Consultant - Multisectoral and multi-stakeholder engagement and partnership

Purpose of consultancy

To provide technical expertise to the WHO Global Coordination Mechanism (GCM/NCD) located under the Global NCD Platform Department (GNP), in its efforts to enhance multisectoral and multi-stakeholder engagement, collaboration and action for the prevention and control of NCDs.

Background

Effective prevention and control of NCDs requires leadership, coordinated multisectoral and multistakeholder engagement across sectors and partnership with relevant civil society, including the private sector National and subnational governments and ministries of health play a fundamental role in the development of well-aligned, NCD-specific, sector-wide policies and programmes. This involves strengthening governments’ capacities to engage, support, and where appropriate, lead on planning and coordinating activities for the implementation of a coherent policy response for the prevention and control of NCDs.

Member-States, through the Decision WHA74(11), link here, requested GCM/NCD to prioritize five strategic functions:

1. Operational backbone for knowledge collaboration and the dissemination of innovative multistakeholder responses at country level, based on raising awareness and promoting knowledge collaboration among Member States and non-State actors and on co-creating, enhancing and disseminating evidence-based information to support governments in adopting effective multisectoral and multistakeholder approaches.
2. Enabler for the global stocktaking of multistakeholder action at country level and for co-designing and scaling up innovative approaches, solutions or initiatives to strengthen effective multisectoral and multistakeholder action.
3. Providing and updating guidance to Member States on engagement with non-State actors, including on the prevention and management of potential risks.
4. Global facilitator for the strengthened capacity of Member States and civil society to develop national multistakeholder responses for the prevention and control of NCDs.
5. Convener of civil society, including people living with NCDs, to raise awareness and build capacity for their meaningful participation in national NCD responses.

The assignment will support two priorities (2 & 3) of the GCM/NCD 2022-2025 workplan (2022-2025 workplan, Annex 10), specifically the second phase of development of two key projects as follows:

1. The WHO Decision-making Tool (WHO technical product 2553.1) that aims to support Member States in their decision-making on engaging with private sector entities for the prevention and control of NCDs. This Tool is planned to be published during the first part of 2023 and will require special expertise for dissemination and knowledge-sharing.
2. The WHO global mapping report and collection of selected case studies on Multisectoral action (MSA) for the prevention and control of NCDs. The resulting products are expected to promote knowledge sharing, capacity development and scaling up of successful approaches to strengthen effective multisectoral collaboration among Member States and relevant stakeholders. Both are currently under development and are based on submissions received from Member States implementing MSA for the prevention and control of NCDs. The global mapping report will contain a descriptive analysis of the 96 submissions received from Member States through a call for submission (link here) of which a selected pool (20) will be further developed into case studies.

Deliverables:

Decision-making Tool to support Member States in engaging with private sector entities for the prevention and control of NCDs.
Output 1: Contribute to the development of training materials to promote and disseminate the Decision-making Tool including the preparation of infographics, social media posts, briefings and any other relevant supporting documents

Output 2: Collaborate in the preparation and organization of dissemination and knowledge sharing events such as webinars, internal and global meetings, including:

• 2.1 The drafting of background documents and materials as part of the Road to 2025 (preparatory process leading to the fourth High-level Meeting of the United Nations General Assembly (HLM4) in 2025).
• 2.2 The provision of global coordination across WHO’ s 3 levels and external partners to disseminate the Decision-making Tool.

Output 3: Contribute to the compilation of three to six country examples on using the Decision-making Tool including:

• 3.1 The drafting of a concept note to support the development of the country examples
• 3.2 The preparation of background materials to develop the country case examples
• 3.3 The convening and facilitation of the workshops.

WHO global mapping report and collection of selected case studies on Multisectoral action (MSA) for the prevention and control of NCDs.

Output 4: Contribute to the compilation, analysis, launch and dissemination the Global Mapping Report on Multisectoral Action (MSA) for the Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Disease including:

• 4.1 finalization, publication and dissemination of the Global Mapping Report
• 4.2 drafting of background documents and communications materials (briefings, social media posts, etc) for the launch event of the Global Mapping Report;
• 4.3 convening of in-person and webinar events with Member States and other relevant stakeholders to promote knowledge collaboration.

Output 5: Contribute to the compilation, analysis, launch and dissemination of the collection of selected Case Studies on Experiences of MSA for the Prevention and Control of NCDs and Mental Health including:

• 5.1 preparation of a special report with analysis of practices, experiences and approaches utilized by Member States to develop national and subnational multisectoral responses for the prevention and control of NCDs and mental health conditions to be submitted to the World Health Assembly (WHA)
• 5.2 finalization, publication and dissemination of the compilation of the cases studies
• 5.3 drafting of background documents and communications materials (briefings, social media posts, etc.) for the launch event of the compilation of the cases studies with Member States and relevant stakeholders
• 5.4 convening of in-person and webinars events with Member States and other relevant stakeholders to promote knowledge collaboration.

Output 6: Collaborate on the production of the BMJ series on Multisectoral Action for NCDs to promote selected successful approaches including:

• 6.1 liaison and coordination with country focal points for the preparation of case study articles to be submitted to the BMJ;
• 6.2 drafting two peer-reviewed articles (scope to be defined);
• 6.3 drafting of background documents for the launch event of the BMJ Series with Member States and relevant stakeholders
• 6.4 convening of in-person and webinars events with Member States and other relevant stakeholders to promote knowledge collaboration

Qualifications, experience, skills and languages.

Educational Qualifications:

Essential:

• Master’s degree with a focus on public health, global health, global affairs or other related field.

Experience

Essential:

• At least seven years’ experience at the national and/or international levels in public health policy or program, global health or related area.
• Proven experience on multisectoral and/or multi-stakeholder collaborations in health and, preferably on the prevention and control of NCDs.
• At least two years’ experience working in NCD prevention and/or control.
• At least two years’ experience conducting country missions, facilitating workshops, coordinating projects in countries.

Desirable:

• At least two years’ experience working for WHO or other United Nations Agencies.

Skills/Knowledge:

• Strong understanding of the NCD and mental health agendas.
• Understanding of partnership landscape in NCD and mental health agendas, including matters related to non-State actors.
• Strong writing, communication and presentation skills.
• Sound technical knowledge of global public health.
• Ability to work under pressure, be flexible, meet short deadlines and maintain diplomacy.
• Ability to work harmoniously as a member of a team, adapt to diverse educational and cultural backgrounds and maintain a high standard of professional conduct.

Languages required:

Essential:

• Expert knowledge of English.

Desirable:

• Knowledge of other UN languages.

Location

Off-site: Home based.

Travel

The consultant is expected to travel.

Remuneration and budget (travel costs are excluded):

Remuneration:

Band level B-USD 7,000 to 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:

11 months. Additional contracts may be offered based on satisfactory performance and funding availability.

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