Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), also known as chronic diseases, are a group of diseases that are non-infectious and non-transmissible among people. NCDs are the result of a combination of genetic, physiological, environmental, and behavioural factors. Currently, NCDs are the leading cause of death and disease burden worldwide. Over two-thirds of the global deaths (41 million people) annually are attributed to NCDs and the majority of these deaths (77%) occur in low- and middle-income countries.

To address the increasing NCD burden and reduce premature deaths from these diseases, WHO developed the Global Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases 2013-2030. At the Regional level, WHO has developed the Framework for action to implement the UN political declaration on NCDs, including indicators to assess the country’s progress by 2030. This Regional framework included ten progress indicators assessing the capacities of countries in regard to the following four areas of intervention of the regional framework for action: governance; prevention and reduction of risk factors; surveillance, monitoring, and evaluation; and health care.

In the area of Surveillance, the framework states that each country is expected to implement/ strengthen the WHO global monitoring framework, which monitors mortality and morbidity, risk factor determinants, and health system capacity and response. These are achieved through the various complementing NCD surveillance pillars and components; NCD population-based risk factor surveillance (STEPS, GSHS, Tobacco surveys), registries and vital statistics, the health system response monitoring and policy tracking, and Facility-based and programme monitoring.

The consultant will support WHO in strengthening, and documenting Noncommunicable Disease Surveillance systems and capacity in Member States (MS) of the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR), through supporting:

The implementation rate of NCD risk factor surveys in the MS of the EMR
The documentation, reporting, and capacity building on NCD surveillance in the MS of EMR

Deliverables

The consultant is expected to do the following:

Outputs:

Support Member States in EMR to measure the implementation rate of NCD risk factor surveys to strengthen NCD surveillance systems and NCD data generation at the national level.

The consultant will conduct the following tasks:

Provide technical support for NCD risk factors (STEPS survey, Global School Health Survey (GSHS), Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS), and others in collaboration with NCS technical unit team.
Support regular coordination meetings between different stakeholders at different levels WHO-HQ, WHO-EMRO, WHO Country Offices, MoHs, and other partners for strategic and technical coordination and alignment of activities for the planning, and reporting of regular surveys on risk factors (STEPS survey, GSHS, GATS, and others).
Conduct and support the adaptation and contextualization of data collection tools developed for surveys on risk factors (STEPS survey, GSHS, GATS, and others).
Assist in capacity-building activities and trainings on NCD surveillance activities to support the strengthening of NCD surveillance capacities in countries of the EMR, whether in-person or virtual following WHO guidance.
Document and report on NCD data and information in EMR MS to support in the drafting of information products, PPTs, advocacy, and training material on NCD surveillance, based on the situation of the EMR countries.

Deliverables

Submit a monthly report during the assignment on progress made on assigned tasks to include a number of countries supported physically through country support mission or remotely, survey implementation status and progress, by activity, level of survey implementation progress, and activities and trainings conducted demonstrated by country of implementation.
To submit documents that have undergone adaptations and updates during the process of survey implementation in each country mentioned in the progress report, including updated and adapted data collection tools, training material, and other related documents.

Planned timelines (subject to confirmation):

Start date: 01/06/2023

End date: 31/12/2023

Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Educational Qualifications:

Essential: First university degree in Epidemiology and biostatistics (using software like R, SASS, SPSS).

Experience

Up to 5 years of experience working in data management & analysis, research, data collection, and writing policy papers.
International experience is mandatory.

Skills/Knowledge:

Excellent knowledge of Microsoft Office applications and web tools on research articles such as PubMed.
Demonstrated capacity to produce high-quality writing.
Demonstrated coordination skills and capacity to work across teams and with different cultures.
Research skills with academic institutions and/or professional organizations.

Languages and level required :

Excellent knowledge of English.
Arabic language is an asset.

Location

On site: EMRO, Cairo, Egypt

Travel

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.

Remuneration and budget (travel costs are excluded):
1. Remuneration: Payband level – A
2. Expected duration of contract: 7 months
(Maximum contract duration is 11 months per calendar year)
Medical clearance

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

The selected Consultant will work under the supervision of:

Responsible Officer:

Dr Heba Fouad, Regional Surveillance Officer, NCS

Manager:

Dr Asmus Hammerich, Director, UHC/NMH

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.
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