Scope of Work - Scientific Writing & Research Consultant Issuance Date: September 22, 2025 Questions Due Date/Time: September 25, 2025, 5pm, Nairobi, Kenya time (
[email protected] ) Answers Due Date/Time: September 29, 2025, 5pm, Nairobi, Kenya time Proposal Due Date/Time: October 7, 2025 , 12pm, Nairobi Kenya time Background inSupply Health is an East African health advisory firm that designs people-centered, scalable, sustainable supply chain solutions. We focus on optimizing data visibility and use, workforce development, and continuous performance improvement. Our work focuses on democratizing access to quality, affordable, and contextualized supply chain learning and innovations, enabling local and regional supply chain actors to enhance the performance and efficiency of their supply chains and health systems, ultimately leading to improved health outcomes. inSupply implements a variety of projects and is soliciting proposals for a Scientific Writing & Research Consultant to engage to work with program teams across 3-5 projects in Kenya and Tanzania to provide scientific writing consulting services between November 2025 and October 2026. The projects have a variety of funders, and the work is subject to all applicable grant terms and conditions of the funders. inSupply will shortlist and work with two separate consultants across the different countries and types of support required. inSupply is implementing a series of projects across East Africa, including: Workforce Development The Workforce Development in Public Health Supply Chains project, funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, aims to strengthen the effectiveness, sustainability, and resilience of public health supply chains in East Africa, particularly in Kenya and Tanzania, by professionalizing the supply chain workforce, fostering a culture of robust supply and demand planning, and improving data visibility and use. With a strong focus on gender intentionality and social inclusion, the project addresses systemic challenges, including limited supply chain skills, a weak culture of data utilization, a lack of clear career pathways, and inadequate recognition of supply chain roles. Through targeted capacity building, operational process improvements, and the promotion of global goods, inSupply seeks to equip health workers, especially women and marginalized populations, with the technical, behavioral, and leadership expertise needed to enhance supply chain performance, ensure equitable access to essential medicines and supplies, and contribute to resilient health systems capable of meeting national and community needs. Read mor e Market Test The Strengthening Pharmacy Provision of Contraceptives in Kenya project, led by inSupply Health with PSK, KPA, UCSF, and KEMRI, has successfully demonstrated how pharmacies can expand contraceptive access and choice while sustaining viable business models. Over its implementation, pharmacies have proven to be trusted, discreet, and convenient access points, with 44% of family planning clients being first-time users and many returning for repeat services. By integrating client-centered innovations, strengthening provider skills, and piloting service models for methods such as the self-injectable DMPA-SC, the project has built a strong case for policy support, investment, and scale-up. Lessons learned will inform national efforts to position pharmacies as essential partners in delivering quality reproductive health and self-care services nationwide in Kenya. Read more Optimizing the Pharmacy Channel The Optimizing the Pharmacy Channel project by inSupply Health aims to enhance the role of community pharmacies in Kenya in delivering quality family planning (FP) services, including expanding method choice to include injectables and implants, in alignment with Kenya's 2018 Revised National FP Guidelines and the Ministry of Health's Total Market Approach. In partnership with key stakeholders such as the MOH, Pharmacy and Poisons Board, PSK, KPA, and URADCA, the project conducts research on barriers and feasibility, develops scalable training for pharmacy professionals, pilots implant provision, and promotes client awareness to create an enabling ecosystem. By strengthening policy and regulatory frameworks, building provider capacity, and ensuring market alignment, OPC seeks to increase access to quality FP and self-care products through pharmacies across multiple counties, ultimately expanding contraceptive choice and reducing the burden on the public health system. Read more Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence for Enhanced Forecasting & Supply Planning The Using AI to Enhance Forecasting in Kenya and Tanzania project, funded by the Patrick McGovern Foundation and led by inSupply Health in partnership with Afya Intelligence and government stakeholders, is advancing the quantification and forecasting of healthcare commodities through AI-driven automation and advanced analytics. Custom-built tools, integrated with national systems, automate data cleaning, apply machine learning models for trend analysis, and provide user-friendly visualizations to support decision-making at both national and subnational levels. These innovations have reduced data processing time from weeks to under 30 minutes, improved forecast accuracy, and fostered stakeholder trust through active engagement and transparency. Building on these successes, the project continues to refine forecasting tools, develop supply planning solutions, and explore new AI applications to enhance supply chain efficiency and responsiveness in Kenya and Tanzania. Read More Supply Chain Technical Support Mechanism to NTD Programs The Supply Chain Technical Support Mechanism for NTD medicines (SCTSM) is a five-year project (2024–2028) designed to strengthen the supply chains for donated medicines used in Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD) programs across the WHO African Region. Despite decades of pharmaceutical donations critical to combating NTDs, challenges such as delayed drug requests, weak stock management, lack of integration with national systems, inaccurate forecasting, and logistical delays have led to drug wastage and hindered timely delivery for mass drug administration campaigns. SCTSM seeks to address these issues by collaborating with Ministries of Health, manufacturers, and partners to improve supply and demand management practices, enhance inventory visibility, and ensure medicines reach targeted populations efficiently, ultimately supporting the NTD roadmap toward disease elimination. All projects are beginning to identify emerging results and