Consultant: Laboratory, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
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Purpose of the Consultancy
This consultancy will support the WHO Cambodia Health Emergencies Team lead to leverage the gains made during COVID-19 and continue to strengthen laboratory preparedness and response for pandemics and the public health laboratory system in line with National priorities.
Background
The mission of the WHO Health Emergencies Programme (WHE) is to build the capacity of Member States to manage health emergency risks when national capacities are overwhelmed, to lead and coordinate the international health response to contain outbreaks, and to provide effective relief and recovery to affected populations. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Cambodia continued to strengthen preparedness whilst simultaneously responding to the pandemic. This two-tiered approach is aligned with the Asia Pacific Strategy for Emerging Diseases and Public Health Emergencies (APSED III), which is the common strategic framework in WPR to guide the implementation of the International Health Regulations (2005).
The WHE team in Cambodia works to strengthen the overall capacity of the Ministry of Health for the prevention, detection, and control of emerging diseases and preparedness and response to public health emergencies. There have been many lessons learned over the last three years that are relevant for the sustained management of COVID-19 and preparedness for future public health emergencies. One of these lessons includes the need to maintain the gains made in strengthening the laboratory capacities within the country. Priority laboratory initiatives being implemented by MOH, which need technical support from WHO in 2024, include the development of plans and strategies and the ccontinued strengthening of the public health laboratory system to support surveillance and outbreaks.
Deliverables
Under the guidance and supervision of the WHE Team Lead, and working closely with the Technical Officer and epidemiology, the consultant will support MOH on WHE technical functions on the public health laboratory. The consultant will be responsible for delivering the following:
Output 1: Provide technical guidance and coordinate efforts to support MOH to develop policies and plans to strengthen national laboratory capacity
Deliverable 1.1: Facilitate the update of the existing National Laboratory Policy to be aligned with the National Strategic Plan. Deliverable 1.2: Provide technical assistance and coordinate efforts with MOH to establish a national public health laboratory network. Deliverable 1.3: Establish a genomic surveillance working group and initiate development of genomic surveillance plan with respiratory pathogens as an entry point to establishing a coordinated system
Output 2: Provide technical support to MOH to review and strengthen the national laboratory system
Deliverable 2.1: Facilitate the self-evaluation and development of slides of the national laboratory system Joint External Evaluation indicators Deliverable 2.2: Facilitate the development and delivery of laboratory risk assessment training for biosafety and biosecurity
Qualifications, experience, skills and languages
Educational Qualifications:
Essential: University degree from a recognized university in laboratory medical sciences, Biomedical Science, Medical Microbiology or other public health related field with Laboratory training. Desirable: Master's degree in laboratory or medical sciences.
Experience
Essential: Minimum five years’ professional experience in infectious disease surveillance, public health, and Laboratory medical sciences. Experience in laboratory systems, infectious disease diagnostics and responding to infectious disease outbreaks and public health emergencies is required. Desirable: Experience working with WHO or other UN organization and/or with a Ministry of Health will be an asset.
Skills / Technical skills and knowledge
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills and sensitivity to political and cultural issues Proven ability to work in multisectoral teams at the international level Proven ability to organize, deliver activities and meet deadlines Strong coordination skills especially with operational partners
Language requirements
Written and spoken fluency in English is essential.
Location
Off site: Home-based
Travel
The Consultant is expected to travel within Cambodia to conduct laboratory risk assessment training as part of the deliverables.
Remuneration and budget
Remuneration: TBD Expected duration of contract: 6 months Part-time at 50%
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. • 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: (i) 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 the link for detailed guidance on completing job applications: Instructions for candidates.