Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) have been identified as the leading cause of death worldwide. NCDs were estimated to be responsible for killing 36 million people worldwide, with 80% of NCD related deaths occurring in low- and middle-income countries. The most commonly addressed NCDs include diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, cancer and chronic respiratory diseases.

In the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR), NCDs follow the same pattern. They account for more than 50% of annual deaths and make up 60% of the disease burden in the region.

Most recent projections indicate a dramatic increase in the proportion of people dying from NCDs worldwide. It is expected that NCDs will account for 69% of all deaths by year 2030. These rates indicate that the global rate of NCD mortality increased by 17% in 2015 with the two most significantly impacted regions being Africa, with 27% increased associated mortality rate, followed by EMR, with a 25% increased

To monitor and track the implementation of the Global Action Plan (2013-2020) for the Prevention and Control of NCDs, WHO set forward the Global Monitoring Framework (GMF) at the Sixty-sixth World Health Assembly in May 2013, which is considered the main tool for NCD surveillance. It revolves around the three pillars of NCD Surveillance: monitoring mortality and mobility, monitoring risk factors and monitoring national health system responses to NCDs. The GMF specifically monitors and reports on the attainment of the nine global targets for NCDs. It focuses on nine global voluntary targets that are monitored via a total of twenty- five indicators in the three areas.

NCD Surveillance Training Curriculum

Guided by the Global Action Plan strategy for the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases and endorsed by the World Health Assembly, the Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean (EMRO) has developed a comprehensive training package with the aim of strengthening and building the capacity of national NCD surveillance, monitoring, and evaluation. This training targets an audience of individuals who possess a background in epidemiology and noncommunicable disease from all high, middle, and low income countries in the Eastern Mediterranean Region. Implemented in a one-week workshop setting, this training will provide the trainees with the background knowledge to guide the development of a national capacity building plan for NCD surveillance, monitoring, and evaluation.

The Noncommunicable Disease Surveillance training curriculum/package consists of the following six modules along with their respective objectives and competencies:

Module 1: The Global and Regional Burden of Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs)

Module 2: Introduction to NCD Surveillance

Module 3A: The Pillars of NCD Surveillance: Monitoring Mortality (Outcomes)

Module 3B: The Pillars of NCD Surveillance: Monitoring Morbidity (Outcome)

Module 4: The Pillars of NCD Surveillance: Monitoring NCD Risk Factors and Determinants (Exposures)

Module 5: The Building Blocks of NCD Surveillance: Monitoring National Health Systems

Module 6: The content of this module aims to provide participants with the skills to strategize for knowledge dissemination and information sharing and communicate essential NCD surveillance knowledge to countries with the overall goal of strengthening the national NCD plans of action.

Deliverables

The consultant is expected to do the following:

Outputs:

Compile and review up-to-date resources and information relevant to the key modules defined in the concept note;
Review and draft the technical content of the presentations for each module to achieve the learning objectives;
Analyse data and develop graphs and tables based on real and recent data from valid sources such as the global health observatory to support ideas shared in the different modules;
Ensure the comprehensiveness and integration of all modules after drafting their individual contents;
Ensure the attainment of the training goal and objectives of the training package & curriculum.

Deliverables

Review and provide updated version of NCD Surveillance Training Curriculum Modules 1 & 2
Review and provide updated version of NCD Surveillance Training Curriculum Modules 3 & 4
Review and provide updated version of NCD Surveillance Training Curriculum Modules 5 & 6

Planned timelines (subject to confirmation): (total of 25 days in 2 months time)

Start date: 25/09/2022

End date: 24/11/2022

Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Educational Qualifications:

Essential: First university degree in Public Health, PHD in Public Health or Epidemiology is preferable.

Experience

Essential: Up to 5 years of experience working with NCD programmes and related monitoring frameworks with international exposure to EMR countries/context.
Experience in development of training curricula & packages, as well as instructional design manuals.

Skills/Knowledge:

Excellent knowledge of Microsoft Office applications and web tools on research articles such as pub med.
Demonstrated capacity to produce high-quality writings.
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 - B
2. Expected duration of contract: 2 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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