UNICEF National Consultant – Integrated Specimen Referral System (iSRS), Lao PDR
UNICEF is inviting applications for a National Consultant – Integrated Specimen Referral System (iSRS) Coordination position under the ALERT-LAO project in Vientiane, Lao People’s Democratic Republic. The consultancy will support the expansion and coordination of Laos’ national specimen referral system as part of efforts to strengthen pandemic prevention, preparedness and response.
The position is an office-based consultancy with travel for 12 months and will work closely with the National Center for Laboratory and Epidemiology (NCLE), the Ministry of Health and provincial health authorities.
UNICEF iSRS Consultant – Key Details
Organisation: UNICEF
Position: National Consultant – Integrated Specimen Referral System (iSRS) Coordination
Job Number: 596835
Location: Vientiane, Lao People’s Democratic Republic
Contract Type: Consultant
Duration: 12 months
Duty Station: Vientiane
Category: Health
Application Deadline: 19 November 2026
About the ALERT-LAO Project
The consultancy forms part of Advancing Lao PDR’s Pandemic Response and Transformation (ALERT-LAO), a government-led multisectoral One Health project jointly led by the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment.
In February 2026, the Pandemic Fund allocated more than US$17.5 million to ALERT-LAO as a catalytic investment. Together with national and partner co-financing, the project is expected to mobilize more than US$124 million for pandemic prevention, preparedness and response in Lao PDR.
UNICEF is responsible for supporting the human health component, while the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) supports the animal health component.
The consultancy sits within Component 2, which focuses on laboratory systems and diagnostic networks.
About the Integrated Specimen Referral System
The assignment will support the development and scale-up of an integrated specimen referral system capable of ensuring the timely transportation, testing and reporting of priority pathogen specimens.
The iSRS has already been piloted in three provinces, with lessons documented and a draft Standard Operating Procedure for the National Transportation System available.
During the first year, the project aims to expand the system to 14 additional provinces, bringing the total coverage to 17 provinces.
The consultant will help coordinate this expansion, including national Training of Trainers (ToT), provincial-to-district cascade training, transport and packaging arrangements, specimen tracking and data management.
The broader goal is to ensure that the referral system becomes functional and sustainable across all 17 provinces.
Key Responsibilities
The successful consultant will provide dedicated technical coordination to NCLE and support implementation of the national specimen referral system.
Key responsibilities will include helping NCLE finalise the iSRS framework and associated tools, coordinating the national Training of Trainers programme and supporting cascade training across the 14 scale-up provinces.
The consultant will also assist with establishing appropriate transportation, packaging and data-management arrangements and monitor system performance.
An important part of the assignment will be tracking indicators such as turnaround times and incoming specimen volumes at receiving laboratories.
The consultant will also contribute to monitoring progress under the Pandemic Fund’s performance indicators and support reporting on training, supervision and implementation.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree in medical laboratory technology, biomedical science, microbiology, medicine, pharmacy, public health or another relevant health-related field.
Candidates must have at least five years of professional experience in public health laboratory systems, laboratory networks or disease-programme diagnostics.
At least three years of direct experience working on specimen referral and transport is required.
Applicants should also have demonstrated practical experience establishing, piloting or scaling up an integrated, multi-disease specimen referral system at national or sub-national level.
Experience should include areas such as designing referral pathways and transport routes, establishing courier or sample-transport arrangements, developing referral documentation and tracking systems, and monitoring turnaround times.
Experience designing and delivering Training of Trainers and cascade training, as well as supportive supervision of laboratory and health-facility personnel, is also required.
Technical Skills
Candidates should have strong knowledge of the safe transportation of infectious substances, including relevant WHO guidance, UN3373/Category B requirements, triple packaging, cold-chain procedures and spill management.
Knowledge of laboratory biosafety and biosecurity, specimen collection, acceptance and rejection criteria, chain of custody, and result reporting is also important.
Applicants should have experience with referral data tools and analysis of turnaround-time and specimen-volume data. Working knowledge of DHIS2, LIMS or similar systems, together with advanced Microsoft Excel skills, is required.
Strong coordination, facilitation and report-writing skills are essential because the consultant will work with multiple government departments, programmes and provinces.
Desirable Qualifications
A master’s degree in public health, microbiology, laboratory management, epidemiology or a related field would be an advantage.
Additional desirable experience includes certified infectious-substance shipping training, work with GeneXpert, TB or HIV viral-load specimen transportation systems, and experience with specimen tracking platforms.
Experience with One Health specimen referral systems, including connections with animal health laboratories, would also be beneficial.
Importantly, fluency in Lao and English, both spoken and written, is required. The consultant must be able to prepare reports and correspondence in English and translate accurately between Lao and English.
Application Requirements
Qualified candidates are required to submit an up-to-date UNICEF Talent Management System profile and CV, a cover letter, a separate financial proposal using the required template and a detailed technical proposal.
The technical proposal must include a maximum two-page technical note explaining how the candidate would scale up the iSRS to 14 provinces within six months and monitor turnaround time.
Applicants must also provide one example of a referral-system tool they have developed, such as an SOP, route map, logbook or dashboard, with identifying information anonymised where necessary.
How to Apply
The deadline for applications is 19 November 2026, according to the vacancy information provided.
This UNICEF consultancy offers an opportunity for an experienced laboratory, public health or specimen-referral professional to contribute to strengthening Lao PDR’s pandemic preparedness and national diagnostic systems.
Job: National Consultant – Integrated Specimen Referral System (iSRS) Coordination
Organisation: UNICEF
Location: Vientiane, Lao People’s Democratic Republic
Duration: 12 months
Contract: Consultancy
Deadline: 19 November 2026
