Consultant - Noma and NTDs

Purpose of consultancy

To guide cross-departmental work on noma between NCD and NTD at WHO HQ, as well as facilitate collaboration with WHO Regional and Country offices and all stakeholders.

Background

Noma, a severe gangrenous disease of the mouth and face, primarily affects malnourished young children (between the ages of 2 and 6 years) in regions of extreme poverty. It starts as an inflammation of the gums, which, if not treated early, spreads quickly to destroy facial tissues and bones. It frequently leads to death, with survivors suffering severe disfigurement. Cases of noma are mostly found in sub-Saharan Africa, although cases have also been reported in the Americas and Asia. There are multiple risk factors associated with this disease, including poor oral hygiene, malnutrition, weakened immune systems, infections, and extreme poverty. Noma isn't contagious but tends to strike when the body's defenses are down.

On 15 December 2023, following a recommendation of the Strategic and Technical Advisory Group for Neglected Tropical Diseases (STAG-NTD), WHO announced the inclusion of noma into the WHO list of neglected tropical disease (NTDs).

Noma is now positioned to align with both the ambitious goals of the Global Oral Health Action Plan (2023-2030), managed by the NCD Department, and the NTD road map 2021-2030, managed by the NTD Department.

WHO has been working on noma since the 1990s: technical guidance and field tools have been developed, and a global network and community of practice has been formed. The WHO African Region established the regional noma control programme in 2001 and has made great progress in supporting action against noma in countries reporting cases. The noma step-by-step guide published in 2020 to support priority countries in line with the UHC and SDGs targets lays the foundation of integration within the NTD roadmap and the development of disease-specific guidance and targets.

With the inclusion of noma, WHO’s NTD list now includes 21 diseases or groups of diseases. Collective action on NTDs by WHO is driven by the ambitious targets set out in the NTD road map 2021-2030. However, the road map was established prior to noma’s inclusion in the NTD list and additional work is needed to harmonize and integrate noma.

Deliverables

• Develop technical guidance for the integration of noma into the WHO NTD roadmap 2021-2030.
  Expected by: first 2 months
• Update of existing tools to contribute to prevention and control of noma in the field.
  Expected by: first 2 months
• Develop a global communication and advocacy strategy to integrate noma into the NTD brand.
  Expected by: first 4 months
• Develop a database of existing global networks and community of practice dedicated to noma to facilitate partnership.
  Expected by: first 4 months
• Develop technical documents to guide health workers to diagnose and treat cases.
  Expected by: first 4 months
• Develop a document outlining the research priorities for noma to facilitate inclusion of in the NTD R&D Blueprint.
  Expected by: first 8 months
• Organize global technical and partnership meetings on noma.
  Expected by: first 10 months
• Facilitate the involvement of people with lived experience / survivors in all relevant initiatives.
  Expected by: first 11 months
• Advise WHO regional and country offices to guide ministries of health in addressing noma within the NTDs and Oral Health Programmes.
  Expected by: first 11 months

Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Educational Qualifications:

Essential:

• First university degree in medicine, dentistry or health-related field.

Desirable:

• Advanced university degree in public health or related field.

Experience:

Essential:

• 5-10 years of relevant experience working on noma and public health.

Skills:

• Ability to work harmoniously in a team, adapt to a diverse working and cultural environment.
• Ability to take initiatives and provide innovative ideas.
• Excellent writing and communication skills.
• Familiarity with Microsoft Office (excel, PowerPoint, word etc.) and other tools as well as social media tools.
• Ability to liaise and respectfully communicate with diverse stakeholders.
• Knowledge of noma and its social and public health impact.
• Knowledge in public health and tropical diseases.

Languages required:

Essential:

• Expert knowledge of English.
• Intermediate knowledge of French.

Location

Off site: Home-based.

Travel

The consultant is expected to travel.

Remuneration and budget (travel costs are excluded):

Remuneration:

Band level B - USD 7,000 - 9,980 per month.

Living expenses (A living expense is payable to on-site consultants who are internationally recruited):

N/A

Expected duration of contract:

11 months. Additional contracts may be offered based on funding availability and satisfactory performance.

Additional Information

• This vacancy notice may be used to identify candidates for other similar consultancies at the same level.
• Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.
• A written test may be used as a form of screening.
• If your candidature is retained for interview, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. WHO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed through the link: http://www.whed.net/. Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and will require individual review.
• For information on WHO's operations please visit: http://www.who.int.
• WHO is committed to workforce diversity.
• WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.
• Applications from women and from nationals of non and underrepresented Member States are particularly encouraged.
• WHO prides itself on a workforce that adheres to the highest ethical and professional standards and that is committed to put the WHO Values Charter into practice.
• WHO has zero tolerance towards sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct (i.e., discrimination, abuse of authority and harassment). All members of the WHO workforce have a role to play in promoting a safe and respectful workplace and should report to WHO any actual or suspected cases of SEA, sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct. To ensure that individuals with a substantiated history of SEA, sexual harassment or other types of abusive conduct are not hired by the Organization, WHO will conduct a background verification of final candidates.
• Consultants shall perform the work as independent contractors in a personal capacity, and not as a representative of any entity or authority. The execution of the work under a consultant contract does not create an employer/employee relationship between WHO and the Consultant.
• WHO shall have no responsibility whatsoever for any taxes, duties, social security contributions or other contributions payable by the Consultant. The Consultant shall be solely responsible for withholding and paying any taxes, duties, social security contributions and any other contributions which are applicable to the Consultant in each location/jurisdiction in which the work hereunder is performed, and the Consultant shall not be entitled to any reimbursement thereof by WHO.
• Consultants working in Switzerland must register with the applicable Swiss cantonal tax authorities and social security authorities, within the prescribed timeframes (Guidelines issued by the Swiss Mission are available at: https://www.eda.admin.ch/missions/mission-onu-geneve/en/home/manual-regime-privileges-and-immunities/introduction/Manuel-personnes-sans-privileges-et-immunites-carte-H/Non fonctionnaires et stagiaires.html