Consultant - Pandemic Fund -WHO Health Emergencies Programme WHE

Purpose of consultancy

To provide high quality project management, coordination, monitoring, and operational support to ensure effective, timely, and compliant implementation of the multi country Pandemic Fund award.

Background

The Pandemic Fund was established in 2022 as a global financing mechanism launched in 2023 to support low- and middle-income countries to strengthen critical systems for pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response. To date in the Western Pacific Region, nine projects have been funded by the Pandemic Fund over three calls for proposals. In the latest call, a $36 million multi-country project involving twelve WPR countries was funded. The ‘Data to Action: Stronger Western Pacific Pandemic Preparedness & Response Systems’ project brings together Cambodia, the Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Lao Peoples Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, and Viet Nam, under a single, ambitious initiative to build smarter, faster and more inclusive pandemic prevention, preparedness and response systems.

The project is anchored in the Asia Pacific Health Security Action Framework (APHSAF), a regionally endorsed framework shaped by over two decades of cross-country collaboration. Key outputs include interoperable multisource surveillance platforms, upgraded laboratory systems with quality assurance and biosafety frameworks, expanded field epidemiology and laboratory leadership programs, and enhanced workforce capacities in risk communication and community engagement. Regional mechanisms will reinforce national capacities through peer learning, joint actions, and digital platforms.

This is the Region’s largest Pandemic Fund project in terms of funding, country scope and complexity. The late requirement of the Pandemic Fund Governing Board to diversify the funding managed by project Implementing Entities has also added an additional layer of complexity to the project, requiring close coordination between WHO country offices and project Implementing Entities (ADB, AIIB and FAO) to ensure timely implementation. As the project spans multiple WHO Country Offices (WCOs), the Western Pacific Regional Office, and national counterparts, this requires harmonized programme management support in line with WHO Pandemic Fund Implementation Guidance and internal grant management SOPs.

Deliverables

Output 1: Facilitate the implementation of WPR Multi-Country Pandemic Fund Project

Deliverable 1.1: Overall end-to-end coordination of the multi-country project ensuring alignment with approved proposed workplans and timelines.

Deliverable 1.2: Establish and maintain project management systems, including a centralized SharePoint filing structure, workplan tracking tools, and documentation repositories.

Deliverable 1.3: Plan and coordinate key project milestones, including project kick-off and coordination meetings.

Deliverable 1.4: Facilitate regular coordination with participating countries, implementing entities (e.g. AIIB, ADB, FAO), and partners; consolidate key outputs, decisions, and action points.

Deliverable 1.5: Monitor implementation progress, risks, and bottlenecks across countries and technical areas, and proactively escalate issues requiring management action.

Deliverable 1.6: Manage risk, issues of overall Pandemic Fund project portfolio and escalate as necessary.

Output 2: Provide technical guidance on the monitoring of Pandemic Fund Portfolio (Multi- and Single-Country Grants)

Deliverable 2.1: Serve as Regional Focal Point for the Pandemic Fund portfolio, including engagement in WHO global coordination mechanisms and liaison with implementing entities.

Deliverable 2.2: Maintain oversight of both multi-country and single-country grants in the region, tracking overall progress, key milestones, and cross-cutting implementation issues.

Deliverable 2.3: Facilitate information flow and coordination across WHO Country Offices, Regional Office, and Headquarters, as well as with external partners (e.g. Pandemic Fund, AIIB, ADB, FAO).

Deliverable 2.4: Identify systemic risks, recurring bottlenecks, and opportunities for alignment across the portfolio, and provide strategic advice to strengthen implementation coherence.

Output 3: Workplanning, Monitoring, and Reporting Support

Deliverable 3.1: Track implementation progress and financial performance across grants, including milestone delivery and fund utilization.

Deliverable 3.2: Facilitate consolidation of country-level data and documentation to support routine reporting to implementing entities and the Pandemic Fund Secretariat.

Deliverable 3.3: Support WCOs in meeting reporting requirements, including the collection and quality assurance of technical and financial documentation.

Educational Qualifications

Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Essential: Advanced university degree in public health, epidemiology, social science or a related area from a recognized university.

Desirable: Additional professional training/specialization in business administration, public health emergency management or a related area.

Experience

Essential: Minimum of five years experience in a project management or budget management at national and international levels in public health and/or public health emergency management.

Desirable: Previous experience with WHO or other UN agencies. Previous international experience in public health emergency response, communicable disease control or related areas is an advantage. Familiarity with Pandemic Fund projects and management of Pandemic Fund awards.

Skills/Knowledge

• Understanding of the Pandemic Fund, WHO/UN budget management.
• Experience managing large scale multi-country projects and international stakeholders
• Experience in developing donor and WHO/UN reports.
• Demonstrated ability to plan, organize, and coordinate report writing with different international partners.
• Motivated, highly organized, critical thinker with strong analytical skills.
  
  

Languages And Level Required

Expert knowledge of English

Location

This will be an onsite consultancy in WPRO Manila, Philippines.

Travel

Travel to countries in the region may be requested for pandemic fund management support

Remuneration And Budget

Remuneration: Payband level B, USD 8,000 (monthly)

Expected duration of contract: 11 months from 1 September 2026 to 31 July 2027

Additional Information

• This vacancy notice may be used to identify candidates for other similar consultancies at the same level.
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Contractual Arrangement

External consultant

Job Posting

May 28, 2026, 12:01:35 PM

Closing Date

Jun 12, 2026, 12:59:00 AM

Primary Location

Philippines-Manila

Organization

WP/WHE WHO Health Emergencies Programme (WHE)

Schedule

Full-timeIMPORTANT NOTICE: Please note that the deadline for receipt of applications indicated above reflects your personal devices system settings.

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