Medicines Access Consultant at Resolve to Save Lives

Overview

• The Cardiovascular Health (CVH) unit at Resolve to Save Lives (RTSL) provides technical assistance in developing cardiovascular disease prevention programs to help countries improve their people's heart health.
• Working with our partners to improve the control of high blood pressure, reduce salt intake, and eliminate trans fat from the global food supply, the CVH team has helped save countless lives from cardiovascular disease. 

Position Summary

• RTSL is recruiting a Medicines Access Consultant to support the Nigeria Hypertension Control Initiative (NHCI), focusing on improving access to essential hypertension medicines in Nigeria, following the conclusion of the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) sub-grant.
• The consultant will work closely with the Senior Technical Advisor (STA) on Hypertension Control to strengthen the medicine access strategy, market shaping, and policy implementation across the country.
• The role supports the implementation of policies and sustainable mechanisms, such as the Drug Revolving Fund (DRF), leveraging health financing and regulatory systems under initiatives such as the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF) and the Presidential Initiative for Unlocking the Healthcare Value Chain (PVAC).

Duration and Location:

• The Medicines Access Consultant is a 12-month Independent Contractor position based in Abuja, Nigeria. The selected candidate must be based in Abuja but will have the option to work remotely. 

Core Tasks and Activities
Medicines Access and Market Shaping:

• Analyze and identify barriers to the affordability and availability of hypertension medicines. 
• Recommend and support the implementation of strategies to improve availability and reduce costs. 
• Develop a strategy to improve access to hypertension medicines, with emphasis on Financing, System Readiness, and Local Manufacturing, while also considering other relevant factors. 

Policy and Strategy:

• Facilitate the implementation of the Essential Medicines List (EML) and prescription policy at sub-national levels.  
• Contribute to updates of the National Standard Treatment Guidelines (NSTG).  
• Strengthen national and sub-national logistics systems, including Drug Management Agencies / and or Drug Revolving Funds (DRFs). 

Research & Financing Innovation:

• Evaluate the sustainability of DRFs and recommend solutions.  
• Assess health insurance mechanisms and propose innovative financing options.  
• Develop a financial sustainability framework for access to hypertension medicines. 

Supply Chain Strengthening & Procurement:

• Lead efforts to ensure the continuous availability of hypertension medicines in RTSL-supported programs.  
• Conduct assessments and provide tools for improved forecasting and procurement.  
• Support validated procurement and distribution of blood pressure monitors and diagnostics. 

Capacity Building:

• Adapt and institutionalize training toolkits for medicine access and inventory management.  
• Build the capacity of RTSL staff and public health providers in PSM and forecasting.  

Monitoring & Stakeholder Coordination:

• Support robust data systems for monitoring medicine availability at the facility level.  
• Conduct research on affordability and access; use findings to guide strategic decisions.  
• Perform site visits for supervision and quality assurance.   

Advocacy & Partnerships:

• Advocate for improved medicine access in relevant government and technical partner meetings.  
• Collaborate with government and technical partners to align efforts and share insights.  
• Provide advisory support on validated BP devices/monitors.

Contract Deliverables
Throughout the 12-month consultancy, the Medicines Access Consultant is expected to deliver measurable outputs, including but not limited to: 

• Medicine Access Strategy: Updated and operationalized hypertension medicine access roadmap.  
• Policy Support: Facilitation of policy domestication and prescription guideline implementation in target states.  
• Capacity Building: Conduct and document training sessions at state and LGA levels.  
• Financing Frameworks: Financial sustainability analysis and proposal for hypertension medicine access. 
• Supply Chain Improvement: Assessment reports and technical tools for forecasting, procurement, and last-mile distribution.  
• Monitoring & Evaluation: Developed tools and reports for tracking medicine availability and distribution.  
• Stakeholder Engagement: Documentation of meetings, advocacy briefs, and partnership coordination efforts.

Contract Management:

• The Independent Contractor will submit all deliverables to the Principal Advisor & Manager, Cardiovascular Health, who will manage this contract and monitor progress towards deliverables.

Requirements
Educational Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree in Pharmacy, Biomedical Sciences, or related field
• Master's or higher degree in Public Health, Economics, Public Policy, or related discipline preferred

Experience: 

• 5–6 years of progressive experience in medicine access, supply chain management, or pharmaceutical procurement 
• At least 3 years of experience in market shaping essential medicines, preferably hypertension or NCD medicines. 
• Knowledge of innovative health financing mechanisms. Experience designing and implementing these mechanisms is preferred. 
• Knowledge of local manufacturing systems and African continental policy frameworks preferred. 

Skills & Competencies:

• Analytical capacity in policy, health financing, and supply chain evaluation 
• Understanding of Political hierarchies and dynamics as they relate to health commodities and diagnostics. 
• Strong stakeholder engagement, advocacy, and communication skills 
• Proven ability to manage deliverables and timelines in a consultancy framework 
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and relevant data tools 
• Fluent in English