Junior National - Research Associate

KP TA - Capacity Building on Logistics Best Practices in Health Supply Chain Management in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Programme Overview 

Evidence for Health (E4H) is a Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO)-funded programme aimed at strengthening Pakistan's healthcare system, thereby decreasing the burden of illness and saving lives. E4H provides technical assistance (TA) to the Federal, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), and Punjab governments, and is being implemented by Palladium along with Oxford Policy Management (OPM).

Through its flexible, embedded, and demand-driven model, E4H supports the government to achieve a resilient health system that is prepared for health emergencies, responsive to the latest evidence, and delivers equitable, quality, and efficient healthcare services. Specifically, E4H delivers TA across three outputs:

Output 1: Strengthened integrated health security, with a focus on preparing and responding to health emergencies, including pandemics.

Output 2: Strengthened evidence-based decision-making to drive health sector performance and accountability.

Output 3: Improved implementation of Universal Health Coverage, with a focus on ending preventable deaths.

Position Summary

The goal of this technical assistance is to strengthen district-level logistics management systems in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa by developing a pool of trained trainers capable of cascading knowledge and skills on forecasting, procurement, storage, and inventory management, thereby enhancing the efficiency, transparency, and sustainability of supply chain operations.

We will achieve this by pursuing four objectives:

Objective 1: Build the capacity of selected district and provincial trainers to deliver high-quality training on logistics best practices in forecasting, procurement, storage, and inventory management.

Objective 2: Equip trainers with facilitation, mentoring, and coaching skills to support ongoing capacity building and supervision of logistics staff at district and facility levels.

Objective 3:  Standardize training content and methodologies in line with national supply chain management tools and policies to ensure consistent, sustainable knowledge transfer across the province.

Strategic Approach

Contributions to health systems strengthening

This technical assistance directly supports the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Good Governance Reform Roadmap by improving efficiency, transparency, and accountability within the provincial health supply chain—a core enabler of effective service delivery. Through the Training of Trainers approach, it builds institutional capacity to implement the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Public Health Forecasting and Supply Chain Strategy (2017–2022), strengthening district systems to plan, procure, and manage commodities more effectively. By addressing systemic bottlenecks in logistics management, data use, and resource allocation, the initiative enhances the resilience and responsiveness of the health system and contributes to more equitable access to essential health services across the province. The technical assistance will be closely aligned with the Health Information Service Delivery Unit (HISDU) and the Provincial Health Services Academy (PHSA) to institutionalize a sustainable training system, ensuring that the pool of master trainers continues to build provincial capacity beyond the life of the project.

Alignment with other E4H TAs/investments

This technical assistance builds on earlier E4H support for district health planning and financial gap assessments, which identified logistics and supply chain management as key capacity gaps affecting service delivery. It complements ongoing E4H technical assistance on governance, data use, and accountability by applying these principles within the logistics function. The Training of Trainers model will complement the sustainable training system efforts with the PHSA and maintain close coordination with the HISDU to strengthen institutional linkages for continuous learning and performance monitoring. This alignment promotes long-term sustainability by embedding logistics capacity building within existing provincial structures and ensuring continued improvement in efficiency and transparency across districts.

Alignment with other donors (if relevant)

This technical assistance will align with ongoing supply chain strengthening efforts supported by UNICEF, WHO, and the Global Fund, particularly around improving commodity security and use of national logistics tools. Coordination will ensure harmonization of training content, supervision standards, and reporting formats under the Essential Primary Health Services (EPHS) framework. The Provincial Health Services Academy (PHSA) will be engaged to institutionalize the master trainers and integrate logistics modules into provincial training systems, ensuring that donor-supported investments translate into sustained provincial capacity and long-term system resilience.

Scope of Work and Methodology

This technical assistance will focus on building a pool of master trainers to strengthen logistics management systems across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. In line with the goal and objectives, it will enhance provincial and district capacity to forecast, procure, store, and manage essential commodities efficiently and transparently. The technical assistance will adopt a phased approach, beginning with the development and rollout of a Training of Trainers (TOT), which will serve as the foundation for subsequent cascade trainings across districts.

Phase I: Design and Preparation

The initial phase will involve development and validation of a standardized training package on logistics best practices, aligned with the KP Public Health Forecasting and Supply Chain Strategy (2017–2022). Content will be co-created with DOH and the Health Information Systems and Development Unit (HISDU) to ensure it complements ongoing sustainable training-system efforts and fits within PHSA’s institutional framework. A selection process, led jointly by the DOH will identify 20–25 potential master trainers from provincial and district levels.

Phase II: Training of Trainers (TOT)

This phase will deliver a four-day competency-based TOT using a blended learning methodology that integrates short technical presentations, practical exercises, simulations, and peer-to-peer facilitation. Modules will focus on:

• Forecasting and quantification of essential health commodities.
• Procurement and life-cycle costing principles.
• Inventory control, storage standards, and data-driven stock management.
• Leadership, mentoring, and adult learning techniques.
• Participants will practice facilitation and supervision techniques through interactive sessions, with pre- and post-assessments to measure improvements in knowledge and teaching competence.

The technical assistance will apply a participatory and systems-strengthening approach that blends classroom instruction, problem-solving exercises, and field-based learning, if needed. Real data from the Logistics Management Information System (LMIS) will be used for case studies and forecasting simulations. Joint planning and review meetings with DOH, and district health authorities will guide implementation and ensure institutional alignment.

Sustainability: Capacity Building, Institutionalisation, and/or Transition Planning

This technical assistance is fundamentally a capacity-building intervention, focusing on developing a pool of master trainers capable of delivering high-quality, district-level training on logistics management best practices.

Institutionalisation will be achieved by aligning with and complementing the sustainable training system efforts led by the PHSA and maintaining coordination with the HISDU. Training materials, tools, and trainer rosters will be integrated into PHSA’s capacity development framework to ensure that logistics training is embedded within government systems for ongoing implementation and refresher sessions.

Transition planning focuses on ensuring that the competencies and systems developed through this technical assistance are fully owned and managed by provincial institutions. The Department of Health, through PHSA and LMU, will continue to coordinate refresher training, track the performance of master trainers, and integrate logistics training into future sectoral capacity-building plans supported by government and partners.

Responsibilities

The Research Associate will support data collection, documentation, and analysis related to training implementation, including pre- and post-assessments to measure knowledge and skills improvement. They will assist in compiling reports, capturing lessons learned, and tracking progress against deliverables to ensure evidence-based reporting and continuous learning.

Timeline and Days

The level of effort (LOE) for the role is 30 days.

Requirement

Technical Expertise

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university; a master’s degree will be an added advantage.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in research, data analysis, and reporting within public health, logistics, or development sectors.
• Demonstrated experience in monitoring and evaluation, including pre- and post-training assessments and data-driven performance tracking.
• Familiarity with government systems and prior experience supporting projects with the Department of Health or similar public institutions.
• Proficiency in data management and analysis tools (e.g., Excel, SPSS, or similar).

Competencies

• Strong analytical, research, and documentation skills with high attention to detail.
• Ability to synthesize quantitative and qualitative data into clear, actionable findings.
• Effective communication and teamwork skills to support coordination and reporting.
• Capacity to work independently, manage multiple tasks, and meet tight deadlines.