consultancy - to collect information at the country level on the management & integration of NCDs in primary health care

Contract

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

1. Area of expertise :

Unit: Non communicable diseases management (NCM)

Department: EMRO/UHC-Non communicable diseases

2. Purpose of consultancy

   The purpose of this consultancy is to collect information at the country level on the management and integration of NCDs in primary health care, in stable and emergency settings. And to conduct a desk review on HSS response to the main NCDs as well as changes in the model of care and in the organization of the health service delivery.

• Conducting literature reviews and desk review as inputs for to the development of NCD in PHC as well as changes in the model of care and in the organization of the health service delivery
• Measure the rate of implementation of NCD prioritized interventions in countries
• Assist countries in the implementation of WHO Technical Packages (WHO PEN/HEARTS) taking active part in (virtual) country sessions/missions
• Measure the rate of implementation of RFA for the prevention and control of Diabetes
• Give feedback on the implementation of the Regional Framework for action on rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region, liaising and supporting the work of the regional expert network
• Assist in organizing regional and country meetings/workshops including webinars
• Developing presentations and briefs
• Assist in any other technical tasks related to NCD management as part of NCD Management unit’s workplan.

3. Background

Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) cause 41 million deaths each year or roughly 71% of all deaths globally, with about three-quarters of these occurring in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Moreover, an estimated 4 in 5 people aged 30-69 years who die prematurely from NCDs are from LMICs as well. Cardiovascular diseases, cancers, respiratory diseases, and diabetes contribute 80% of all premature NCD deaths.

Advancing toward providing universal access to comprehensive, quality, progressively expanded health services, taking into account the health needs of people, including those affected by NCDs, as well as changes in the model of care and in the organization of the health service delivery. There is an urgent need to increase the response capacity of the primary level of care articulated in Integrated Service Delivery Networks for the provision of comprehensive health services shifting the focus from disease to people and community-centered health care. Interventions relevant to NCDs that need to be included in these comprehensive services are: increased health promotion and prevention; healthy diet and physical exercise; evidence-based guidelines for NCDs management for early diagnosis; treatment and follow up; comprehensive clinical information systems that can integrate required NCD data; self-care and community support; multidisciplinary teams-based care that can respond to the specific needs of people affected with NCDs; availability of medicines and other health technologies relevant to prevention, control and palliation (including morphine equivalent opioid analgesics, insulin, dialysis and hemodialysis, hepatitis B and human papilloma virus vaccines, medicines for the treatment of hypertension and diabetes, etc).

4. Deliverables

Submit a monthly report on progress made on assigned tasks during the assignment.

Output 1: Reviewing and analysis of healthcare system response for management and integration of NCDs in primary health care, in stable and emergency settings in countries of the WHO- Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR).

• Deliverable1.1 Conduct Desk review of literature and technical guidance documents on NCD care models related to identification of patients, treatment adherence, continuation of care, management of acute episodes, innovative approaches to NCD diagnostics, treatment, and care
• Deliverable 1.2 Participate in (virtual) country sessions/missions in EMR countries to analyse the implementation rate of WHO Technical Packages (WHO PEN/HEARTS)
• Deliverable 1.3 Draft case studies and documentation from selected EMR countries on health system response for NCD integration at PHC level in EMR countries.

Output 2: Analysis of virtual NCD management advocacy and capacity building material on HEARTS package and Rheumatic Fever (RF) Rheumatic Hearts Disease (RHD) and its components and activities

• Deliverable 2.1: Collect information for the development and dissemination of the online course on NCD integration in PHC, using HEARTS package as well as RHD online course
• Deliverable 2.2: Review and make recommendations on the NCD management webpage to assist in reflecting regional and country trends of NCDs integration in PHC, ongoing and regular activities of NCD Management unit, advocacy and capacity building material, reports and publications produced by the NCM unit.
• Deliverable 2.3: Draft case studies on NCD experiences from countries of the EMR.
• Deliverable 2.4: Prepare presentations and briefs

Output 3: Assessment of NCD services in the context of primary health Care build on the Primary Health Care Measurement and Improvement (PHCMI) initiative framework and national capacity for assessment-based NCD service improvement.

• Deliverable 3.1: Collect data on NCD integration (hypertension, cardiovascular risk assessment, diabetes, respiratory diseases, and others) at PHC facility level in countries of EMR.
• Deliverable 3.2: Aggregate data that assesses key aspects of NCD in the context of PHC .
• Deliverable 3.3: Review national data sources

• Deliverable 3.4: Generate country profiles and country fact sheets from the different data sources, on national responses for the prevention, control, and management of NCDs in EMR countries.

  Planned timelines (subject to confirmation):

Start date: 01/06/2022

End date: 31/12/2022

5. Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Educational Qualifications:

Essential: First university degree in Public Health or related field of International Studies.

Experience

Essential: Up to 5 years of experience working with NCD programmes and related monitoring frameworks. International exposure is an asset.

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/French 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 - A
   2. Expected duration of contract: 6 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 Hicham El Berri – NCM Unit

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>