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1. Purpose of the Consultancy
The consultant is being recruited to provide technical assistance for epidemiology to the ongoing COVID-19 response activities.
2. Background
Since 2 January 2020, the three levels of WHO have been working together to respond to this outbreak of COVID-19. On 30 January, WHO declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). On 11 March, WHO Director General characterized COVID-19 as a pandemic. The WPRO response plan is envisaged until the end of 2022, it is however continually reviewed. Support for each pillar of the response is greatly needed.
The purpose of this emergency deployment is to support effective response operations related to the outbreak of pneumonia associated with COVID-19, with a focus on information and planning functions, as part of the Incident Management System Team (IMST) of the WHO Western Pacific Regional Office in Manila.
3. Summary of Assigned Duties
Under the overall supervision of the WPRO IMST Incident Manager, the information and planning pillar lead and WHO Country Representative, the consultant will:
Output 1: Support information products and data management
Deliverable 1.1: Support in managing daily IMST presentation and circulate daily situation report on COVID-19 for guiding regional response and decision making.
Deliverable 1.2: Support detection of COVID-19 public health potential risk through Event-based Surveillance (EBS), conduct rapid risk assessment and public health implications for decision making.
Deliverable 1.3: Contribute to maintain database, information management, collect, collate, clean, analyse and interpret data to inform strategic planning and decision-making.
Output 2: Support WHO Country Offices (WCOs), collaborate with other IMST pillars and partners
Deliverable 2.1: Support WCOs, including through deployment, to collect and analyse epidemiological situation, produce high-quality situational report for timely response.
Deliverable 2.2: Support WCO focal points in preparing country presentations using hypothesis driven approach and multi-source surveillance to guide response; and presenting at the IMST meeting.
Deliverable 2.3: Assist in preparing meeting materials including presentation related to COVID-19 situation update and response for high level.
Deliverable 2.4: Contribute to draft technical document together with relevant WCOs, IMST pillars, WHO HQ colleagues and partners on behalf of the Information and Planning pillar.
Output 3: Support in conducting Transmission Stage Assessment (TSA)
Deliverable 3.1: Provide technical support to WCO focal points in conducting TSA at national and sub‐national level using multisource surveillance to inform public health intervention.
Deliverable 3.2: Collaborate with WCO focal points to finalize TSA narrative, obtain concurrence and update in WPRO dashboard.
Deliverable 3.3: Contribute to revise TSA document and other technical guidance as required.
Output 4: Perform any other incident‐specific related duties, as required by the respective Pillar Leads and Incident Manager.
Other Deliverables:
- Progress report (monthly); and
- Technical report at the end of consultancy.
4. Qualifications, experience, skills and languages
Educational Qualifications:
Essential: First level university degree in public health, epidemiology, social science, international studies or related field from an accredited/recognized institure.
Desirable: An advanced university degree in health-related field or quantitative epidemiology, specialized training in communicable diseases.
Experience:
Essential: At least two‐year work experience related to the field of epidemiology or public health such as surveillance and outbreak investigation and response or public health program management.
Desirable: Relevant work experience in WHO, other UN agencies; experience working in relevant nongovernmental or humanitarian organizations. Experience in developing countries.
Technical skills and knowledge:
Language and level required:
5. Place of assignment
On-site consultancy. Remote support initially, if conditions allow, travel to Manila, Philippines .
6. Medical Clearance
The selected Consultant will be expected to provide a medical certificate of fitness for work.
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.