Consultant - Coordinating Research for Evidence Building

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1. PURPOSE OF THE SHORT-TERM CONSULTANT (STC)

The incumbent will support the implementation of the Regional Action Plan on Healthy Ageing
in the Western Pacific, by focusing on evidence building for Member States’ use in policy making and programme designing in the “new normal” society, recovering from the Covid-19 pandemic.

2. BACKGROUND

More than 240 million of older adults, age of sixty-five and above, live in the Western Pacific Region (WPR), and that number is expected to double by 2050. The speed of population ageing is accelerating in the Region. In 2020, WHO WPR Member States adopted the Regional Action Plan (RAP) on Healthy Ageing in the Western Pacific. The Plan is guided by a multisectoral, future-oriented and lifelong approach that adopts an equity approach and utilizes existing assets to the extent possible. The vision of healthy ageing in the Region is “healthier older adults in the Western Pacific Region are thriving and contributing in society”. The five objectives of the RAP focus on enabling social return, supporting healthy ageing and conducting research, monitoring and evaluation. It emphasizes the importance of early preparation for countries that have not entered an ageing society, where 7% of the population is made up of older adults, and the need for transformation beyond the health sectors, a multi-sectoral approach, for countries that have already entered an ageing society. Recommendations for actions are outlined under each of the five objectives.

Older people are often more vulnerable to new infectious diseases based on past outbreaks such as 2009 H1N1 influenza, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), etc. Many older people experienced a worse prognosis when infected with Covid-19 and the case fatality rate for people over 80 years of age is over 4.4% in Australia, Japan and the Republic of Korea, while the rate for those under 80 is less than 0.2% . Long-lasting public health and social measures also impacted some older people’s, especially those who has difficulty connecting online, mental health. Emerging research shows worsened social isolation and loneliness among older people. The COVID-19 pandemic has given rise to interest in health at individual and community levels and a growing awareness of the need to better support older people. Different sectors need to work together to improve health and livelihoods so in preparation for the post-Covid-19 pandemic, new normal.

The Healthy Ageing unit (AGE) at WHO WPR Office is hiring a consultant to build evidence for healthy ageing policies and programmes that will support Member States in increasing resilience to health emergencies. The selected consultant will closely work with WHO country office focal points and external partners.

3. PLANNED TIMELINES (subject to confirmation)

Start date: 3 April 2023

End date: 30 November 2023

4. WORK(S) TO BE PERFORMED

METHOD(S) TO CARRY OUT THE ACTIVITY: Occasional travel required

The consultant is assigned to:

Output 1: Support the Healthy Ageing unit with building evidence for drafting policy, strategy, guidelines, toolkit, etc.

Deliverable 1.1 – Assist the AGE unit with social and health data (quantitative and qualitative data) collection, analysis and dissemination of research findings based on the needs of Member States;

Deliverable 1.2 – Assist with organizing and executing AGE unit’s internal and external meetings/webinars/workshops/trainings (both virtual and in-person events) by providing technical input to concept notes, agenda, meetings reports, etc.

Deliverable 1.3 – Assist in drafting study proposals and coordinating with external partners to conduct research for evidence building on effective healthy ageing policies and programmes (to inform new national/regional policy making and programme designing);

Deliverable 1.4 – Assist in drafting of academic papers to disseminate new findings to inform healthy ageing policies and programmes for publication in peer-review journals
(when required by AGE unit)

Output 2: Support WHO WPR Member States on providing evidence for early action in implementing recommended activities in the Regional Action Plan (e.g. age-friendly cities and communities, community-based integrated care, social prescribing, strengthening health and social systems post Covid-19, etc.).

Deliverable 2.1 – Draft concept notes to conduct situational analysis – to include country specific data analysis plan, if needed a quantitative and/or qualitative data collection plan as well;

Deliverable 2.2 – Draft healthy ageing programme implementation plan based on country context;

Deliverable 2.3 – Assist WHO country office focal points in organizing meetings/workshops to implement healthy ageing programmes at national and regional level – including note taking, drafting agenda, preparation of visual (e.g. infographics, videos, slides) etc.;

5. SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS

EDUCATION
Essential: First university degree in public health, relevant health, natural, or social sciences
Desirable: Advanced university degree (Master’s / PhD) in public health, health, natural or social sciences

EXPERIENCE
Essential: At least 3 years of work experience in public health and/or academic research in public health or population ageing including quantitative and/or qualitative data analysis
Desirable: International experience within WHO or other UN Organizations at multiple geographical locations; demonstrated experience in evidence generation and knowledge sharing for public health (e.g. academic articles, presentation at international conferences, field projects); experience in producing technical reports, frameworks, action plans at WHO or other UN organizations; led and conducted quantitative and/or qualitative research studies and published at least three academic article in peer-reviewed journals as a first author; experience in editing academic publication.

TECHNICAL SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE

• Outstanding ability to understand and support population ageing case studies or research

• Data analysis skill - quantitative (essential) and qualitative (desirable)

• Demonstrated project management skills

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

• Good knowledge of the dynamics of the international public health work

• Ability to plan, design and implement a systematic approach to problem solving

• Ability to provide technical support to countries

• Ability to work harmoniously as a member of the team, adapt to diverse cultural and educational
backgrounds and maintain a high standard of personal conduct

LANGUAGE

Essential: English (Read - Write - Speak / Expert-level)

Desirable: French (Read - Write - Speak / Expert-level); Chinese (Read - Write - Speak / Expert-level)

6. COMPETENCIES

• Communicating in a credible and effective way
• Producing results
• Fostering integration and teamwork

7. PLACE OF ASSIGNMENT

• The Consultant will be offered an on-site contract and will be based at the World Health Organization Regional Office for the Western Pacific (WHO/WPRO) in Manila, Philippines.
• The Consultant is expected to participate in weekly teleconference meetings and provide frequent updates on work progress to the team.

8. MEDICAL CERTIFICATE (Consultants only)

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

9. TRAVELS (Consultants only, if applicable)

The Consultant is expected to undertake any travel (mission) as part of this assignment.

The travel arrangements (to/from Manila) will be made by WHO. WHO will not be responsible for tickets purchased by the Consultant without the express, prior authorization of WHO.

Visa requirements: It is the Consultant’s responsibility to fulfill 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 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.

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