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Ref.
2026/ELNM/15838

Job offer type
Experts

Type of contract
Service contract

Activity sectors
Global threats and organized crime ; Health systems

Sub-theme
Health technologies and medicines

Deadline date
2026/08/09 12:12

Duration of the assignment
Short term

Contract
Freelancer

Duration
8 jrs (phase d’inception)+ jrs selon résultats

Mission description

1. Purpose of the Assignement

To ensure, throughout the duration of the project, the national technical coordination of activities under the Legal Component (SO1), from the inception phase to project closure, in order to support national authorities in strengthening the legal framework governing the fight against substandard and falsified medical products (SFMPs).

2. Multiannual Scope of Activities under the Legal Component (SO1)

The National Legal Expert shall be mobilised, in accordance with the priorities validated by his/her country, to implement the following activities throughout the four-year duration of the project. The inception phase (Year 1) constitutes the starting point, while the majority of implementation activities will take place during Years 2 to 4.

Réf.

Activité (composante légal - SO1)

Période

2.1.1.1

Conduct a desk review in Ghana, a country that benefited from MEDISAFE Phase 1, in order to assess the remaining legal gaps based on the Roadmap developed during the Experience-Sharing Workshop held in Nairobi in April 2022, as well as relevant regional, continental and international norms and standards (remote work – national experts' time + international experts' time).

A1

2.1.1.2

Conduct an initial scoping study and desk review (legal gap analysis) in Benin, Côte d'Ivoire, Guinea, Senegal and Togo, countries that have signed, ratified or have been invited to sign the MEDICRIME Convention. The review shall be based on the Reference Manual on Legislation on Substandard and Falsified Medical Products: An African Perspective, developed under MEDISAFE Phase 1, together with applicable regional, continental and international standards (national experts' time + international experts' time).

A1

2.3.1.3

Conduct an initial scoping study (legal gap analysis) in Nigeria, through a desk review of the national legal framework based on the Reference Manual on Legislation on Substandard and Falsified Medical Products: An African Perspective, together with relevant regional, continental and international norms and standards (national experts' time + international experts' time).

A1

2.3.1.4

Review the national regulatory gaps identified in the National Regulatory Authority's Institutional Development Plan (IDP), in accordance with regional, continental and international norms and standards (national experts' time + international experts' time).

A1-2

2.3.1.5

Provide country-specific technical support sessions on legislation covering legislative best practices for the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Justice and other relevant stakeholders, in cooperation with the Council of Europe.

A2-A4

2.3.1.6

Organise an online seminar bringing together all participating countries to present regional, continental and international legal standards to the main technical stakeholders involved in legal reforms (Ministry of Health, Ministry of Justice and others) (online – national legal experts' time + international experts' time).

A2

2.3.1.7

Organise a seminar in each country to present and discuss with the principal technical stakeholders the legal gap analysis, final recommendations and the roadmap for the adoption and implementation of the required legislation and regulations (Ministry of Health, Ministry of Justice and other institutions), either remotely or on-site according to needs and the availability of national and international legal experts.

A4

2.1.2.1

Establish a National Working Group responsible for developing a model legal framework (key stakeholders involved in legal reforms) and organise regular meetings to monitor implementation progress (remote – national experts' time + international experts' time).

A1-A3

2.1.2.2

Support the review of the national legal framework and prepare draft recommendations for each partner country (remote – national experts' time + international experts' time).

A1-A3

2.1.2.3

Present the final recommendations for each partner country (Remotely or on site according the needs / national expert time + international experts time )

A3-A4

2.1.2.4

Organise a Regional Workshop for Prosecutors on legislative best practices to combat pharmaceutical crime and facilitate the exchange of experiences.

A2

2.1.2.5

Preparation of regional workshop pharma (Remotely / national experts time + international expert time )

A2

2.1.2.6

Organise an online seminar bringing together all participating countries to present regional, continental and international legal standards to the main technical stakeholders involved in legal reforms (Ministry of Health, Ministry of Justice and others) (online – national legal experts' time + international experts' time).

 

A2-3

2.3.1.7

Organise a seminar in each country to present and discuss with the principal technical stakeholders the legal gap analysis, final recommendations and the roadmap for the adoption and implementation of the required legislation and regulations (Ministry of Health, Ministry of Justice and other institutions), either remotely or on-site according to needs and the availability of national and international legal experts.

A1-A3

2.1.3.2

Establish a National Working Group responsible for developing a model legal framework (key stakeholders involved in legal reforms) and organise regular meetings to monitor implementation progress (remote – national experts' time + international experts' time).

