National Consultant - Data Analysis and Research, NO-B

1. Purpose of the Consultancy

To analyze the health security data within the countries across the Eastern Mediterranean Region using various statistical methods to inform recommendations and strategic directions for regional and global health security, as well as to document the countries’ experiences and case studies to create a legacy for health security capacities including those for mass gathering events.

2. Background

The WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) is affected by multi-disease outbreaks and other health emergencies amid ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, which resulted to excessive morbidity, mortality, and socioeconomic disruptions. The outbreaks also threaten national, regional and global health security. Many of these emergencies can be prevented or their impact can be significantly reduced by proactively identifying and addressing the underlying determinants and core capacity gaps. To support member states, the Country Preparedness and International Health Regulations (CPI) Programme of the WHO Health Emergencies (WHE) Programme support all-hazard approach to developing national action plans for health security and emergencies, and to build International Health Regulations (IHR, 2005) core capacities which eventually protects health security at various levels.

Support for strengthening health emergency preparedness is necessarily specific to context to mitigate the public health impact of epidemics, and pandemics. The EMR countries develop core capacities according to IHR to protect the national, regional and global health security. Importantly, the countries in the EMR host some of the world’s largest Mass Gatherings (MGs). Many countries in the region organize annual MG of different sizes and nature, each with their own specific risks. The decision to organize MG need to be informed by risk-assessment evidence and country capacity for which proper pre-planning is needed to mitigate the impact of not only COVID-19 transmission but also other hazards associated with the event. Such assessments should be based on a risk/benefit approach considering the intensity of transmission, the health system’s capacity to respond, other contextual considerations and the overall strategic approach to responding to epidemics and pandemics in each specific setting. There are limited documented evidence and information from low-and middle-income countries to inform the contextual variation in regional and global health security planning.

Thus, the consultant is expected to support in triangulated analysis of health security related and documenting the countries’ experience and case studies including mass gathering legacy to inform evidence-based strategic directions for health security.

3. Planned timeline (6 months ) (subject to confirmation)

Start date: 1/2/2023

End date: 31/12/2023

4. Description of duties

Work to be performed:

Output 1: Analysis on the implications of the public health measures implemented in countries over the course of the pandemic

Deliverable 1.1: Develop policy brief concluding informed recommendations to countries based on analyzing Public Health Social Measures (PHSM) data

Deliverable 1.2: Conduct in-depth research studies to document the implementation and implications of PHSM in EMR countries

Output 2: Descriptive and inferential analysis of health security related areas

Deliverable 2.1: Prepare regional-level reports on health security related areas to inform strategic directions

Deliverable 2.2: Conduct country-specific research studies documenting best practices, successes and challenges in the different areas related to health security

Deliverable 2.3: Develop research studies to document the experience and legacy of countries in hosting mass gathering events

5. Technical Supervision

Specific requirements

- Qualifications required:

Essential: University degree in biological science, public health, or related field

Desirable: Advanced (Master’s) degree in epidemiology/biostatistics

- Experience required:

At least 2 years of practical experience in data management and analysis, producing reports and conducting research.

- Skills / Technical skills and knowledge:

• Excellent knowledge and skills of Microsoft Office
• Excellent knowledge and skills of statistical packages
• Demonstrated skills and capacities of interpretation, report writing and research

- Language requirements:

Expert level of English and Arabic Languages

7. Place of assignment

Remote. No travel is required.

8. Medical clearance

The selected Consultant will be expected to provide a medical certificate of fitness for work.

9. Travel

If the Consultant is expected to travel. Destination and duration of travel will be identified through the progress work identified in countries

All travel arrangements will be made by WHO – WHO will not be responsible for tickets purchased by the Consultant without the express, prior authorization of WHO. While on mission under the terms of this consultancy, the Consultant will receive subsistence allowance.

Visas requirements: it is the consultant’s responsibility to fulfil visa requirements and ask for visa support letter(s) if needed.

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's workforce adheres to the WHO Values Charter and is committed to put the WHO Values into practice - https://www.who.int/about/who-we-are/our-values
• 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.