Consultant - EPR Flagship Coodinator (multiple locations)

1. Background

   1. Organizational & Project Context

WHO has specific responsibilities and accountabilities for health emergency operations under the International Health Regulations (2005) and the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC), and as mandated in the WHO Thirteenth General Programme of Work 2019–2023 (GPW13).1 WHO's strategic priorities are to: build and sustain resilient national, regional and global capacities required to keep the world safe from epidemics and other health emergencies ;ensure that populations affected by acute and protracted crises have rapid access to essential life-saving health services, including health promotion and disease prevention.

WHO AFRO, in early 2022, launched three flagship to strengthen health emergency preparedness and response (EPR) in the African region:

▪ Promoting Resilience of Systems for Emergencies (PROSE),

▪ Transforming African Surveillance Systems (TASS), and

▪ Strengthening and Utilizing Response Groups for Emergencies (SURGE).

1. The purpose

The EPR flagship initiatives aim to improve all Member States' capacity to prepare, detect and respond rapidly and effectively during emergencies.

1. PROSE will focus on preparedness: to ensure that all Member States have Resilient Health Systems (RHS) to prevent, predict, timely detect, and promptly and effectively respond to all public health emergencies (PHEs) due to all hazards
2. TASS will focus on detection: to reinvigorate stronger, integrated surveillance systems across Africa, enabling quicker detection and action to prevent or respond to outbreaks.
3. SURGE will focus on response: to ensure that each African country is equipped to mobilize resources and respond to public health emergencies within the first 24 to 48 hours.

The PROSE flagship will: support the member states to address gaps in IHR capacities and strengthen countries’ capacity to (1) anticipate risks, (2) plan for contingencies, and (3) prepare human and financial resources in response to known and novel threats and ensure that IHR core capacities are in place in the MEMBER States

The TASS flagship will: support the Member States in the region to strengthen surveillance and laboratory systems through scaling up IDSR implementation, including building laboratory capacity; modernizing data acquisition, analytics, and dissemination; securing a sufficient well-trained workforce; and enhancing advocacy and policy dialogue for sustainable and predictable financing for IDSR. TASS will leverage IDSR to attain the slogan "better data, better analytics and better decisions."

The SURGE flagship will: establish national-level cadres of trained local multidisciplinary human resources; put in place systems to improve readiness and response coordination capacities; and strengthen existing infrastructure for rapid and effective emergency response at the regional, national and sub-national levels, leveraging on existing structures and repurpose polio assets. Set of local human resources adequately equipped to quickly and holistically respond to a wide range of hazards that create health emergencies, including humanitarian disasters, disease outbreaks and conflicts.

2. Deliverables

   At the country level, the incumbent will have the overall responsibility to support the coordination of, plan, manage, adapt and follow up on the implementation of strategies of the EPR flagship initiatives. He/she will manage the operation and technical components under the supervision and guidance of the EPR Team lead as a first-level supervisor and WHO country representative as a second-level supervisor. He/she will be responsible for the following task:

• Oversee daily management of the initiative, fund utilization and progress reporting requirements.
• Support MoH to mobilize resources.
• Follow up on the finalization of the roadmap and signing of the MoU.
• Establish a strong leadership team at Member state level and WHO level for the implementation of the National Action Plan for Health Security including the application of the relevant IHR tools.
• Ensure the Member state is able to implement the PROSE package of core interventions in a structured manner as guided by the PROSE/EMP acceleration plan.
• Support the establishment of the multisectoral coordination mechanism that will be responsible for IHR coordination acceleration of the attainment of the IHR core capacities
• Support the Monitoring, Evaluation of the PROSE activites and preparation of the quarterly reports on progress to be submitted to the EMP team lead.
• Ensure that the MOH teams are implementing the IHR-MEF.
• Map existing HR capacities, including emergency medical teams and rapid response teams, taking into account the nature of the emergency & identify gaps (mapping tool, data collection & feedback to stakeholders).
• Coordinate with the government focal point to profile, identify and quantify national. experts for AVoHC-SURGE personnel within the relevant government sectors.
• Provide the generic job description for each AVoHC-SURGE profile to launch internal calls for the expression of interest for all AVoHC-SURGE team positions.
• Support the government focal point to establish a selection committee and criteria to shortlist potential AVoHC-SURGE personnel from the application pool, support the conduct of interviews, and generate and disseminate appointment letters.
• Support capacity building of the identified national experts by updating/developing/training and pre-deployment and deployment briefing materials, tools, SOPs, guidelines etc.
• Coordinate with the AFRO team for the implementation of the training.
• Ensure details of national experts are entered into the online data platform to establish the national emergency workforce roster.
• In collaboration with MoH's flagship focal point, support the coordination and monitoring of activities for establishing and enhancing the PHEOC functionality outlined in the road map and report on progress.
• In collaboration with MoH flagship focal point, support and monitor functionality of OSL system for emergencies in the country as outlined in the 2022-2023 road map.
• In collaboration with MoH flagship focal point support, monitor and coordinate activities for establishing and enhancing RCCE activities for emergencies as outlined in the 2022-2023 road map.
• Working with the WCO surveillance team, support the Ministry of Health to prioritize and develop a costed TASS/ IDSR acceleration plan.
• In collaboration with the WCO surveillance team, support the implementation of the country TASS/IDSR Acceleration plan.
• Support the WCO surveillance team to monitor TASS KPIs and IDSR performance indicators.
• Participate in TASS/IDSR policy dialogue and advocacy activities.
• Support the preparation of TASS/IDSR quarterly reports based on the template provided and any other required documentation.
• Accomplish any other duty assigned by the supervisors.

Expected deliverables

• Comprehensive list of selected AVoHC-SURGE personnel for the database.
• Updated JD, ToRs and selection criteria for identified profiles based on national needs.
• Report on the training of AVoHC-SURGE members.

• Bi-weekly progress report submitted to EPR lead, WR and AFRO team.

  3. Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

  4. Educational Qualifications

• Essential

• A university degree in medicine, public health, management, business administration, or in a similar area related to the functions of the position from an accredited and recognized institution.

• Desirable

• Specialized training in emergency management.

• specific training in project management and related strategy development with WHO and/or UN agencies, and experience working in relevant non-governmental organizations.

2. Experience

• At least 7 years of related experience in emergency management and operations, with proven experience in emergency response.
• Substantial experience at national and international levels in leadership positions, capacity building and implementation.
• Experience in developing and promoting collaborative partnerships and experience working in developing countries.
• Substantive experience in effective human resource management.

3. Competencies

• Building and promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond
• Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences;
• Effective Communication following the appropriate communication channels;
• Ensuring the effective use of resources
• Creating and empowering a motivational environment
• Promoting WHO's position in health leadership
• Teamwork

4. Languages and level required

• Excellent knowledge of English or French or Portuguese.

• Working knowledge of another WHO official language would be an asset.

  4. Technical Supervision
  • First Level Supervisor: WCO EPR Team Lead

• Second level supervisor: WR in assigned country

  5. Location

  On site: Multiple duty station

  6. Travel - If travel is involved, full medical clearance is required

  A living expense is payable to on-site consultants as per WHO rules.

  7. Remuneration and budget (travel costs excluded)

  Rate [daily or monthly or for language and publishing services by word count or number of pages]: Band level B

Currency: The remuneration is between USD 8,490 and USD 9,980 per month