generate ideas for publications. Project teams are juggling multiple priorities and often lack the advanced experience and time necessary to develop manuscripts based on acceptable levels of evidence and peer-reviewed publication standards. inSupply seeks an experienced scientific writing and research consultant who can work across teams, content area, and projects to provide any or all of the following types of support. Purpose & Objectives The purpose of the consultant is primarily to help inSupply teams prepare publication-ready manuscripts that can be submitted to peer-reviewed journals and have a high chance of acceptance. The secondary purpose is to provide high-level coaching and mentoring to teams on the thought process and systematic approach behind quality manuscript development, so that, in the future, teams are better equipped and experienced to lead publications themselves. InSupply teams are likely to require the following types of support Provide direction and support to teams in: Undertaking significant revisions to manuscripts that were not accepted for publication but that have a sufficient level of evidence for publication. Working with teams that have identified potential results for publication but can use support in focus, framing, and setup of manuscript and support during the writing process (heavy editing, coaching on messaging, implications of results, etc) Thinking through potential new manuscripts based on project results and helping to frame the focus and hypotheses for these manuscripts, and establishing clear roles for the writing team. Supporting teams throughout the manuscript writing process Copy-editing only Scout and advocate for publication opportunities that align with inSupply's strategic goals to enhance visibility and thought leadership, while providing guidance on dissemination strategies to maximize the impact of publications. Activities and deliverables It is expected that each type of support may require a different level of effort, depending on the intensity of direction and support needed. Direction may include reading the full manuscript, a series of calls with the team to understand the context, a potential review of project materials, and suggested restructuring of the manuscript or re-analysis of data, as well as guidance on themes and key messages. Support may include undertaking literature reviews and writing key sections of the manuscript, overseeing the analysis of results, and providing heavy editing of existing and new writing, as well as copy editing, all of which are aimed at developing publication-ready manuscripts. Specific scopes for each situation will be articulated and agreed upon on an individual basis, following a discussion between the consultant and the team. The consultant would have an initial call to review the material and then suggest a timeframe, level of effort, and specific outputs for each scenario. These would be approved by the PI and project manager before the work begins. Deliverables Revised and publication-ready manuscripts with tracked changes and supporting explanations. Manuscript development plans including outlines, timelines, and role assignments. Capacity-building workshops or one-on-one mentoring sessions focusing on manuscript writing and publication processes. Recommendations for publication venues and dissemination strategies. Expected Outcomes Increased number of high-quality manuscripts submitted and accepted in peer-reviewed journals. Enhanced skills and confidence among inSupply teams to lead manuscript development independently. Strengthened visibility and thought leadership of inSupply through strategic publications. What we expect from a consultant/firm: 10+ years of specific experience in scientific writing and research Experience supporting public health research across a range of public health areas, including RMNCH, quality improvement, and health systems Demonstrated experience with writing or supporting teams to improve all aspects of publications and manuscripts overall, revising manuscripts based on significant comments received from reviewers, and helping to frame and organize the content of potential manuscripts to maximize acceptance in quality, peer-reviewed journals Experience working on submissions across a range of publications Professional, responsible, flexible, collaborative, accountable, and inherently curious about inSupply's work Able to communicate effectively with staff; adept at working with implementers to pull out the "so what" that would make for compelling content and supporting team growth in explaining ideas and their underlying rationale to a range of audiences Tech savvy and able to work independently with remote and diverse teams spanning different time zones, cultures, and program areas in global health. Application Instructions Interested consultants/firms should submit a proposal package that includes the following: A CV or resume highlighting your experience in scientific writing and public health research. Specific examples of relevant scientific publications you have written or significantly contributed to. Please provide links to or copies of the publications with a brief, one-paragraph summary of your role in developing the publication. Publication examples across more than one journal and within the last 3 years are highly desired. A brief cover letter (not more than 3 pages) that outlines your understanding of the assignment and your proposed approach. This should include how you would prioritize publications across multiple projects. Business Information (Mandatory Eligibility Requirements): Valid business license/ certificate of incorporation. Tax clearance certificate Company Profile. This should include an overview of the company's experience in the supply of services stated in this RFP. List of similar assignments and client contacts- Past performance information such as provision of references, client list and description of other similar tasks performed, etc. preferably from international NGOs. Offeror should certify as to the financial viability and resources to provide offered services with the period of performance. Technical Proposal Company profile, Certifications and accreditations. Proposed Methodology, approach and work plan with clear timelines. Detailed reference list indicating the scope and magnitude of similar assignments carried out including the client, dates and budget. Proposed key staff, their roles including their CVs, academic and professional certificates. The technical proposal shall not exceed 25 pages. CVs, copies of academic certificates and other supporting documents may be attached as annexes.