consultancy - to collect information at the country level using updated global and national sources from surveillance systems on NCDs

Contract

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

1. Purpose of consultancy

The purpose of this consultancy is to collect information at the country level using updated global and national sources from surveillance systems on NCDs, from all EMR countries on priority indicators for monitoring various NCDs at primary care settings where resources are limited with a focus on facility-based indicators for NCDs including asthma, COPD, diabetes, hypertension and other common cancers such as breast cancer, cervical cancer, and childhood cancer. And to conduct a desk review on facility-based indicators that looks at the quality of care for NCDs in the EMR countries.

2. 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.

In the EMR, the probability of dying from NCDs between the age of 30 and 70 is 24.5 % (1 in 4 adults will die before age of 70). More than 2.8 million deaths accounted from NCDs in 2019 of all deaths with an increase of 3% compared to 2016 reported deaths; CVD: > 1.5 million, Cancer: >400 thousand, CRD >200 thousand, DM: 141 thousand and Others: >0.5 million deaths.

Most of these premature deaths from NCDs are largely preventable by enabling health systems to respond more effectively and equitably to the healthcare needs of people with NCDs and influencing public policies in sectors outside health that tackle shared risk factors—namely tobacco use, unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, and the harmful use of alcohol.

Most NCDs are not curable but early detection and treatment can help control symptoms, prevent and manage exacerbation and complications, thereby, not only prolonging life but improving the quality of life of people living with NCDs. The WHO Package of Essential Noncommunicable Disease Interventions (PEN) for primary care, a technical package developed by WHO and partners, presents cost-effective NCD clinical interventions that can be delivered with an acceptable level of quality in low-resource settings. It provides guidance on early detection and management of NCDs including chronic respiratory diseases such as asthma and COPD, diabetes, hypertension, and cancers.

Several countries have used or adapted PEN, and other WHO technical packages like HEARTS for cardiovascular management and HEARTS-D for diabetes management to their local primary care system, but little is known about the scope, scale, and performance of the implementation of this intervention as countries continue to face challenges in programme reporting and tracking patients across service cascade due to limited capacities in technology and human resources. A globally agreed comprehensive set of reliable measures of service quality, service availability, and clinical health outcomes for the facility-based patient and programme monitoring for NCDs as well as practical and simple digital reporting tools can address gaps in monitoring.

Currently, WHO is developing a facility-based patient and programme monitoring framework specifically for NCDs, taking into account existing primary care monitoring frameworks at global and regional levels.

Planned timelines (subject to extension according to budget availability)

Start date: 10/04/2022

End date: 10/02/2023

3. Deliverables

The consultant is expected to do the following:

Output 1: Reviewing and analysis of healthcare system response for monitoring Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs) patients at facility level generally and at the level of Primary Health Care (PHC) in particular, in countries of the WHO- Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR).

Tasks:

1. Conduct the exercise on the situation analysis of healthcare system response for monitoring NCDs facility-level in EMR countries.
2. Collaborate with focal persons at Ministries of Health to collect data on NCD record-keeping systems, data collection and indicator reporting, processing, and indicators generated for monitoring and control NCDs (hypertension, cardiovascular risk assessment, diabetes, respiratory diseases, cancer, and others) at PHC facility level in countries of EMR.
3. Identify data and information gaps in monitoring and control NCDs (hypertension, diabetes, respiratory diseases, cancer, and others) at PHC facility level in EMR countries.
4. Conduct field visits to countries of the EMR to evaluate and document NCD monitoring at the facility level to support countries in strengthening NCD responsive health information systems in EMR countries.
5. Develop tools for practical implementation and tracking of the monitoring indicators of NCD treatment coverage and control with a focus on hypertension and diabetes in EMR countries.
6. Draft case studies and documentation from selected EMR countries on health system response for monitoring NCDs at PHC level in EMR countries.

Output 2: Development and update of virtual NCD surveillance advocacy and capacity building material on NCD surveillance and its components, activities, indicators

Tasks:

1. Provide technical input in the development and dissemination of the online course on NCD surveillance, including editing and updating the scripts for all the modules of the Regional NCD Surveillance training package, which covers the fundamentals of NCD epidemiology and surveillance in the light of Global Monitoring Framework (GMF) as the tool to track the implementation of the Global Action Plan 2013-2020 and the updated roadmap and timelines.
2. Develop and update the NCD surveillance webpage to reflect regional and country trends of NCDs and NCD risk factors indicators, ongoing and regular activities of NCD surveillance unit, advocacy and capacity building material, and reports of surveys and publications produced by the NCS unit.
3. Draft case studies on NCD surveillance experiences from countries of the EMR. There are to document success stories of implementations on the strengthening health information systems in general and NCD surveillance in particular with its different components and dimensions.

Output 3: To develop NCD repository and data bank to facilitate accessibility and useability of data and information on NCDs and NCD risk factors in countries of the WHO- Eastern Mediterranean Region.

Tasks:

1. 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.
2. To collect, aggregate information and data and produce data visualizations as needed at country level using updated global & national sources and communicate with relevant partners including Country offices and focal points.

Other tasks:

1. Measure the implementation rate and reporting of regular surveys on NCD risk factors and health system response in countries of the EMR, including STEPS survey, the assessment of national capacity for the prevention and control of NCDs, Global School Health Survey, Global Adult Tobacco Survey and others
2. Document the Digital Health Interventions for NCDs in EMR countries.

Deliverables: Submit a monthly report on progress made on assigned tasks.

4. 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 with international exposure.

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 (Basic/Intermediate/Expert):

Excellent knowledge of English. Arabic language is an asset.

5. Location:

Cairo, Egypt .

Visa requirements: it is the consultant’s responsibility to fulfil visa requirements and ask for visa support letter(s) if needed.

6. Travel (If travel is involved, a medical certificate of fitness for work will be required.)

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.

7. Medical clearance

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

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

   1. Remuneration: Payband level - A
9. 2. Expected duration of contract (Maximum contract duration is 11 months per calendar year):

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>