Consultancy - Support the development of Regional Framework for monitoring noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) at primary health care (PHC)

Contract

This is a No grade contract. More about No grade contracts.

1. Area of expertise :

Unit: NMH Surveillance (NCS)

Department: UHC/NMH

2. Background

Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) cause the highest burden of disease in World Health Organization (WHO) Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) causing 62% of deaths in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR). It is estimated to rise to 70% by 2030 if no effective action is taken.

The WHO ‘Framework on integrated, people-centered health services’ emphasized the importance of designing primary health care (PHC) to meet the comprehensive needs of people including NCDs. Primary Health Care (PHC) is the most appropriate and equitable framework for implementing health care interventions, especially for NCDs. WHO-EMRO has developed the ‘Framework on Strengthening the Integration and Management of Noncommunicable Diseases in Primary Health Care’ which formulates key actions tailored to the NCDs for each WHO Health System Building Blocks.

In the NCD Implementation Roadmap 2023-2030 that was recently adopted at the 75th World Health Assembly, as well as within the Global NCD Compact 2020-2030, one of the key actions is that governments establish effective health information systems to produce reliable and timely data at national and subnational levels on NCD risk factors, the prevalence of individual NCDs, mortality from these diseases, and the strength of their health systems for delivering NCD care.

Challenges in the EMR:

Countries face many obstacles in implementing strategies to control NCDs. Although premature mortality from NCDs is declining in most countries, for most the pace of change is too slow to achieve SDG target 3. In general, integrated NCDs policies are not adequately implemented, “Best Buys”' interventions are largely underutilized, NCDs surveillance systems are insufficiently robust, clinical guidelines for major NCDs are generally lacking, screening programs are inadequate, essential drugs and technologies for NCDs remain largely unavailable, and palliative care is scarce.

Monitoring NCDs at PHC has not received enough attention, and when addressed there are gaps in accuracy, quality, standardization of facility data, and reporting of NCDs outcomes. The accuracy of the diagnosis varied; the validity of data needs to be explored in relation to the purpose for which it is to be used.

3. Deliverables

The consultant is expected to do the following:

Outputs

1. Review the draft report on monitoring of diabetes and hypertension at the primary health care, including the proposed list of indicators. Align with the updated WHO NCD management guidelines and provides details on data sources, methods of calculation, and aggregation and dissemination mechanisms for data on the management.
2. Develop the Regional Framework for (core and extended) quality indicators for the management and monitoring of diabetes and hypertension at the PHC level including recommendations for the process of implementing the regional framework.
3. Conduct consultative communications with Ministries of Health to identify the systems implemented and indicators collected for the management and monitoring of diabetes and hypertension in counties of the EMR, and to provide guidance for optimizing health services data for early detection and treatment of NCDs.
4. Facilitate the Regional virtual workshop on implementing and strengthening the WHO Facility-based patient and programme monitoring framework for effective management of NCDs in primary care delivery settings (NCD FPPM for primary care) and build consensus with different stakeholders and counterparts for the inclusion of NCD monitoring in routine health information systems and health facility surveys where it is currently lacking.

Deliverables:

1. Final report on monitoring of diabetes and hypertension at the primary health care, including the proposed list of indicators; along with regional level recommendations on actions required for implementing and strengthening the WHO Facility-based patient and programme monitoring framework for effective management of NCDs in primary care delivery settings (NCD FPPM for primary care)

2. Submit the Draft Regional Framework for implementing and strengthening the WHO Facility-based patient and programme monitoring framework for effective management of NCDs in primary care delivery settings (NCD FPPM for primary care)

3. Planned timelines (subject to confirmation): (total of 2.5 months)

Start date: 1/11/2022

End date: 15/1/2023

5. Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Educational Qualifications:

Essential: Master’s degree in Public Health, or Epidemiology.

Experience

• More than 10 years’ work experience in the field of NCD programming and NCD Surveillance including monitoring frameworks with international exposure to EMR countries/context.
• Experience in development of training curricula & packages related to NCD surveillance, as well as instructional design manuals.
• Experience in conducting research related to NCD surveillance.
• International experience is mandatory.

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.

6. Location

On site: EMRO, Cairo, Egypt

7. 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.

8. Remuneration and budget (travel costs are excluded):

   1. Remuneration: Payband level - C
   2. Expected duration of contract: 2.5 months

   (Maximum contract duration is 11 months per calendar year)

9. 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.
• 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>