E4H Punjab TA: Capacity Building of Senior Health Managers on IHR (2005)

Background and Problem Statement

Background

• Pakistan is a signatory to the International Health Regulations (IHR 2005) and under this obligation is committed to strengthening its health security core capacities within the health systems, with provincial and district leadership playing a critical role in preparedness and response.

• New diseases, like COVID-19, are emerging at unprecedented rates disrupting people’s health and causing social and economic impacts. Millions of passengers travel on airplanes each year, increasing the opportunities for the rapid international spread of infectious agents and their vectors.

• Dependence on chemicals has increased, as has awareness of the potential hazards for health and environment, like climate change and air pollution. As the globalization of food production increases, so does the risk of foodborne diseases

• Recent Joint External Evaluation country report (JEE 2023) and National Action Plan for Health Security (NAPHS 2024–28) highlighted gaps in understanding and application of IHR nineteen core capacities and functions at the provincial and district levels.

• Senior health managers (Directors at DG Health Services Office and district health authorities) remain under prepared to operationalise IHR core capacities within the health systems, particularly in prevention, detection, response to outbreaks, multisector coordination and collaboration.

• Without structured trainings and provision of guidelines, provincial and district leadership risk a disorganised state of preparedness and a coordinated response to health emergencies and pandemics costing lives and risk to economy.

Problem Statement

Senior health managers at provincial and district level in Punjab have a limited  understanding of the needs of core technical capacities to operationalise IHR functions. This is aggravated by the frequent tirnover of government officials. This leads to  limited multisector coordination, weak preparedness, and fragmented responses to public health emergencies.

Goal and Objective(s)

The overall goal of this TA is to strengthen the capacity and understanding of senior health managers in Punjab to effectively plan, allocate resources and operationalise IHR core functions and contribute to provincial and national health security.

We will achieve this by pursuing 3 objectives:

• Objective 1 - Strengthen Leadership Capabilities: Deliver structured training to senior managers, focusing on the core capacities of the International Health Regulations (IHR) with one health approach.

• Objective 2 - Enhance Practical Skills: Provide managers with practical tools and knowledge to improve surveillance, risk communication, and multi secotoral  coordination efforts.

• Objective 3 - Ensure Strategic Alignment: Align provincial and district IHR activities with the National Action Plan for Health Security (NAPHS) 2024–28 milestones and promote a culture of routine inter-sectoral coordination and accountability. 

Strategic Approach

Contributions to health systems strengthening

This TA addresses systemic bottlenecks in health security governance by equipping decision-makers with the knowledge and tools to implement IHR . It builds managerial capacity, fosters accountability, and enhances the province’s and districts’ ability to plan as per recommendations of JEE 2023 report, be prepared, detect, and respond to health emergencies.

Alignment with other E4H TAs/investments

This TA builds on prior E4H support for establishing provincial IHR governance mechanisms. It complements the operationalisation of the IHR Taskforce and TWGs by focusing on senior leadership training and orientation, ensuring that governance structures are matched with capable managers.

Alignment with other donors

The TA complements WHO-supported JEE (2023), IDSR work by UKHSA, establishment of PDSRUs/DDSRUs by US-JSI, Pandemic fund -WB and NAPHS (2024-28) initiatives by ensuring provincial -level uptake and application.

Scope of Work and Methodology

The TA will provide structured training for senior and mid-level health managers across Punjab on IHR (2005) core functions and their roles and responsibilities. The approach includes:

• Phase 1 – Inception & Training Design: Needs assessment, development of training modules, and Inception Report & Slide Deck.

• Phase 2 – Training Delivery: Conduct seven provincial-level training workshops for senior and seven for mid-level health managers from all districts of Punjab (full-day - 25 participants in each workshop), including plenary and group work.

• Phase 3 – Documentation & Institutionalisation: Produce a final report and training toolkit for institutional use, including recommendations for routine integration into H&PD training systems.

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

• Training modules will be co-developed with H&PD, ensuring local ownership and adaptability.

• Training materials will be institutionalised and sustained within the Directorate General of Health Services and PHDC for use in future capacity-building cycles through the PHDC/DHDCs network.

• The TA will transition knowledge to nominated focal persons in H&PD to sustain momentum beyond E4H support.

Deliverables

1. Inception Report, Slide Deck & Training Plan.

2. Training Module Pack (slides, exercises, case studies).

3. Training Workshop Reports & Slide Decks (7 provincial & 7 district).

Public Health Expert (Mid National)

LOE: 45 days (subject to change)

Period: Sep – Nov 2025

Role Requirements
Co-develop training modules, facilitate sessions, and provide technical inputs on governance and health systems alignment.

Technical Expertise
Postgraduate degree in Public Health, Health Systems, or related field; overall, 10+ years’ experience. Experience in training design, health governance, and facilitation; demonstrated ability to support policy processes and build institutional capacity.

Core Competencies
Technical analysis; Facilitation skills; Stakeholder engagement; Policy interpretation; Problem-solving.

Deliverables/KPIs
Same as overall TA deliverables.