Consultant: One Health SOP Review and Harmonization for Zoonotic Disease Outbreak Investigation and Response, Epidemic Preparedness and Response, Global Health Programs

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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 health challenges. 

Location: Philippines (national and subnational; includes Region 8 and other selected regions/provinces); field travel required

Timeline: ~130 working days.

The Strengthening Infectious Disease Detection Systems (STRIDES) activity is a U.S. Department of State-funded global health security program implemented by FHI 360, with PATH as a core sub-contractor, strengthening surveillance, detection, and analytical capacity across human and animal health. Under Objective 4, STRIDES strengthens multisectoral coordination between the human and animal health sectors in the Philippines — working with the Department of Health (DOH), the Department of Agriculture–Bureau of Animal Industry (DA-BAI), the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), and the Philippine Inter-Agency Committee on Zoonoses (PhilCZ) — to develop and operationalize harmonized procedures for joint outbreak investigation and risk assessment of priority zoonotic diseases. PATH seeks a Philippine-national consultant to lead this SOP review and harmonization.

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

• A comprehensive review of existing zoonotic disease outbreak investigation and response SOPs from DOH, DA-BAI, and related agencies, identifying overlaps, gaps, inconsistencies, and fragmentation across the human and animal health sectors.

• From these findings, development of recommendations to harmonize existing SOPs and, where gaps exist, drafting of new joint SOPs, protocols, or operational frameworks that strengthen multisectoral outbreak response and One Health coordination.

• Technical inputs and facilitation support for the multisectoral SOP harmonization workshop.

Responsibilities include:

• Attend an inception meeting with STRIDES, DOH, DA-BAI, and stakeholders, review project documents, and produce an inception report (methodology, SOP mapping framework, consultation approach, data-collection tools, and workplan).

• Compile existing SOPs, guidelines, and policies across zoonotic surveillance (event-, indicator-, and community-based), outbreak investigation, joint risk assessment, laboratory referral and reporting, emergency surveillance (including SPEED and HEARS), and PhilCZ information sharing.

• Review and map SOPs from DOH, DA-BAI, DENR, regional offices (e.g., Region 8), and other One Health agencies into an inventory and mapping matrix, identifying alignment and gaps across mandates (laws, EOs, AOs), surveillance, outbreak investigation, laboratory processes, and risk communication.

• Conduct KIIs and stakeholder consultations at national, regional, and local levels (epidemiology/surveillance units, veterinary services, laboratory partners), assessing challenges in reporting, joint investigation, risk assessment, information sharing, and escalation, and documenting recommendations.

• Produce a gap analysis report on duplication, unclear roles, escalation triggers, and coordination weaknesses, including a comparative analysis of human and animal health outbreak investigation workflows.

• Develop harmonization recommendations and revised SOPs to improve interoperability - including RACI and process-flow matrices within and between agencies - covering information sharing, notification and reporting, agency roles, and joint risk assessment; draft concept notes for new SOPs where critical gaps exist.

• Present findings at the multisectoral technical workshop, facilitate discussion on priority recommendations, and support refinement of proposed harmonization measures.

• Submit seven deliverables to STRIDES Philippines (PATH) for review and clearance: (1) Inception Report; (2) SOP Inventory and Mapping Matrix; (3) KII and Stakeholder Consultation Summary; (4) Gap Analysis Report; (5) Harmonization Recommendations Report; (6) Workshop Presentation; and (7) Final Consultancy Report.

• Report to the STRIDES Surveillance Team, coordinate with DOH, DA-BAI, and PhilCZ focal persons, and provide regular progress updates aligned with workplan objectives.

Required qualifications and experience:

• Advanced degree in public health, veterinary medicine, epidemiology, health systems, One Health, public administration, or a related field.

• At least 7 years supporting public health, animal health, surveillance, outbreak investigation, emergency preparedness, or One Health initiatives.

• Demonstrated experience in policy review, SOP or guideline development, or institutional process improvement.

• Familiarity with Philippine health security, surveillance, outbreak response, and One Health governance structures.

• Experience facilitating multisectoral consultations and stakeholder engagement.

• Excellent analytical, technical writing, and report development skills.

• Legal authorization to work in the Philippines, where the consultancy is based.

Please include your proposed daily rate in your submitted application. This will be one of the fields in your application questionnaire.