National Health Needs Assessment Consultant

The consultant will conduct a mixed-method health needs assessment of vulnerable groups and mobile populations, including migrant workers, in selected border communities of Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. The assessment aims to generate evidence on health needs, vulnerabilities, barriers to access, and service gaps to inform interventions and strengthen health services for migrants and host communities.

Responsibilities

• Review, support the contextualization and translation of the mixed-method assessment methodology and data collection tools, including assessment scope, indicators, sampling, data quality assurance, and analytical methodology in cooperation with international consultant and stakeholders.
• Conduct stock-taking and desk review of border health and cross-border assessments, map and identify key border communities and vulnerable groups along the mobility corridor between Points of Entry.
• Conduct capacity development exercise on data collection tools and use of KoboToolbox for the Bilateral Task Force Group (BTFG).
• Support planning and organization of field activities including identification of border communities, coordination with authorities and stakeholders.
• Conduct assessment using agreed methodology and tools including interviews, focus groups, and consultations with authorities and vulnerable populations.
• Clean, organize and validate quantitative and qualitative data collected, identify data gaps, and provide validated data to International Consultant for analysis.
• Prepare field assessment report summarizing activities, observations, preliminary findings, challenges, and country-specific issues; provide inputs to International Consultant for overall report.
• Participate in coordination and technical meetings with IOM, government counterparts and stakeholders; provide progress updates and present findings and recommendations.
• Develop joint strategy on reducing health risks among vulnerable populations in border areas incorporating inputs from BTFG and international consultant.

Requirements

• University degree in Health Sciences, including public health, epidemiology and other relevant disciplines.
• Minimum 5 years of relevant professional experience in public health research, preferably on epidemiology, communicable diseases, IHR and border health.
• Demonstrated experience in conducting or supporting needs assessments, health facility assessments, or similar public health assessments.
• Demonstrated experience in communicable disease prevention and control, International Health Regulations (IHR 2005), public health emergency preparedness, infection prevention and control (IPC), and/or border health is an asset.
• Knowledge of and experience with relevant WHO health facility assessment tools and methodologies, including tools for assessing health service availability and readiness.
• Experience in adapting and applying assessment methodologies, questionnaires and other data collection tools, and in collecting and analysing quantitative and qualitative health data.
• Experience in data collection and management using KoboToolbox or similar digital data collection platforms is an asset.
• Good analytical and report-writing skills, with experience in contributing to health-related assessment and analytical reports.
• Demonstrated experience working with international organizations, government institutions and other relevant stakeholders.
• Demonstrated experience working in cross-border, migration or mobility-related health contexts, including with migrant and mobile populations, is an asset.
• Proficiency in quantitative and qualitative research methods, data collection, data management and analysis.
• Ability to engage and coordinate effectively with a diverse range of stakeholders, including public health authorities, border authorities, health service providers, international organizations, and migrant and mobile populations.
• Strong analytical, report-writing, communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills.
• Fluency in written and oral English, Uzbek/Tajik and Russian is required.

Skills

• Public Health Research
• Epidemiology
• Communicable Disease Control
• International Health Regulations
• Health Facility Assessment
• Health Needs Assessment
• Infection Prevention and Control
• Health Emergency Preparedness
• WHO Health Assessment Tools
• Quantitative Research
• Qualitative Methods
• Data Collection
• Data Management
• KoboToolbox
• Health Data Analytics
• Report Writing
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Cross-border Health Coordination
• Migration Health

Languages

English, Uzbek, Tajik, Russian