1.Purpose of the Consultancy

This consultancy will support the Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS), through the Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) & HIV Unit, the National HIV Outbreak and Cluster Response Taskforce (N-HOCRT), and specifically the Harm Reduction Technical Working Group (TWG) under the Prevention Sub-Committee, to design, operationalise, and institutionalise a comprehensive national harm-reduction and drug-health programme.

The consultant will provide senior technical leadership, systems guidance, and targeted capacity building to establish and scale up Needle and Syringe Programmes (NSPs) and related drug-health services in Fiji. This includes developing the enabling policy, legal, and operational frameworks, coordinating multi-sector partnerships with health, law enforcement, and community stakeholders, and ensuring all interventions are evidence-based, rights-affirming, and aligned with WHO guidance.

A key function of the consultancy will be to mentor and twin with the National Harm Reduction and Drug Health Programme Officer to strengthen national leadership, technical expertise, and sustainable management of harm-reduction services beyond the consultancy period. The role will also contribute to the work of the Prevention Sub-Committee and the N-HOCRT Secretariat, ensuring that harm-reduction data, policy decisions, and implementation progress are integrated into the broader HIV outbreak response.

2.Background

The HIV situation in Fiji has changed in recent years, with more infections linked to new patterns of risk. Injecting drug use, especially with methamphetamine, has become more common, and many people who inject drugs share needles because there are no harm reduction services such as needle and syringe programmes. This gap has created a fast route of transmission in some communities. At the same time, many people are still being diagnosed late, testing does not always reach those most at risk, and stigma continues to discourage early care.

The national response is strengthening combination prevention interventions and differentiated approaches to prevention, surveillance, and diagnosis, treatment, care and support capacity while introducing new harm-reduction interventions. The draft drug rehabilitation framework, supported by MHMS and partners, provides a national platform for integration of NSPs, rehabilitation, and reintegration services.

Harm reduction is a central approach to preventing HIV transmission in settings where injecting drug use is emerging, and needle syringe programs are one of the most effective interventions for reducing new infections. By providing sterile injecting equipment, safe disposal options and links to health and social services, these programs reduce the sharing of needles, which is one of the quickest pathways for HIV spread. Alongside NSPs, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a key prevention tool that offers additional protection for people at increased risk, including those who inject drugs and their sexual partners. In an emerging HIV epidemic, early introduction and rapid scale up of NSPs and PrEP is critical, as even small injecting networks can quickly accelerate transmission without preventive measures in place.

The consultant will ensure that harm-reduction services, including NSPs, are introduced in a rights-based, gender-sensitive, trauma-informed, and culturally safe manner that aligns with WHO normative guidance and Fiji’s national context.

3.Planned timelines

Start date: 1 February 2026

End date: 31 December 2026

4.Deliverables

Output 1: Enabling Policy, Legal and Regulatory Framework Established: support MHMS to finalise the policy and legal foundations for safe and effective harm-reduction implementation.

·Deliverable 1.1 Finalised National NSP Policy aligned with WHO guidance and Fiji’s legal and regulatory frameworks.

·Deliverable 1.2 Legal and operational pathway analysis outlining approvals, safeguards, and protections for clients and service providers.

·Deliverable 1.3 National operational guidelines and SOPs for NSP implementation across government and community settings.

·Deliverable 1.4 Stakeholder consultations with law enforcement, justice, and corrections sectors co-led with the PMO, ensuring integration within the broader rehabilitation and public safety framework.

·Deliverable 1.5 Incorporation of gender equality, disability inclusion, and cultural safety principles into all policies and SOPs.

Output 2: Integrated Harm Reduction and Rehabilitation Service Model Designed: design NSPs as part of an integrated, multi-tiered model of drug-related health and rehabilitation services.

·Deliverable 2.1 Comprehensive NSP service model incorporating fixed-site, outreach, mobile, and peer-led modalities.

·Deliverable 2.2 Supply chain and logistics plan for procurement, storage, distribution, and safe disposal.

·Deliverable 2.3 Defined referral pathways between NSPs, rehabilitation, correctional health, and reintegration programmes.

·Deliverable 2.4 Standardised forms and SOPs for safe, ethical referral from NSPs to rehabilitation and vice versa.

·Deliverable 2.5 Monitoring and reporting tools aligned with MHMS and drug rehabilitation information systems.

Output 3: Workforce and System Capacity Strengthened: build technical and managerial capacity across the health system, focusing on the PMO as the national lead.

·Deliverable 3.1 Competency-based training curriculum for harm reduction, NSPs, and rehabilitation linkages.

·Deliverable 3.2 Training-of-Trainers sessions for clinicians, outreach teams, and CSOs.

·Deliverable 3.3 Supportive supervision and mentoring tools embedded in MHMS structures.

·Deliverable 3.4 System readiness report identifying human resource, data, and logistics needs.

·Deliverable 3.5 Integration of trauma-informed, gender-sensitive, and SOGIESIC-inclusive approaches into all training.

