Terms of Reference: Consultant to develop a technical assistance package for the national application of the Digital Health and AI Investment Classification Framework

Details of work required: Transform Health is recruiting a consultant to develop a Technical Assistance (TA) approach and package that supports governments with the application of the Digital Health and AI Investment Classification Framework, to support  the budgeting, costing of digital health strategies and roadmaps, and analysis of digital health. The consultant will design the TA package and test it directly with governments in 3-4 countries, and refine it based on the learnings.

Expected duration: This work is expected to run over approximately 3 months (October to December 2026).

A.   Background

Transform Health is a global coalition of more than 230 organisations dedicated to achieving universal health coverage (UHC) by 2030 by harnessing digital technology and the use of data. We bring partners and networks together, leveraging our shared experience and expertise, to shape policy agendas, influence decision makers, develop tools, provide technical support to governments and others, and conduct research and analysis to deliver health for all in the digital age.

One of our coalition objectives is to ensure more and better coordinated, aligned and prioritised funding for the digital health transformation. Digital health is increasingly recognised as an important enabler and accelerator of UHC. However, insufficient, uncoordinated and poorly aligned and prioritised investment is undermining that enabling potential. One of the challenges is an obscure funding landscape, in part due to a lack of routine or standardised definitions or tracking of digital health investment.

It is against this backdrop that Transform Health, working alongside a leadership steering committee comprising UNICEF, WHO, OECD, World Bank and the Global Fund, has led the development of a Digital Health and AI Investment Classification Framework – the first common framework for categorising and tracking digital health and AI investments across governments, development partners, multilaterals, philanthropies and the private sector, to support better transparency, tracking, coordination, alignment and prioritisation of investment. The Digital Health and AI Investment Classification Framework provides a shared, three-tier classification system (7 pillars, 48 investment types, and 150+ sub-types), together with cross-cutting tags.

Transform Health is developing its technical assistance (TA) approach to support the use of the Classification Framework by governments to support national investment planning, budgeting and strategy decisions, and funding concentration and gap analysis. 

B.   Scope of work and key deliverables

Transform Health is recruiting a consultant to develop a Technical Assistance (TA) approach and package using the Digital Health and AI Investment Classification Framework to: (a) support governments to develop costed digital health strategies and roadmaps; (b) guide investment as part of the budgeting process, and (c) identify where investments are concentrated and where critical gaps exist, to support better alignment and coordination across stakeholders. This will include: 

1. 1. Developing a practical TA approach and package (building on a current draft concept note), including supplementary templates and tools to support the use of the Classification Framework – taking a user-centric design approach.
   2. Testing the practical application of the approach and tools through TA support in 3-4 countries (working in collaboration with other technical partners)
   3. Refining the TA approach/package based on the application and country learnings

Specific tasks include (but are not limited to):

Develop a workplan, including proposed pilot countries, the user-centric design approach/plan.

Deliverable 1: Develop the TA package

• • • Review the current draft concept note, the Classification Framework and its user guide, and related materials.
    • Conduct user-centric design investigation with likely TA users (e.g. government digital health/planning and budget officials, and relevant technical partners) to understand needs, capacities, and existing planning and budgeting workflows.
    • Based on the reviewed documents and investigation, flesh out the implementation pathway for each of the three entry points for national use of the Classification Framework (as set out in the concept note), translating them into a practical, step-by-step TA delivery approach.
    • Identify and develop the practical tools needed to support delivery, e.g. budget and costing templates, guidance materials, etc.
    • Consolidate this into a TA package, ready for testing, and present it to Transform Health (and other stakeholders, as relevant) for review before country testing begins.

Deliverable 2: Apply the TA package directly with governments in 3-4 countries

• • • Work with Transform Health, collaborating technical partners, and interested governments to identify 3-4 pilot countries, ideally reflecting a mix of entry points and country contexts, and agree the scope of engagement with each.
    • Support with government engagement to facilitate agreement and sign-off of the approach in each country (e.g. agreement/MoU), in coordination with Transform Health and collaborating technical partners.
    • Lead direct TA delivery in each pilot country, applying the approach and package from Deliverable 1 and developing country-level outputs as agreed in the scope of engagement for each country. 
    • Document the process, outputs, and country-specific adaptations or challenges as the work proceeds, and capture structured feedback from government (and partner) on the tools and approach.

Deliverable 3: Refine the TA package based on the country application and learnings

• • • Synthesise learnings, feedback, and challenges from the 3-4 pilot countries.
    • Refine the TA approach, process steps, and tools and materials based on this testing, producing a final, ready-to-scale TA package and tools.
    • Write up a final report documenting the process, outcomes, learnings and feedback, and challenges from the 3-4 pilot countries, and recommendations from the testing, to inform the refined TA approach and package and its wider roll-out.
    • Write brief case studies (e.g. 2 pages each) for each pilot country based on the work, which could be incorporated as a practical example in the Classification Framework user guide and published separately.
    • Present final findings and recommendations to Transform Health (and other stakeholders, as relevant).
    • Draft a Journal article based on the approach/process, outcomes, and learnings.

This work will be largely carried out remotely, with potential travel to the testing countries. All travel expenses will be covered by Transform Health in accordance with our travel policy.

D. Profile and experience

Proven expertise in digital health funding

• • Demonstrated understanding of the digital health ecosystem, particularly the policy and funding landscape.
  • In-depth understanding of government digital health funding, e.g.  national budgeting for digital health, development and costing of digital health strategies/frameworks/blueprints.
  • Familiarity with key digital health frameworks and tools.
  • Knowledge of the cross-cutting funding areas relevant to digital health (e.g. digital transformation, digital public infrastructure).

Experience with national health financing, budgets and investment tracking

• • Understanding of funding tracking and reporting tools, frameworks and methodologies (e.g. National Health Accounts).
  • Strong experience with national (and sub-national) budget structures and processes, including budget review and analysis.
  • Understanding of national health financing systems and processes.
  • Knowledge of other health taxonomy approaches and their practical application and use.

Strong analytical, research and written communication skill

• • Experience synthesising diverse technical and policy documents.
  • Ability to translate complex information into clear, actionable recommendations.
  • Clarity in presenting research findings and policy recommendations to diverse audiences.

Collaborative and self-directed work style

• • Experience working in multi-disciplinary, remote, and cross-organisational teams
  • Ability to work independently, while ensuring a collaborative approach and being responsive to feedback
  • Highly organised with the ability to plan and manage time effectively, balance competing priorities, deliver high-quality outputs within deadlines, and be flexible to change.

User-centric design and multi-country TA delivery

• • Experience designing and testing practical tools or programmes using user-centred/human-centred design approaches (e.g. needs assessment, prototyping, and iterative refinement based on user feedback).
  • Demonstrated experience delivering technical assistance directly to government counterparts, ideally across multiple countries, including facilitation, orientation/training delivery, and both remote and in-country engagement.
  • Ability to manage a multi-country consultancy engagement and coordinate with in-country focal points or local consultants where needed.
  • Willingness and ability to travel internationally as required.

D. Application process

To apply, please submit the following to hr@transformhealthcoalition.org by 23:59 CET on 23 October 2026:

• • Your CV and cover letter outlining your experience relevant to this consultancy.
  • Your proposed daily rate, approach and number of days for the assignment, and total budget.

E. Contract details and terms

• • Consultancy period: 1 October – 31 December (3 months)
  • Available budget for this assignment is approximately $18,000-20,000 (this is based on ~38-40 days work at $500 per day)
  • Travel costs will be covered separately following approval of a travel request and in accordance with Transform Health’s travel policy.
  • Remuneration will be based on experience and proposal.