SENIOR NATIONAL STTA - POPULATION POLICY ADVISOR

(E4H FED TA: Strategic Policy Support to the Population Programme Wing (PPW) and Cross-cutting Strategic Support to M/o NHSR&C.)

Programme Overview

Evidence for Health (E4H) is a Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO)-funded programme aimed at strengthening Pakistan's healthcare system, thereby decreasing the burden of illness and saving lives. E4H provides technical assistance (TA) to the Federal, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), and Punjab governments, and is being implemented by Palladium along with Oxford Policy Management (OPM).

Through its flexible, embedded, and demand-driven model, E4H supports the government to achieve a resilient health system that is prepared for health emergencies, responsive to the latest evidence, and delivers equitable, quality, and efficient healthcare services. Specifically, E4H delivers TA across three outputs:

Output 1: Strengthened integrated health security, with a focus on preparing and responding to health emergencies, including pandemics.

Output 2: Strengthened evidence-based decision-making to drive health sector performance and accountability.

Output 3: Improved implementation of Universal Health Coverage, with a focus on ending preventable deaths.

Background

Population planning has been part of Pakistan’s national development agenda since 1955, and the country has one of the longest-established family planning programmes in the region. Following the 18th Constitutional Amendment in 2010, the Federal Ministry of Population Welfare was dissolved and the Population Welfare Programme was devolved to the provinces. To retain a federal policy and coordination function, the Population Programme Wing (PPW) was subsequently established under the Planning and Development Division and transferred in 2013 to the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations & Coordination (M/o NHSR&C), where it currently operates under the Director General (Population).

The PPW’s mandate is therefore positioned at the intersection of population policy, national development planning and international engagement. Its core functions include:

• developing policies and plans for the population programme;
• mainstreaming population considerations into development planning; and
• managing engagement with countries and international organisations on population planning.

This role has become increasingly important given Pakistan’s continuing demographic pressures. Pakistan’s population is estimated at 262 million in 2026, making it the world’s fifth most populous country, with an intercensal growth rate of 2.55% and a total fertility rate (TFR) of 3.6. Continued population growth is placing increasing pressure on health, education, employment, food, water and environmental resources. Without effective interventions, the population could reach approximately 389 million by 2050. These demographic trends demonstrate that population stabilisation is not solely a population-sector issue, but is closely linked to human capital development, economic growth and the achievement of broader national development objectives.

Recognising these challenges, the Government has recently strengthened the institutional architecture for addressing population growth at the highest level. The Prime Minister established the National Population Council (NPC) on 3rd July 2026, chaired by the Prime Minister and comprising the Chief of Army Staff, all Chief Ministers and the Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK). The NPC mandate is to provide overall strategic direction for population stabilisation by building national consensus, setting priorities and reviewing progress against agreed indicators. It will oversee implementation of the National Population Stabilisation Programme and related strategies, strengthen federal-provincial and cross-sectoral coordination, address key implementation bottlenecks, and promote integration of population objectives into health, education, social protection and broader development planning.

The establishment of the NPC creates a high-level policy and accountability mechanism, but its effectiveness will depend on translating strategic decisions into coherent implementation actions across federal and provincial institutions. This is where the PPW’s mandate becomes particularly relevant. The PPW can serve as an important technical and policy interface between national population priorities and the wider development planning system, helping translate NPC decisions into population policies and strategies, support federal-provincial coordination, mainstream demographic considerations into development planning, and facilitate engagement with relevant national and international partners.

To complement the NPC mandate, the PPW, M/o NHSR&C, in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance, has developed a draft National Population Stabilisation Programme (NPSP) 2026–35. The NPSP provides a strategic framework for population stabilisation while recognising its interdependence with education, skills development, social protection and other human-capital priorities. It was presented at the national consultative meeting on 3 July 2026 and is organised around six strategic pillars: family planning; contraceptive commodities; female education and women’s empowerment; a multisectoral approach to population stabilisation; social and behaviour change communication; fiscal and policy environment; and data, monitoring and accountability.

Taken together, the NPC, NPSP and PPW provide complementary elements of the emerging population governance architecture: the NPC provides high-level strategic direction and coordination; the NPSP provides the strategic framework; and the PPW, within its federal mandate, can support policy coherence, development planning, coordination and technical follow-through. Strengthening this linkage will be critical to ensuring that high-level commitments are translated into prioritised actions, clearly defined institutional responsibilities, coordinated federal-provincial implementation, sustainable financing and systematic monitoring of results.

Population remains the primary technical focus of this assignment. To ensure adequate depth and clear accountability, the TA will be delivered through two distinct but complementary senior roles. A Senior Population Policy Advisor will provide dedicated technical and strategic support to PPW on the population agenda, including NPC engagement and NPSP implementation. A separate Senior Strategic Advisor – E4H Outputs 2 & 3 will provide targeted cross-cutting support to M/o NHSR&C and E4H on agreed priorities under Outputs 2 and 3, while coordinating closely with the existing Output 1 Lead where issues cut across outputs. The two roles will coordinate where population priorities intersect with the wider E4H portfolio, without duplicating output-level technical or managerial responsibilities.

