Building capacities for Points of Entry Consultant

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Application deadline 1 year ago: Wednesday 1 Jun 2022 at 21:59 UTC

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Purpose of the Consultancy

To support countries in the Eastern Mediterranean Region to build their capacities for Points of Entry (PoE)

Background

The mission of WHO's Health Emergencies Program is to build the capacity of Member States to manage health emergency risks and, when national capacities are overwhelmed, to lead and coordinate the international health response to contain outbreaks and to provide effective relief and recovery to affected populations.

Points of Entry (PoE) serve as the key conduits for international travel, transport, and trade, (representing airports, seaports, and ground crossings), and therefore their capacities and resources must be in place for routine operations, as well as to meet the exigencies required in response to public health emergencies. Data from both the Joint External Evaluations (JEE) and IHR States Parties Annual Reporting (SPAR) nevertheless indicate that PoE capacities consistently rank amongst the lowest, both Regionally and globally. In response, countries have developed National Action Plans for Health Security (NAPHS) to prioritize and address these identified gaps, including those pertaining to the Points of Entry.

During the initial months of the COVID-19 pandemic, capacities at Points of Entry became categorically strained as countries faced large numbers of passengers under repatriation efforts, and the need to adequately equip PoE with the proper resources became apparent. As countries in the Eastern Mediterranean have been gradually resuming their international commercial operations, ensuring these key capacities outlined within the International Health Regulations (IHR) in Annex 1B has gained significant political will and traction across sectors.

The objective of this assignment is to provide Points of Entry technical support to the Eastern Mediterranean Region. The rapidly evolving situation requires additional support to properly respond to the pressing needs of the national authorities.

Planned timelines

Start date: Upon request, ASAP

Duration: 12 weeks (extendable)

Work to be performed

Output 1: Conducting Field Assessments of Points of Entry Premises in alignment with IHR Capacities

  • Perform on the ground assessments of the physical premises of national airports, seaports, and ground crossings for identification of critical gaps and targeted technical support
  • Develop action plans for targeted capacity building with national PoE stakeholders and support multisectoral approaches at national PoE

Output 2: Fostering Cross Border Collaboration

  • Organize joint discussion amongst relevant technical stakeholders in interested countries
  • Perform risk assessments and assessments of PoE capacities in conjunction with national authorities to map areas of concern and opportunities for collaboration
  • Assist in the creation of joint MoUs and SoPs for joint surveillance and response
  • Document the process and lessons learned in fostering cross border collaboration amongst countries

Output 3: Provision of Expert Training for PoE

  • Perform mapping of national training needs and curriculum overview
  • Deliver diverse technical training related to Points of Entry topics under IHR capacity building
  • Support the development/strengthening of Points of Entry national professional training programs for human resource, health and non-health
  • Perform mapping of HR capacities at national level and support capacity led frameworks for HR at PoE
  • Design and deliver technical area simulation exercises and drills for PoE capacities under the IHR framework for national counterparts and create action plans for targeted capacity building with national PoE stakeholders

Output 4: Contingency Planning

  • Perform a review of national PoE related legislation for identification of areas of increased need and amendment
  • Support National Planning and PoE planning and the identification and roles of stakeholders at PoE
  • Support in the production and drafting of PoE specific contingency plans and the operationalization of related SOPs
  • Deliver training and drills to support dissemination and compliance with emergency plans

Examples of Relevant Areas of Technical Expertise: International Health Regulations, Contingency Planning, Vector Surveillance and Control, Chemical and Radiation Emergencies, Exercise Simulations, Cross Border Collaboration, Ship Sanitation, Environmental Health, Legislation, Risk Assessment, Conveyance Inspection, Multisectoral Coordination

Specific requirements Education: Essential****:

  • University degree and/or Master’s degree in biological science, public health, or related domain,
  • Training in one or more of the following fields: health surveillance, public health, emergency preparedness, travel and health, hygiene and sanitation at points of entry (ports, airports, ground crossings), ship sanitation inspection, food safety and vector control.

Experience

Essential

  • At least five years of experience of work in International Health Regulations (2005), international travel and transport/ points of entry public health issues.

Desirable

  • Experience working with WHO,

  • Experience working with Afghanistan

  • Demonstrated international experience, in particular working at country-level.

Skills

  • Demonstrated capacity to work within different cultures
  • Demonstrated ability to interact in complex situations involving technical, cultural and political elements
  • Demonstrated understanding of the IHR (2005)
  • Excellent knowledge of Microsoft Office
  • Excellent knowledge of English. Knowledge of Dari/Pashto is an asset.

Place of assignment

Kabul, AFGHANISTAN

Medical clearance

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

Travel

The Consultant is expected to travel. Destination and duration of travel will be identified through the progress work identified in-country.

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 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>
Added 1 year ago - Updated 1 year ago - Source: who.int