Roster of Consultants - Country Capacity Assessments and Planning.

Purpose of consultancy

To strengthen country level monitoring, evaluation and planning activities under the International Health Regulations (IHR 2005).

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a tragic loss of lives and livelihoods, worsening inequalities. It is threatening to reverse progress made towards the achievement of health-related SDGs and the Triple Billion targets. It has revealed a collective failure of focus and investment in prevention, preparedness and response. The world must invest in emergency preparedness to ensure this never happens again. The protection from global health threats and public health emergencies of international concern relies on the preparedness of all countries, which should be based on healthier populations, universal health coverage and resilient health systems.

Under the IHR, States Parties are urged "to build, strengthen and maintain the capacities required under the International Health Regulations (2005), and to mobilise the resources necessary for that purpose." WHO developed the International Health Regulations Monitoring and Evaluation Framework (IHR MEF) to support countries' increased ability to detect and identify strengths and weaknesses in the public health domain. The State Party Annual Reporting (SPAR), Joint External Evaluation (JEE), Simulation Exercises (SimEx) and After Action Reviews (AAR) comprise the IHR MEF. As recommended by the Review Committee, WHO should continue to provide guidance and technical support to countries on how to integrate assessment of IHR core capacities, and the subsequent development of national plans for emergency preparedness and response, with national efforts to strengthen essential public health functions and to rebuild resilient health systems after the COVID-19 pandemic."

The National Action Plan for Health Security (NAPHS) and equivalent health security strategies and plans are critical to ensure national capacities in health emergency prevention, preparedness, response and recovery are planned, built, strengthened and sustained in order to achieve national, regional and global health security.

Deliverables

• Contribute to developing normative guidance, tools, processes and methodologies, develop, revise and update WHO normative documents for:
  • Implementation guidance.
  • Strategies and policy briefs.
  • User manuals, and monitoring frameworks.
• Develop online, face-to-face or hybrid training materials and learning resources based on WHO guidance to enable countries to:
  • Plan, develop, implement, monitor and report on SPAR, JEE and NAPHS activities.
  • Be familiar and able to use the exisiting SPAR, JEE and NAPHS tools and web-based platforms.
  • Integrate and link SPAR, JEE and NAPHS to other IHR MEF tools and processes.
• Develop technical documents and tools and contribute to the development, maintenance and revision of relevant online websites and platforms.
• Provide technical expertise to Country- and Regional Offices in assisting Member States to plan, prepare, conduct, the country level implementation of SPAR, JEE, and NAPHS-related work.
• Perform data management, information management, advocacy and communications related tasks associated with this area of work.
• Prepare the documentation on good practices, lessons and case studies from countries to illustrate concrete evidence based benefits in the area of work towards shaping research priorities and academic publications.
• Conduct systematic and standardized monitoring, evaluation and reporting on the global implementation in the area of work.

Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Educational Qualifications:

Essential:

• First university degree in one or more of the following areas: global/public health, political sciences, international relations public/business administration, emergency/development management, organisational management, public health planning, global health research, social sciences, data management or another related field.

Desirable:

• Advanced University degree (Master’s level or above), certifications or training in health emergency preparedness and response, planning, M&E or related areas.

Experience

Essential:

• At least five to ten years of national and international experience working in emergency management, including activities related to country emergency preparedness assessment, monitoring and evaluation, public health planning, multisectoral collaboration, report writing, and data analysis.
• Relevant field experience working at country or regional level.
• Extensive experience working within a multicultural and multidisciplinary environment.

Desirable:

• Relevant experience in international organization / UN agency.
• Experience with WHO rules, procedures and work environment.

Skills/Knowledge:

- Ability to plan, organise, coordinate and implement activities based on the inputs from several sources.
- Capacity to work in a team, to manage projects for specific target audiences from start to end with a confirmed ability to deliver concrete products based on tight timelines.
- Working knowledge in virtual space management, websites and platform management, etc.
- Strong analytical, research and writing abilities.
- Good understanding of integrating data.
- Proficiency with Microsoft applications, qualitative and quantitative data programmes.
- Positive attitude to learning new skills and working with a team.
- Capable of working under high pressure and tight time constraints.

Languages required:

Essential:

• Expert knowledge of English.

Desirable:

• Expert knowledge of French or another official UN language.

Location

Home based – Off-site.

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:

3 to 11 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 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

For roster VNs:

The purpose of this vacancy is to develop a list of qualified candidates for inclusion in this advertised roster. All applicants will be notified in writing of the outcome of their application (whether successful or unsuccessful) upon conclusion of the selection process. Successful candidates will be placed on the roster and subsequently may be selected for consultancy assignments falling in this area of work or for similar requirements/tasks/deliverables. Inclusion in the Roster does not guarantee selection to a consultant contract. There is no commitment on either side.