Consultant - ICU/Critical care and clinical management

Contract

This is a No grade contract. More about No grade contracts.

Purpose of the consultancy

This consultancy is to provide technical support to enhance the regional ICU/Critical care and clinical management capacity in managing the critically ill patients with COVID-19. Identified consultant is to support WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean (WHO EMRO) in transition from a surge response to building a longer-term program for ICU/critical care in priority countries in the region. The consultant is expected to coordinate the implementation of clinical management related programs, provide technical support, conduct trainings as needed, engage in clinical management related research, support optimal procurement of ICU supplies/equipment, and establish a robust regional network of critical care and clinical management for all the 22 countries of the Eastern Mediterranean Region.

Background

The Eastern Mediterranean Region; and its 22 countries continue to be the hotspot for emerging and re-emerging diseases including infectious disease outbreaks, which have a significant impact on health and economic development in the Region. Caring for critically ill patients is challenging in resource-limited settings in the region, where the burden of disease and mortality from potentially treatable illnesses is higher than in resource-rich areas. Since early 2020, COVID-19 has pressed the immediate need for action on this issue. With a quick spread of this newly emerged virus globally, providing adequate treatment to severe/critical patients with COVID-19 has become a serious problem to many countries, and challenges of higher mortality and insufficient treatment in resource-limited settings still continue. Barriers to delivering quality critical care in these settings include lack of epidemiologic data and context-specific evidence for medical decision-making, deficiencies in health systems and resources, and institutional obstacles to implementation of life-saving interventions. WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean (WHO EMRO) aims to create a regional organization framework; development of intensive care educational programs for capacity building of health care professionals working in resource-limited settings; regional prioritization of epidemiologic and clinical research in resource-limited settings to conduct timely and ethical studies in response to emerging threats; adaptation of international guidelines to promote implementation of evidence-based care; and strengthening of health systems that integrates these interventions.

Planned timelines

Start date: 01/11/2021

End date: 30/04/2022

Work to be performed

OUTPUT 1: Surge deployment to resource-limited countries for ICU/critical care and clinical management support and capacity building in national healthcare workers in the Eastern Mediterranean region

Deliverable 1.1: Short-term deployment as ICU/critical care expert for supporting healthcare professionals caring for critically ill patients in resource limited settings

Deliverable 1.2: Support designing a longer-term ICU/critical care training program for resource limited settings

Deliverable 1.3: Support capacity building in resource-limited settings to prepare and respond to treatment of critically ill patients, including delivery of trainings

OUTPUT 2: A comprehensive report describing the need and gaps of enhancing national capacities for ICU/critical care and clinical management in resource limited countries in the region

Deliverables 2.1: Prepare a comprehensive report of the findings of the ICU/critical care capacities and operations in deployed countries. The report will be used by EMRO as well as by MSs to identify the gaps related to response capacities and will support information based capacity building plans

Deliverable 2.2: Develop a scientific manuscript to be published

OUTPUT 3: Support WHO’s research in analyzing clinical and oxygen data and developing strategies for clinical preparedness in treating critically ill patients in resource-limited settings

Deliverable 3.1: Support EMRO in collecting clinical and oxygen data and analyze the collected data in the region

Deliverable 3.2: Support EMRO in developing clinical management and oxygen scale up strategies based on the findings from research data

Required Qualifications

Education:

Essential: Advanced university degree (Master’s level or above) in the Medicine

Desirable: Qualification in specialised medicine (critical care, pulmonary medicine, infectious disease, emergency medicine or other relevant areas), training and education, and/or other related area

Experience****:

Essential: At least seven years’ clinical experience working on the clinical management of respiratory diseases and critically ill patients. The incumbent is expected to advice countries and help design an ICU/critical care program for healthcare professionals.

Desirable: Relevant experience at the international levels, in the case management and clinical care activities/infectious diseases in outbreak, disaster or humanitarian emergency. Working experience with WHO or UN agencies, sound knowledge in research and specialty in infectious diseases or respiratory diseases is an asset.

Skills/ Technical knowledge

1) Proven understanding of the management of acute and urgent public health responses, including infectious disease outbreaks

2) Experience in outbreak response

3) Experience in clinical management, building capacity, training and deployment for ICU/critical care

Language

Essential: Expert knowledge of English. Expert knowledge of Arabic.

Location:

EMRO office in Cairo, Egypt. This consultancy will need to travel countries in EMR, upon request.

Medical clearance : The selected Consultant will be expected to provide a medical certificate of fitness for work.

Travel (If travel is involved, a medical certificate of fitness for work will be required.) 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 section

• 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.
• Remuneration is in line with WHO consultant established rates
• Successful candidates will be included in the roster for consideration for future contractual engagement via a consultancy, as they become available. Inclusion in the roster does not guarantee any future contractual relationship with WHO
• 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's workforce adheres to the WHO Values Charter and is committed to put the WHO Values into practice.
• 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.
• Interested candidates are strongly encouraged to apply on-line through Stellis. For assessment of your application, please ensure that: (a) Your profile on Stellis is properly completed and updated; (b) All required details regarding your qualifications, education and training are provided; (c) Your experience records are entered with elaboration on tasks performed at the time.