Problem Statement

While the establishment of the NPC and development of the NPSP represent high-level political and policy commitments, effective implementation requires clear institutional responsibilities, coordinated federal-provincial action, financing and resource-mobilisation pathways, and systematic monitoring and follow-up. The PPW requires strategic and policy advisory support to strengthen its engagement with the NPC and translate the NPSP into implementable actions. The TA will strengthen PPW capacity for high-level policy engagement, federal-provincial coordination and decision follow-up, with progressive transfer of supported functions to government counterparts.

In addition, selected E4H-supported federal priorities under Outputs 2 and 3 require a senior strategic interface within M/o NHSR&C to connect technical work with Ministry decision-making, navigate institutional and political economy constraints, facilitate senior stakeholder engagement, and resolve or escalate policy and coordination bottlenecks. This function will be delivered through a separate Senior Strategic Advisor – E4H Outputs 2 & 3. The role will complement, not replace, the technical, managerial and operational responsibilities of existing Ministry and E4H teams.

Goal and Objectives

Overall Goal: To strengthen PPW’s strategic and policy capacity for NPC engagement and NPSP implementation, while providing a separate senior strategic function to M/o NHSR&C and E4H on selected priorities under E4H Outputs 2 and 3.

Specific Objectives: Population component: Strengthen PPW’s strategic engagement with the NPC and support translation of NPC decisions, and NPSC priorities into coordinated, implementable action, including federal-provincial and cross-sectoral follow-up.

Population component: Provide evidence-informed policy and decision support for population stabilisation, aligned with the NPSP, NHPP, ICPD, FP2030 and other relevant national commitments; facilitate partner and resource alignment; and strengthen PPW institutional capacity and government ownership through progressive transfer of supported functions.

Cross-cutting strategic component: Provide senior strategic support to M/o NHSR&C and E4H on agreed Output 2 and Output 3 priorities, focused on senior government/partner engagement, E4H visibility, strategic coherence, political economy/contextual advice, and resolution or escalation of policy and institutional bottlenecks.

Cross-cutting strategic component: Strengthen ownership and strategic coherence across agreed Output 2 and 3 priorities by clarifying responsible Ministry and E4H, coordinating with relevant Output Leads- including Output 1 where required- curating strategic TA opportunities, and ensuring structured handover of outstanding actions, while preserving output-level technical and managerial accountability.

Strategic Approach

• Contributions to health systems strengthening: This TA is an institutional-strengthening and senior strategic advisory intervention, not an operational delivery model. The Senior Population Policy Advisor will work with PPW, the NPC and relevant government mechanisms to strengthen population-policy engagement and NPSP implementation. In parallel, the Senior Strategic Advisor – E4H Outputs 2 & 3 will serve as a bounded senior strategic resource to M/o NHSR&C and E4H on selected Output 2 and 3 priorities, focused on senior engagement, strategic coherence, political economy/context, bottleneck resolution and decision follow-up. The two roles will coordinate where their mandates intersect, while day-to-day programme management and specialist technical delivery remain with the relevant government and E4H teams.
• Alignment with other E4H TAs/Investments/National Standards: The assignment is aligned with existing E4H TA streams and relevant national strategies, including the National Health and Population Policy 2026–35, and is in line with FCDO’s steer on supporting population agenda. The population component will connect population priorities with relevant E4H technical work. The cross-cutting strategic role will focus on Outputs 2 and 3 and will coordinate with the existing Output 1 Lead where cross-output issues arise, while preserving the technical accountability of individual TAs and Output Leads.
• Alignment with other donors: No direct financing from other development partners or CSOs is envisaged. Relevant partners will be engaged where required, particularly on NPSP and agreed cross-cutting priorities. The population component is aligned with ICPD commitments, FP2030 and relevant national and international frameworks.

Scope of Work

The assignment has two distinct but coordinated functions delivered by separate senior advisors: (i) substantive strategic and policy support to PPW on population, NPC engagement and NPSP implementation, led by the Senior Population Policy Advisor; and (ii) a bounded cross-cutting strategic advisory function for M/o NHSR&C and E4H on selected Output 2 and Output 3 priorities, led by the Senior Strategic Advisor – E4H Outputs 2 & 3.

