Consultant - Develop a framework on anticipatory action for the Health Sector in Nepal

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, with a network of 191-member National Societies (NSs). The overall aim of IFRC is “to inspire, encourage, facilitate, and promote at all times all forms of humanitarian activities by NSs with a view to preventing and alleviating human suffering and thereby contributing to the maintenance and promotion of human dignity and peace in the world.” IFRC works to meet the needs and improve the lives of vulnerable people before, during and after disasters, health emergencies and other crises.

IFRC is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (Movement), together with its member National Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The work of IFRC is guided by the following fundamental principles: humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity, and universality.

IFRC is led by its Secretary General, and has its Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. The Headquarters are organized into three main Divisions: (i) National Society Development and Operations Coordination; (ii) Global Relations, Humanitarian Diplomacy and Digitalization; and (iii) Management Policy, Strategy and Corporate Services.

IFRC has five regional offices in Africa, Asia Pacific, Middle East and North Africa, Europe, and the Americas. IFRC also has country cluster delegations and country delegations throughout the world. Together, the Geneva Headquarters and the field structure (regional, cluster and country) comprise the IFRC Secretariat.

Develop a framework on anticipatory action for the Health Sector in Nepal

Nepal is increasingly exposed to climate and weather hazards, including floods, landslides, heatwaves, cold waves, drought, air pollution, and climate-sensitive diseases. These hazards have significant impacts on population health, disrupting essential health services, and placing considerable strain on the capacity of the health system. At the same time, advances in hydrometeorological forecasting, climate science, and early warning systems have substantially improved the ability to predict many hazards before they occur. This creates an important opportunity for Nepal to shift from a predominantly reactive approach to one that emphasizes anticipatory, forecast-based and risk-informed actions undertaken before hazards materialize.

Within the health sector, anticipatory action enables timely interventions that reduce the impacts of predictable hazards on health systems and vulnerable populations. Such interventions may include pre-positioning essential medicines and medical supplies, strengthening disease surveillance and early detection systems, mobilizing health personnel, enhancing risk communication and community engagement, protecting critical health infrastructure and ensuring the continuity of essential health services. By acting ahead of anticipated hazards, these measures can significantly reduce morbidity, mortality, and the economic and social costs associated with disasters.

In May 2026, the Government of Nepal endorsed the National Anticipatory Action Framework, providing a common policy and operational framework for implementing anticipatory action across sectors. The framework establishes key components including risk and impact information systems, forecast-based trigger mechanisms, predefined early actions, coordination arrangements and pre-arranged financing to enable timely and effective action before disasters occur.

The Ministry of Health and Food Safety (MOHFS) is responsible for formulating health policies, planning and coordinating the health sector and overseeing the delivery of public health services at federal, provincial, district and community levels. The Ministry also leads national efforts to strengthen health emergency preparedness and response, safeguard food safety and quality, and enhance the resilience of the health system to current and emerging risks.

To operationalize the National Anticipatory Action Framework within the health sector, the MoHFS has designated the Nepal Red Cross Society (NRCS) to facilitate the development of an operational framework on anticipatory action for the health sector (hereafter referred to as ‘Framework’). This Framework will translate national policy commitments into practical, sector-specific guidance for the health sector by adopting a multi-hazard, multi-level, and system-wide approach to anticipatory action. This can strengthen the integration of early warning and disease surveillance systems, establish health-specific triggers and early actions, define institutional roles and coordination mechanisms across federal, provincial, and local levels, and support the continuity of essential health services before, during, and after anticipated hazards. The framework will also seek to align anticipatory action with existing health emergency and disaster risk management systems while identifying implementation priorities and financing considerations to enable timely action.

The Framework will be developed under the technical leadership of the National Health Emergency Operation Center (NHEOC) and with oversight from a Task Team, comprising of representatives from the MoHFS, Epidemiology and Disease Control Division (EDCD), Department of Hydrology and Meteorology (DHM), National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA), Nepal Red Cross Society (NRCS), World Health Organization (WHO), and other relevant institutions. The development process will involve extensive consultation with federal, provincial, and local health authorities, disaster risk management agencies, technical experts, academic institutions, humanitarian partners, and other relevant stakeholders to ensure that the framework is evidence-based, inclusive, nationally owned, and aligned with existing government systems and priorities.

To support the development of the national framework on anticipatory action for the health sector, the Nepal Red Cross Society seeks to engage a qualified consultancy firm or a team of consultants. Working closely with NRCS, the NHEOC, and the Task Team, the selected consultants will undertake consultations with key stakeholders across relevant sectors at the national, provincial, and local levels, review existing policies and technical guidance, and facilitate the drafting of the Framework. These Terms of Reference outline the objectives, scope of work, methodology, deliverables, and timeline for the consultancy.

The objective of this consultancy is to support MoHFS, Government of Nepal, and the NRCS in developing the operational framework on anticipatory action for the health sector, which will operationalize the National Anticipatory Action Framework 2026 within Nepal's health sector.

The Framework shall be developed in close consultation with the MoHFS, the NHEOC, and the Framework Development Task Team. The consultancy will include a comprehensive review of relevant policies, frameworks, and evidence; consultations with key stakeholders at the federal, provincial, and local levels; and the preparation of a Framework that provides strategic and operational guidance for integrating anticipatory action into the health sector.

In addition, the consultancy will develop a time-bound action plan covering a period of five years to support the implementation of the Framework. The Action Plan should define priority actions, implementation timelines, institutional roles and responsibilities, resource requirements, coordination arrangements, and monitoring and reporting mechanisms, and be developed in consultation with the MoHFS and relevant stakeholders.

The Framework and the accompanying Action Plan shall be developed in English, with final endorsed versions translated into Nepali in consultation with the MoHFS. (If the Ministry prefers the primary drafting language to be Nepali, this provision can be revised accordingly.)

Click on the links below for detailed TOR and Annexes

TOR_POLICY CONSULTANT_HEALTH FRAMEWORK

Annex I - Terms and Conditions for Service Contracts

Annex II- Declaration of Undertaking

Annex III- IFRC Supplier Registration Form

Interested individuals and company should submit the following documents to Ms Aliza Baidya at [email protected]  by 05 Aug 2026. Please be informed that the Technical and financial proposals must be submitted as separate documents/file. Incomplete proposals in all respects and proposals submitted after the deadline will not be considered.

Companies that do not submit the proof of existence and compliances listed under (section 13 required documents) will not be considered for evaluation process.

https://www.jobsnepal.com/consultant-develop-a-framework-on-anticipatory-action-for-the-health-sector-in-nepal-143329