Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health System Expert

Bangladesh has strengthened its commitment to the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and mental health through national policies, strategies and multisectoral initiatives, including the Joint Declaration on NCD Prevention endorsed by 35 Ministries and Divisions.

The effective implementation of these commitments requires continued strengthening of the health system, including service delivery, primary health care integration, essential medicines and supplies, health information systems, workforce capacity, programme monitoring and coordination across relevant levels of the health system. WHO Bangladesh is supporting the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MOHFW) and the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) to strengthen NCD and mental health prevention, early detection, treatment and long-term management, and to integrate NCD and mental health considerations into primary health care and broader health-system strengthening.

There is a need for dedicated technical and implementation support to assist government counterparts in translating policy and programme priorities into practical workplans, implementation actions, monitoring arrangements and timely follow-up.

The National UN Volunteer will support WHO Bangladesh to strengthen implementation of priority NCD and mental health interventions within the health sector, with particular emphasis on MOHFW and DGHS. The UNV will provide technical, operational and coordination support to relevant government units to advance agreed NCD and mental health priorities, including health-system strengthening, service delivery, primary health care integration, essential medicines and supplies, health information systems, workforce capacity and programme monitoring. The UNV will work closely with WHO technical teams, MOHFW, DGHS and other relevant government counterparts to translate agreed priorities into practical implementation actions, identify bottlenecks, facilitate technical inputs, monitor progress and support timely completion of agreed activities.

The assignment may also contribute to implementation of health-sector actions arising from the NCD Joint Declaration, but the primary focus of this position will be implementation within MOHFW and DGHS and strengthening the health-system response to NCDs and mental health.

The National UN Volunteer will provide technical, operational and coordination support to WHO and government counterparts to strengthen implementation of priority NCD and mental health interventions within MOHFW and DGHS. The assignment will focus on health-system strengthening, primary health care integration, essential medicines and supplies, health information systems, workforce capacity, service delivery, emergency preparedness and healthy ageing. The UNV will coordinate relevant WHO technical inputs, support implementation planning and follow-up, track progress, identify bottlenecks and document results. The UNV will also provide targeted support to selected NCD Joint Declaration/MSAP actions linked to the health sector, in coordination with the multisectoral action function.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Support implementation of priority NCD and mental health health-system interventions

• Support DGHS to translate agreed NCD and mental health priorities into implementation workplans and actions, including strengthening primary health care service delivery, essential medicines and supplies, workforce capacity, referral and follow-up, health information and digital systems, and integration of relevant NCD and mental health interventions into routine services, emergency preparedness and healthy ageing.

• Coordinate relevant WHO technical inputs, support DGHS consultations and implementation reviews, and follow up on agreed actions, timelines and technical requirements.

• Maintain DGHS implementation trackers, identify implementation gaps and bottlenecks, and facilitate appropriate technical support or escalation.

• Prepare and contribute to situational analyses, technical reports, briefing materials, donor reports, meeting documentation and periodic implementation updates, consolidating progress, achievements, gaps and priority follow-up actions.

• Perform other related duties and provide additional support as requested by the supervisor, in line with the objectives of the assignment.

2. Support NCD & mental health Joint Declaration/MSAP implementation

• Provide targeted technical and coordination support to selected Ministries/Divisions, as assigned, to translate relevant Joint Declaration/MSAP commitments into priority actions, timelines and implementation follow-up, with a focus on NCDs, mental health and injury prevention.

• Coordinate relevant WHO technical inputs and follow up with designated government focal points on agreed actions, implementation progress and technical or coordination needs.

• Provide inputs to the overall Joint Declaration/MSAP implementation tracker and reporting, including key progress, bottlenecks and follow-up actions, in coordination with the lead multisectoral focal point.

Key Deliverables:
• DGHS NCD and mental health implementation workplans and trackers covering agreed health-system priorities, with progress, gaps and follow-up actions documented.
• Technical and reporting products, including agreed situational analyses, technical/briefing reports, donor reports and periodic implementation updates.
• Targeted Joint Declaration/MSAP support to selected Ministries/Divisions, including documented technical inputs and follow-up on assigned NCD, mental health and injury-prevention commitments.
• Inputs to consolidated Joint Declaration/MSAP tracking and reporting on assigned health-sector actions, including progress, bottlenecks and priority follow-up actions.