Consultants National TB stigma Index Studies 2026 – to Support Data Processing, Analysis, and report writing
Job Description
Position: Consultants National TB stigma Index Studies 2026 – to Support Data Processing, Analysis, and report writing
Assignment: Conduct TB Stigma Index studies in 2026.
Duration: 20 days
Application Deadline: 17 February 2026.
Overview
Tuberculosis (TB) remains a major public health challenge, with stigma significantly affecting prevention, diagnosis, treatment adherence, and quality of life of people affected. Sierra Leone is classified by the WHO as a high TB burden country, with an estimated incidence of 283 cases per 100,000 people in 2023. Recent efforts, supported by the WHO, are focused on improving case finding, especially among children and high-risk populations, and integrating services with HIV care. The mortality rate (all forms, excluding HIV) decreased from 57 to 35 per 100,000 population between 2015 and 2021 and approximately 13% of people with TB were reported as HIV-positive.
With reported progress of 92% and 92% case detection and treatment success rates in 2024, the emergence of drug-resistant TB poses a significant threat to the gains made. In 2025, the National TB Control Programme, with support from WHO and partners, concluded the program End Term Implementation Review. The outcomes have repositioned the National program for the next phase of interventions, building on the findings of the End Term Review.
Conducting a TB stigma index study provides science-driven evidence to complement the next phase of interventions, as stigma is seen to halt progress towards the END TB Plan of 2030. The study will help illuminate the community, health care/facility and patient perspectives of self, experienced and perceived stigma along the TB care and treatment cascade
This call invites suitable candidates to apply and assist in the cross-sectional/mixed-methods study on TB stigma in Sierra Leone.
Objectives
To support the study process for the conduct of an ethically sound TB Stigma Index study in Sierra Leone
Key Components and Scope of Work:
- Team composition
Consultants should comprise a multi-disciplinary team with the capacity to coordinate and monitor data collection, conduct data analysis and write a report
- Data Collector Recruitment
Work with CISMAT in Sierra Leone to recruit community members, including the key population, with the capacity to collect primary and secondary data in a confidential and ethical manner.
- Methodology
Deploy 5 field coordinators to monitor data collection across Sierra Leone
- Stigma Index Survey:
Develop a culturally sensitive and contextually relevant survey tool in collaboration with key stakeholders, including PLHIV, community leaders, healthcare professionals, and advocacy groups.
The survey will cover various dimensions of TB stigma, including social, economic, workplace, and healthcare-related aspects.
- Data collection instrument set up
Work with the international consultants to transcribe developed questionnaires into tablets
- Training
Train data collectors using developed modules and ensure data collectors have the capacity to collect data using electronic data collection tools
- Data Collection:
Guide data collectors to collect ethically sound data across all genders, populations, health facilities, districts, and regions.
- Data Analysis:
Under the supervision of the international consultant, analyze primary and secondary data collected at the field level, including conducting transcription and analyze qualitative data
- Community Engagement:
Organize and select venues for Focused Group Discussions FGD and in-depth interviews (IDI).
- Stakeholder Workshops:
Consult the developed roadmap to support the dissemination of study findings across levels, including health care workers
- Reporting
In collaboration with the international consultant, support the writing of a comprehensive report of the study’s findings.
- Tool and Questionnaire Development
Work with the international consultant to review existing tools, including the stigma 2.0 documents, to adapt the questionnaire and ensure relevance to the planned study
- Supervision
The Consultants will be jointly supervised by the members of the steering committee
Deliverables
The consultants/ consortium will:
- Ensure the study process is ethically sound and follows research rigor
- Recruit data collectors to respond to the research protocol
- Train data collectors on research protocols and data collections
- Transcribe questionnaires into electronic data collection tools
- Train healthcare workers/ disseminate research findings
- Analyze findings of research
Qualifications and Experience
Basic
The consortium/ consultants must have capacity for field coordination monitoring, an analyst with capacity to analyze data, SPSS expertise and health informatics with ODK, CommCare and Kobo collect knowledge
Formation will comprise candidates with a background in social sciences, including public health, epidemiology, sociology, anthropology, statistics, medicine, and related disciplines
Possesses capacity with relevant experiences in support of research conduct, including protocol interpretation
Formation must be based in Sierra Leone and have supported similar studies in Sierra Leone with knowledge of HIV programming
Excellent knowledge of MSW, PP, Excel, SPSS, etc.
Must be fluent in English and a creative writer
Desirable
- Have published research in a relevant discipline.
- Have documented and is willing to share relevant works carried out in the past
- Demonstrating evidence of collaboration with other researchers
Application Requirements
- The candidate will submit a comprehensive CV reflective of team members with past experience in completing related tasks
- The candidate will create a two-page technical proposal outlining the steps necessary to complete the assigned task, including a detailed work plan.
- The candidate will submit a detailed financial proposal in a separate MSW and Excel document accompanying the technical proposal for the assigned task
- The candidate will share reports and studies in the field of HIV/AIDS/ TB relevant field supported in the past, written in English
Applications should be sent with subject “Application for National Consultant TB index studies” not later than February 17th , 2026 to:
wv_sl_supplychain@wvi.org and copy