Technical Advisor Residency Programme, Njala University

MINISTRY OF HEALTH

INTEGRATED HEALTH PROJECTS ADMINISTRATION UNIT

VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT

CONSULTANCY FOR THE HIRING OF A TECHNICAL ADVISOR -RESIDENCY PROGRAMME, NJALA UNIVERSITY NEW MEDICAL SCHOOL & HEALTH WORKFORCE REFORM

Date of Issue: 22^nd August 2025

Duty Station: Freetown, Sierra Leone, with regular travel to selected training institutions and health facilities.

Reports to: Head of Postgraduate College of Health Specialties., work in close collaboration with the HRH Directorate.

Duration: 8 months. This assignment focuses on strengthening the implementation of the national Residency Programme, while technically co-leading the revision of the HRH Strategy in line with the Ministry’s health workforce development priorities.

1. Background

The Ministry of Health (MoH) recognizes that a well-trained, equitably distributed, and sustainably supported health workforce is foundational to achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and resilient health systems. In line with this, the Government has launched a national Residency Programme, a critical milestone in reducing dependency on external training and building in-country specialist capacity.

The Residency Programme, led by the Sierra Leone Council for Postgraduate Colleges of Health Specialties (SLCPCHS), is in its early stages and requires strategic and operational guidance to become fully functional, aligned with national HRH goals, and responsive to health system needs.

Complementing this effort is the need to revise the national Human Resources for Health (HRH) Strategy, which expired in 2021. Despite ongoing reforms, gaps remain in policy coherence, workforce planning, deployment systems, and institutional coordination. Notably, HRH remains one of the three pillars of the National Health Sector Strategic Plan (NHSSP) 2021–2025, reinforcing its continued relevance.

To this end, MoH seeks a qualified Technical Advisor (TA) to support the design and institutionalization of the Residency Programme while concurrently leading the revision of the HRH Strategy and aligning it with long-term workforce reforms.

2. Objectives of the Assignment

• Provide technical and strategic guidance for the design, roll-out, and early-stage operationalization of the national Residency Programme.

• Provide technical leadership on the revision of the national HRH Strategy, ensuring alignment with the Residency Programme, PHC strengthening, and emerging service delivery priorities.

• Support development of governance, supervision, financing, and regulatory frameworks for both the Residency Programme and broader HRH reforms.

• Facilitate multisectoral coordination and institutional capacity-building to ensure long-term sustainability of workforce development efforts.

3. Scope of Work and Key Responsibilities

A. Residency Programme Design and Operationalization

• Provide strategic advice and technical support to the Postgraduate College on Residency Programme structure, governance, and accreditation.

• Support the development/review of training pathways, supervision frameworks, and clinical rotation models for residency candidates.

• Assist in designing mechanisms for programme quality assurance, faculty development, and integration with service delivery platforms.

• Facilitate costing and financing options for scaling the Residency Programme.

• Provide technical and advisory support to Njala University new medical training school, as needed and within the scope of the advisor’s mandate, in response to emerging institutional priorities.

B. Strategic Workforce Planning and HRH Strategy

• Provide technical leadership on the review of the national HRH Strategy, using data from the Residency Programme and other workforce pipelines to inform long-term planning.

• Align workforce forecasts with national service packages and specialist production targets.

• Propose realistic, costed implementation roadmap and accountability mechanisms for the HRH Strategy.

C. Deployment, Retention, and Incentive Systems

• Assess current deployment patterns and propose models for equitable placement of Residency graduates and other critical cadres.

• Recommend retention and incentive strategies tailored to underserved areas, including regulatory and contractual mechanisms.

• Align deployment and incentive models with broader HRH financing reforms.

D. Stakeholder Engagement and Intersectoral Coordination

• Provide technical support for inter-ministerial and institutional coordination such as MoH directorates, training institutions, regulatory councils, and ministries (Education, Finance).

• Support the convening of technical working groups and steering committees for both the Residency Programme and HRH reform.

• Promote harmonization of roles and investment across sectors and partners.

E. Documentation and Dissemination

• Provide technical leadership for a structured documentation of the Residency Programme development and roll-out process, capturing early lessons, decision points, challenges, and enabling factors.

• Prepare technical briefs, strategic memos, and regular updates to inform policy-makers and development partners.

• Deliver a final technical report that includes process documentation, strategic recommendations, and sustainability considerations.

4. Deliverables

Thematic Area	Key Deliverables
Inception Phase	Inception Report with approach, work plan, and stakeholder engagement strategy
Residency Programme	Residency Programme operational framework Clinical rotation models, faculty guidelines, and costing options
HRH Strategy & Planning	Revised HRH Strategy document Prioritized, costed implementation roadmap
Deployment & Incentives	Strategic options for graduate deployment and retention Integration model with PHC and underserved areas
Stakeholder Engagement	Technical working group reports Draft MOUs or coordination frameworks across ministries
Capacity Building	Training materials and SOPs Mentoring summary and institutional transition package
Documentation & Reporting	Final report Strategic briefs Dissemination presentation decks

5. Qualifications and Experience

• A medical degree (MBBS, MD or equivalent) is required; an advanced degree in Public Health, Health Systems, or a related field is a strong advantage.

• Minimum 10 years of progressive experience in health workforce development, medical education systems, or postgraduate training programme design and implementation.

• Proven experience advising national Ministries of Health or medical education councils on specialist training, HRH strategies, or academic policy.

• Familiarity with postgraduate clinical supervision models, training rotations, and performance monitoring tools.

• Demonstrated ability to lead process documentation, stakeholder engagement, and multisectoral coordination.

• Knowledge of HRH planning tools (e.g., WISN, HRIS), health labor market dynamics, and WHO Workforce 2030 standards.

• Excellent written and oral communication skills, with a track record of producing high-quality strategic and technical documentation.

6. Application Process

To apply, please send your application (a mandatory cover letter and an updated CV with at least 3 references) to the following email address: awsuma@mohsihpau.gov.sl for the attention of SahrGevao@gmail.com by: 4:00 pm Local Time, Friday 19^th September 2025. (Note: only scanned copies of original certificates should be submitted. Application should be addressed to:

Atten: Alpha Umaru Jalloh

Team Lead / Funds Management Specialist

Integrated Health Projects Administration Unit (IHPAU)

Ministry of Health,

Address: 23 Cantonment Road, Off King Harman Road

Freetown, Sierra Leone

IMPORTANT NOTE: Only email applications sent to the above email address will be included in the pool of applicants to be assessed by MoH. No hand deliveries will be accepted. Please also note that your CV should contain your full contact details such as residence address, working mobile telephone number, working email address, as well as those of your three referees.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for interview and selected candidates will be required to sign a contractual agreement with the Government of Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Health.