Phase 1: Inception, Prioritisation and Workplan

Senior Population Policy Advisor:

• Confirm with the DG (Population) and PPW the roles, mandates and working arrangements of PPW, the NPC and other relevant institutions, including any matters requiring government clarification.
• Confirm the current status of the NPSP, PPW’s role, and the priority population functions and outputs to be supported under the assignment.
• Develop a prioritised population workplan aligned with NPC cycles, NPSP milestones, provincial consultations and PPW reporting requirements.
• Identify the PPW institutional owner, designated counterpart and alternate for each priority population function, with agreed responsibility-transfer milestones.
• Submit the Inception Report and prioritised Workplan to the DG (Population) for endorsement and E4H for approval.

Senior Strategic Advisor – E4H Outputs 2 & 3

• Agree with M/o NHSR&C and E4H the main Output 2 and Output 3 strategic priorities where the role can add value, with clear scope boundaries, decision pathways, relevant Ministry/E4H owners and coordination arrangements with the Output 1 Lead where required.
• Prepare a prioritised strategic support workplan setting out the agreed Output 2 and 3 priorities, expected products, timelines, dependencies, risks, escalation arrangements and indicative allocation of effort.
• Submit a separate Inception Report and Prioritised Strategic Support Workplan to the E4H Team Lead for approval, with confirmation from relevant Ministry and E4H owners.

Phase 2: Strategic Engagement and Implementation Support

The Senior Population Policy Advisor will lead Workstreams 1–3. The Senior Strategic Advisor – E4H Outputs 2 & 3 will lead Workstream 4. The two advisors will coordinate where population priorities intersect with the wider E4H portfolio.

Workstream 1: NPC and Strategic Policy Engagement 

• Provide strategic advice and support to PPW for engagement with the NPC and other high-level government forums on population stabilisation and related human-capital priorities.
• Support PPW to anticipate and respond to policy, technical and institutional issues arising from high-level engagements through rapid synthesis of evidence, options and implications for decision-makers.
• Translate NPC decisions and high-level policy directions into actionable follow-up, with clear responsibilities and timelines.
• Document NPC and other high-level decisions in an action matrix showing agreed actions, responsible institutions and individuals, timelines, dependencies, status and escalation points.
• Map potential partner support and domestic financing/resource-mobilisation opportunities for priority NPSP actions, identifying the prospective contribution, responsible owner with clear next steps for follow-up.
• Facilitate PPW engagement with relevant federal institutions, including M/o PD&SI, Finance Division, Economic Affairs Division, PM Office and other institutions required to advance population priorities.
• Advise PPW on strategic engagement with development partners, UN agencies, donors, civil society and other relevant stakeholders supporting population stabilisation, family planning and related priorities.

Workstream 2: NPSP Technical Inputs and Federal-Provincial Coordination

• Support PPW to provide health-sector technical inputs to the NPSP, consistent with the NHPP and Pakistan’s relevant ICPD and FP2030 commitments.
• Facilitate structured consultations with provinces and federating areas, synthesise their perspectives, and identify areas of convergence, implementation constraints and issues requiring higher-level resolution.
• Consolidate agreed provincial/federating-area priorities, constraints and responsibilities into a federal-provincial implementation matrix with clear follow-up actions.
• Route unresolved issues requiring higher-level decisions through the agreed NPC/Executive Committee governance arrangements.

Workstream 3: Decision Support, Monitoring and Reporting

• Agree with PPW the health-side NPSP indicators, reporting responsibilities and cycle, aligned with approved NPC/NPSP monitoring arrangements.
• Support PPW to prepare periodic progress reports and decision-ready updates for M/o NHSR&C leadership, the Executive Committee and NPC, as required.
• Maintain and periodically update the PPW-owned decision/action tracker and use it to inform progress reporting, senior-level follow-up and escalation.
• Prepare focused technical briefs and decision notes for NPC/NPSP and M/o NHSR&C senior-level decision-making, as required.

Workstream 4: Cross-cutting Strategic Support for E4H Outputs 2 and 3

• Maintain senior strategic relationships with relevant Ministry leadership, government institutions and development partners to advance agreed E4H Output 2 and 3 priorities and facilitate timely decisions, approvals and follow-up, including through relevant steering committees and donor coordination mechanisms.
• Facilitate FCDO meetings with senior-level leadership and represent E4H at relevant high-level forums for agreed Output 2 and 3 priorities, as agreed with the E4H Team Lead and relevant Output Leads.
• Coordinate closely with the existing Output 1 Lead and relevant E4H/HPSIU core and embedded teams where priorities, decisions or stakeholder engagements cut across outputs, ensuring that senior engagement and Ministry positioning complement rather than duplicate technical delivery or Output 1 leadership.
• Advise on political economy/context, reform feasibility, institutional dependencies, sequencing and emerging risks affecting agreed Output 2 and 3 priorities, and recommend strategic adjustments where required.
• Promote strategic coherence across Outputs 2 and 3, identify linkages with Output 1 where relevant, and identify, curate and help shape potential TA opportunities while considering synergies, dependencies, duplication and the appropriate E4H technical owner.
• Help resolve or escalate cross-cutting policy and institutional bottlenecks affecting Outputs 2 and 3 through targeted convening and senior-level engagement; where relevant, strengthen federal-provincial linkages and capture transferable lessons, coordinating with the Output 1 Lead on cross-output issues.
• Prepare biweekly strategic updates for E4H leadership/FCDO and maintain concise supporting records of senior engagements, decisions and approvals, bottlenecks and escalations, strategic risks, TA opportunities, responsible owners and agreed next steps.

