PN 24 - Ongoing Recruitment – STTA Junior National - Research / Project Associate

Overview

PN 24 - Ongoing Recruitment – STTA Junior National - Research / Project Associate

Background and Problem Statement

Despite Pakistan’s progress in public health infrastructure and Universal Health Coverage (UHC), persons with disabilities face systemic barriers to equitable healthcare. Based on the 2023 Population and Housing Census, 3.41 percent of Pakistan’s population (3.84 percent in Punjab) live with a disability. In line with the UNCRPD, disability is defined as long-term physical, sensory, intellectual, cognitive, or psychosocial impairments which, in interaction with environmental and attitudinal barriers, hinder full participation in society on an equal basis with others.

Health equity and UHC require inclusive health systems. Global evidence shows that persons with disabilities experience delayed care, poorer health outcomes, and financial hardship due to inaccessible services. Inclusive health systems are a rights-based obligation and a driver of service quality, resilience, and population coverage.

Punjab, the country’s most populous province, hosts a significant share of health infrastructure and disease burden. Despite improvements in service delivery, disability inclusion is not well integrated into infrastructure design, human resource development, and service protocols. There is currently no systematic data on health facility accessibility for persons with disabilities in the province.

At policy level, Pakistan has committed to disability inclusion through : UNCRPD (ratified 2011), National Policy for Persons with Disabilities (2002), and the Punjab Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities Act (2022), which mandate non-discriminatory, barrier-free access to facilities.

Operationalisation of these commitments in the health sector remains limited. The Punjab Health Sector Strategy (2019–2028) aims for equitable service delivery but does not fully address disability inclusion in facility design or service operations. Global guidance emphasises addressing barriers across physical, informational, communication, and attitudinal dimensions.

This Technical Assistance (TA) will conduct a structured assessment of public health facilities across selected urban and rural districts in Punjab to evaluate inclusivity of health services across infrastructure, staff capacity, and service delivery processes. The assessment will benchmark against national legislation and international best practices and produce actionable recommendations and a prioritised roadmap for institutionalising disability-inclusive practices.

Strategic Approach

This TA is a direct request from the Special Secretary (Operations), H&PD, to support UHC reforms by identifying systemic barriers to equitable access for persons with disabilities. It aligns with SDG 3.8 (UHC and financial risk protection) and SDG 10.2 (inclusion of all groups). It also supports the implementation of Pakistan’s Essential Package of Health Services (EPHS) and aligns with national and provincial disability policies by translating commitments into reforms. The TA also supports E4H’s demand-responsive model and complements other E4H efforts by embedding disability inclusion within existing delivery platforms and operational frameworks.

Crucially, the TA demonstrates how E4H mobilises timely technical support in response to provincial priorities, contributing to coherence and reach of broader programming.

Objectives

The specific objectives of the TA are :

• Assess the disability inclusion readiness of public health facilities across six districts in Punjab by evaluating infrastructure, service delivery, staff readiness, and institutional processes against international benchmarks and identify gaps.
• Generate actionable, system-level recommendations and a scalable assessment framework to inform inclusive health reforms, guide upgrades, and institutionalise disability-responsive practices within Punjab’s health system.

Domain

Description

Physical Accessibility : Infrastructure, signage, ramps, restrooms

Attitudinal Barriers : Staff attitudes, awareness, inclusion training

Use of sign language, visual aids, etc.

Awareness of entitlements, subsidies, or costs

Scope of Work and Methodology

The TA encompasses a comprehensive, multi-phase assessment of 30 public health facilities across six districts in Punjab (three urban, three rural) focusing on accessibility and inclusivity for persons with disabilities. It will use a mixed-methods approach—combining infrastructure assessments, staff and patient interviews, and policy reviews—to identify barriers to inclusive service delivery over six months in five phases.

Phase 1 : Planning and Inception

Phase 2 : Tool Development and Training

Phase 3 : Field Assessment and Data Collection

Phase 4 : Data Analysis and Interpretation

Phase 5 : Reporting and Dissemination

This phased methodology ensures context-sensitive insights, local ownership, and long-term integration of disability-inclusive standards in health infrastructure planning and service delivery.

Capacity Transfer, Sustainability and Transition Planning

The TA will promote sustainability and capacity transfer by embedding disability inclusion into Punjab’s health system and moving toward a culture of inclusivity. The Special Secretary (Operations) will be the focal point, with actions to sensitise institutions and staff and embed inclusive practices into daily operations. Tools and data will support evidence-based policy development and long-term institutional integration of disability-inclusive health system practices.

Deliverables aligned with the assignment phases include :

Role and Qualifications

Research / Project Associate (Junior National)

LOE : 126 days (subject to change)

Period : Sep 2025 – Mar 2026

Role Requirements : Coordinate fieldwork, manage timelines, oversee documentation, and draft reports and briefs.

Technical Expertise : Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in public health, sociology, development studies, or equivalent. Minimum of 5 years of experience. Experience in managing field studies, stakeholder coordination, and report writing. Strong documentation and organisational skills required.

Core Competencies : Planning and delivering work; Working with others; Documentation; Analysis and use of information.

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