Surveillance Training Assessment Consultant, Epidemic Preparedness and Response (EPR), Global Health Programs (GHP)

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PATH is a global nonprofit dedicated to achieving health equity. With more than 40 years of experience forging multisector partnerships and with expertise in science, economics, technology, advocacy, and dozens of other specialties, PATH develops and scales up innovative solutions to the world’s most pressing heath challenges. 

Location:  Philippines (National level and selected regions/provinces). Field travel required.

PATH seeks a Surveillance Training Assessment Consultant for the Strengthening Infectious Disease Detection Systems (STRIDES) project. In the Philippines, STRIDES targets high-risk provinces across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao in coordination with DOH, the Epidemiology Bureau (EB), Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Units (RESUs), and the Health Emergency Management Bureau (HEMB).

The consultant must meet or exceed the required qualifications listed below and will implement the following tasks.

• A rapid assessment of outbreak response training capacities and surveillance workforce development systems (EBS, CBS, IBS, and CESR) at national and subnational levels, identifying gaps in training coverage, material quality, and institutional readiness.

• From the findings in task 1, the consultant will standardize and improve training materials used by the DOH, EB, RESUs and HEMB to train epidemiologists and public health analysts.

• The consultant will help deliver targeted training delivery and capacity-building activities, and surveillance workforce strengthening).

Responsibilities include:

• Conduct a desk review of national and subnational policies, frameworks, and strategies related to outbreak response, emergency preparedness, and surveillance workforce development, including EBS, CBS, IBS, and CESR frameworks, the National Action Plan for Health Security (NAPHS), existing training curricula, modules, manuals, and after-action reviews (AARs); draw on existing STRIDES coordination outputs to orient field assessment planning.

• Map existing training programs for EBS, CBS, IBS, CESR, Rapid Response Teams (RRTs), and outbreak investigation, identifying implementing institutions (DOH central, regional, and partner agencies), target audiences and coverage levels (national, regional, provincial, facility), training modalities (in-person, online, blended), and frequency of delivery across geographic levels.

• Conduct structured Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) in STRIDES-supported provinces with DOH Epidemiology Bureau, Health Emergency Management Bureau (HEMB), Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Units (RESUs), Provincial/City Health Offices, and Rapid Response Team members, assessing workforce readiness, role clarity, training application in outbreak response, and coordination across administrative levels.

• Evaluate existing training materials for technical accuracy, completeness, alignment with global standards (WHO guidance, IHR 2005 competency frameworks), relevance to local context, clarity, usability, and adaptability; identify content gaps including One Health integration, risk communication, and field epidemiology competencies; flag outdated or inconsistent materials.

• Conduct structured gap analysis across workforce capacity and skills, training coverage and sustainability, trainer capacity (availability, TOT systems), and institutional coordination and ownership, with root cause analysis benchmarked against national health security priorities and global surveillance competency frameworks.

• Present preliminary findings at a STRIDES-facilitated stakeholder validation session with DOH-EB, HEMB, and RESU counterparts; facilitate prioritization discussions and incorporate stakeholder feedback into the final report.

• Submit six deliverables to STRIDES Philippines (PATH) for review and clearance:

- Inception Report and Data Collection Tools (Week 1);

- Training Mapping Matrix (Week 3);

- Field Assessment Summary (Week 4);

- Draft Assessment Report with findings, gap analysis, and recommendations (Week 6);

- Validation Presentation (Week 7);

- Assessment Report with executive summary, consolidated gap analysis, and prioritized recommendation matrix (Week 8).

• Report to the STRIDES Regional Surveillance Lead (PATH); provide weekly progress updates; and coordinate with DOH-EB, HEMB, and RESUs through introductions facilitated by STRIDES.

• Support country and partner technical staff to ensure assessment activities are on track and informed by technical expertise; review and contribute to project reporting and technical documentation as requested.

Required qualifications and experience:

• Master’s degree or international equivalent in public health, epidemiology, health systems, or a related field.

• Minimum 5 years of applied experience in public health surveillance, outbreak response, or health workforce development in low- or middle-income country settings.

• Demonstrated familiarity with EBS, CBS, IBS, and CESR frameworks and their operational implementation in national or subnational surveillance systems.

• Proven experience conducting health systems or surveillance assessments using mixed qualitative and quantitative methods, including key informant interviews and structured document review.

• Strong stakeholder engagement skills, with experience working across government health agencies at national and subnational levels.

• Experience working on USG-funded global health security programmes or equivalent technical implementation.

• Strong analytical skills and demonstrated ability to produce clear, action-oriented reports with prioritized recommendations.

• Familiarity with the Philippine health system, DOH-EB structures, RESU network, and national health security architecture preferred.

• Prior experience in training program evaluation, field epidemiology training (FETP), or One Health surveillance collaborations preferred.

• Must have legal authorization to work in the Philippines, where the consultancy is based.