Scope of Work for Consultancy to Revise the Strategic Plan for Malawi’s Pharmacy and Medicines Regulatory Authority (PMRA)
Introduction
The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Promoting the Quality of Medicines Plus (PQM+) program is a five-year program with a goal to sustainably strengthen medical product quality assurance systems in low- and middle-income countries. PQM+ provides technical assistance (TA) to strengthen national medical product regulatory and quality assurance systems from medical product manufacturing, distribution and use within a health system. Part of PQM+’s TA includes supporting strategic planning activities in the pharmaceutical sector, national medicines regulatory authority and national quality control laboratories in low-and-middle income countries. In collaboration with public health programs, PQM+ also provides technical support towards promoting the local manufacture and quality assurance of medicines for HIV/AIDS, malaria; tuberculosis (TB); neglected tropical diseases; other infectious diseases; family planning and reproductive health; and maternal, newborn, and child health, including vaccines.
The overall objective of this activity is to assist Malawi’s Pharmacy and Medicines Regulatory Authority (PMRA) to revise and update the PMRA strategic plan of 2018 – 2023 with the aim of aligning the strategic plan with current developments in the pharmaceutical sector in Malawi, in the region and globally. Strategic plans for medicines regulatory authorities are a crucial tool for improving governance of medical product quality assurance systems. If well implemented, the new strategic plan for PMRA will guarantee sustainable access to quality-assured safe and effective medical products that address the local health needs in Malawi. The Board of Directors of the PMRA will provide oversight of the strategic plan review process and implementation.
Scope of Work
The USAID PQM+ program is seeking a consultant with expertise in strategic planning who will revise and update the PMRA strategic plan of 2018 – 2023, through a consultative process that will gather, consider and incorporate the guidance, inputs and recommendations of PMRA Board of Directors, management and staff; as well as other key stakeholders.
Key Responsibilities/Tasks, Deliverables and Timelines
#, Tasks, Deliverables, Timeline
Mon1, Mon2, Mon3, Mon4
1, Hold inception meeting with PMRA management to finalize terms of reference for the strategic plan revision
● Customized strategic planning tools
● Stakeholder map from stakeholder consultations
● Situational analysis report, X
2, Review status of current strategic plan and other key documents, X
3, Hold consultative meetings with PMRA management and staff X
4, Develop a stakeholder map, X
5, Customize strategic planning tools to PMRA context, X
1, Conduct stakeholder consultations
● Revised strategic plan; monitoring and evaluation framework; and resource framework
● Report on the approach and process used, including stakeholder consultations and validation workshops, X
2, Gather PMRA and other stakeholder feedback, X
3, Draft the strategic plan for PMRA, X X
4, Conduct validation workshop, X X
5, Finalize and disseminate strategic plan to relevant stakeholders, X
6, Compile the strategic plan revision process document, X
Skills and competencies required
1. Bachelor’s degree in business management, organization design, commerce, accounting, marketing, economics, or in pharmacy or a related healthcare field
2. Master of Business Administration (MBA) or a Master’s degree in a relevant field will be an added advantage
3. Basic knowledge of pharmaceutical/ regulatory/laboratory field will be desirable
4. Experience with government entities will be desirable
5. Evidence of having undertaken strategic planning assignments – minimum 5 years’ experience
6. Proven communication and facilitation skills in diverse settings
7. Demonstrate excellent interpersonal and professional skills in interacting with government and development partners
8. Fluency in English (written and spoken) mandatory.
Time frame for the work: The total level of effort for the work is twenty-five (25) days to be conducted within a timeframe of approximately three (3) months between March and May 2023.
Application Procedure
If you are interested in this consulting work, please provide us with the following:
1. A cover letter demonstrating how you meet the criteria described above
2. Your hourly consultancy fees in United States Dollars (US) inclusive of all taxes
3. Your availability to do the work during the specified period
4. A copy of your Curriculum Vitae, showing previous similar and relevant work
5. Names and contact details for three references
Closing Date: The closing date for applications is March 06, 2023. Applications should be submitted to Masoud Azam, at [email protected]. When submitting your application, write, “Strategic Plan for Malawi’s Pharmacy and Medicines Regulatory Authority (PMRA)” in the email subject line.