A1-A2

2.1.4.1

Support the review of the national legal framework and prepare draft recommendations for each partner country (remote – national experts' time + international experts' time).

A2-A3

2.1.4.2

Present the final recommendations for each partner country (remotely or on site according to needs - national expert  + international experts.

A3

 

4. Task and responsabilities

3.1 Inception Phase  (Year 1)

1. Update the national legal and institutional baseline relating to the fight against substandard and falsified medical products (SFMPs), building on existing analyses, country profiles and the preliminary assessment, while adopting a gender-sensitive approach.

2. Map the relevant national stakeholders (ministries, judicial authorities, regulatory authorities, investigative services, customs, police, prosecution services, judiciary, civil society organisations, universities, and technical and financial partners), as well as existing coordination mechanisms.

3. Identify the main legal, regulatory and institutional gaps, together with national priorities for legislative reform, institutional strengthening and inter-institutional cooperation.

4. Prepare and co-facilitate the national prioritisation workshop to validate, together with the competent authorities, the priority legal interventions for the first year, and participate in the project planning meeting.

3.2 Implementation (Years 1 to 4)

1. Support national authorities in reviewing, drafting or updating legislative and regulatory frameworks, as well as procedures aimed at preventing, detecting, investigating and prosecuting offences related to SFMPs.

2. Contribute to the development or updating of National Action Plans (NAPs), ensuring the integration of legal, institutional and multi-sectoral cooperation dimensions.

3. Provide technical assistance for the development of guidance documents, standard operating procedures (SOPs), legal instruments, cooperation protocols and other tools intended for the competent authorities.

4. Facilitate dialogue among regulatory authorities, law enforcement agencies, judicial authorities, customs, relevant ministries and other national stakeholders in order to strengthen national coordination.

5. Support the preparation and delivery of training sessions, national workshops and practical exercises for judges, prosecutors, legal practitioners, regulatory authorities and other relevant stakeholders.

6. Represent the country, together with the National Focal Point, at regional and continental workshops, particularly those relating to:

Harmonisation of legal frameworks;

The Council of Europe MEDICRIME Convention;

Legal instruments of the African Union and the African Medicines Agency (AMA);

Regional judicial cooperation mechanisms;

MEDISAFE legal working groups.

7. Contribute to regional knowledge capitalisation activities, comparative legal studies and the development of common legal tools for beneficiary countries.

8. Lead, at national level, the implementation of the validated priorities (Activity 2.3.1.8), including support for the development of National Action Plans (NAPs), regulations, SOPs or tools for the National Regulatory Authority (NRA), covering online sales, market surveillance and pharmacovigilance.

 

3.3 Monitoring, Knowledge Capitalisation & Closure

1. Contribute to the Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) system by providing data on implemented legal activities, logical framework indicators and legal reforms undertaken.

2. Document good practices, challenges encountered and lessons learned in order to contribute to the project's knowledge capitalisation products.

3. Participate in the final workshop bringing together the national experts from the project's three components to share results, good practices and recommendations for ensuring the sustainability of project achievements.des acquis.

4. Expected Deliverables

1. Updated national legal assessment.

2. Stakeholder mapping and mapping of institutional coordination mechanisms.

3. Brief identifying national legal priorities.

4. Contribution to the national planning workshop.

Project or context description

Substandard and falsified medical products (SFMPs) represent a major threat to public health, economic development and security in Africa. According to the World Health Organization, one out of every ten medical products circulating in low- and middle-income countries is either substandard or falsified, resulting in more than 250,000 preventable deaths every year. To address this challenge, the European Union and Expertise France are implementing the MEDISAFE programme.

MEDISAFE Phase 1 (2018–2023) covered 11 countries in East and Central Africa (Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ghana, Ethiopia, Seychelles, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Malawi, Rwanda and Zambia). The project produced the Reference Manual on Legislation on Substandard and Falsified Medical Products: An African Perspective, guidance documents and strategies on pharmaceutical supply chains, legislation and communication, as well as the Roadmap adopted in Nairobi in April 2022. It also brought together more than 300 participants through 14 regional and national events, in partnership with the European Union (NRBC Network), UNODC, INTERPOL, the Council of Europe and AUDA-NEPAD.

MEDISAFE 2.0 builds upon and expands this first phase. It is a four-year project funded by the European Union (NDICI) with a total budget of EUR 9,000,000 and implemented by Expertise France under indirect management through a Contribution Agreement with the Delegation of the European Union to Nigeria. The project covers 13 countries organised into two regional clusters.

Cluster A (West Africa) : Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea (Conakry), Nigeria, Senegal, Togo.

Cluster B (Eastern and Southern Africa) : Burundi, DRC, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Zambia.

