Independent Consultant for CHAI Health Systems Initiative
Position Circumstances
- Career Category: Consultancy
- Schedule:Short-term
- Salary: N/A
Base Location: Remote work with potential travel in Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Contract Type: Independent Consultant -Lead Consultant
Contract Period: Phase 1: 3 months, 20 working days; Phase 2: 3 months, 20 working days
Expected Start Date: November 2025
Report to: Senior Program Manager, HIV/AIDS
Duties & Responsibilities:
- Scope of work/Activities
- Phase 1: NSP Review (situational analysis)
- Develop an inception plan, including joint work plan, and facilitate discussion among the consultants and the TWG to ensure that the overall review process and discussions are well coordinated and not siloed by thematic areas
- Orient the review team and key stakeholders on review scope, methods, and the schedule ; guide the review process and adjust schedules and agendas as necessary
- Support and oversee desk review of core components by thematic consultants, providing regular feedback and guidance
- Organize and lead bi-weekly (i.e., every 2 weeks) progress review meetings with a sub-set of the NSP TWG (NSP steering group)
- Coordinate with sub-TWG to organize virtual meetings/interviews based on the findings and analyses from the desk review
- Coordinate with thematic consultants ahead of potential country-visit to identity the themes, cross-cutting issues, common areas of interest to validate or further explore during stakeholders’ consultation
- Assist in analyzing and interpreting the data and information collected, draw conclusions and make recommendations for the development of new NSP.
- Synthesize and prepare an out brief of preliminary findings of all reviewers and conduct a validation meeting with TWG and other stakeholders.
- Develop a consolidated report that outlines the processes and methodology; elucidate the findings and recommendations, document the agreed actions and way forward.
- Phase 2: NSP development
- Develop and agree on the outline/structure of the NSP document
- Analyze and synthesize findings and recommendations from the NSP review, including review of progress against current NSP, identification of key gaps and areas for strategic alignment or improvement
- Draft Core Sections and components of the NSP, including working with the costing consultant to integrate costing analysis into the NSP, and drafting program management and implementation arrangements
- Cross-check alignment of objectives, interventions, activities, budget estimates, and indicators.
- Share draft sections internally within the team for review
- Organize consultation meetings with NSP TWG and other key stakeholders and synthesize inputs/ feedback into NSP draft to strengthen ownership and consensus.
- Complete supplementary sections: Preface, Introduction, Annexes, References
- Conduct final internal review for quality assurance and completeness including refining language
- Share final draft at TWG meetings for validation and endorsement
- Deliverables
- Phase 1: NSP Review (situational analysis)
- Inception Report with detailed work plan outlining the overall approach and methodology, responsibilities for all consultants, milestones, deliverables, coordination mechanisms, and tentative timelines and stakeholders’ engagement plan
- Coordination and oversight report including minutes from bi-weekly progress review meetings and key discussions with thematic consultants that document agreed actions/ changes
- Final synthesized review report drawing from all thematic areas with key findings and recommendations on suggested areas, interventions, activities that should be prioritized, improved, or maintained the current practice to maximize evidence-informed program planning and prioritization
- Comprehensive presentation deck summarizing key findings and integrated recommendations including virtual facilitation of validation workshops and presentation of findings to stakeholders
- Phase 2 NSP Development
- Final complete draft of Cambodia Strategic Plan for HIV/AIDS and STIs Prevention and Care in the Health Sector 2026- 2031
- Comprehensive presentation deck summarizing updated NSP (e.g., key objectives, strategies) - for use in validation workshops and presentation of findings to stakeholders
- Education
- Advanced degree (master’s or higher) in Public Health, Epidemiology, Medicine, Health Policy, Social Sciences, or a related field
- Professional Experience
- At least 10 years of relevant experience in:
- Public health or HIV/AIDS program design, implementation, or evaluation.
- Conducting situational analyses, program reviews, or strategic planning in the health sector.
- Drafting/developing strategic plans, policies or reports
- Experience of working within/ with Cambodia public health sector
- Technical Competence
- Strong knowledge of HIV program
- Familiarity with national HIV responses, policies, and strategic frameworks.
- Experience working with Ministries of Health or international development partners.
- Analytical and Writing Skills
- Proficient in conducting desk reviews and stakeholder consultations.
- Ability to analyze and synthesize epidemiological, programmatic, and health systems data.
- Demonstrated experience writing technical reports or assessments.
- Demonstrated strong ability in writing strategic plans, policy guidance or equivalent
- Language
- Advanced proficiency in English (written and spoken) is required.
- Understanding local language is an advantage