Phase 3: Institutional Strengthening and Handover

Population

• led by the Senior Population Policy Advisor: Provide hands-on advisory support to senior PPW officials and relevant technical staff on policy analysis, strategic engagement, intergovernmental coordination, influencing and decision follow-up.
• Establish a PPW-owned action tracker for NPC decisions, NPSP commitments and strategic partner actions, with clear responsibility and follow-up arrangements.
• Strengthen PPW coordination and quality assurance of technical inputs, evidence synthesis and decision-support products for senior leadership and high-level forums, and institutionalise practical approaches, templates and processes that PPW can sustain after the assignment.
• Submit the Population Policy Institutionalisation, Completion and Handover Package, consolidating progress, final PPW-owned tools and trackers, functions transferred, capacity support provided, outstanding actions, responsible owners and next steps, with written PPW acknowledgement or sign-off.

Cross-cutting strategic handover – E4H Outputs 2 & 3:

• Document key decisions, bottlenecks, strategic relationships and outstanding follow-up for supported Output 2 and 3 priorities, with the responsible Ministry/E4H owner identified for each action.
• Submit the Cross-cutting Strategic Support Completion and Handover Package to the E4H Team Lead, including the consolidated decision/action and bottleneck tracker, outstanding-actions and ownership matrix, key strategic relationships and follow-up requirements, cross-output matters requiring continued coordination, and justified recommendations for follow-on support; obtain handover acknowledgement from the E4H Team Lead and relevant Output Leads.

Sustainability: Capacity Building, Institutionalisation, and/or Transition Planning

Governance and ownership: For the population component, the Director General (Population) will remain the principal government focal point, with the Senior Population Policy Advisor reporting to the E4H Team Lead and working closely with PPW. The Senior Strategic Advisor – E4H Outputs 2 & 3 will report to the E4H Team Lead and work with relevant Ministry leadership, Output 2 and 3 teams, and the existing Output 1 Lead where

Capacity Building: The Senior Population Policy Advisor will work alongside PPW counterparts to strengthen practical capacity in high-level policy engagement, strategic analysis, evidence synthesis, intergovernmental coordination and decision follow-up, enabling PPW staff to progressively lead these functions. Capacity transfer will be linked to named counterparts and milestones in the approved workplan and evidenced through jointly produced products, transferred tools and PPW’s demonstrated use of the agreed processes. The cross-cutting strategic role will focus on senior engagement and decision support rather than creating a separate operational capacity-building function.

Institutionalisation: Population-related tools and processes- decision/action trackers, implementation matrices, reporting arrangements, templates and other agreed tools will be embedded within existing PPW structures, NPC/NPSP processes and government mechanisms, with responsible owners and update cycles agreed. Cross-cutting strategic support for Outputs 2 and 3 will work through existing Ministry and E4H structures and the relevant Output Leads, with decisions, risks, bottlenecks and follow-up assigned to the relevant Ministry and Output Leads, andcoordination with Output 1 where required, rather than creating parallel arrangements.

Transition Planning: Transition will begin at inception and be reviewed against agreed responsibility-transfer milestones throughout the assignment. For the population component, priority functions, final tools and trackers, remaining gaps, outstanding actions and next steps will be formally handed over to designated PPW counterparts and confirmed through written PPW acknowledgement or sign-off. For the cross-cutting component, strategic relationships, decision and bottleneck records, outstanding actions and cross-output issues will be handed over to the responsible Ministry/E4H owners and relevant Output Leads, with acknowledgement by the E4H Team Lead and recommendations for any justified follow-on support.

Timeline and Days

The proposed LOE is 50 days from Oct 01, 2026 – Mar 31, 2027.

Requirement

Technical Expertise

Postgraduate degree preferably in Public Health, Demography, Health Policy, Public Administration or a related field, with at least 15 years’ experience working with federal and/or provincial governments on population policy and reform. Demonstrated experience in population/SRH/family planning, NPC/NPSP-type policy processes, federal-provincial coordination, development-partner engagement and population-related resource mobilisation. Strong understanding of Pakistan’s population governance architecture and relevant national and international commitments.

Competencies

Population policy analysis; senior stakeholder engagement and influencing; evidence-to-decision support; federal-provincial coordination; partner/resource alignment; negotiation; institutional strengthening and capacity transfer; concise communication.