Senior Harm Reduction & Drug Health Programme Specialist

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Qualifications

1.       Purpose of the Consultancy

This consultancy will support the Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS), through the Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) & HIV Unit, the National HIV Outbreak and Cluster Response Taskforce (N-HOCRT), and specifically the Harm Reduction Technical Working Group (TWG) under the Prevention Sub-Committee, to design, operationalise, and institutionalise a comprehensive national harm-reduction and drug-health programme.

The consultant will provide senior technical leadership, systems guidance, and targeted capacity building to establish and scale up Needle and Syringe Programmes (NSPs) and related drug-health services in Fiji. This includes developing the enabling policy, legal, and operational frameworks, coordinating multi-sector partnerships with health, law enforcement, and community stakeholders, and ensuring all interventions are evidence-based, rights-affirming, and aligned with WHO guidance.

A key function of the consultancy will be to mentor and twin with the National Harm Reduction and Drug Health Programme Officer to strengthen national leadership, technical expertise, and sustainable management of harm-reduction services beyond the consultancy period. The role will also contribute to the work of the Prevention Sub-Committee and the N-HOCRT Secretariat, ensuring that harm-reduction data, policy decisions, and implementation progress are integrated into the broader HIV outbreak response.

2.       Background

The HIV situation in Fiji has changed in recent years, with more infections linked to new patterns of risk. Injecting drug use, especially with methamphetamine, has become more common, and many people who inject drugs share needles because there are no harm reduction services such as needle and syringe programmes. This gap has created a fast route of transmission in some communities. At the same time, many people are still being diagnosed late, testing does not always reach those most at risk, and stigma continues to discourage early care.

The national response is strengthening combination prevention interventions and differentiated approaches to prevention, surveillance, and diagnosis, treatment, care and support capacity while introducing new harm-reduction interventions. The draft drug rehabilitation framework, supported by MHMS and partners, provides a national platform for integration of NSPs, rehabilitation, and reintegration services.

Harm reduction is a central approach to preventing HIV transmission in settings where injecting drug use is emerging, and needle syringe programs are one of the most effective interventions for reducing new infections. By providing sterile injecting equipment, safe disposal options and links to health and social services, these programs reduce the sharing of needles, which is one of the quickest pathways for HIV spread. Alongside NSPs, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a key prevention tool that offers additional protection for people at increased risk, including those who inject drugs and their sexual partners. In an emerging HIV epidemic, early introduction and rapid scale up of NSPs and PrEP is critical, as even small injecting networks can quickly accelerate transmission without preventive measures in place.

The consultant will ensure that harm-reduction services, including NSPs, are introduced in a rights-based, gender-sensitive, trauma-informed, and culturally safe manner that aligns with WHO normative guidance and Fiji’s national context.

3.       Planned timelines

Start date: 1 February 2026

End date: 31 December 2026

4.      Deliverables

Output 1: Enabling Policy, Legal and Regulatory Framework Established: support MHMS to finalise the policy and legal foundations for safe and effective harm-reduction implementation.

·         Deliverable 1.1 Finalised National NSP Policy aligned with WHO guidance and Fiji’s legal and regulatory frameworks.

·         Deliverable 1.2 Legal and operational pathway analysis outlining approvals, safeguards, and protections for clients and service providers.

·         Deliverable 1.3 National operational guidelines and SOPs for NSP implementation across government and community settings.

·         Deliverable 1.4 Stakeholder consultations with law enforcement, justice, and corrections sectors co-led with the PMO, ensuring integration within the broader rehabilitation and public safety framework.

·         Deliverable 1.5 Incorporation of gender equality, disability inclusion, and cultural safety principles into all policies and SOPs.

Output 2: Integrated Harm Reduction and Rehabilitation Service Model Designed: design NSPs as part of an integrated, multi-tiered model of drug-related health and rehabilitation services.

·         Deliverable 2.1 Comprehensive NSP service model incorporating fixed-site, outreach, mobile, and peer-led modalities.

·         Deliverable 2.2 Supply chain and logistics plan for procurement, storage, distribution, and safe disposal.

·         Deliverable 2.3 Defined referral pathways between NSPs, rehabilitation, correctional health, and reintegration programmes.

·         Deliverable 2.4 Standardised forms and SOPs for safe, ethical referral from NSPs to rehabilitation and vice versa.

·         Deliverable 2.5 Monitoring and reporting tools aligned with MHMS and drug rehabilitation information systems.

Output 3: Workforce and System Capacity Strengthened: build technical and managerial capacity across the health system, focusing on the PMO as the national lead.

·         Deliverable 3.1 Competency-based training curriculum for harm reduction, NSPs, and rehabilitation linkages.

·         Deliverable 3.2 Training-of-Trainers sessions for clinicians, outreach teams, and CSOs.

·         Deliverable 3.3 Supportive supervision and mentoring tools embedded in MHMS structures.

·         Deliverable 3.4 System readiness report identifying human resource, data, and logistics needs.

·         Deliverable 3.5 Integration of trauma-informed, gender-sensitive, and SOGIESIC-inclusive approaches into all training.

Output 4: Stakeholder and Community Engagement Strengthened: enhance multi-sector coordination and build trust across justice, social protection, and community systems.

·         Deliverable 4.1 Functioning multi-sector harm-reduction and rehabilitation coordination group with clear TORs.

·         Deliverable 4.2 Engagement protocols and referral pathways with Fiji Corrections Service, Police, and community-based rehabilitation partners.

·         Deliverable 4.3 Peer-led and community dialogues co-facilitated with the PMO to strengthen stigma reduction and safety.

·         Deliverable 4.4 Communication materials and advocacy tools aligned with WHO and MHMS messaging on harm reduction and recovery.

Output 5: Monitoring, Evaluation and Scale-Up Readiness: establish a unified M&E framework for NSPs linked to Fiji’s drug rehabilitation and public health systems.

·         Deliverable 5.1 Indicator framework integrating NSP, HIV, hepatitis, and rehabilitation data.

·         Deliverable 5.2 Baseline data collection and pilot testing of digital data entry tools.

·         Deliverable 5.3 Quarterly analytical reports co-authored with the PMO and MHMS staff.

·         Deliverable 5.4 Evaluation report with recommendations for national scale-up and sustainability.

Output 6: Twinning and Mentorship with the National Harm Reduction and Drug Health Programme Officer (PMO) and other identified personnel: mentor and capacitate the PMO (and other identified personnel) to assume full technical and operational leadership of harm-reduction and drug-health programming.

·         Deliverable 6.1 Twinning and mentorship plan with defined competencies, milestones, and success indicators.

·         Deliverable 6.2 Regular structured mentorship sessions covering policy development, service integration, and supervision.

·         Deliverable 6.3 Joint technical missions, trainings, and coordination meetings co-led with the PMO.

·         Deliverable 6.4 Final mentorship and transition report outlining capacity gains, lessons learned, and sustainability plan.

5.       Qualifications, expertise, skills and languages

Educational Qualifications

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