Consultant - Oral Health, WPRO/DHP

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1. Purpose of the Consultancy

The consultancy work supports the implementation of oral health in the Western Pacific countries in line with the Regional Action Plan on Healthy Ageing and Global Oral Health Action Plan 2023-2030 with the Healthy Ageing Unit.

2. Background

The Western Pacific Region is experiencing rapid population ageing. The World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Committee for the Western Pacific endorsed a Regional Action Plan on Healthy Ageing in 2020, which emphasizes the importance to promote oral health toward healthy ageing. Furthermore, Member States endorsed a landmark resolution on oral health in 2021. Following this, comprehensive policy guidance documents were developed such as Global Strategy on Oral Health and draft Global Oral Health Action Plan 2023-2030. The Global Oral Health Action Plan outlines 100 proposed actions (for Member States, the WHO Secretariat, international partners, civil society organizations and the private sector) across six strategic objectives. The accompanying global monitoring framework identifies 11 core and 29 complementary indicators to track and monitor progress on the implementation of the Global Oral Health Action Plan.

However, the burden of oral disease is high in the Western Pacific Region affecting 800 million people (42.1%) in 2019. This burden is specifically high among older adults that 20% of people aged 60 years and more do not have any natural teeth left. Therefore, Healthy Ageing Unit would like to hire a consultant to facilitate an oral health implementation in line with the Regional Action Plan on Healthy Ageing and Global Oral Health Action Plan to improve oral health status in the Region.

3. Planned Timelines (subject to confirmation)

• Start date: 19 June 2023
• End date: 15 December 2023

4. Work to be Performed

Output 1 – Technical support on oral health to facilitate the implementation in the countries

• Deliverable 1.1 – Draft technical advice, in the form of reports or guidance as needed by Member States, to integrate oral health into the implementation of the WHO Integrated Care for Older People (ICOPE) approach.
• Deliverable 1.2 – Draft of national oral health policies, based on Member States’ request, and verbal and written technical advice for implementation in countries following the Global Oral Health Action Plan.
• Deliverable 1.3 – Draft concept note/guidance for baseline data collection of the Global Oral Health Action Plan for 11 core indicators.

Output 2 – Advocate for oral health in the region

• Deliverable 2.1 – Draft meeting concept notes, agenda and report for oral health meetings with stakeholders.
• Deliverable 2.2 – Draft presentation materials to showcase oral health at key regional meetings including Regional Committee Meeting and other relevant meetings.
• Deliverable 2.3 – Draft concept notes and plans to integrate oral health program into other programs – promote integration of oral health into the broader agenda including healthy ageing, school health, non-communicable diseases, ageing, and Universal Health Coverage.
• Deliverable 2.4 – Draft concept notes, proposals and other relevant documents for Member States interested in launching the 8020 campaign.
• Deliverable 2.5 – Draft feature stories and other communication materials as required from the unit.

5. Qualifications, experience, skills, and languages

Education

• Essential: University degree in dentistry
• Desirable: Advanced degree in public health

Experience

• Essential: At least two years of experience in oral health
• Desirable: Experience in public health

Technical Skills and Knowlege

Knowledge on oral health and oral function in the context of healthy ageing especially in the Western Pacific context.

Ability to establish harmonious working relationships as part of a team, adapt to diverse educational and cultural backgrounds, and maintain a high standard of personal conduct.

Language

• Essential: Proficiency in English
• Desirable: Working knowledge of other UN languages

Competencies

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

6. Place of Assignment

• The Consultant will be offered an onsite 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.

7. Medical Certificate

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

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.
• 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

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