National Consultant - Neglected Tropical Diseases, Philippines, Manila, Philippines

## National Consultant - Neglected Tropical Diseases, Philippines, Manila, Philippines - Organization:WHO - World Health Organization - Office:WHO WPRO Manila Neglected Tropical Diseases, Philippines Contractual Arrangement : External consultant Contract Duration (Years, Months, Days) : 11 months Job Posting: Sep 29, 2026, 7:57:14 AM Purpose of consultancy The consultant will provide operational and technical support to strengthen regional and country capacities for the management, prevention, control, and elimination of priority NTDs. These NTDs include Lymphatic Filariasis (LF), Leprosy, Rabies, Food-Borne Trematodes, Schistosomiasis, Yaws, and Soil-Transmitted Helminthiasis. In addition, the STC supports country office on Monitoring and Evaluation and strategic use of data, supply of NTD drugs and diagnostics, and strengthening one health collaboration to accelerate the control and elimination of NTDs through integrated and PHC-based approaches. The Department of Health has identified priority Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD) across all the eighteen (18) Regions and eighty-two (82) provinces of the Philippines and is committed to accelerating elimination and control in line with the WHO NTD Road Map 2021-2030 and regional resolutions. The WHO Philippines Country Office (WCO-PHL) is implementing integrated, multi-disease approaches addressing malaria, lymphatic filariasis, schistosomiasis, soil-transmitted helminthiases, yaws, rabies and leprosy, alongside other cross-cutting interventions needed to control and eliminate endemic NTDs (such as One Health approaches and strengthening the underlying health systems). Across the regions and provinces, substantial progress has been made towards malaria elimination, with many subnational areas achieving tropical diseases-free status, while a limited number of remaining foci require intensified, targeted and cross-border action. Philippines, as a WPRO priority country, have advanced from burden reduction to elimination phases, requiring strengthened regional coordination, technical oversight and knowledge exchange. Leprosy has been eliminated as a public health problem in most countries of the Region; however, continued transmission in high risk target groups including children, and in underserved and unserved areas (UUAs) underscores the need for sustained surveillance, programmatic innovation and regional technical support aligned with the WHO Towards Zero Leprosy and the Global Leprosy Strategy 2021-2030. Significant subnational level achievements have also been recorded for other neglected tropical diseases, including lymphatic filariasis elimination milestones, demonstrating the value of sustained investment, partner coordination and regional guidance. The WCO-PHL, in collaboration with other CO Units, DOH and other related sectors, DOH-Bureaus and Agencies, Center for Health Developments (CHDs), Provincial Health Offices, Municipalities and Local Government Units, academe, professional bodies, and their partners, support Member States to prevent, control and eliminate communicable diseases through high-impact regional norms, standards, technical cooperation and targeted country support, with a particular focus on priority areas. Within the WCO-PHL communicable disease programs respond to country needs through updating / development, adaptation of WHO policies, guidelines and manuals; surveillance and response; monitoring, evaluation and reporting; provision of technical assistance; and coordinated advocacy, communication, resource mobilization and partner engagement to reduce morbidity and mortality across the country. While the progress and momentum gained toward the control and elimination of the endemic NTDs in the Philippines has been remarkable, significant challenges persist requiring support from WHO. Philippines has identified eight (8) priority neglected tropical diseases and is committed to eliminate at least three of them by 2030 according to the Department of Health's (DOH's) Multi-Diseases Elimination Plan, 2024-2030 (MDEP). Notable among these diseases are lymphatic filariasis (LF), schistosomiasis, soil-transmitted helminthiases, yaws, rabies and leprosy. Other vector borne diseases such as dengue and chikungunya constitute public health concerns. Through this STC, the country office will continue to support priority public health interventions in the Philippines while focusing on priorities including support to enhance capacities on leprosy disease elimination, Mass Drug Administrations, impact surveys (IDA Impact Survey (IIS) and transmission assessment of LF. In close collaboration with the relevant WHO-PHL Units, Philippines Department of Health and Agencies and Center for Health Developments, and under the guidance of the CD-Team Lead and strategic guidance of the WHO Country Representative in the Philippines, the Short-Term consultant shall perform the following: Output 1: National roadmap for ending priority neglected tropical diseases in the Philippines is developed and aligned with global and national strategic guidance. Deliverable 1.1: Provide technical input to the development of the roadmap to end the eight priority tropical diseases in the Philippines, using the global NTD roadmap, Ending the neglect to attain the Sustainable Development Goals: A road map for neglected tropical diseases 2021-2030, and the DOH Multi-Diseases Elimination Plan, 2024-2030 as key references. Output 2: NTD control and elimination programmes is strengthened through intensified and integrated implementation. Deliverable 2.1: Provide technical input in the priority NTD control and elimination programmes, particularly in relation to intensified implementation, cross-sectoral integration, and alignment with Universal Health Coverage and primary health care approaches. Output 3: Tailored support to the Department of Health and partners for priority NTD interventions is provided. Deliverable 3.1: Provide functional support to the implementation of Mass Drug Administration for eliminating Lymphatic Filariasis, Transmission Assessment Surveys, and the preparation of sub-national and national dossiers for validation of elimination as a public health problem. Deliverable 3.2: For the active case detection and treatment of leprosy, provide technical assistance through timely delivery of multidrug therapy medicines and implementation of Post-Exposure Prophylaxis with a Single Dose of Rifampicin. Deliverable 3.3: Support the DOH Philippines and other partners in the Region in the control and elimination of other priority NTDs, including soil-transmitted helminthiasis, rabies, schistosomiasis and food-borne trematodes, by strengthening cross-sectoral collaboration under One Health approaches and programmatic actions tailored to the national and local context and public health needs and priorities. Output 4: Cross-cutting support for knowledge management, communication, documentation, evidence generation and dissemination related to neglected tropical diseases is strengthened. Deliverable 4.1: Collaborate with technical units within WCO, WPRO and WHO headquarters to support cross-cutting areas such as knowledge management, communication and information sharing, documentation, evidence generation, including operational research, and dissemination related to neglected tropical diseases. Qualifications, experience, skills and languages Educational Qualifications: Essential:University degree in science or medicine with postgraduate degree at the master's level in public health, tropical medicine, epidemiology, medical parasitology or entomology, from a recognized university Essential:Minimum of seven years of experience in public health disease control programme activities including at least three years of vector-borne diseases control and/or research at international level. Thorough knowledge and understanding of tropical diseases and their control/elimination. Skills in health situation analysis, strategic