Consultant - Country Health Emergency Preparedness & IHR (Simulation Exercise), CPI/WHE

..

1. Purpose of the Consultancy

A short-term consultant is being recruited to provide technical support to the preparation of IHR Exercise Crystal, including the development of the exercise format, scenario, accompanying with injects and other required documents.

2. Background

As component of the IHR monitoring and evaluation framework, simulation exercises have been identified as an effective tool in identifying strengths and areas that need strengthening in the development and implementation of preparedness and response measures. Simulation exercises should be carried out regularly by countries and areas as part of continuous learning for improvement.

IHR Exercise Crystal has been conducted annually in the Western Pacific Region since 2008. The exercise is typically held over two days: one day for countries and territories in the Pacific; and one day for other countries and areas in the Region. This year, the Exercise is planned to be convened in the week of 5 December 2022.

3. Planned timelines (exclusive of travel dates)

Start date: 01 September 2022 Travel date: 14 November – 16 December 2022 (5 weeks) End date: 31 January 2023

4. Work to be performed

Under the supervision of the Technical Officer, Public Health Emergency Preparedness (PHEP), CPI, the consultant will: 1. Review past IHR Exercise Crystal runs and participant feedback, taking into account high- and low-capacity contexts; 2. Provide oversight and technical leadership to prepare IHR Exercise Crystal 2022, including design of the exercise format, scenario and injects and other exercise documents; 3. Plan and conduct briefings for exercise players and exercise management team members; 4. Monitor and evaluate the process and performance of the exercise using pre-designed evaluation tools; 5. Coordinate and conduct post-exercise debriefing sessions with participants and exercise management team members; 6. Develop the exercise report in collaboration with the Technical Officer (PHEP).

Output/s Output 1: Provision of technical support to develop IHR Exercise Crystal 2022 Deliverable 1: Developed exercise design, scenarios, injects and other planning documents. Output 2: Exercise participants and management team are briefed and prepared. Deliverable 2: Briefing materials developed including briefing presentations and Participant Guide, and briefing sessions conducted with exercise participants and management team. Output 3: Exercise monitoring and evaluation Deliverable 3: Monitoring and evaluation tools are developed and used to track progress and outcomes of exercise. Output 4: Conduct of post-exercise debriefings Deliverable 4: Objectiveness, expected outcomes, strengths, areas needing improvement identified for post-exercise debrief and debrief conducted. Output 5: Final Exercise report Deliverable 5: Final exercise report (including evaluation findings) developed in consultation with the Responsible Officer and delivered within six weeks of the exercise.

5. Specific requirements

Qualifications required • Advanced educational degree (Masters or above) in public health, epidemiology or medicine. Experience required • Essential: At least seven years of related experience, at the national and international levels, in the field of health emergency preparedness and response, country capacity strengthening and assessment, outbreak management and response coordination. Recognized experience in designing and conducting national or international simulation exercises (table-top, functional or full-scale) related to public health emergency capacities. • Desirable: Experience of designing and conducting IHR relevant simulation exercise at regional or international level. Skills and technical knowledge • Comprehensive knowledge of the International Health Regulations (IHR 2005) and public health emergency management, particularly of Annex 2 of the IHR (2005) and Event Information Site (EIS) posting by National IHR Focal Points. • Excellent skills in the development of exercise scenarios and injects, monitoring and evaluation of exercise process, with the ability to adopt creative exercise approaches to reflect the expectations of the updated APSED III strategy in the event verification, assessment and notification capacity of Western Pacific Regional countries. • Strong strategic thinking, with the ability to quickly comprehend strategic and tactical objectives and to formulate integrated plans to address challenges/risks. • Expert knowledge in managing learning process with difficult technical and operational topics. Strong training and oral presentation skills. • Demonstrated ability to identify and manage difficult situations, to lead and direct multidisciplinary and multinational staff. Language requirements • Excellent knowledge of written and spoken English is essential. Working knowledge of other UN languages is an advantage.

6. Competencies

• Teamwork • Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences • Communication • Producing results • Building and promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond • Creating an empowering and motivating environment

7. Place of assignment

Remote-based with travel to Manila for 5 weeks.

8. Medical clearance

The Consultant will provide a medical certificate of fitness for work.

9. Travel

The Consultant is expected to travel according to the itinerary and estimated schedule below: Travel dates: From 14/11/2022 To 16/12/2022 Location: Manila, Philippines Purpose: Face to face discussions with supervisor and final revision of deliverables.

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.

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