STRIDES Ethiopia Zonal Polio Surveillance Consultants

Request for Consultant Services Proposal (RFP)
Solicitation Title: STRIDES Ethiopia Zonal Polio Surveillance
Consultants
Solicitation Number: FY26-103433-STRIDES-Ethiopia-Consultant-RFP-001
Submit Proposal and Questions to: STRIDESProcurement@fhi360.org
Date of Issue of RFP: Friday, 15 May 2026
Date Questions Due: Tuesday, 19 May 2026, by 5:00PM EDT
Date FHI 360 Responds to Questions: Friday, 22 May 2026
Date Proposal Due: Wednesday, 27 May 2026, by 11:59PM EDT
Approximate Date Consultant Contract
Early June 2026
Issued to Successful Candidate(s):
Method of Submittal:
Respond via e-mail with the attached documents in MS Word / pdf format.
The Consultant agrees to hold the prices in its offer firm for 90 days from the date specified for the
receipt of offers, unless another time is specified in the addendum of the RFP.
Contract Term:
Estimated June - September 30, 2026. 90 days subject to renewal.
Background:
The STRIDES program (Strengthening Infectious Disease Detection Systems), funded by the U.S.
Department of State, supports countries to strengthen surveillance systems critical to global
health security and polio eradication. As part of its polio portfolio, STRIDES is supporting efforts to
improve the quality and performance of Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP) surveillance and
environmental surveillance (ES) systems in alignment with Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI)
standards.
Despite ongoing partner support, persistent gaps remain in AFP case detection, investigation,
specimen collection and transport, ES functionality, reporting pathways, and data quality in select
geographic areas. A rapid, multi-partner surveillance system assessment is required to identify
root causes of underperformance and inform targeted, evidence-based interventions in priority
counties. This assessment will directly support STRIDES' objective to strengthen surveillance
systems and improve early detection of poliovirus transmission.
Objective & Purpose of Consultancy:
The Strengthening Infectious Disease Detection Systems (STRIDES) Activity is seeking ten (10)
zonal polio surveillance consultants to lead polio surveillance activities (See Chart below). The
zonal polio surveillance consultants will work under the day-to-day guidance and supervision of the
STRIDES Project Director. They will provide technical support to an assigned zone for AFP and
environmental surveillance activities, including active case search, supervise reporting sites,
support AFP case investigation, strengthen implementation of standard surveillance protocols in
coordination with existing surveillance structures, support coordination of any outbreak response
activities, and evaluate outbreak response activities. This position is field based, and the officer is
expected to work very closely with and support the Zonal Health Department (ZHD), Ethiopia Public
Health Institute (EPHI), Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH),GPEI partners and woreda health offices.
Consultant Solicitation
May 2026

Scope of Work:
The consultant will work under the direction of STRIDES Ethiopia leadership in collaboration with
EPHI and GPEI partners to support the following surveillance systems assessment activities:
General
* Provide technical support to the Zonal Health Department (ZHD), Regional Health
Authorities, FMOH and EPHI in planning, implementation, supervision and monitoring of
AFP and environmental surveillance and outbreak response activities.
* Assist in training and building the capacity of zonal, woreda, facility and community-based
disease surveillance and response focal persons.
* Catalyze and support the rapid and effective implementation of proven strategies to reduce
emergence and circulation of poliovirus and other public health events.
* Undertake any other related responsibilities as assigned by supervisors.
Detailed duties and responsibilities
Coordination and Partner Engagement
1. Closely collaborate with government counterparts and multiple levels, EPI team and GPEI
partners in polio outbreak investigations and other response activities.
2. Conduct zonal and woreda level surveillance and immunization review meetings with the
government and polio partners.
3. Closely collaborate with government counterparts (national /regional polio Emergency
Operation Centers (EOC) and GPEI partners in identifying, planning and implementing polio
outbreak response activities.
Surveillance and Case Detection
1. Identify and engage special populations including internally displaced populations
(IDPs) and establish locally functioning surveillance mechanisms to promptly detect
events/outbreaks and monitor trends.
2. Keep database of health facilities and other potentially active sites for AFP, jointly make
active site prioritization, Zonal risk assessment for polio and other vaccine preventable
diseases, develop and implement risk mitigation activities as part of surveillance
enhancement in the outbreak and risk areas.
3. Make priority-based and well-documented (using mobile/electronic platform) regular
active case search and integrated supportive supervision visits to focal sites including
IDP camps and conduct AFP investigations and 60-day follow-ups.
4. Ensure daily, weekly, and monthly surveillance reports are prepared and transmitted to
the next higher level.
Outbreak Response
1. Support outbreak response activities; participate in investigations, household surveys,
monitoring supplementary immunization activities (SIA) and routine immunization, and
other response activities, and ensuring reports are prepared and transmitted timely.
Consultant Solicitation
May 2026

