Consultant - Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) Manila, Philippines (Home Based)

PURPOSE OF THIS CONSULTANCY

The general purpose of this consultancy is to support the WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific in assisting Member States to strengthen their legal frameworks relating to noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) towards achieving health in the Sustainable Development Goals. The consultant will support the Health Law and Ethics Unit and technical programmes within the Division of Healthy Environments and Populations in providing technical support to countries, focusing particularly on Pacific Island Countries, to develop and implement legal and regulatory measures to address NCD risk factors, including tobacco use, alcohol consumption, unhealthy diet, and physical inactivity.

BACKGROUND

The Western Pacific Regional Action Agenda on Strengthening Legal Frameworks for Health in the Sustainable Development was endorsed by Member States at the 69th session of the Regional Committee for the Western Pacific (RC69) in October 2020. The action agenda provides guidance to WHO and countries on prioritising action areas, improving processes, and enhancing capacities of stakeholders. A key element of the agenda is actions to better implement laws, including through improving the design of laws, proactively planning and managing implementation, understanding the role of social norms and forces, and building the capacity of actors involved, including decision-makers and regulators. Support for countries on the strengthening of legal frameworks for health is a key priority for the HLE unit.

NCDs and ageing are one of four thematic priorities of the For the Future strategic vision of the WHO Western Pacific Region. To strengthen the NCD agenda, intensified efforts are needed to address three main areas of work: 1) surveillance/data, 2) prevention/upstream, and 3) NCD management. Global and regional action plans and strategies identify a number of upstream interventions, including legal and regulatory measures, to address NCD risk factors and reduce the overall burden of NCDs. For these interventions to be effective and have an impact on health outcomes, they need to be prioritised, developed and implemented at a country level. Implementation of legal measures to address NCD risk factors is often limited, due to a range of factors including limited resources, weak regulatory capacity, and laws that are not response to local context. To assist countries to implement interventions and overcome challenges associated with them, it is important to ensure provision of appropriate and sustainable support in strengthening their legal and regulatory capacities in NCD prevention and control.

PLANNED TIMELINES (subject to confirmation)

Start Date: 16 September 2021

End Date: 31 December 2021

ACTIVITIES AND OUTPUTS

Under the supervision of the Health Law and Ethics Unit and in collaboration with relevant colleagues in the Division of Healthy Environment and Populations, the consultant will perform the following:

Output 1: Develop technical guidance on strengthening implementation of legal measures to address NCD risk factors.

Deliverable 1.1: Develop content for an online Health Law Tool outlining fundamental aspects of compliance and enforcement, as relevant to health, and considerations for designing and implementing regulatory interventions.

Deliverable 1.2: Develop technical guidance and other material son applying a public health approach to compliance and enforcement of legal measure to address NCD risk factors.

Deliverable 1.3: Map compliance and enforcement models for NCD risk factors in the region to document effective practices of strengthening implementation and inform further technical support and guidance.

Output 2: Provide technical support to Member States on implementing legal measures to address NCD risk factors

Deliverable 2.1: Provide technical support to countries on the development and implementation of legal and regulatory measures to address NCD risk factors.

Deliverable 2.2: Work with WHO Collaborating Centres and other partners to build legal and regulatory capacity for NCDs in the region.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

Education

Essential

### Desirable

### Postgraduate degree in law or other related areas.

### Postgraduate degree in health law, public health, or equivalent training or experience.

### Experience

Essential

### Desirable

### Minimum seven years of experience in health laws related to NCD prevention and control.

• ### Experience in legal and regulatory work on NCD risk factor areas, preferably in the country and international setting.
  • ### Experience in legal or regulatory strengthening at a country level, preferably in developing setting.
  • ### Experience in research, academia, civil society, or government employment.
  • ### Experience working in health law and policy across diverse countries and legal systems.

Technical Skills and Knowledge

• ### Knowledge in NCD prevention and control, including legal and regulatory measures to address NCD risk factors.
• ### Ability to communicate effectively to mobilize support for NCDs and law across a diverse group of stakeholders.
• ### Ability to coordinate with external partners as well as work harmoniously as a member of a team, adapt to diverse educational and cultural backgrounds and maintain a high standard of personal conduct.
• ### (Desirable) Access to an established network of health law experts and resources, including relevant WHO Collaborating Centres

Languages

Written and spoken fluency in English is essential.

TRAVEL

No travel required.

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.
• 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 - https://www.who.int/about/who-we-are/our-values
• 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.