Mercy Corps is a global team of humanitarians working together on the front lines of today’s biggest crises to create a future of possibility, where everyone can prosper.

Our mission: to alleviate suffering, poverty and oppression by helping people build secure, productive and just communities.

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

(CONSULTING SERVICES – INDIVIDUAL CONSULTANT SELECTION)

COUNTRY: Sudan

NAME OF PROJECT: Sudan – Enhancing Community Resilience Project (THABAT AF)

Credit No./ Grant No.:  TF-C7102

Assignment Title: National Pharmacist Consultant

Reference No.: SD-MC-512418-CS-INDV

The Mercy Corps has received financing from the World Bank toward the cost of Enhancing Community Resilience Project (THABAT AF), and intends to apply part of the proceeds for consulting services.

The consulting services (“the Services”) include leading the overall management of medical supplies and equipment, including requisition, planning, distribution, tracking, and capacity building for 30 Primary Health Centres (PHCs) across five localities (Basonda, Al Fao, El Fashaga, Al Mafaza, and Al Rahad). Key responsibilities include maintaining strict inventory controls, ensuring compliance with health and safety regulations, and managing pharmaceutical waste in accordance with national and World Bank standards. The assignment is based in Gedaref for an initial duration of 6 months, with a possibility of extension. The expected start date is May 01, 2026.

The detailed Terms of Reference (TOR) for the assignment can be seen at the end of this notice.

The Mercy Corps now invites eligible individual national consultants (“Consultants”) to indicate their interest in providing the Services. Interested Consultants should provide information demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the Services. The shortlisting criteria are:

• Educational Background: A minimum of a Bachelor’s Degree in Pharmacy or Pharmacology.
• Professional Experience: Proven experience as a pharmacist with a strong understanding of medical supply chain processes and inventory management.
• Technical Capability: Proficiency in MS Office and Pharmacy information systems (e.g., MediTech, Mediware), and strong reporting/documentation skills.
• Managerial & Soft Skills: Excellent organizational and communication skills, ability to work under pressure in emergency situations, and high personal integrity.
• Language & Location: Position is open to National candidates; proficiency in English and Arabic languages is required.

The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to Section III, paragraphs 3.14, 3.16, and 3.17 of the World Bank’s “Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers” dated September 2025 (“Procurement Regulations”), setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest.

A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the Individual Consultant Selection method set out in the Procurement Regulations.

Further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours (09:00 to 17:00 hours).

Expressions of interest must be delivered in a written form to the address below by e-mail by April 16, 2026.

Mercy Corps Sudan Attn: James Wandera, Procurement Manager

Address: House No. 88, Aljubarab East District 

City/Country: Gedaref, Sudan

Tel: +249900700790

E-mail: sd-tenders@mercycorps.org

Terms of Reference (TOR)

Additional financing-Sudan Somoud - Enhancing Community Resilience Project P181490

THABAT AF

Credit Grant No: TF-C7102

Individual Consultant

Consultancy Title: National Pharmacist Consultant

Location(s): Gedaref

Eligibility: Position is open to National candidates.

Duration of contract: 6 months with the possibility of extension.

1. Background

Mercy Corps is one of the implementing agencies of the Sudan - Enhancing Community Resilience Project (THABAT Additional Financing). The Project Development Objective (PDO) is to improve access to basic services and food security of Select Communities in the Republic of the Sudan. The project comprises of two components. The first component, Community-led Basic Service supports (i) delivery of improved community led basic services, including health and nutrition, alternative education programming, water supply, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services, and Gender Based Violence (GBV) services; (ii) temporary engagement of frontline workers and volunteers in select sectors; (iii) project management and technical assistance costs; and (iv) technical assistance and training to select local authorities. The second component, Improving Food Security, supports (i) increased resilience and production of select crops and protection of livestock assets in rural areas that supply food to the target communities; (ii) agricultural value chains; (iii) the scaling-up and strengthening of community consumer cooperatives and organizations and community food centers that distribute agricultural outputs and provide affordable food to vulnerable groups; and iv) project management and implementation costs.

Mercy Corps now intends to apply part of the proceeds of this financing to eligible payments under the contract for hiring a National Pharmacist Consultant.

2. Objectives of the Assignment

The Pharmacist Consultant will be based in Gedaref, with frequent travel to the targeted localities and PHCs. S/he will lead the overall management of medical supplies and equipment, from requisition, receiving the medical supplies, planning and distribution of the medical supplies, tracking, capacity building of PHCs pharmacy staff and reporting including planned regular inventories.

The Pharmacist consultant ensures that supplies and equipment are distributed efficiently, in good condition, in an environmentally and socially sound manner. The table below shows the targeted PHCs locations

3. Scope of work

The Pharmacist consultant ensures that supplies and equipment are distributed efficiently, in good condition, in an environmentally and socially sound manner. Specifically, The Pharmacist consultant will perform the following duties:

