International Consultant - Regional Data Focal Person for the Global status report on eye care and vision impairment. Band level B

1. Purpose of the Consultancy

WHO is seeking a consultant to lead a situational assessment on eye care and vision impairment across countries of the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR). The successful candidate will liaise with multisectoral stakeholders across the Region to guide data collection at the national level. The key purpose of this project is to generate high-quality data and evidence, including the assessment of country-level actions and capacity, coupled with regional and global trends, which is critical to plan for evidence-based interventions for achieving the recommendations set in related political commitments and to monitor progress made. Data collected will be published in the WHO Global Status Report on eye care and vision impairment.

2. Background

Globally, at least 2.2 billion people have near or distance vision impairment. In at least one billion of these cases, vision impairment could have been prevented or is yet to be addressed. Of those with unaddressed vision impairment or blindness, 90% live in low- and middle-income countries.

Over the past few years, significant momentum has developed at the global level on eye care and vision impairment. A number of World Health Assembly (WHA) and United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) resolutions adopted in recent years (WHA73.4, WHA74(12), WHA78.7, and UNGA A/75/L.108) have highlighted the public health importance of eye care and established targets and indicators to monitor progress in the field.

The Global Status  Report on eye care and vision impairment will respond to the requests made in these resolutions. It will provide the first assessment of vision and eye care at the country-level, including data on the burden of eye diseases and vision impairment, intervention coverage, policies, and legislation. This will provide a benchmark against which to measure future progress at global, regional, and national levels, and will serve as a tool to stimulate further action at the country level. Specifically, data collected through this project will investigate:

·         Best available data on the burden of eye disease, vision impairment, and intervention coverage, including time trends.

·         Relevant eye care policies, legislation, service delivery, and workforce capacity at the country-level.

·         Gaps and opportunities in eye care systems.

·         Progress towards the 2030 global targets on effective coverage of eye care.

·         Innovative practices that would be highlighted as case studies.

The current consultancy aims to coordinate and support, at the regional level, the collection of relevant data and information in EMR countries that will participate in the endeavour to develop the Global Status Report on eye care and vision impairment.

3.       Planned timelines (subject to confirmation)

Start date:01/05/2026

End date: 31/12/2026

4.       Work to be performed

Output 1: Provide technical guidance for preparation of data collection for the Global status report on eye care and vision impairment:

-       Deliverable 1.1: Participate in the training for Regional Data Focal Persons on data collection and validation, including identifying contributors, consensus meeting, and data validation and clearance, and to operate the project’s secure web-based data platform.

-       Deliverable 1.2: Assist in the identification of National Data Focal Persons [NDFPs] for the country, and support EMRO in liaison with them, confirming their participation and availability for related regional trainings.

-       Deliverable 1.3: Assist in designing and conduction of online NDFPs’ trainings, and follow up after the trainings.

Output 2: Support National Data Focal Persons in data collection, validation, and clearance for the Global status report on eye care and vision impairment:

-       Deliverable 2.1: Provide technical advice to NDFPs on identifying stakeholders/national data contributors to complete a standardized questionnaire and in setting up consensus meetings among respondents within the stipulated period.

-       Deliverable 2.2:  Conduct a structured review of data quality and validation approaches and provide recommendations and tools to strengthen data collection and validation processes across countries.

-       Deliverable 2.3:  Review country-level validation and approval processes and provide recommendations for each  country-level dataset.

-       Deliverable 2.4: Ensure clear transmission of agreed-upon answers to the questionnaire to the concerned HQ team and assist with the data entry of validated data on the portal.

Output 3: Report on the progress of undertaken actions and assist in the review of the draft report and dissemination of the published document, within the duration of the current assignment/consultancy:

-       Deliverable 3.1: Develop an accurate project management spreadsheet indicating the progress on different aspects of the project, including data collection and validation, and approval process for each country..

-       Deliverable 3.3: Provide technical advice on analysis of regional trends, policies, and legislation to feed into the global report.

-       Deliverable 3.4: Provide technical input to the review of the draft global report and contribute to recommendations for dissemination strategies.

5.       Specific requirements

- Qualifications required:

Minimum first university degree for lower end of range, an advanced university degree for mid and high end of range in medicine, public health, epidemiology or a related field

- Experience required:

·         5 to 10 years of relevant experience in public health, which includes experience in data collection/analysis (such as surveys, datasets, etc.)

·         International experience is mandatory for international consultants

- Skills / Technical skills and knowledge:

·         Excellent inter-personal skills with the demonstrated ability to work effectively with government officials as well as with national and international organizations.

·         Demonstrated ability to build partnerships and work in multicultural and multidisciplinary settings.

·         Good management and leadership abilities and experience.

·         Familiarity with the goals and procedures of international organizations (UN system, donors, non-governmental organizations).

·         Experience working with policy documents is an asset.

·         Experience working in Eastern Mediterranean Regional countries is an asset.

·         Ability to coordinate, plan, and implement projects, conduct training activities, effectively monitor, and analyze data and present results.

·         Ability to work independently and deliver high-quality work on time.

·         Computer proficiency in Outlook, MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint

- Language requirements:

Excellent knowledge of written and spoken English and Arabic will be an asset.

6.       Place of assignment

All tasks will be conducted remotely

Medical clearance : The selected Consultant will be expected to provide a medical certificate of fitness for work.

Travel (If travel is involved, a medical certificate of fitness for work will be required.) All travel arrangements will be made by WHO – WHO will not be responsible for tickets purchased by the Consultant without the express, prior authorization of WHO. While on mission under the terms of this consultancy, the Consultant will receive subsistence allowance.Visas requirements: it is the consultant’s responsibility to fulfil visa requirements and ask for visa support letter(s) if needed.

 Additional Information section

·         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.

·         Remuneration is in line with WHO consultant established rates

·         Successful candidates will be included in the roster for consideration for future contractual engagement via a consultancy, as they become available. Inclusion in the roster does not guarantee any future contractual relationship with WHO

·         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's workforce adheres to the WHO Values Charter and is committed to put the WHO Values into practice.

·         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 in each location/jurisdiction in which the work hereunder is performed, and the Consultant shall not be entitled to any reimbursement thereof by WHO.

Interested candidates are strongly encouraged to apply on-line through Stellis. For assessment of your application, please ensure that:
 (a) Your profile on Stellis is properly completed and updated;
 (b) All required details regarding your qualifications, education and training are provided;
(c) Your experience records are entered with elaboration on tasks performed at the time.