Consultancy to Support the Update of a WHO Guide on Heat-Health Action Planning

Overview

Support the update of WHO's heat-health action planning guide.

You have:

• First level university degree in environment and/or health science, or another equivalent technical or scientific discipline.
• At least three years relevant experience of work on climate change, heat and/or health, as well as in project management/oversight and in drafting publications.
• Expert knowledge of English in written and oral communication.
• Advanced university degree (Master’s level or above) in environment and/or health science, or another equivalent technical or scientific discipline.
• Up to 5 years of relevant experience and work experience in WHO or another international public health organization; experience with the development of normative documents.
• Basic or intermediate knowledge of German, French and/or Russian would be an asset.
• Strong managerial and process coordination and organization skills with profound knowledge and skills of report-writing.
• Profound knowledge in the area of climate change, heat and health and familiarity with global, regional and national policy frameworks, strategies and normative guidelines in this area.

-Purpose of consultancy

The main objective of the consultancy is to support conceptualization and implementation of developing an updated edition of a WHO/Europe guide on heat–health action planning.

Background

The WHO European Centre for Environment and Health (ECEH) through the Water and Climate Programme (WAC), supports Member States in improving health preparedness, planning and response to extreme weather events due to climate change, including heat. WHO ECEH aims to strengthen the implementation of regional commitments and initiatives on heat health action planning and promoting health sector engagement to increase health systems' resilience and adaptive capacity.

To support an enhanced heat health prevention and response across the WHO European Region, WHO ECEH aims to develop a second edition of WHO’s heat health action planning guide which was originally published in 2008. It will be developed as part of a project supported by the European Commission: “Updating guidance on heat health action planning for the WHO European Region". It aims to take into consideration the latest available scientific evidence on heat health and implementation practices of heat health action plans to provide an international, evidence-based point of reference for effective protection from adverse health outcomes related to heat that informs national and local policymaking.

Deliverables

• Task/Deliverable 1: Liaise with all potential experts and external reviewers to confirm their interest to become involved in the update process of WHO’s heat health action planning guide. Cooperate and communicate with all short-term consultants, experts and external reviewers on systematic literature reviews and associated peer-reviews and coordinate and organize all necessary technical meetings relevant to the implementation of deliverables 4 (a-d) and 5. This is an ongoing task/deliverable during the assignment.
• Task/Deliverable 2: In close collaboration with the WHO ECEH WAC team, coordinate and organize all meetings of relevant project groups, following the Project Management Plan. This is an ongoing task/deliverable during the assignment.
• Task/Deliverable 3: In close collaboration with the WHO ECEH WAC team, follow up on any input received by the WHO Guidelines Review Committee to ensure that the ongoing work is based on the best available evidence and is produced in ways consistent with internationally accepted best practices on quality assurance and peer-review. This is an ongoing task/deliverable during the assignment.
• Task/Deliverable 4: Conduct a structured desk review of recent evidence related to the current set of core elements included in the 2008 WHO HHAP guidance document and synthesize its findings. Based on the findings of the desk review and the complementary evidence summarized in the WHO publication “Heat and health in the WHO European Region: updated evidence for effective prevention”, develop a proposal for HHAP core elements that should be newly established and/or updated in the development of the second edition of WHO’s heat health action planning guide. This analysis should also assess whether aspects of climate change are sufficiently addressed, whether linkages to sectors other than health are clearly spelled out, and how well the core elements of the HHAP are integrated into overall climate change adaptation planning. Organize peer review of the findings of the structured desk review and the analysis of the new and/or updated HHAP core elements.

• Task/Deliverable 5: Coordinate the scoping, implementation and synthesis of systematic literature reviews (to be undertaken by co-workers) that underpin the development/update of fact sheets, and – on the basis of the review outcomes – develop draft fact sheets for following three groups:

  • 5a) Seven updated fact sheets for health care providers, health care and social care facilities. The fact sheets aim to provide information that support the protection of patients and vulnerable groups from health effects of heat. The seven fact sheets are: (i) Risk factors and health conditions for heat illness and mortality; (ii) Adverse effects of medications during hot weather; (iii) Considerations regarding hydration advice during hot weather and heat-waves; (iv) How to educate, counsel and inform patients during hot weather; (v) How to educate, counsel and inform residents of health and social care facilities during hot weather; (vi) Mild and moderate heat illnesses and their management; and (vii) Management of life-threatening heatstroke. Confirm the content of the draft updated fact sheets with experts and organize peer review of the fact sheets. Integrate the final fact sheets into the final version of the second edition of the WHO HHAP guidance document.
  • 5b) Four updated fact sheets for the general public. The fact sheets aim to protect people’s health and safety of heat. The four fact sheets are: (i) Health advice during hot weather and heat-waves; (ii) How to reduce indoor temperatures during hot weather; (iii) How to protect health from vegetation fires during heat-waves; (iv) Health advice for hot weather during the COVID-19 pandemic. Confirm the content of the draft updated fact sheets with experts and organize peer review of the fact sheets. Integrate the final fact sheets into the final version of the second edition of the WHO HHAP guidance document.
  • 5c) Three updated fact sheets for public health authorities, city planners and practitioners. The fact sheets aim to inform these professionals on the adverse health impacts of heat. The three fact sheets are: (i) Interventions in the built environment; (ii) Protecting health from vegetation fires during heatwaves; (iii) Occupational safety during heat-waves. Confirm the content of the draft updated fact sheets with experts and organize peer review of the fact sheets. Integrate the final fact sheets into the final version of the second edition of the WHO HHAP guidance document.
• Task/Deliverable 5: Draft the final version of the second edition of the WHO HHAP guidance document in accordance with WHO quality assurance procedures by consolidating and summarizing the results from deliverables 4 and 5 (a-c). Communicate the final draft version with project group members and relevant experts and collate their feedback through preparing and organizing an expert group meeting.
• Deliverable 6: Develop a communication and visibility plan following the project requirements.

Qualifications

Educational qualifications

Essential: First level university degree in environment and/or health science, or another equivalent technical or scientific discipline.

Desirable: Advanced university degree (Master’s level or above) in environment and/or health science, or another equivalent technical or scientific discipline.

Experience

Essential: at least three years relevant experience of work on climate change, heat and/or health, as well as in project management/oversight and in drafting publications.

Desirable: up to 5 years of relevant experience and work experience in WHO or another international public health organization; experience with the development of normative documents.

Skills/Knowledge

Essential:

- Profound knowledge in the area of climate change, heat and health and familiarity with global, regional and national policy frameworks, strategies and normative guidelines in this area.

- Strong communication skills.

Desirable: Strong managerial and process coordination and organization skills with profound knowledge and skills of report-writing.

Languages

Essential: Expert knowledge of English in written and oral communication. Desirable: Basic or intermediate knowledge of German, French and/or Russian would be an asset.

Location

The consultant is expected to work off-site.

Travel

The consultancy may entail travel. If travel is necessary, a complete medical clearance will be required.

Remuneration

a. Remuneration: Pay band range A [USD 4500 – 6980 per month (IN 09/2021 refers)]. b. Expected duration of contract: 11 months.

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