Senior Telemedicine Specialist

SCOPE OF WORK 4.1 Inception Phase During finalisation of the Inception Report, the Telemedicine Specialist will: ▪ Provide targeted input to the design of the evaluation approach, including the telemedicine analytical framework and the reconstruction of the service Theory of Change. ▪ Advise on key technical dimensions to be assessed, including clinical appropriateness, service scope, and limitations, and what constitutes quality in telemedicine service delivery. ▪ Identify key technical assumptions, risks, and enabling conditions relevant to telemedicine performance and sustainability. ▪ Provide input on relevant telemedicine standards, and applicable policy, regulatory and legal considerations. 4.2 Retrospective Analysis The Specialist will advise on: ▪ The interpretation of telemedicine service data and performance indicators, including the extent to which observed patterns reflect meaningful performance and outcomes. ▪ The assessment of service design and delivery, including clinical appropriateness, service quality, and utilisation patterns. Workforce models, service scope, and operational practices, including their implications for effective service delivery. ▪ Key technical risks, constraints, and good practices affecting telemedicine performance in the current operational context. ▪ Relevant legal, regulatory, and policy considerations, including associated risks and implications for service delivery. 4.3 Prospective Assessment The Specialist will: ▪ Provide technical advice on the feasibility and clinical appropriateness of alternative telemedicine service models, including their respective strengths, limitations, and areas of applicability. ▪ Advise on workforce, governance, and regulatory considerations affecting the sustainability and operational viability of different service models. ▪ Assess key assumptions, risks, trade-offs, and enabling conditions associated with future telemedicine service delivery. 4.4 Reporting The Specialist will: ▪ Review and provide technical input on draft evaluation findings and reports. ▪ Provide technical assurance on the soundness of conclusions and recommendations related to telemedicine. ▪ Participate in presentations to evaluation stakeholders, as required.

Headquarter Amman - Home-based

The Consultant is expected to work for up to 20 days between 18 May and 31 July 2026.

1. BACKGROUND UNRWA is a United Nations agency established by the General Assembly in 1949 and mandated to provide assistance and protection to a population of 5.7 million registered Palestine refugees. Its mission is to help Palestine refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, West Bank, and the Gaza Strip to achieve their full potential in human development, pending a just solution to their plight. UNRWA services encompass education, health care, relief and social services, camp infrastructure and improvement, microfinance, and emergency assistance. UNRWA is the largest UN operation in the Middle East with more than 30,000 staff, most involved in direct service delivery with Palestine refugee communities. UNRWA is funded almost entirely by voluntary contributions. 2. EVALUATION PURPOSE The Evaluation Division of the UNRWA’s Department of Internal Oversight Services is conducting an evaluation of the Agency’s Telemedicine services, delivered in the five UNRWA Fields (Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan) between 2020 and March 2026. The purpose of the evaluation is to provide an independent and evidence-based analysis to inform senior leadership decisions regarding the future role, model, and sustainability of telemedicine within UNRWA’s Health Programme, and legal consideration. To this end, the evaluation will: UNRWA Telemedicine Evaluation Objectives Objective 1: Assess the operational performance of UNRWA’s telemedicine service as currently implemented, including observed results and its plausible contribution to access and continuity of care. Objective 2: Assess the coherence and institutional integration of telemedicine within UNRWA’s overall Health Programme, including governance, workforce arrangements, and digital systems. Objective 3: Assess the financial and institutional sustainability of telemedicine under projected operational and resource conditions, including risks, cost drivers, and viability through the 2026–2029 period. Objective 4: Synthesize evidence into forward-looking findings and evidence-based recommendations to inform senior management decisions regarding the future role, model, and sustainability of telemedicine. 3.DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES Reporting to the Chief, Evaluation Division and working under the direction of and in close collaboration with the Evaluation Team, the Senior Telemedicine Specialist will serve as a core member of the evaluation team. The Specialist will provide technical advisory support to the evaluation team. The role is to advise on the technical soundness of both the retrospective assessment of UNRWA’s current telemedicine services and the prospective analysis of options for future service models. The Specialist will also advise on telemedicine service design, clinical appropriateness, operational models, and quality considerations, and will support the interpretation of findings and validation of conclusions at key stages of the evaluation.

MINUMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE ▪ Advanced university degree in medicine, public health, health systems, or a related field. A clinical qualification is an asset ▪ At least 10 years of experience in the design, implementation, or governance of telemedicine or digital health services, including experience with policy, regulatory, and legal frameworks. ▪ Demonstrated experience providing technical advice on telemedicine service design and delivery models ▪ Knowledge of relevant standards, guidelines, and good practices for telemedicine service delivery. ▪ Familiarity with WHO or international digital health frameworks. The Specialist should have: ▪ Experience working with multilateral organisations, particularly in humanitarian or resource-constrained settings delivering primary health care services. ▪ Familiarity with the United Nations system and its operational context ▪ Experience contributing to evaluation or assessment processes, particularly in health or digital health programmes. ▪ Knowledge of the Levant region, including its operational and health system context

Fluency In English.

The Telemedicine Specialist should have no previous involvement in the design and implementation of UNRWA Telemedicine Services, or comparable engagement that might create a conflict of interest or undermine independence. The Specialist will be home based with the possibility of travel to UNRWA areas of operation, as conditions permit.