Consultant - WHO Benchmark for IHR Capacities

Purpose of consultancy

To provide technical support to review, update and implement the WHO Benchmark for IHR capacities in the evidence and analytics for health security (EHS) unit, in close collaboration with units/teams and offices of WHO.

The consultant will foster critical linkages within the Health Security Preparedness (HSP) department and the WHE programme and health systems and will provide technical expertise on incorporating lessons from COVID-19, public health programming, strategic and planning, capacity building and other activities into the approach for implementing the Benchmarks.

Background

The mission of WHO's Health Emergencies Programme (The Programme) is to build Member States’ capacity to manage health emergency risks and, when national capacities are overwhelmed, to lead and coordinate the international health response in order to contain outbreaks as well as provide effective relief and recovery to affected populations. The objectives of the Health Security Preparedness (HSP) department include the monitoring and evaluation of country preparedness capacities, the planning of country capacity building and the implementation of IHR and non-IHR data data to generate evidence for preparedness strengthening.

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a tragic loss of lives and livelihoods, worsening inequalities and is threatening to reverse progress made towards the achievement of health-related SDGs and the Triple Billion targets. The pandemic has also revealed that countries must be supported to implement priority actions for preparedness including through application of the WHO Benchmarks for IHR (2005) Capacities.

Analyzing the wealth of IHR and health security data drawing from both IHR data and non-IHR data provides powerful insight into the critical gaps and priorities of a country and it guides the crucial policy and strategic decisions that ensure effective prevention and preparedness for health emergencies and meeting the GPW target of 1 billion more people better protected. The Evidence and Analytics for Health Security (EHS) unit of the department of Health Security Preparedness (HSP) is responsible to implement health systems for health security framework, WHO Benchmarks for IHR capacities, health security preparedness research and development, dynamic preparedness metric, health security analysis, documentation, and preparedness economics to strengthen health security preparedness of Member States.

Deliverables

The consultant will be responsible for updating the WHO Benchmarks for IHR capacities based on the lessons learned from COVID-19, the recommendations of recent high-level panels and reviews of preparedness and response in light of the pandemic, and other relevant sources of evidence that can enhance the Benchmarks.

The consultant will also provide technical support in collection of references required for the Benchmarks reference library as well as the support the implementation of the Benchmarks for national capacity building. The consultant will collaborate with colleagues in the EHS Unit, WHE Programme and other WHO departments, as well as with colleagues across WHO Regional and Country Offices.

The specific deliverables/outputs and activities are as follows:

Output 1: Updating of WHO Benchmarks for IHR capacities

• Deliverable 1.1: Review inputs provided to the draft WHO Benchmarks for IHR capacities. Expected by 20 January 2022
• Deliverable 1.2: Develop, review, propose new benchmarks and finalise based on the thematic areas of health security capacities and lessons learned from COVID-19 and other recent health emergencies. Expected by 30 March 2022
• Deliverable 1.3: Collaborate with the health economist to cost the benchmarks to develop the investment cases. Expected by30 June 2022

Output 2: Updating references of Benchmarks of the reference library

• Deliverable 2.1: Support the collection of references for each benchmark action in consultation with relevant technical teams, departments, regional offices, and partners. Expected by 30 June 2022
• Deliverable 2.2: Liaise with the technical officer responsible of managing online portal and reference library to update the library. Expected by 30 June 2022

Output 3: Implementation of WHO Benchmarks for IHR capacities

• Deliverable 3.1: Provide technical guidance to the technical teams, regional offices and member states to implement the WHO benchmarks either for planning or documentation. Expected by 30 April 2022
• Deliverable 3.2: Collaborate with the technical officer of health systems for health security to implement the framework using the benchmark actions. Expected by 30 June 2022

Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Educational Qualifications:

Essential:

Advanced university degree in public health, health related sciences or a related field.

Desirable:

Training in emergency/disaster preparedness and response.

Experience

Essential:

At least 7 years of experience in IHR implementation, health emergency preparedness, planning and operational readiness, including experience in outbreaks and humanitarian emergencies.

Skills/Knowledge:

Essential:

• Strong written and verbal communication skills;
• Strong expertise in public health capacity building.

Desirable:

• Knowledge of the International Health Regulations (IHR, 2005) and the IHR Monitoring and Evaluation Framework.
• IT reference management tools (such as Endnote, Reference Manager, Zotero) and standards IT office tools.

Languages required:

Essential:

Expert knowledge of English

Desirable

Intermediate knowledge of other official languages of the United Nations.

Location

Home based – Off-site

Travel

The consultant may be requested to travel during the assignment, otherwise, the consultancy will be done online using virtual platforms.

Remuneration and budget (travel costs are excluded):

Remuneration:

Payband level B
USD 7,000 – 9,980

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

N/A

Expected duration of contract:

6 months

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 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