Consultant - Epidemiologist
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Purpose of the Consultancy
This consultancy will support the strengthening and preparedness for emergencies following lessons learned from the COVID-19 surveillance system strengthening and COVID-19 response in Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam and Singapore. The consultant will support the preparation for Joint External Evaluation in Malaysia and Brunei Darussalam later in 2024. The consultant will support the international health regulation focal person at the WHO Country Office in Malaysia.
Background
The WHO continues to compile and analyse data on SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 disease for multi-source surveillance, trend analysis, modelling and projections and monitoring and evaluating programme data for action. The WHO Country Office requires the expertise of an Epidemiologist for continued provision of technical support to the Ministries of Health with ongoing and planned activities across WHE programmatic areas as the regular staff is on maternity leave.
Planned timelines (subject to confirmation)
Start date: 15 February 2024 End date: 14 August 2024
Deliverables
Under the technical guidance of the WHO Representative and related technical units at WHO Regional Office in the Western Pacific and Headquarters, the Consultant will work with various Ministries in the Government of Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam and Singapore, non-government organizations, academic institutions, the United Nations and other development partners.
The WHO Representative to Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam and Singapore with support of the Director RED, WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific, will provide strategic direction and mentoring. He/She will also be part of the country office programme budget planning, proposal development, implementation and monitoring implementation of the work plan to prevent risk factor and enhance management of COVID-19 and other communicable diseases.
Activities and output/s:
The Consultant is expected to perform the following terms of references:
Output 1: Enhance preparedness for public health emergencies of countries (Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam and Singapore) by incorporating lessons learned during COVID-19 to better protect the people during emergencies and aligned to the Asia Pacific Health Security Action Framework.
• Deliverable 1.1: Function as country office WHE focal point and reporting of COVID-19 and other emergency situations and responding to queries. • Deliverable 1.2: Enhancement of communications for public health emergencies by strengthening communications for outbreak preparedness
Output 2: Strengthen surveillance of countries (Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam and Singapore) including disease and lab surveillance and utilizing surveillance data for decision-making during outbreaks
• Deliverable 2.1: Data analysis of epidemiological data based on multi-source surveillance and other essential health information for risk assessment and decision-making. • Deliverable 2.2: Receive health emergency related reports to monitor COVID-19 and other health emergency situations and make recommendations for actions. • Deliverable 2.3: Support the International Health Regulations (IHR) focal person at the WHO Country Office. • Deliverable 2.4: Create information products such as COVID-19 and any event/s on emergency situation reports, technical/policy briefs, presentation slides, and charts for MYS, BRN, and SGP when required.
Output 4: Conduct AMR-related activities through strengthening surveillance systems, laboratory capacity, infection prevention and control, awareness-raising, evidence-based policies and practices using the One Health Approach.
• Deliverable 4.1: Coordination and implementation of the country work plan for Malaysia supported by EU Regional Tripartite AMR Project across all relevant sectors. • Deliverable 4.2: Initiatives to support coordination and collaboration on AMR surveillance from human, animal and environmental health sector
Output 5: Prepare Joint External Evaluations for Brunei and Malaysia scheduled for the second half of 2024.
• Deliverable 5.1: Preparations for Joint External Evaluations, after actions reviews and development of action plans (e.g., National Action Plans for Health Security) • Deliverable 5.2: Design and delivery of trainings, SIMEX and/or tabletop exercises.
Qualifications, experience, skills and knowledge, and languages
Qualifications required:
Essential: Postgraduate degree in public health, epidemiology, biostatistics, health sciences or its equivalent.
Experience required:
Essential: Minimum of five years of international experience in disease surveillance and/or control of acute public health events.
Desirable: Experience in disease surveillance such as COVID-19 is an asset. International studies and experience in international work experience are an asset.
Skills / Technical skills and knowledge:
Proficient in standard MS Offfice software applications, knowledge of STATA or Epi Information
Language requirements:
Written and spoken fluency in English is essential. Working knowledge of other UN languages is an asset
Competencies
- Teamwork - Diplomacy - Producing results - Ensuring effective use of resources - Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
Place of assignment
The consultancy will be carried out at the WHO Country Office in Cyberjaya, Malaysia
Medical clearance
The selected Consultant will be expected to provide a medical certificate of fitness for work.
Travel
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. • 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 reasonableaccommodation@who.int • 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. • WHO shall have no responsibility 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 each location/jurisdiction in which the work hereunder is performed, and the Consultant shall not be entitled to any reimbursement thereof by WHO. • Please note that WHO’s contracts are conditional on members of the workforce confirming that they are vaccinated as required by WHO before undertaking a WHO assignment, except where a medical condition does not allow such vaccination, as certified by the WHO Staff Health and Wellbeing Services (SHW). The successful candidate will be asked to provide relevant evidence related to this condition. A copy of the updated vaccination card must be shared with WHO medical service in the medical clearance process. Please note that certain countries require proof of specific vaccinations for entry or exit. For example, official proof /certification of yellow fever vaccination is required to enter many countries. Country-specific vaccine recommendations can be found on the WHO international travel and Staff Health and Wellbeing website. For vaccination-related queries please directly contact SHW directly at [email protected]. • In case the recruitment website does not display properly, please retry by: (1) checking that you have the latest version of the browser installed (Chrome, Edge or Firefox); (ii) clearing your browser history and opening the site in a new browser (not a new tab within the same browser); or (iii) retry accessing the website using Mozilla Firefox browser or using another device. Click this ling for detailed guidance on completing job applications: Instructions for candidates