Consultant - Environmental Health, Ulan Bator, Mongolia

PURPOSE OF CONSULTANCY

The purpose of the international short-term consultant (STC) for environmental health is to provide technical support to the WHO Representative’s Office in Mongolia in conducting a systematic review of evidence on environmental risk factors that impact health and the development of policy to reduce environmental adverse impacts.

BACKGROUND

Environmental risk factors such as air pollution, unsafe water, poor sanitation, hazardous chemicals, occupational hazards, extreme weather, and climate change are considered major health threats in Mongolia.

Air pollution has become one of the most challenging public health issues in Mongolia, exacerbated during wintertime because of solid fuel combustion as well as air pollution due to motor-vehicle is the issues to be considered. Mongolia’s national program for the reduction of Air and Environmental Pollution (2017-2025) aims to decrease air and environmental pollution by 80% by 2025. In order, to achieve this aim, the Government prohibited the use of unprocessed coal anywhere except for thermal power plants in Ulaanbaatar as a temporary solution for shifting to cleaner fuel.

Improving WASH is considered a priority goal in Mongolia’s Vision-2050, due to its status as an unfinished agenda of the MDGs. Based on the WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring data in 2020, access to safely managed drinking water sources and sanitation services at the national level was 30.1% and 55.5% respectively, while it was 11.4% and 48.7% in rural areas.

WASH service is also one of the issues in urban settings including Ulaanbaatar city and 21 province’s centers Ger area where there are no pipe water and sewerage system connections at the household level. For instance, in Ulaanbaatar, 60% or 800,000 people live in the Ger area.

In the last 10 years, the water safety plan program was successfully scaled up and now it is implemented in Ulaanbaatar city and 21 provinces, including 61 sub-provinces. As a result, over 1,9 million people are benefitting from this initiative, and safe drinking water supply systems are ensured. In 2022, the program on integrated water and sanitation safety plan has started for building resilience to current and emerging climate threats by considering the implications of climate variability and change at each stage of the water supply and sanitation systems.

At the national level Environmental Health surveillance system was established and all relevant basic data on environmental risks and hazards are shared between relevant multi-sectoral institutions for prediction and identifying the health impacts of environmental pollution. However, the prediction of health impacts and disease burden through assessing environmental risks and hazards is still challenging due to the lack of a multisectoral coordination mechanism, e-program, and human resource capacity.

Mongolia is vulnerable to global climate change as it is expected to affect the resilience of the country to these existing driving forces. Briefly, the mean temperature increased by 2.07°C in over 70 years and about 77% of the country’s territory has been affected by some degree of desertification. To combat climate change and reduce environmental pollution, the “One Billion Tree” national movement initiated by the President of Mongolia has been started in 2021. Under this campaign in the last 2 years, Mongolia has planted over 17 million trees.

To support the Government initiatives and improve environmental health conditions, WHO calls for the initiative on Solutions for Health to be implemented in the local context toward achieving environmental health-related SDGs and Vision-2050, the Mongolian long development program. For the implementation of the Solutions for Health initiative international consultant support is required in the country.

The initiative has 4 components, including a) strengthening evidence-based technology applicable in the local context, b) promoting small-scale initiatives or Innovation Hub, c) strengthening health system preparedness and response, and d) community empowerment and engagement.

DELIVERABLES

Under the direct guidance of the WHO Country office and in collaboration with health and non-health sectors, the consultant will undertake the following activities:

1. Conduct a systematic review of evidence on environmental risk factors that impact health;
2. Provide support in formulating evidence-based policies to reduce environmental adverse impacts;
3. Support WHO in providing technical advice to the government on broader environmental issues that impact health.

Output 1: Conducted a systematic review of evidence on environmental risk factors that impact health.

Deliverable 1.1 Consultancy detailed plan – 15% (March – April) Deliverable 1.2 Systematic review report on evidence on environmental risk factors, including water, soil, air pollution, and climate change that impact health. It will cover the sources of pollution and technologies used in the country. – 15% (May-June)

Output 2. Developed framework for evidence-based policies to reduce environmental impacts.

Deliverable 2.1 Report with recommended actions to develop evidence-based policies to reduce environmental impacts -20% (July-August) Deliverable 2.2 Framework for evidence-based policies to reduce environmental impacts. -20% (October-November)

Output 3. Supported WHO in providing technical advice to the government on broader environmental issues that impact health.

Deliverable 3.1 Technical recommendations on broader environmental issues that impact health. -15% (November -December) Deliverable 3.2 Final technical report on Solution for Health -15% (January 2025)

QUALIFCATIONS, EXPERIENCE, SKILLS, AND LANGUAGE

Educational qualifications:

Essential: University degree in environmental health and engineering Desirable: Postgraduate and advanced training in water supply, sewerage, heating, ventilation systems, energy, environmental control, and monitoring and environmental impact assessment

Experience:

Essential: At least 5 years of experience in environmental health and engineering and research works; supported by at least 3 references. Desirable: Proven experience in participating in environmental health and engineering projects and conducting research on water, sanitation, ventilation, heating, and energy and environmental monitoring and environmental impact assessment.

Skills/knowledge:

Understanding of Mongolian engineering and health sector Knowledge about environmental health and environmental engineering Capacity to plan and conduct research and meetings Excellent communication, interpersonal, and presentation skills Outstanding organizational and time arrangement skills

Languages and levels required:

Essential: Expert knowledge of English (written, reading, and spoken) Other languages: Russian and Chinese are also preferable

LOCATION

The consultant will work in the WHO Country Office in Mongolia, Mongolia

TRAVEL

The consultant is expected to travel to provinces/districts when needed and a travel plan is subject to discussion with WHO Representative and Technical Officer.

REMUNERATION AND BUDGET

a. Remuneration: TBD b. Duration: 11 months, 1 March 2024 t0 31 January 2025

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. • The WHO is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The WHO recruits workforce regardless of disability status, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, language, race, marital status, religious, cultural, ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds, or any other personal characteristics. The WHO is committed to achieving gender parity and geographical diversity in its workforce. Women, persons with disabilities, and nationals of unrepresented and underrepresented Member States (https://www.who.int/careers/diversity-equity-and-inclusion) are strongly encouraged to apply for WHO jobs. Persons with disabilities can request reasonable accommodations to enable participation in the recruitment process. Requests for reasonable accommodation should be sent through an email to [email protected] • An impeccable record for integrity and professional ethical standards is essential. 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 (https://www.who.int/about/who-we-are/our-values) 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 short-listed candidates. • WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco. • Consultants shall perform the work as independent contractors in a personal capacity, and not as a representative of any entity or authority.

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