Consultant - collaborate with the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office and HQ in coordinating the WHO household survey of rapid Assistive Technology Assessment

Contract

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

Purpose of the consultancy

The purpose of the consultancy is to collaborate with the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office and HQ in coordinating the WHO household survey of rapid Assistive Technology Assessment (rATA), as the Regional Data Coordinator (RDC) of the Global report on assistive technology.

Background

This consultancy falls within the ongoing WHO work to operationalize resolutions WHA71.8 on “Improving access to assistive technology”. In this it contributes to the regional initiative to operationalize 63rd WHO Eastern Mediterranean Regional Committee resolution EM/RC63/R.3 on the same issue

Resolution WHA71.8 mandates WHO to develop a Global report on assistive technology (GReAT) in the context of an integrated approach, based on the best available scientific evidence and international experience. The Global report would be utilized:

1. To showcase the current global status in terms of access to AT with a comprehensive dataset, description and analysis
2. To draw attention of governments and civil society about the need for and benefit of improved access to AT, especially the return on investment
3. To make recommendations for concrete actions that will improve access to AT, especially in resource limited settings, based on the best available scientific information and country experience
4. To support implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and making Universal Health Coverage (UHC) inclusive, eventually to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).

In August 2019, the 1st Global Consultation on GReAT was successfully organized by WHO with 260 participants (including the EMRO team and EMR country representatives) and over 80 full manuscripts and illustrations from the global AT stakeholders. These contributions are to be selected and further developed into the chapters in the Global report. Nowadays, there is little data available on access to assistive products and services at country level. For the GReAT and consequent development and implementation of national programme to improve access to AT, data on need, unmet need, demand and barriers to access to AT is essential.

The WHO has developed a household survey tool– a rapid Assistive Technology Assessment (rATA) and the mobile data collection tool to support countries in collecting such data in a systematic and rapid approach. Data collection at the country level would be overseen by national data collection coordinators, officially nominated by respective governments. The findings would feed into the Global reportTechnical and financial support to countries for the implementation of data collection are to be provided across WHO HQ, ROs and COs in 2020 - 2021.

The current consultancy aims to coordinate and support, at the regional level, the implementation of the survey in EMR countries that will participate in the initiative to develop the Global report on assistive technology.

Planned timelines

Start date: 20/11/2020

End date: 19/09/2021

Work to be performed

The following outputs are to be completed in close consultation and collaboration with the concerned technical team in WHO HQ, Regional Offices (ROs) and Country Offices (CO) and national data collection coordinators (NDC).

Output 1: Coordinate rATA (rapid Assistive Technology Assessment) data collection in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, including collection of progress indicators on access to assistive technology .

Deliverable 1.1: Study the rATA data collection materials, participate in the master training based on the WHO global curriculum (virtual) and ensure that NDCs complete it as well.

Deliverable 1.2: Liaise with national NDCs and ministries to obtain necessary official clearances and (ethical) approvals for rATA survey deployment in the countries.

Deliverable 1.3: Prepare and following up on contracts for NDCs and developing with NDCs templates for workplans for in-country implementation of the survey and related tasks NDCs.

Deliverable 1.4: Liaise with the NDCs in completion of in-country rATA data collection workplan on time.

Deliverable 1.5: Maintain an accurate spread-sheet indicating the status of contracting for NDCs, the data collection status update in each country; participate and report in regular project teleconferences with HQ, EMRO and COs.

Deliverable 1.6: Coordinate with NDCs to obtain government review, and clearance of the rATA survey data and findings, and permission for WHO to publish them in the GReAT.

Deliverable 1.7: Collaborate with the WHO technical team in development of national AT access factsheets for participating countries and for the Region using the rATA survey data.

Required Qualifications

Education:

Essential: First University degree in public health, social sciences or health informatics

Desirable: Master’s degree in public health, social sciences or health informatics

Experience:

At least 5 years of experience including:

• Extensive experience in coordinating multi-country and multi-stakeholder projects at regional level; experience with managing nation-wide household survey is a plus;
• Insights into and preferably experience with population/public health; experience with assistive technology is a plus;

• Experience with data analysis and visualization of household survey is a plus.

  Skills / Technical knowledge

• Good communication and people management skills;

• Problem solving and negotiating abilities to work with multiple stakeholders and countries;

  Language

  Excellent knowledge of written and spoken English.

  Location

All tasks will be conducted remotely

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.

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 excluded) Remuneration: international consultant (P3 level)

Additional Information section

• 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.
• Successful candidates will be included in the roster for consideration for future contractual engagement via a consultancy, as they become available. Inclusion in the roster does not guarantee any future contractual relationship with WHO
• 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's workforce adheres to the WHO Values Charter and is committed to put the WHO Values into practice.
• 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.