In line with the Action Document, the project distinguishes between countries that benefited from MEDISAFE Phase 1 (Ghana, Burundi, DRC, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda and Zambia) and newly participating countries. It combines activities tailored to the maturity level of the new countries with consolidation and capitalisation activities for former beneficiary countries, together with cross-regional initiatives designed to foster peer mentoring, experience sharing and operational coordination.

Overall Objective : Atténuer les menaces sanitaires, économiques et sécuritaires que représentent les produits médicaux de qualité inférieure ou falsifiés (PMQIF) en Afrique de l’Ouest et de l’Est.

To mitigate the public health, economic and security threats posed by substandard and falsified medical products (SFMPs) in West and East Africa.

The project pursues this objective through three complementary Specific Objectives implemented under a common Theory of Change and based on an inclusive and gender-sensitive approach.

SO1 – National and regional legal capacities to combat SFMPs are strengthened through inclusive and gender-responsive harmonisation of legal frameworks and the implementation of key legislation.

SO2 – The capacity of national and regional law enforcement authorities to detect, investigate and combat SFMPs is strengthened through improved operational procedures, enhanced intelligence and strengthened transnational cooperation that addresses the specific needs of vulnerable populations, particularly women and children.

SO3 – Pharmaceutical supply chains are strengthened and secured, while public awareness of SFMPs is increased through inclusive and gender-responsive approaches promoting the active role of women health professionals, women-led organisations and caregivers in ensuring equitable access to safe, quality and effective medical products.

These Terms of Reference relate to the Legal Component (SO1), whose objective is to support partner States in:

·       assessing national legal frameworks;

·       harmonising national legislation with international standards;

·       criminalising offences related to SFMPs;

·       strengthening the capacities of judicial authorities;

·       improving regional judicial cooperation.

The project is currently entering its four-month inception phase, culminating in the validation of the MEDISAFE 2 Action Plan by partner countries and Expertise France prior to its submission to the Delegation of the European Union.

Gender-sensitive approaches, taking into account the different levels of exposure of women, men and vulnerable populations and promoting the role of women health professionals and women-led organisations, are mainstreamed throughout the project.

In each country, the Legal Component relies on a National Legal Expert working closely with the National Focal Point and in coordination with the National Pharmaceutical Expert and the National Law Enforcement Expert.

Required profile

- University degree in Law (Master's degree or equivalent), preferably with a specialisation in criminal law, health law, pharmaceutical law, international law or public policy. 

- Professional experience in the fields of justice, legal affairs, pharmaceutical regulation or the fight against organised crime.

- Good knowledge of the national legal framework applicable to medical products and of the relevant national institutions.

- Experience with international legal instruments (MEDICRIME Convention, Palermo Convention, Budapest Convention, African Union legal instruments, etc.) will be considered an asset.

- Excellent legal analysis, drafting, institutional coordination and facilitation skills.

- Ability to work effectively in a multidisciplinary and multicultural environment.

- Demonstrated commitment to gender equality and social inclusion.

- Availability to support the project on a part-time basis throughout its four-year duration.

- Fluency in either French or English, depending on the country of assignment.

We are looking for one expert in each of the following countries : 

French speaking coutries : Benin, Ivory Coast, Guinea, Senegal, Togo, Burundi, DRC

English speaking coutries : Ghana, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Zambia

Please make sure to indicate the relevant country in the title of your application.

Additional information

Duration

Throughout the entire duration of the project (four years), on a flexible part-time basis: inception phase followed by the implementation of the validated activities

Indicative Level

Approximately 8 working days during the inception phase (4 days for data collection and 4 days for planning), in accordance with the project roadmap (13 national legal experts); the level of effort for subsequent years will depend on the validated priorities and the annual work plan.

Duty Station

In-country, with participation in national planning meetings and regional and continental workshops.

Working Language

French: Bénin, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinée, Sénégal, Togo, Burundi, RDC

English : Ghana, Nigeria, Éthiopie, Kenya, Rwanda, Zambie

Candidature

CV + Short Letter of motivation

 

Selection criteria for applications

The selection process for candidates will be based on the following criteria :

  • Candidate’s training/skills/experience

Deadline for application : 2026/08/09 12:12

Expertise France is the public agency for designing and implementing international technical cooperation projects. The agency operates around four key priorities :

  • democratic, economic, and financial governance ;
  • peace, stability, and security ;
  • climate, agriculture, and sustainable development ;
  • health and human development ;

In these areas, Expertise France conducts capacity-building initiatives and manages project implementation, leveraging technical expertise and acting as a project coordinator. This involves combining public sector expertise with private sector skills to drive impactful results. 

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