Request For Expression Of Interest For The Hiring Of An External Community Health Consultant To Support Residency Trainng Programme In Sierra Leone

MINISTRY OF HEALTH

INTEGRATED HEALTH PROJECTS ADMINISTRATION UNIT

Date: 3^rd NOVEMBER 2025

INDIVIDUAL CONSULTANCY

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST FOR THE HIRING OF AN EXTERNAL COMMUNITY HEALTH CONSULTANT TO SUPPORT RESIDENCY TRAINNG PROGRAMME IN SIERRA LEONE

Background and Rationale

The Ministry of Health in collaboration with the West African College of Physicians (WACP), the University of Sierra Leone Teaching Hospitals Complex (USLTHC) and the Sierra Leone Council for Postgraduate Colleges of Health Specialties are working toward strengthening the community health workforce through competency-based residency training of specialist doctors to improve quality, coverage, and continuity of care across the country. A structured residency training program in Community Health is required to standardize competencies, align with national policies and regulatory frameworks, and ensure sustainable capacity development. Funds have been provided under the Large Anonymous Donor (LAD) support to facilitate the recruitment of an expatriate community health consultant who will support in the design and implementation of a robust residency training programme.

The consultancy will support the Department of Community Health under the USLTHC, MoH and other key stakeholders to design, implement, supervise, monitor and evaluate the training programme.

Purpose of the Assignment

To develop and support the initial implementation of an accredited, competency-based Community Health residency training program in Sierra Leone, aligned with the principles of the West African College of Physicians, Faculty of Community Health, national priorities, and international best practices.

Objectives of the consultancy:

• To support in designing and implementing a comprehensive residency training program in community health for Sierra Leone. (tracks, duration, rotations, and competency framework).

• To build the capacity of Fellows in the Department of Community Health in running a community health residency programme.

• To advocate for support for the residency training programme through the Ministry of Health and other in-country partners

• Define and design the residency training plan.

• Produce an implementation plan, including faculty development, clinical training, site readiness, supervision models, and M&E.

Scope of Work and Key deliverables

• Inception and Stakeholder Engagement (2 weeks from contract start).)

• • Hold inception meetings with fellows of the Faculty and Chief Medical Director of the University of Sierra Leone Teaching Hospitals Complex to refine scope, deliverables, and timelines.

  • Produce an inception report with methodology, work plan, and validated stakeholder map.

• Situational Analysis (2-4 weeks)

• Assess training site readiness and supervision capacity (Urban, PHU, Rural postings site, community platforms) and supervision capacity

• Assess readiness of trainees

• Identify priority competencies and geographic considerations.

• . Residency Design and Competency Framework 4-12 weeks)

• Define residency objectives, entry criteria, duration, rotations (Urban PHU, under-fives clinic, wellness clinic, family planning, TB and HIV clinics, occupational health, Health policy planning and management, public health/field epidemiology, RMNCH, NCDs, mental health, surveillance, health promotion), and case-mix requirements.

• Develop competency domains (clinical, public health, leadership/ management, quality improvement, research, social/community engagement, health systems, data use).

• . Training plan (Curriculum, monitoring, and Assessment,) 12-20 weeks)

• Prepare detailed training plan (faculty curriculum, teaching/learning methods, rotation guides, presentations, logbooks, e-learning components).

• Design assessment system (workplace-based assessments, OSCE/OSPHE, research project, final exams).

• Draft faculty requirements, governance structures, and policies (supervision ratios, duty hours, ethics, safeguarding).

• Review accreditation package for second accreditation exercise: standards checklist, self-study, policies and procedures, and submission documentation for relevant councils/colleges.

• Implementation of Plan –(20- 52 weeks)

• Organizing presentations by trainers for trainees
• Presentations by trainers
• Supervision of trainees in their rotational sites
• Meetings with faculty fellows and review of training plan
• Report writing

. Reporting and Management

• Contracting Authority: Integrated Health Project Authority Unit, Ministry of Health (MoH)

• Technical Lead/Supervisor: Chief Medical Director, University of Sierra Leone Teaching Hospitals Complex

• Reporting: Bimonthly formal progress updates; formal deliverable submissions as per section 5.

• Location, Travel, and Logistics

• Primary duty station: Freetown, with field travel to selected training sites.

• The client will facilitate introductions, letters, and access to facilities; consultant arranges own logistics.

• Consultant permitted to travel for one week every quarter

• Duration of consultancy

• Duration: 12 Calendar months from contract signature.

• Consultant Qualifications

• Fellow of the West African College of Physicians, Faculty of Community Health, preferably a professor and examiner in the College

• Advanced degree in Public Health, Community Medicine could be an advantage.

• Minimum 10 years’ experience in postgraduate/ residency program design and accreditation, preferably in West Africa or similar contexts.

• Demonstrated expertise in CBME, curriculum and assessment design, faculty development, and clinical training site strengthening.

• Experience engaging with ministries of health, universities, and professional councils/colleges.

• Excellent facilitation, stakeholder engagement, and writing skills; proficiency in English required.

• A Knowledge of Sierra Leone’s health system and community health challenges could be an advantage

Budget and Payment Schedule.

• Monthly salary is negotiable, and payment is based on submission of approved monthly official report to the Chief Medical Director

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 kehinde.oluwadiya@uslthc.edu.sl by: 4:00 pm Local Time, Monday 1^st December 2025. (Note: only scanned copies of original certificates should be submitted. Application should be addressed to:

The Chief Medical Director

University of Sierra Leone Teaching Hospitals Complex (USLTHC)

21 Percival Street, 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.