Consultant To facilitate Tobacco Control Activities, with a Focus on Novel and Emerging Nicotine and Tobacco Products

Purpose of consultancy

The consultant will collaborate with the tobacco control team at the Regional Office for Africa and the No Tobacco Unit (TFI) of the Health Promotion Department on novel and emerging nicotine and tobacco products, including electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), electronic non-nicotine delivery systems (ENNDS) and heated tobacco products (HTPs).

Background

The No Tobacco Unit (TFI) of the Health Promotion Department provides support to WHO Member States to reduce the overall burden of tobacco use. This is achieved within the context of the Thirteenth General Programme of Work 2019−2023.

Tobacco use accounts for more than 8 million deaths a year. Efforts through various initiatives, such as the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) and the WHO MPOWER, have contributed to combating the tobacco epidemic. However, there is a need to further accelerate the implementation of the WHO FCTC to meet the global voluntary targets to reduce the prevalence of tobacco use by 2025/SDG 3A Goals. The proposed work will cover novel and emerging nicotine and tobacco products, including ENDS, ENNDS, and HTPs, within the context of wider tobacco control, and will assist Member States in the African Region in addressing the challenges posed by these and conventional tobacco products, towards comprehensive application of the WHO FCTC in the African region. The consultant will undertake activities related to the broad objectives enumerated under section 1 of the Terms of Reference.

The consultant will be based in Kampala, Uganda, reporting to the HQ/TFI Scientist and the Senior Project Officer. The consultant will contribute to the delivery and implementation of specific project-related tobacco control activities in priority countries in Africa, particularly the anglophone countries.

Deliverables:

Deliverable 1 – Collaborate with the TFI Project Team in AFRO and HQ on novel and emerging nicotine and tobacco products related tasks in priority countries.

• Output 1.1: Provide technical input to support novel and emerging product related work in Africa.
• Output 1.2: Draft policy deep dives on ENDS and ENNDS and other novel and emerging nicotine and tobacco products.
• Output 1.3: Prepare documents/materials, such as briefs, meeting background documents, agendas, meeting flyers, information sheets, case studies to meet the objectives of assigned tasks.
• Output 1.4: Facilitate logistical, organizational and technical arrangements for the smooth running of meetings, webinars, workshops and other relevant tobacco control events, related to the ENDS project.
• Output 1.5: Provide timely updates to the technical team on relevant developments in focus countries in Africa in relation to novel and emerging nicotine and tobacco products.

Deliverable 2 - Provide technical input to the teams and perform assigned project related tasks for selected African countries, in consultation with WHO HQ/TFI, WHO AFRO and WHO Country Offices.

• Output 2.1: Complete assigned tasks related to the ENDS project outcomes to ensure prompt delivery of deliverables.
• Output 2.2: Track progress in priority countries, documenting lessons learnt and facilitating sharing of experiences.
• Output 2.3: Organize meetings across the three levels of the organization, HQ, AFRO and Country Offices.
• Output 2.4: Contribute to the finalization of project documents, such as editing, typesetting, clearances, filing and dissemination to the relevant stakeholders.
• Output 2.5: Track progress on ENDS related work, document observations and findings and report to HQ, periodically.

Deliverable 3 - Provide prompt and targeted inputs on tobacco control to meet the needs of identified countries in the African region.

• Output 3.1: Take technical notes during country engagement in order to provide timely support to focus countries and flag any issues.
• Output 3.2: Develop workplans to address identified country needs and gaps based on country requests meetings.
• Output 3.3: Draft emails and briefs to support implementation of the workplan for priority countries in Africa.
• Output 3.4: Develop comprehensible materials, under the guidance of the project Lead to support engagement with countries.

Deliverable 4 – Work in close coordination with the HQ TFI team and contribute to the implementation of activities related to the priority countries in Africa.

• Output 4.1: Conduct desk-based review to identify the regulatory gaps in priority countries – situational analysis.
• Output 4.2: Provide input to support tobacco control capacity assessment in priority countries to identify gaps in tobacco control.
• Output 4.3: Plan for and attend weekly meetings with AFRO and HQ, to provide updates on assigned tasks.
• Output 4.4: Collaborate with the technical teams in conducting policy scans on ENDS/ENNDS and in extracting meaningful data to build intelligence on ENDS regulation.

Deliverable 5 – Collaborate with AFRO and HQ in drafting and preparing documents for country engagement.

• Output 5.1: Identify experts and prepare documents, such as agendas, concept note, terms of reference and list of participants, to support country missions.
• Output 5.2: Draft project documents, including resource materials on novel products, such as communication products and project plans to facilitate country engagement, project implementation and follow up actions.
• Output 5.3: Facilitate the planning, organizing and conducting of country training and multi-sectoral workshops to build capacity for effective regulation of novel products.

Qualifications, experience, skills and languages.

Educational Qualifications:

Essential:

• Minimum first university degree in public health, law, science or any other relevant subject.

Desirable:

• Masters or postgraduate degree in vaccinology/immunization.

Experience

Essential:

• 2 - 5 years of relevant experience in public health at national and international levels, preferably on tobacco control.
• Research experience in tobacco control, novel nicotine or tobacco products, or similar relevant background.
• Prior experience in developing policy/technical reviews and reports, preferably in tobacco control.
• Demonstrated experience in coordination and implementation of projects and multi-country engagement.
• Prior experience of country engagement.
• Experience in literature reviews.

Desirable:

• Prior experience working with UN and/or national government institutions.
• Previous work experience in tobacco product regulation.

Skills

• Good understanding of relevant stakeholders in the field, e.g., academia and civil society associations.
• Excellent writing and communication skills, with demonstrable expertise in written outputs.
• Excellent organizational and country engagement skills.
• Knowledge of tobacco control dynamics in Africa.
• Familiarity with noncommunicable diseases and tobacco control.
• Team player but able to work autonomously and take initiative for implementing assigned tasks.
• Familiarity in interpreting policy data.
• Technical competency in public health and/or development.
• Ability to use and manage online meeting and communication platforms, such as Microsoft Teams, Zoom, etc.
• Track record of meeting tight deadlines.
• Research skills

Languages required:

Essential:

• Expert knowledge of English.

Desirable:

• Intermediate knowledge of another UN language, preferably French.

Location

• On-site: Kampala, Uganda.

Travel

The consultant is expected to travel to various African countries.

Remuneration and budget (travel costs are excluded):

Remuneration:

Band level A-USD 3,955 – 6,980 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 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