2. Support microplanning activities for outbreak response including mapping of special
populations (e.g. internally displaced populations (IDPs), urban slums, refusals,
nomads), verification, and establish locally functioning strategies to access all target
children.
3. Assist in conducting quality trainings, mobile/electronic based supervision, daily
monitoring meetings and sitreps during outbreak responses.
Reporting and Documentation
1. Assist in the writing and submission of complete technical reports to the National Polio
Eradication Program documenting all the processes of outbreak responses,
surveillance (active and passive) and other activities undertaken.
2. Verify, conduct detailed analyses, and facilitate timely submission of epidemiological,
surveillance and outbreak response reports to National Polio Eradication Program
within the recommended timeframe.
Training, Supervision, and Monitoring
1. Support supervision, on-the-job training and monitoring of surveillance and response
activities ensuring adherence to guidelines, standard case definitions and tools used.
Logistics and Supplies
1. Support logistics and ensure appropriate surveillance supplies and equipment are
available at every level (case definitions, case investigation forms, stool cups/specimen
bottles, vaccine carriers, etc.)
General Duties
1. Carry out any other assignments assigned by supervisors.Note: Selected contractors will
be given a monthly transportation stipend to cover active surveillance activities in targeted
zones. A true and accurate accounting of these funds will be required on a monthly basis to
reconcile travel related expenses.
Key Activities Deliverable Dates of Estimated
service level of
effort (days)
1. Closely collaborate Documented participation and TBD 10
with government technical support provided for
counterparts, EPI, and polio outbreak investigations,
GPEI partners in polio including investigation reports,
outbreak coordination meeting
investigations summaries, and
recommendations submitted to
EPHI and GPEI partners and
relevant authorities.
Consultant Solicitation
May 2026

2. Identify and engage Updated database and mapping TBD 10
including internally of special populations and IDP
displaced populations settlements, including
(IDPs) and establish established or strengthened
locally functioning community-based polio
polio surveillance surveillance mechanisms and
mechanisms focal point networks in targeted
high-risk areas as documented
by written reports
3. Keep database of Maintained and regularly TBD 2
health facilities and updated database of health
other potentially facilities, informal health
active sites providers, community reporting
sites, and other priority
surveillance locations within
assigned geographic areas with
data and reports sent to
government, GPEI, and FHI 360
as part of monthly reporting
4. Make priority-based Completed ODK-based active TBD 10
and well-documented case search and supportive
(using ODK platform) supervision reports, including
regular active case visit documentation, identified
search and integrated AFP/VPD alerts, corrective
supportive supervision actions, and follow-up
visits to focal sites recommendations for focal
including IDP camps sites and IDP camps as
documented in written monthly
reports
5. Ensure daily, weekly, Documented monitoring and TBD 10
and monthly reports support for the availability and
including surveillance, distribution of surveillance
SIA, RI, and other supplies and equipment,
response activity including inventory tracking
reports are prepared reports and replenishment
and transmitted to the requests as needed.
next higher level
6. Support logistics and Documented monitoring and TBD 10
ensure appropriate support for the availability and
surveillance supplies distribution of surveillance
and equipment are supplies and equipment,
Consultant Solicitation
May 2026

