Consultant-Epidemiologist and Emergency Response Strategic Information, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea

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Terms of Reference

Epidemiologist and Emergency Response Strategic Information Consultant

The consultant is being recruited to provide strategic information to inform planning technical support to the ongoing COVID‐19 response and support emergency preparedness and response activities planning for other epidemic prone diseases activities in the Papua New Guinea.

2. Background

Since 2 January 2020, the three levels of WHO have been working together to respond to this outbreak of

COVID‐19. On 30 January, WHO declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern

(PHEIC). On 11 March, WHO Director General characterized COVID‐19 as a pandemic. Papua New Guinea Since the declaration has organized and implemented its national COVID-19 Response plan through a National Command and Control Center (NCC) co-adjuvated by the Provincial Emergency Operation Centers (PEOC) with support from development partners present in country including WHO.

Although the country is going through a period of relatively stable COVID-19 transmission characterized by a very low number of reported cases, the situation continues to merit some attention and vigilance and the ability to respond in case of sudden increase in transmission. Therefore, surveillance and epidemiological analysis of potential determinant of re-establishment of transmission as well as the occurrence of other epidemic prone diseases of major public importance are still of paramount importance for WHO in its support to the efforts to provide technical support and guidance to the National Department of health.

The purpose of this emergency deployment of the Epidemiologist is to support effective response operations related to the outbreak of pneumonia associated with COVID‐19 and other disease of epidemic and or pandemic potential, with a focus on strategic information supporting planning and response functions, as

part of the Incident Management System Team (IMST) of the WHO Papua New Guinea.

3. Planned timelines

Start date: 15 June 2023

End date: 31 December 2023

4. Work to be performed

Under the overall supervision of the WHE Team Lead and WHO Country Office Representative, the consultant will provide services related to data management and generation of strategic epidemiological information to inform targeting of emergency operations related to COVID-19 and response to disease outbreaks and emergencies.

Method(s) to carry out the activity

Output 1: Produce COVID‐19 information and provide weekly updates on the COVID-19 situation using available databases, event and indicator-based surveillance information.

• Deliverable 1.1: Manage data quality including completeness, accuracy timeliness, identify gaps in health information management and recommend and perform corrective actions where necessary.
• Deliverable 1.2: Support to collect, collate, manage, and analyze aggregated data of the relevant health information such as mortality and morbidity, and transform it into weekly narrative text, maps, and graphics to describe the distribution spatio-temporal of major epidemic prone public health hazards and inform effective targeting of responses.
• Deliverable 1.3: Perform data analysis and visualization incident databases to specific information requests by the functional supervisor, technical teams, as well as ad hoc requests by Senior Management for information sharing and guide national response actions. Produce situational reports and bulletins to be disseminate as feedbacks to the frontline emergency response teams

Output 2: Manage COVID‐19 and other epidemic-prone or notifiable diseases database

• Deliverable 2.1: Support in data management and analysis of all‐cause mortality under supervision of WHE lead.
• Deliverable 2.2: Support WHE team to manage data flows, storage, and management systems and ensure their operations, identify gaps in information management, and recommend corrective actions.
• Deliverable 2.3: Responsible for uploading weekly aggregated data submitted by all PHAs and liaising with Regional Office colleagues by providing regular updates on national trends on COVIOD-19 and disease of epidemic and pandemic potential
• Deliverable 2.4: Support WHO Country Office of Papua New Guinea (WCO PNG) to conduct daily event‐based surveillance using media signal and EIOS and report to WCO IMT for information sharing and response actions.
• Deliverable 2.5: Participate to the WCO IMT meeting, and support in preparing situation analysis, tracking of national/subnational preparedness/response plans and boarder measures, and participate in response activities as required by WCO incident manager.
• Deliverable 2.6: Perform any other incident‐specific related duties, as required by the functional supervisor.

Other Deliverables:

• Progress report (monthly); and

• End of Mission Technical Report at the end of consultancy.

5. Technical Supervision

The selected Consultant will work under the supervision of:

Dr. Joaquim H Da Silva, WHE Team Lead; email: dasilvaj@who.int

Dr. Sevil Huseynova, WR WHO-PNG; email: huseynovas@who.int

6. Specific Requirements

Qualifications required:

Essential

First university degree in public health, health science, information or data management, statistics,

business or public administration or other social sciences from an accredited/recognized institute.

Desirable

Advanced university degree in public health, qualitative surveillance or statistics, business or public

administration. Specialized training in epidemiology, health management, or humanitarian interventions.

Experience required:

• At least 10 years relevant experience, combined at the national or international levels, in data and/or information management.

Experience desired:

• Previous experience with WHO or other UN agencies
• Previous international experience
• Experience in areas in developing countries
• Previous experience working in collaboration with multiple actors in public health surveillance.

Skills / Technical skills and knowledge:

• Database management/statistical analysis; public health information management
• Good computer skills
• Excellent communication skills
• Excellent analytical, planning, and organizational skills
• Ability to work in a team with limited supervision
• Ability to work under pressure

Language requirements:

• Proficient in written and spoken English.

7. Competencies

• Building and promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond
• Moving forward in a changing environment
• Fostering Integration and teamwork
• Communication in a credible and effective way

8. Place of assignment

The consultant will be based in the WCO PNG

Consultant may be required to travel locally to meet with MOH and other stakeholders.

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.
• The purpose of this vacancy is to develop a list of qualified candidates for inclusion in this advertised roster. All applicants will be notified in writing of the outcome of their application (whether successful or unsuccessful) upon conclusion of the selection process. Successful candidates will be placed on the roster and subsequently may be selected for consultancy assignments falling in this area of work or for similar requirements/tasks/deliverables. Inclusion in the Roster does not guarantee selection to a consultant contract. There is no commitment on either side.