• Organizing the Medical store/pharmacy in an efficient manner to make the identification of medicine supplies and equipment easier and faster
• Maintain full control over delivering, stocking and labeling medicine supplies and equipment and monitor their condition to prevent expiring or deterioration
• Organize the medical store/pharmacy in an efficient manner to make the identification of medicine supplies and equipment easier and faster
• Keep records of all medical supplies and equipment issued/ distributed to the PHCs and follow-up with the PHCs pharmacist assistant on an efficient use of the medical supplies and equipment.
• Comply with all applicable legal rules, regulations and procedures in line with Country and Mercy Corps guidelines
• Lead procurement and management of medical supplies and equipment
• Perform monthly and quarterly inventory checks and maintain accurate records of all medical supplies and equipment.
• Ensure the timely distribution of medical supplies and equipment to various selected PHCs within the five localities
• Collaborate and coordinate with health officers to understand the medical supplies and equipment needs of all 30 PHCs in the selected five localities.
• Implement Mercy Corps policies and procedures for the distribution and storage of medical supplies and equipment
• Ensure compliance with health and safety regulations when handling medical supplies and equipment
• Arrange for the disposal of medical waste and expired supplies in a safe and compliant manner
• Conduct regular training sessions for healthcare staff on the proper handling and usage of medical supplies and equipment
• Monitor and report (using the agreed reporting templet) of the activity
• Ensure adherence to MoH and Mercy Corps health and nutrition policies/protocols and safeguarding policies agreed upon.
• Attend a one day environmental and social safeguards orientation upon hiring
• Conduct monthly/quarterly joint supervision and monitoring with Mercy Corps Health officer/Technical Lead as agreed upon.

1. The prospective consultant or contractor should commit to the following ESS requirements:

• Attend a one day Environmental and Social Safeguards orientation upon being hired. 
• Ensure zero tolerance to cases of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA). Such malpractices will lead to automatic cancelation of the contract.
• Sign a code of contact and such signed copies must be kept by Mercy Corps (MC) Human Resources department.
• Ensure that all pharmaceutical waste is managed in conformity with Sudan’s applicable environmental and health standards and regulations, as well as in full compliance with the World Bank Group Environmental and Social Framework requirements.

2. Monitoring and Reporting:

• Submit monthly reports detailing the medical supplies and equipment distributed and used, success stories and challenges faced.
• Conduct routine monitoring and evaluation to assess smooth medicine usage.
• Ensure timely and quality reporting from PHCs
• Document lessons learned for activity improvement and advocacy purposes.

4. Performance Criteria

The following performance criteria will be used to assess the performance of the Pharmacist Consultant annually and based upon these assessments the contract with the Project may be continued or terminated:

• Quality and timeliness of inventory management (stock control)
• Efficiency of medical store/pharmacy organization
• Compliance with health, safety, & waste disposal regulations
• Accuracy and timeliness of distribution and usage records
• Quality and timeliness of planning, monitoring and reporting
• Effectiveness of PHCs pharmacy staff training and capacity building

5. Reporting Requirements

The Pharmacist Consultant will be directly reporting to Health Technical Lead and will be working closely with the Project Lead, Health project team and Operations Officer.

The following are some of the required reports the Consultant will be expected to prepare:

• Submit monthly reports detailing the medical supplies and equipment distributed and used, success stories and challenges faced.
• Conduct routine monitoring and evaluation to assess smooth medicine usage.
• Ensure timely and quality reporting from PHCs
• Document lessons learned for activity improvement and advocacy purposes.

6. Key Qualifications and Experience

The candidate should meet the following minimum qualifications:

• Strong understanding of supply chain processes and medical equipment to effectively manage inventory and distribution of medical supplies.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills to identify and resolve issues related to medical logistics operations.
• Strong communication skills to effectively interact with medical staff, vendors, and other stakeholders, and to clearly explain and document logistics processes
• Ability to work under pressure and in emergency situations, ensuring the smooth flow of medical supplies.
• Detail-oriented with the capacity to maintain accurate records of inventory, orders, and distribution of medical supplies.
• Physical abilities that allow her/him to handle heavy equipment and supplies and to remain on their feet for extended periods.
• Knowledge of safety protocols for handling and storage of medical supplies.
• Ability to work collaboratively within a team and demonstrate leadership skills when required
• Proven experience as a pharmacist
• Outstanding knowledge of MS Office and Pharmacy information systems (eg. MediTech, Mediware etc.)
• Good organizational skills
• Excellent communication skills with a customer-oriented approach
• Integrity and compassion
• Degree in Pharmacy/Pharmacology
• Strong reporting and documentation skills.
• Proficiency in MS Office applications (Excel, Word, SharePoint)
• The candidate must have the highest levels of personal integrity, and a reputation for a transparent and systematic work style; and
• The candidate must be able to work under pressure in order to meet demanding deadlines.

7. Duration of the Assignment

The Pharmacist Consultant shall be recruited for a period of six months with a possibility of extension subject to satisfactory performance, need and availability of funding.

8. Remuneration and Other Benefits 

Payments will be made as per the total number of working days at the end of the month.

9. Facilities to be provided by the Client

The following shall be provided by MC: office space, furniture, and office equipment, office internet. For all field related assignments, the Project shall provide transport and costs and other expenses (per diems etc.) related to the field work. 

10. Location of Employment

The Pharmacist Consultant will be based in Gedaref and required to travel to project localities and PHCs upon need.

11. Selection

The Pharmacist Consultant will be selected on the basis of the approved methods of selecting individual consultants in accordance with the World Bank’s “Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers” (Procurement Regulations) dated September 2025, and the “Guidelines on Preventing and Combating Fraud and Corruption in Projects Financed by IBRD Loans and IDA Credits and Grants”, dated October 15, 2006 and revised in January 2011 and as of July 1, 2016, and other provisions stipulated in the Financing Agreements.