PAHO Consultant - RRF St. Jude project

OBJECTIVE OF THE OFFICE/DEPARTMENT

This is a requisition for employment at the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)/Regional Office of the World Health Organization (WHO)

Contractual Agreement:

Non-Staff - International PAHO Consultant

Job Posting:

March 23, 2026

Closing Date:

April 8, 2026, 11:59 PM Eastern Time

Primary Location:

Off Site

Organization:

RRF Regional Revolving Funds

Schedule:

Full time

PURPOSE OF CONSULTANCY

The Pan American Health Organization's Strategic Fund for Public Health Supplies, established by Member States in the Americas in 2000, is a regional technical cooperation mechanism for the joint procurement of essential medicines and strategic health supplies.

The international consultant will act as a focal point in the countries where the implemented project is developed and will continue to support countries that have been implemented with focus on operational coordination, follow-up of procurement orders, and facilitation of shipment and delivery processes of childhood cancer medicines and continue supply chain strengthening, while continuing to support countries to sustain and continue to scale up as needed.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES:

CONSULTANT TERMS OF REFERENCE

PAHO STRATEGIC FUND (RRF/SF)

IPC – St. Jude/GPACCM Project

INTRODUCTION

The Pan American Health Organization's Strategic Fund for Public Health Supplies, established by Member States in the Americas in 2000, is a regional technical cooperation mechanism for the joint procurement of essential medicines and strategic health supplies. Since its inception, the Strategic Fund has facilitated technical cooperation in the region through the Global Platform for Access to Childhood Cancer Medicines, which is implemented in collaboration with St. Jude Hospital, UNICEF, the pharmaceutical industry, non-governmental organizations, and the World Health Organization, as evidenced by this partnership.

OBJECTIVES

The international consultant will act as a focal point in the countries where the implemented project is developed and will continue to support countries that have been implemented with focus on operational coordination, follow-up of procurement orders, and facilitation of shipment and delivery processes of childhood cancer medicines and continue supply chain strengthening, while continuing to support countries to sustain and continue to scale up as needed. They will coordinate with PAHO/WHO at the regional level, the PAHO/WHO local office in each country participating in the project, and the Ministry of Health, and collaborate with the Working Groups/Committees related to the Global Platform for Access to Childhood Cancer Medicines. The consultant will operate under the general supervision of the Chief, Strategic Fund for Public Health Supplies (RF/SF), and the direct supervision of the regional supply management advisor for the regional project.

RESPONSIBILITIES

The international consultant, in close collaboration with the Strategic Fund's team of regional advisers and technical officers and under the general supervision of the Chief, Strategic Fund for Public Health Supplies (RRF/SF), will contribute, inter alia, to:

Support the process to identify and/or strengthen the Working Group/Steering Committee related to the Global Platform for Access to Medicines against Childhood Cancer in each participating country. These groups will include, at a minimum, the Ministry of Health, national programs, social security institutes, national committees, or working groups involved in the supply chain and/or management of medical products, and other stakeholders supporting the development of the Task Force/Steering Committee. It is important to note that the existing work. Groups/committees should be strengthened, and their roles and responsibilities should be updated if they already exist.

Support the characterization and periodic updating of the medical supply system, with emphasis on operational workflows, order management, procurement timelines, shipment coordination, and in-country delivery processes, in close collaboration with PAHO/WHO country offices.

Help measure the baseline for the minimum standards defined by the PAHO/WHO regional office and customize/adapt it as appropriate to the context and needs of the country, identifying the source of quality information and contributing to the definition of strategies for information verification, audits, on-site data verification visits, cross-referencing data with other public sources in relation to the Global Platform for Access to Medicines against Pediatric Cancer, and supporting the staff of the PAHO/WHO local office, so that countries implement the required improvements.

Support estimate drug needs using the morbidity method for drugs related to the Global Platform for Access to Pediatric Cancer Medicine in hospitals selected by the Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the technical team designated by PAHO/WHO Offices. In addition, work should be done with the Ministry of Health, participating hospitals, and in coordination with Country Office staff to obtain current inventory levels of these drugs in the identified hospitals, to inform the necessary procurement quantities, and to ensure proper supply planning.

Provide operational support to the end-to-end procurement process under the GPACCM, including follow-up of purchase orders, coordination with suppliers, monitoring of shipment status, facilitation of customs clearance processes, and coordination with countries to ensure timely delivery and receipt of medicines

Support the staff of the PAHO/WHO local office of the countries that will be part of the project in the preparation of the Strategic and Operational Plan for the implementation of the Global Platform for Access to Medicines against Pediatric Cancer

Support the countries participating in the project in the development of specific Standard Operating Procedures related to the management of the supply of medicines for childhood cancer. These procedures should be based on recommended sources of information for cancer drug management and aligned with the Strategic Fund's recommendations regarding the Global Platform for Access to Medicines for Pediatric Cancer to support the Monitoring and Evaluation requirements. Oversight of the implementation of these Standard Operating Procedures will be the responsibility of the local PAHO/WHO office staff.

