Senior Technical Consultant, Global TFA Laboratory Capacity Strategy

Resolve to Save Lives (RTSL) is a global health organization that partners locally and globally to create and scale solutions to the world’s deadliest health threats. Millions of people die from preventable health threats. We collaborate to close the gap between proven, life-saving solutions and the people who need them. Since 2017, we’ve worked with governments and other partners in more than 60 countries to save millions of lives. We work toward a future where people live longer, healthier lives, communities flourish, and economies thrive. This is an ambitious vision, and it inspires us and our partners to make progress every day.   The  Cardiovascular Health (CVH) team at RTSL  provides technical  assistance   in developing  cardiovascular disease prevention programs  to help countries improve the heart health of their people.   Working with our partners to improve the control of high blood pressure, reduce salt intake, and  eliminate trans fats from the global food supply, the CVH team has helped save countless lives from cardiovascular disease. Length of Engagement: Up to 9 months, approximately 150 days, with the possibility of extension Location: Remote, with potential travel to program countries Job Structure: Independent Contractor  Position Summary RTSL works to advance the elimination of industrially produced trans-fatty acids (iTFA) from food supplies across low- and middle-income countries, as part of a broader agenda to prevent cardiovascular disease and reduce diet-related mortality. iTFA are estimated to contribute to approximately 278,000 deaths annually, according to recent WHO estimates.  Effective elimination of iTFA requires strong regulatory frameworks and robust laboratory systems to monitor industry compliance, generate high-quality results, evidence, and support enforcement action. Over the past several years, RTSL and its partners have commissioned and supported laboratory capacity assessments in a number of countries, including India, Egypt, Bangladesh, Nigeria, and Mexico.   These assessments and the implementation experience gathered to date reveal that most countries lack the required laboratory capacity to support enforcement, which includes validated/standardized protocols, specialized columns, reference standards, trained analysts and quality management systems. Core Tasks and Activities RTSL is seeking to hire a consultant to translate the evidence and implementation experience into a coherent global strategy for strengthening laboratory capacity for TFA analysis in priority countries — grounded in existing evidence and informed by primary stakeholder engagement, supported by a practical training framework and analysis of sustainable financing mechanisms, to guide investment and program design over the next three to five years.  The Consultant will be expected to:  Review and synthesize existing evidence on laboratory capacity gaps, barriers, and good practices across program countries, drawing on completed country assessments and relevant global literature.  Conduct structured stakeholder engagement — including key informant interviews with government counterparts, regulatory bodies, laboratory professionals, and technical partners to deepen understanding of country contexts and priorities.  Develop a global laboratory capacity strategy that sets out a clear vision, strategic priorities, and a phased approach to investment across program countries/regions  Develop (or identify experts to work on) a training framework /model for building and sustaining TFA laboratory capacity, including recommendations on delivery modalities and mechanisms for sustaining competency in collaboration with partners.  Identify bottlenecks and solutions for procurement challenges, and explore potential for standardizing processes and specifications to streamline procurement and delivery of materials; where feasible, assist partners in procurement of lab materials  Research and synthesize options for sustainable financing and supply chain mechanisms to address the recurring procurement and consumables challenges that undermine laboratory capacity across program countries, drawing on relevant models from global health and food safety.  Support RTSL research and activities on lab methodologies and capacity support as needed.  Travel to conduct reviews/stakeholder meetings and participate in any planned lab trainings during the consultancy period.   On request, support country-specific laboratory strengthening efforts in priority program countries. This may include providing technical input to national laboratories and regulatory agencies on analytical methods, quality management systems, and accreditation pathways; advising on equipment procurement and consumables supply chains; and contributing to the design and delivery of in-country capacity-building activities. Contract Deliverables Report synthesizing existing assessments and results of stakeholder consultations  Global Lab Capacity Strengthening Strategy – Final/Draft Report – that covers, at a minimum  Global, regional, country specific priorities for strengthening lab capacity  Recommendations for service delivery, procurement, coordination and partnership  Lab capacity training strategies and mechanisms  Recommendations related to procurement standardization, vendor considerations, forecasting, supply continuity, and equipment maintenance/service models.  Travel to a selection of program  countries may be agreed during the  inception  phase, subject to  organizational approval, to support stakeholder engagement and, where  feasible,  site visits to  key laboratories. Countries to be  prioritized  for in-country visits will be  determined  in consultation with the  RTSL  team during  inception , based on strategic priority and logistical feasibility.   The  Consultant  agrees to make up to  5  program country trips of up to  7  days each, as mutually agreed and ne