Request for Expression of Interest, Individual Consultant, Health Planner
Assignment: Health Planner
Reference: TO-TON-MOH-534215-CS-INDV
Client/Employer: Project Management Unit (PMU), Ministry of Health (MOH)
Project Number: P508550
Start/Deadline for REOI: March 23rd till 6th April 2026, 04:30 PM (Tongan Time)
The Kingdom of Tonga has received financing from the World Bank towards the Ministry of Health (MOH) as the Implementing Agency for the Pacific Healthy Islands Transformation (PHIT) Project in Tonga, to deliver on the project development objective, of strengthening access to quality health services within participating Pacific Island Countries, with a focus on Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) management. PHIT will complement and boost the impact of existing national health systems investments, including the HEART Project (P180965).
The Pacific Healthy Islands Transformation (PHIT) Project (P508550) is a USD13.7 million grant financed by the World Bank (WB) through the International Development Association (IDA). PHIT Project is a regional project involving Fiji, Kiribati, Tonga, and Tuvalu.
The PHIT project is designed as a suite of regional investments to support the transformation of Pacific health systems into fit-for-purpose primary health care (PHC) oriented health systems that promote health and deliver adequate preventive and curative services in the region. The PMU will play a crucial role in overseeing and managing the implementation process, ensuring that all activities are carried out in accordance with established standards and guidelines. The PMU is staffed with a Project Manager and workstream Officers in different fields (Procurement, Safeguards, Financial Management, Administration and Data management).
The main objectives of the Health Planner’s assignment are to work under the direction of the Health Advisor (in the HEART Project) to successfully implement the planned activities under the two Projects (Heart & PHIT) in a way that enhances health care access, quality and efficiency in line with evidence-based practice, and the Tongan context. Under the direction of the HA, the Health Planner will also be available to the MOH for advisory support in health service planning or other health-related activities. These objectives may be refined as the World Bank funded projects evolve, particularly PHIT which is in its very early stages of implementation arrangements.
This is a full-time position, contract years will be finalized before awarded and also extendable annually upon mutual understanding and performance up to end of the duration of the project.
The detailed Terms of Reference (TOR) for the assignment can be obtain from Semisi Fukofuka, fukofukas [at] health [dot] gov [dot] to or Jawwad Rashid, jawadtcsu [at] gmail [dot] com or ‘Unaloto Palaki, upalaki [at] finance [dot] gov [dot] to
The Ministry of Health now invites eligible individuals (“Consultants”) to indicate their interest in providing the Services. Interested Consultants should provide information demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the Services (attach curriculum vitae with description of qualifications, experience in similar assignments, similar conditions, etc.).
The criteria for selecting the Consultant are:
EXPERTISE REQUIREMENTS
Academic Background and Relevant Experience
Minimum Requirements
The Health Planner must:
Education: (20%)
- Minimum Bachelor’s Degree, preferably a Master’s Degree in Health Administration, Policy, Planning or other relevant discipline from an accredited tertiary education provider. A Fellowship of an accredited specialist or professional College or other training provider (such as the Royal Australasian College of Medical Administrators or the Australasian College of Health Service Management) would be regarded as the equivalent of a Master’s degree.
Experience: (50%)
- Demonstrated minimum three (3) years of relevant and recent professional experience in the last fifteen (15) years in health sector administration, management, planning, policy, and project work. (Base year 2010).
- Demonstrated experience of one (1) year in an advisory role to policy makers on health sector planning, clinical service planning and M&E would be an advantage.
- Experience with multilateral development banks (eg World Bank, ADB), or large bilateral programs (New Zealand or Australian Technical Assistance Programs) would be considered an advantage.
- Demonstrated experience working with regional organizations in the health sector (eg UN, Secretariat of the Pacific Community) on related work is also an advantage.
- Demonstrated working experience with MOH or other health stakeholders in Tonga would be an advantage.
Skills & Knowledge: (30%)
Demonstrated skills and knowledge in the following:
- Knowledge of health sector in Tonga or equivalent country: Background and experience in the health sector in Tonga, and/or with experience in other similar settings in the South Pacific region.
- Analytical skills: Proven policy development, delivery and analytical skills software & Computer skills: computer skills including Microsoft Office software especially MS word, excel spreadsheets, Power Point, Outlook etc.
- Communication skills: Excellent professional oral and written communication skills in English, including via email, audio/video conference, and face-to-face with health and non-health officials. Proficiency in Tongan is an advantage.
- Organizational skills: Ability to work under pressure meeting project implementation timelines and deadlines.
- Process oriented skills: Have strong skills in process development and orientation.
- Teamwork: Effective teamwork skills, and collaboration with a range of stakeholders in an inclusive manner is necessary.
- Work Ethics: Proven high level of personal integrity and commitment to national and international professional work ethics and standards.
- Site visit and project monitoring skills: Willingness to travel within Tonga (ie to the outer islands) for visiting sites and monitoring project works.
Scoring:
Candidates that meet the above minimum requirements will be scored in accordance with the following criteria.
|
Evaluation Criteria |
Maximum score |
|
1. General Qualifications (Education) |
20 |
|
2. Adequacy for the Assignment (relevant education, training, experience in the sector/similar assignments) |
50 |
|
3. Essential Skills, Knowledge and Competencies and other personal aptitudes as detailed under the ToRs-Evaluation Criteria |
30 |
The remuneration package for this position is attractive and will be determined based on qualifications, experience, and previous remunerations for similar assignments.
Further information can be obtained at the email above during office hours 08:30 to 16:30 hours weekdays.
Applicants that are civil servants of Tonga at the time of application are only eligible to apply, if a copy of the Savingram from the Tonga PSC informing resignation effective date of the applicant must be submitted together with their EOI application before the deadline of the REOI.
A firm is eligible to nominate an individual – however, note that only the experience and qualifications of the nominated individual shall be used in the selection process, and that (their) corporate experience shall not be considered. The firm, if proposing an individual, must specify whether the contract would be signed with the firm or the proposed individual.
The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to SECTION III paragraph 3.14, 3.16 and 3.17 of the World Bank’s Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers, dated February 2025 sixth edition (“the Regulations”), setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest. A Consultant will be selected in accordance with Paragraph 7.22, 7.25, 7.36 to 7.37 of the Procurement Regulations.
INSTRUCTION FOR SUBMISSION:
Expressions of interest must be delivered in a written form to the address below in person, (or by e-mail) no later than the time and date mentioned above (Deadline for REOI)
Attention to:
Dr Reynold ‘Ofanoa
Chief Executive Officer
Ministry of Health,
Tofoa, Nuku’alofa,
Tel: +676 740-0700
Address for Hard -copy submissions: Administration Building, Ministry of Health, Tofoa, Nuku’alofa, Tonga.
E-mail for electronic Submission: fukofukas [at] health [dot] gov [dot] to and jrashid [at] finance [dot] gov [dot] to
and MUSTCOPY to: jawadtcsu [at] gmail [dot] com and upalaki [at] finance [dot] gov [dot] to
Documents that MUST be submitted:
- Cover Letter (addressed to the CEO, Ministry of Health)
- Curriculum Vitae of the Applicant (must include at least two referees.)
- Supporting Documents: Transcripts, certificates, supporting letter from referees, and any other document that may be of support to your application.
Please limit your CV to only 3-5 pages addressing each of the Selection Criteria with exact details.
--