Participate in all local and regional meetings and meet regularly, at least once a week, with the local PAHO/WHO office of the countries that will be part of the Project and stakeholders to clarify and coordinate issues related to current policy and practice, current performance, goals, and future plans, including country visits, to ensure the continuity of the activities planned by the countries in relation to the Global Platform for Access to Medicines against Pediatric Cancer.

PRODUCTS

Product#1

Monthly update on strengthening activities.This document provides an overview of all activities undertaken across project-participating countries to address identified operational procurement and supply chain-related gaps.

Product#2

Monthly report on the status of each project-participating country

This report will include a summary of all discussed topics and identified activities during the project-participating country working group, highlighting risks, priorities, and the need for escalation, particularly those related to delays in procurement, shipment, customs clearance, or delivery of medicines.

Product#3

Quarter Supply Planning Analysis Report

Review consumption levels against forecasted demand and provide a set of actionable recommendations to ensure inventory level matches in-country needs.

Product#4

Quarter Data Collection and M&E Reporting

Assist countries in collating, analyzing, and preparing the M&E reports required to satisfy the needs of the project and all internal and external stakeholders.

Product#5

Quarter Report on forecasting-related activities

Assist countries in the forecasting process, utilization, adoption of QuantMet, and development of advocacy documents.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor's and master's degrees in pharmacy, Health Sciences, Public Health, Business Administration, Supply Chain Management, Public Administration, or related disciplines related to the provision of health services.
• Seven years of combined national and international experience in pharmaceutical and/or logistics management with an emphasis on medicine and health supplies, vaccine management, global procurement, finance, and supply chain management.
• Proven experience in characterizing public health systems and formulating critical pathways for strengthening.
• Specific experience in strengthening national pediatric oncology programs, with a preference for global health programs.
• Mastery in estimating the needs of pediatric oncological health technologies, including handling products sensitive to the cold chain.
• Previous work experience with PAHO/WHO in strengthening public health programs will be highly valued.

Contract Type: International PAHO Consultant (IPC), full-time, from March 2026 to January 2027, with the possibility of extension.

Payments: By installments. Total contract value: $47,300 (Band A).

Location: Remote

Languages: Fluency in written and spoken Spanish and English is required.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• This vacancy notice may be used to identify candidates for other similar consultancies at the same level.
• Successful candidates will be placed on the roster and subsequently may be selected for consultancy assignments falling in this area of work or for similar requirements/tasks/deliverables.  Inclusion in the Roster does not guarantee selection for a consultant contract.  There is no commitment on either side.
• Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.
• All applicants are required to complete an on-line profile to be considered for this consultancy. For assessment of your application, please ensure that your profile in the PAHO Career page is updated; all experience records are entered with elaboration on tasks performed at the time.  Kindly note that CV/PHFs inserted via LinkedIn are no accessible.
• A written test may be used as a form of screening.
• If your candidature is retained for interview, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. PAHO/WHO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed through the link: http://www.whed.net/. PAHO will also use the databases of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation http://www.chea.org/search/default.asp and College Navigator, found on the website of the National Centre for Educational Statistics, https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator to support the validation process. Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and will require individual review.
• Any appointment/extension of appointment is subject to PAHO/WHO Regulations, and e-Manual.
• For information on PAHO please visit: http://www.paho.org
• PAHO/WHO is committed to providing a respectful and supportive workplace for all personnel .
• PAHO is an ethical organization that maintains high standards of integrity and accountability. People joining PAHO are required to maintain these standards both in their professional work and personal activities.
• PAHO also promotes a work environment that is free from harassment, sexual harassment, discrimination, and other types of abusive behavior. PAHO conducts background checks and will not hire anyone who has a substantiated history of abusive conduct.
• PAHO personnel interact frequently with people in the communities we serve. To protect these people, PAHO has zero tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse. People who commit serious wrongdoings will be terminated and may also face criminal prosecution.
• PAHO/WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.
• Applications from women and from nationals of non and underrepresented Member States are particularly encouraged.
• Consultants shall perform the work as independent contractors in a personal capacity, and not as a representative of any entity or authority.  The execution of the work under a consultant contract does not create an employer/employee relationship between PAHO and the Consultant.
• PAHO/WHO shall have no responsibility whatsoever for any taxes, duties, social security contributions or other contributions payable by the Consultant.  The Consultant shall be solely responsible for withholding and paying any taxes, duties, social security contributions and any other contributions which are applicable to the Consultant in each location/jurisdiction in which the work hereunder is performed, and the Consultant shall not be entitled to any reimbursement thereof by PAHO/WHO.