available at every level including inventory tracking
(case definitions, case reports and replenishment
investigation forms, requests as needed.
stool cups/specimen
bottles, vaccine
carriers, etc.)
7. Lead and/or closely Coordination and TBD 10
collaborate with implementation support
government provided for polio outbreak
counterparts (national response activities, including
/regional polio EOC), participation in planning
EPI and GPEI partners meetings, operational plans,
in identifying, deployment schedules, and
planning, and response monitoring reports.
implementing polio
outbreak response
activities
8. Update and/or develop Updated or newly developed TBD 10
macro and micro- vaccination response macro-
plans for vaccination and micro-plans, including
response activities detailed mapping of special
including mapping of populations and documented
special populations strategies to reach underserved
(e.g., internally and high-risk populations.
displaced populations
(IDPs), urban slums,
refusals, nomads) and
establish locally
functioning strategies
to access and
vaccinate all target
children
9. Assist to conduct Training reports, supervision TBD 10
quality trainings, ODK- findings, daily campaign
based supervisions, monitoring summaries, and
daily monitoring situation reports (sitreps)
meetings and sitreps documenting implementation
during intra-campaign progress, challenges, and
and post campaign corrective actions during
periods campaign periods
Consultant Solicitation
May 2026

10. Assist in the writing Comprehensive technical TBD 1
and submission of reports prepared and submitted
complete technical to EPI teams, and GPEI
report to EPI Team and coordination structures
GPEI Coordinator summarizing activities
conducted, findings, outcomes,
lessons learned, and
recommendations.
11. Verify, conduct Verified and analytically TBD 7
detailed analyses, and reviewed campaign reports
facilitate timely submitted to the national GPEI
submission of coordination office and EPHI
campaign reports to within established timelines,
national GPEI including data quality
coordination office assessments and performance
and EPHI within analysis summaries.
recommended
timeframe
Total Estimated LoE 90 Days
Period of Performance:
June 2026 to September 30, 2026. 90 days subject to renewal.
Location and Travel Requirements: Travel to health facilities
* Location: Afar, Amhara, Benishangul-Gumuz, Gambella, Oromia, Somali and South
Ethiopia. See the chart below for zones.
Region Zone
1 Afar Zone 6
2 Amhara West Gondar Zone
3 Amhara South WolloZone, Dessie Town, Combolcha Town
Benishangul
Kemashi Zone
4 Gumuz
5 Gambella Newer and Itang Zones
6 Oromia North Showa zone of Oromia
7 Oromia Borena, East Borena
8 Oromia West Wolega
9 Somali Dawa Zone
South
South Omo and South Ari Zones
10 Ethiopia
Consultant Solicitation
May 2026

Qualifications:
The consultant must meet the following minimum eligibility requirements:
1. Medical Doctor (MD) from a well-recognized University of Medical Science or
College / or BSc Degree in Public Health or Nursing from a well-recognized
university or college.
* Specific experience in:
1. Demonstrated experience supporting AFP surveillance, environmental surveillance,
or integrated disease surveillance systems, preferably aligned with Global Polio
Eradication Initiative (GPEI) standards.
2. Familiarity with surveillance data systems, reporting pathways, and sample
collection and transport processes, including reverse cold chain considerations.
3. Minimum of 5 years working in the field of clinical or nursing, disease surveillance,
and immunization.
4. Direct experience in polio surveillance and polio preventive and outbreak response
vaccination campaigns; experience working with WHO, other UN agencies, and
other international organizations.
* Preferred qualifications:
1. Postgraduate qualifications in epidemiology, field epidemiology, public health,
pediatrics, or any of the related health science specialties.
2. Prior experience working with or alongside GPEI partners, Ministries of Health, or
U.S. Government-funded programs.
3. Strong analytical skills with the ability to translate findings into practical, actionable
recommendations.
4. Residency in the targeted or adjacent zones where polio disease surveillance
activities will take place strongly preferred.
* Skills:
1. Strong written and verbal communication skills in English, with the ability to
produce high-quality technical reports.
2. Knowing local languages of the assigned region is an added advantage
Evaluation Criteria:
Proposals will be evaluated in accordance with the following criteria:
* Award will be based upon best value (a combination of qualifications and proposed daily
rate).
* Payment will be based upon Level of Effort (LOE) with reimbursement for approved related
budgeted expenses.
Applicants are also welcome to submit their CV into FHI 360's global consultant database for
future consideration outside of this RFP: Consult@FHI360
Required documentation:
* Completed USAID1420 Biodata Form
* CV with country experience listed and updated to no less than 3 months prior to
submission of proposal
Consultant Solicitation
May 2026

* Cover letter shall summarize the consultant's qualifications and explain why they should
be added to the pool as well as rate of pay.
* Written response addressing the needs listed in the SOW.
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awards based on the solicitation activities
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Consultant Solicitation
May 2026