in population, sexual and reproductive health (SRH), family planning, and related policy frameworks such as NPC and NPSP.
- Strong experience in federal-provincial coordination, development partner engagement, and resource mobilisation within Pakistan’s population governance context.
- Demonstrated ability to provide evidence-informed policy advice and support complex multi-stakeholder coordination.
- Excellent skills in senior stakeholder engagement, negotiation, institutional strengthening, and concise communication.

Preferred Qualifications and Benefits

- Familiarity with Pakistan’s National Health and Population Policy 2026–35, ICPD commitments, FP2030, and international population frameworks.
- Experience working within donor-funded technical assistance programmes, particularly those aligned with FCDO priorities.
- Ability to navigate political economy and institutional contexts to facilitate strategic decision-making and reform implementation.
- The role offers a dynamic environment to influence national population policy and contribute to sustainable health system strengthening in Pakistan.
- Engagement with high-level government bodies and international partners provides valuable exposure and professional growth opportunities.

This assignment is planned for a duration of approximately 50 days between October 2026 and March 2027, subject to final confirmation. The position reports to the E4H Team Lead and requires close collaboration with government counterparts and E4H technical teams to ensure effective delivery and sustainability.