Consultancy – Health Security Architecture

Overview

Provide technical support for health emergency preparedness

You have:

• First University degree in a health-related field, public/global health-related discipline, international relations and/or political science.
• At least 3 years’ experience working in public health and/or international relations.
• Expert knowledge of English.
• Writing skills in English.
• Analytic skills.
• Desirable: Master or postgraduate training in Public Health, International Relations, or other relevant area. Specialized training in emergency/disaster preparedness and response.
• Desirable: Work experience in WHO, the UN system, or International NGOs or other international organizations.
• Desirable: Knowledge about the IHR (2005).

-Purpose of consultancy

Technical support to the Country Health Emergency Preparedness and IHR (CPI) programme on monitoring of ongoing processes to strengthen the health security architecture at the global and regional level, including the development of a new Strategy and Action Plan to strengthen health emergency preparedness, response and resilience in the WHO European Region (Preparedness 2.0).

Background

The mission of WHO's Health Emergencies Programme (WHE) is to support countries, and to coordinate international action, to prevent, prepare for, detect, rapidly respond to, and recover from outbreaks and emergencies. The objectives of the Country Health Emergency Preparedness and IHR (CPI) programme area include the monitoring and evaluation of countries' preparedness for health and humanitarian emergencies, as well as planning and implementation of country capacity building for critical capacities, and the Secretariat of the International Health Regulations (2005).

Building on identified lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic and other concurrent emergencies, a number of processes are in motion to strengthen the global health security architecture, including the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body (INB) to draft and negotiate a convention, agreement or other international instrument under the Constitution of the World Health Organization to strengthen pandemic prevention, preparedness and response, and the Working Group on Amendments to the International Health Regulations (2005) (WGIHR). The INB and the WGIHR will initiate their respective negotiation processes in 2023 and present their outcomes for consideration by the Seventy-seventh World Health Assembly (WHA) in 2024. In support to WHO Member States in the European Region, the CPI programme holds the secretariat for these two Member State led processes.

The WHO Regional Office for Europe has initiated a Member State-driven process for consultation towards the development of a new regional Strategy and Action Plan to strengthen health emergency preparedness, response and resilience in the WHO European Region (Preparedness 2.0). This renewed focus on strengthening health security capacities in the WHO European Region will be aligned with relevant strategies and ongoing processes and work streams on strengthening the health security architecture at all levels, including: 1. the European Programme of Work (2020–2025) (EPW) and its flagship initiatives 2. the Thirteenth Global Programme of Work (GPW13) 3. the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body (INB) 4. the Working Group on Amendments to the International Health Regulations (2005) (WGIHR) 5. other relevant processes at the sub-regional level, including the European Union (EU) Health Security Framework

The overall objective of the technical consultant is to support the Capacity Monitoring and Evaluation (CME) Team in the Country Health Emergency Preparedness and IHR (CPI) unit in supporting Member States in the WHO European Region through monitoring, reporting and analysis of data, related to the ongoing processes to strengthen the global health security architecture contributing to inform the Preparedness 2.0 process.

Deliverables

The consultant will, under the overall guidance of the CPI Programme Area Manager, WHO Regional Office for Europe, have the following deliverables:

Information management, including monitoring and data analysis.

Support the collection, compilation and interpretation of information generated through the ongoing global processes to strengthen the health security architecture, for the purpose of internal and external information sharing and alignment of developments in the global processes and workstreams with the regional Preparedness 2.0 process.

Deliverables:

• Support internal reporting streams by collecting and compiling information from relevant meetings, consultations, and briefings.
• Support the development of innovative information sharing practices.
• Contribute to analysis of regional priorities and focus areas within the area of health emergency preparedness, response and resilience.
• Support with IHR MEF related development data analysis (regional, country and/or IHR capacity area specific) upon request.
• Support the of information materials, background documents and briefings, related to developments in the global processes on strengthening the global health security architecture and the Preparedness 2.0 process, relevant for different target audiences and appropriate for the regional context.

Support CPI in its Secretarial Functions

Support the CPI programme area in executing its secretarial and coordinating functions in support of WHO Member States in the European Region to the global processes and the Preparedness 2.0 process, including in organizing internal and external meetings, consultations and information sessions, for different target audiences.

Deliverables:

• Support the development of a background paper on Member States input and priority areas to inform the Preparedness 2.0 development process.
• Contribute to the development of an updated Background document providing an overview on the status of the main Global processes on strengthening the Global Health Security Architecture, through collecting and compiling information relevant to the Preparedness 2.0 process.
• Conduct a mapping of regional and sub-regional identified lessons in the Pan-European context.
• Support the development of a report focusing on outcomes and discussions related to the Preparedness 2.0 process during the 73rd Regional Committee for Europe, to inform the continuation of the Preparedness 2.0 process.
• Support at least six information and consultation sessions organized by CPI related to Preparedness 2.0 and the global processes, to different target audiences, during the period of the consultancy.

Qualifications

Educational Qualifications

Essential: First University degree in a health-related field, public/global health-related discipline, international relations and/or political science.

Desirable: Master or postgraduate training in Public Health, International Relations, or other relevant area. Specialized training in emergency/disaster preparedness and response, including monitoring and evaluation components.

Experience

Essential: at least 3 years’ experience working in the area of public health and/or international relations.

Desirable: Work experience in WHO, the UN system, or International NGO's or other international organizations. Experience in information management, including in compiling and reporting complex information.

Skills/Knowledge

Essential: Writing skills (in English), Analytic skills, Teamwork and communications skills

Desirable: Knowledge about the IHR (2005)

Languages

Essential: Expert knowledge of English.

Location

On site. WHO Regional Office for Europe, Copenhagen

Remuneration

a. Remuneration: Band level A, USD 3,955 – 6,980 per month b. Expected duration of contract: 11 months with start date March 2023

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.

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Potential interview questions

Added 3 years ago - Updated 1 year ago - Source: who.int