Consultant - Assist NCM Unit in developing guidance on how to strengthen NCD prevention and control in humanitarian settings in the EMR

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Purpose of the consultancy

The purpose of the consultancy is to assist NCM Unit in developing guidance on how to strengthen the design and implementation of policies for the prevention and management of noncommunicable diseases and their risk factors in humanitarian emergencies in the EMR.

Background

Implementing the UN Political Declaration (UNPD) on NCDs is the strategic area of work of the UHC/NCDs department at the WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean (EMRO), directly delivering on the Sustainable Development Agenda (SDG target 3.4 to reduce premature deaths from NCDs by one third by 2030) and the WHO 13th General Programme of Work (GPW13). The work of the programme has been, since 2012, guided by the Regional Framework of Action (RFA) to implement the UNPD on NCDs, providing Member States with strategic interventions in the areas of governance; prevention and reduction of risk factors; surveillance, monitoring and evaluation; and healthcare. This framework was updated in 2019 in alignment with the 2018 UN political declaration on NCDs and can be accessed here. Addressing NCD, specifically the four priority groups of cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes and chronic respiratory diseases and their risk factors, requires multisectoral whole-of-government and whole-of-society preventive action, as well as reorientation and strengthening of health systems to deal more effectively with early detection, effective and prompt treatment, management of complications, and palliative care for people with advanced manifestations of NCDs in both stable and emergency settings.

The scope of work of the NCM Unit Includes under this work stream:

• Developing a strategic approach to strengthening regional health system responses to the major NCDs, with a focus on the management and integration of NCDs in primary health care, in stable and emergency settings
• Providing advice to Member States in implementing the recommendations of the United Nations Political Declaration on the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases, and the regional framework for action in the area of healthcare.
• Providing technical assistance to and building capacity of the Member States in strengthening national health system response to NCD, with a focus on the management and integration of NCDs in primary health care, in stable and emergency settings

Planned timelines

Start date: 1/04/2021

End date: 15/08/2021

Work to be performed

Output 1: Develop a regional strategic approach and modalities of work on strengthening health system responses to the major NCDs in humanitarian settings in the EMR

• Deliverable 1.1: Review WHO current support to EMR countries across preparedness, response and recovery in term of NCD related response, and suggest a strategic approach on how to better mainstream WHO support in this area as part of emergency preparedness and responses.

• Deliverable 1.2: Establish an integrated strategic approach and define the internal WHO EMRO regional modalities of work for addressing NCDs in humanitarian emergencies across relevant WHO EMRO UHC-NCD, the WHO Health Emergencies department, other WHO EMRO technical departments and partners.
• Deliverable 1.3: Map donors having prioritized funding for NCD in humanitarian settings in the EMR to inform advocacy work and resource mobilization.

• Delivrables 1.4: In coordination with WHO HQ, engage and gather EMR countries’ support in operationlizing the strategic approach outlined in Annex 9 of the WHO Director-General DG Report on the Political declaration of the third high-level meeting of the General Assembly on the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases (EB148/7).

Output 2: Develop guidance and tools to support countries addressing NCDs in humanitarian settings

• Deliverable 2.1: Map existing policies, guidelines and tools and identify additional products to address NCDs in humanitarian settings, in order to fill critical gaps in guidance for governments and humanitarian agencies.

• Deliverable 2.2: Finalize and field test the Public Health Field Managers’ Manual on NCDs in Emergencies in the EMR

Output 3: Support the revision and further use of the NCD emergency kit in the EMR

• Deliverable 3.1: Coordinate the prepration and the organization of a consultative meeting on the deployment of the NCD emergency kit in the EMR 2017-2020 planned in April 2021

• Deliverable 3.2: Develop a manuscript for publication on the deployment of the NCD emergency kit in the EMR 2017-2020

Required Qualifications

Education: Master’s degree in Public Health or a related field of International Studies.

Experience: Minimum of 7 years’ experience in international global health.

Minimum of 3 years documented experience in humanitarian settings and/or work in refugee health.

Skills / Technical knowledge

• Excellent knowledge of Microsoft office applications
• Demonstrated capacity to produce high quality technical writing
• Demonstrated coordination skills and capacity to work across teams and with different cultures.
• Experience working with WHO at field, regional and/ or HQ levels.
• Experience working in refugees and migrants health with WHO or other UN agency.
• Strong research skills with academic institutions and professional organizations.

Language

• Excellent knowledge of English and Arabic

Location

Remotely until further clarification on the return to office policy when the consultant might be asked to report depending on the nature of the work arrangements

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.

Remuneration and budget (travel costs excluded) Remuneration: international consultant (P4 level)

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.
• Renumeration is in line with WHO applicable consultant payment 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.
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• 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.
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