Consultant on Strengthening the health system for non-communicable diseases in WHO EURO

-1. Purpose of the Position

Over the past 20 years, NCDs have changed the world, become the leading cause of death in most countries, resulting in 200 million premature deaths among women and men aged between 30 and 70, the majority living in developing countries. Most deaths could have been avoided or delayed. Prior to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, NCDs were inflicting the single greatest loss in cumulative economic output in history, becoming one of the greatest challenges to development in the twenty-first century. The WHO Global Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of NCDs 2013-2020 (WHA64.11) set a global target of a 25% relative reduction in premature mortality from NCDs by 2025 with additional targets to address shared NCD behavioural risk factors and access to NCD care.

The World Health Organization (WHO) leads in supporting countries to respond to the challenges of sustainably strengthening their health systems, to achieve universal health coverage and to adapt to the growing burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). The European Union (EU) supports WHO by promoting the aid effectiveness agenda and advancing the 2030 Agenda to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). EU and WHO jointly agreed to work towards a more integrated approach aimed at strengthening national health systems and supporting countries to reach universal health coverage. Over the period 2019-2022, the ‘Health Systems Strengthening for Universal Health Coverage’ Partnership (HSS for UHC) aims to address and strengthen key health systems components with a particular focus on non-communicable diseases and health security at national and regional levels.

The purpose of the consultancy is to support EURO countries to accelerate HSS for UHC with impact on NCDs by assisting with the coordination and planning of the following activities:

• Facilitate discussion between WHO HQ, Regional and Country Office and Ministry of Health counterparts to plan country activities under the UHC Partnership on delivery of integrated NCD Services through strengthening of health systems. • To ensure efficient communication between HSS and NCD programmes and integration of NCD aspects in HSS programmes. • Assist EURO countries in the analysis of mainstreaming NCD into HSS for UHC policies, strategies, tools and implementation of activities. • Assist Ministries of Health to develop policies, strategies, programmes and tools for NCD mainstreaming of HSS for UHC.

2. Organizational context

Work environment: Within the Division of Country Health Programmes (CHP) and under the managerial oversight of the NCD regional advisor, the incumbent works in close collaboration with members of the NCD management team and other programmes within the CHP Division, other relevant divisions and Units in WHO/EURO, WHO Headquarters and WHO Country Offices working on NCD prevention and control. WHO/EURO prioritizes team-work, the composition of which may vary in line with the requests made by the Member States and in relation to the specific areas of work and projects identified.

Role of the Individual

The consultant will provide support EURO countries to accelerate HSS for UHC with impact on NCDs. S/he is part of the larger team of the CHP Division. The incumbent will raise awareness of the improvement, development and evaluation of human rights and gender equality perspective in all aspects of the work.

Guidelines

Available guidelines for work include the Global Strategy and Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases, the Action Plan for the implementation of the European Regional Strategy for the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases 2016–2025, the United Nations Political Declaration on NCDs and Development; the Global Monitoring Framework, Alma-Ata and Astana Declarations, WHO/Europe’s Country Strategy; Biennial Collaborative Agreements with Countries, national goals and priorities of Governments, UN and other relevant partners; WHO Staff Rules and Regulations, WHO Manual, General Programme of Work, European Program of Work 2020-2025, Programme Budget, and other WHO Basic documents, WHA and RC resolutions and technical documents related to Noncommunicable Diseases, related Regional Committee Resolutions, as well as relevant World Health Assembly Resolutions, the SDGs and relevant agreements to which WHO provides support, with a special focus on those directly applicable to NCDs.

3. Description of duties

• Output 1: Facilitate discussion between WHO HQ, Regional and Country Office and Ministry of Health counterparts to plan country package of priority interventions under the UHC Partnership on delivery of integrated NCD Services through strengthening of health systems. Deliverable 1.1: Organize quarterly meetings between HQ and Regional office to strengthen dialogue on HSS for UHC focused on NCD. Deliverable 1.2: Organize bimonthly meetings between IST, Country Office and Ministry of Health counterparts to plan country activities, bringing together NCD and Health Systems focal points. Deliverable 1.3: Maintain a country support dashboard and track implementation progress. Deliverable 1.4: Contribute to regular reporting mechanisms under the UHC Partnership and as requested by HQ/RO/CO.

• Output 2: Facilitate the coordination across the two divisions to ensure coordination between HSS and NCDs Deliverable 2.1: Organize bimonthly meetings between HSS/Almaty office and NCD to strengthen collaboration in implementation of activities, bringing together NCD and Health Systems focal points. Deliverable 2.2: Contribute to regular reporting mechanisms under the UHC Partnership and as requested by HQ/RO/CO.

• Output 3: Assist EURO countries in analysis of mainstreaming NCD into HSS for UHC policies, strategies, tools, implementation of activities. Deliverable 3.1 Researching and collecting national HSS policies, strategies, tools, implementation of activities and other documents on NCD related activities. Deliverable 3.2 Extracting country data and information related to NCDs mainstreaming into UHC on Health workforce, service delivery systems, health governance, Health information system, financial management systems, governance and strategic planning, access to medicines, vaccines and health products to feed into a health systems performance assessment. Deliverable 3.3 Draft NCD landscape reports based on compiled information to summarize the national context of NCD service delivery through a health systems approach.

4. Recruitment Profile

Functional Knowledge and Skills

Essential Excellent oral and written communication skills. Strong writing skills: ability to communicate clearly and effectively. Strong analytical skills, coordination and leadership capacities Strong attention to detail. Self-motivated and comfortable working in a small, collaborative team environment. Extensive knowledge of standard Microsoft Package (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).

Education Qualifications

Essential University degree (Bachelor’s level) in social, or economic sciences, medicine, public health or related areas relevant to the post. Desirable Master’s degree is desirable in social, or economic sciences, medicine, public health or related areas relevant to the post.

Experience

Essential Minimum 5 year’s hands on working experience on Health System Strengthening and Policy development in the area of Noncommunicable diseases. Experience in coordinating different stakeholders including government and civil society, moderating high level meetings, and drafting reports and/or consensus papers Desirable Public health specialist, research, project management or a related field is desirable.

Languages

Essential Proficiency in English required. Desirable Russian is an asset.

5. Contract duration

8 months

6. Location

Consultancy to be remotely based.

7. Travel

The Consultant will not be expected to travel.

8. Remuneration

Remuneration is based on classified requirements of the terms of reference of the individual consultant contract with related academic and professional experience applied to the band level in accordance with WHO’s consultant’s pay band ranges.

9. Work schedule

8 months - 100%

10. 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'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.