Output 4: Stakeholder and Community Engagement Strengthened: enhance multi-sector coordination and build trust across justice, social protection, and community systems.

·Deliverable 4.1 Functioning multi-sector harm-reduction and rehabilitation coordination group with clear TORs.

·Deliverable 4.2 Engagement protocols and referral pathways with Fiji Corrections Service, Police, and community-based rehabilitation partners.

·Deliverable 4.3 Peer-led and community dialogues co-facilitated with the PMO to strengthen stigma reduction and safety.

·Deliverable 4.4 Communication materials and advocacy tools aligned with WHO and MHMS messaging on harm reduction and recovery.

Output 5: Monitoring, Evaluation and Scale-Up Readiness: establish a unified M&E framework for NSPs linked to Fiji’s drug rehabilitation and public health systems.

·Deliverable 5.1 Indicator framework integrating NSP, HIV, hepatitis, and rehabilitation data.

·Deliverable 5.2 Baseline data collection and pilot testing of digital data entry tools.

·Deliverable 5.3 Quarterly analytical reports co-authored with the PMO and MHMS staff.

·Deliverable 5.4 Evaluation report with recommendations for national scale-up and sustainability.

Output 6: Twinning and Mentorship with the National Harm Reduction and Drug Health Programme Officer (PMO) and other identified personnel: mentor and capacitate the PMO (and other identified personnel) to assume full technical and operational leadership of harm-reduction and drug-health programming.

·Deliverable 6.1 Twinning and mentorship plan with defined competencies, milestones, and success indicators.

·Deliverable 6.2 Regular structured mentorship sessions covering policy development, service integration, and supervision.

·Deliverable 6.3 Joint technical missions, trainings, and coordination meetings co-led with the PMO.

·Deliverable 6.4 Final mentorship and transition report outlining capacity gains, lessons learned, and sustainability plan.

5.Qualifications, expertise, skills and languages

Educational Qualifications

oEssential: Bachelor's degree in public health, medicine, epidemiology, nursing, science or a related field.

oDesirable: Post graduate qualifications in one of the above fields.

Experience

Essential:

oMinimum 7 years’ experience in harm-reduction, rehabilitation linkages, and integrated HIV/STI/TB programming including NSP design and implementation.

oProven expertise in policy development, enabling legal and policy frameworks for drug-health services, community-based HIV prevention, and capacity building.

oExperience working with government and civil-society partners in low-resource settings, with strong coordination, technical writing, and stakeholder engagement skills.

oSkilled in training, mentoring, and supervision.

oKnowledge of trauma-informed, gender-sensitive, and inclusive care approaches.

oStrong analytical, facilitation, and communication abilities.

Desirable:

oExperience of working with the UN system and experience of working in the Western Pacific Region is an advantage.

Skills / Technical skills and knowledge

Essential:

oStrong technical expertise in HIV harm reduction, needle syringe programs and WHO-aligned standards.

oKnowledge of policy development, regulatory analysis and translating guidelines into operational tools.

oExperience designing community-led service delivery models, referral pathways and monitoring systems.

oSkills in training, mentoring and building capacity of health workers, CSOs and peer networks.

oAbility to coordinate multi-sector groups and facilitate engagement with key populations.

oStrong data, monitoring and evaluation skills, including indicators, reporting tools and pilot assessments.

Desirable:

oExperience working in Pacific health systems or similar settings.

oKnowledge of PrEP implementation in high-risk populations.

oSkills in stigma-reduction communication and community safety approaches.

Languages

oEssential: Expert knowledge of English

6.Competencies

·Building and promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond

·Teamwork

·Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences

·Promoting WHO’s position in health leadership

7.Location

The consultancy will be in Fiji for eleven months.

8.Medical clearance

The selected Consultant will be expected to provide a medical certificate of fitness for work.

9.Travel

The Consultant is expected to travel to Fiji.

10.Remuneration and budget:

·Remuneration: Band level B (Daily wage rate USD 350 – 499)

·Living expenses: A living expense is payable to on-site consultants who are internationally recruited based on the daily subsistence allowance for Suva, Fiji.

·Expected duration of contract:11 months.

Additional Information:

·This vacancy notice may be used to identify candidates for other similar consultancies at the same level.

• Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.
• A written test may be used as a form of screening.
• If your candidature is retained for interview, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. WHO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed through the link: http://www.whed.net/. Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and will require individual review.
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The WHO is committed to achieving gender parity and geographical diversity in its workforce. Women, persons with disabilities, and nationals of unrepresented and underrepresented Member States (https://www.who.int/careers/diversity-equity-and-inclusion) are strongly encouraged to apply for WHO jobs.

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• WHO has zero tolerance towards sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct (i.e., discrimination, abuse of authority and harassment). All members of the WHO workforce have a role to play in promoting a safe and respectful workplace and should report to WHO any actual or suspected cases of SEA, sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct. To ensure that individuals with a substantiated history of SEA, sexual harassment or other types of abusive conduct are not hired by the Organization, WHO will conduct a background verification of short-listed candidates.
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