Consultant - support the development of health research prioritization plans

Contract

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

Purpose of the consultancy

The expected outcomes of the consultancy on health research prioritization are:

• Review the publication “A systematic approach for undertaking a research priority-setting exercise. Guidance for WHO staff”, and support its adaptation to Eastern Mediterranean context and national priorities.
• Coordinate an in-house dialogue about the contents of the document, and its suitability for adaptation with EMR member states
• Upon request, support the development of health research prioritization plans for national stakeholders in 2 – 3 Member States, which includes communication and dissemination plans.
• Follow-up requests on translations of the publication “A systematic approach for undertaking a research priority-setting exercise. Guidance for WHO staff” into local languages, especially Arabic, French, Farsi and Urdu (as per available resources).

Background

The Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) is facing unprecedented health challenges, exacerbated by epidemiologic variations, heavy disease burden (communicable, non-communicable, injuries), consequences of contracted emergencies, social conflicts and massive population movements (internally and across borders). Research for health is essential for generating evidence that contributes to health improvements, economic growth and equity.

Health research priority setting is one of the four pillars of WHO’s strategy on research for health, while the other 3 pillars include: standards and governance, capacity building, and translation of evidence to policy and practice. In fact, research prioritization is crucial, as it assists in best utilization of available resources towards issues which maximize the research impact on population health. This is also key given that there is strong evidence of substantial waste in conduct of research.

Research prioritization can be a complex process, with different approaches described in recent literature. Regardless of the variety of approaches followed in such experiences, there are minimum criteria to be considered and followed in setting research priorities, such as public health importance (entuned with national health priorities) and feasibility (technical, fiscal and logistic). Moreover, they should be aware of potential barriers to priority setting and to implementation of the identified priorities.

“A systematic approach for undertaking a research priority-setting exercise. Guidance for WHO staff,” was published during September 2020. To support the roll out of this guidance to WHO staff and Member States in health research prioritization the following activities were proposed: adaptation of the WHO guidance to EMR context, translation of the publication, and responding to specific requests by Member States to plan research prioritization.

Planned timelines

• Start date: 1 November 2020
• End date: 31 December 2020

Work to be performed

Output 1:

• ****Draft manuscript which reflects adaptation of “A systematic approach for undertaking a research priority-setting exercise. Guidance for WHO staff” to the EMR context and national priorities.****

Deliverable 1.1:

• Conduct meetings / webinars convening WHO/EMRO staff (regional and country office level) to discuss the publication: “A systematic approach for undertaking a research priority-setting exercise. Guidance for WHO staff”, and its suitability for EMR implementation

Output 2:

• ****Support the development of health research prioritization plans for national stakeholders in 2 – 3 Member States which includes drafting of reports (research priority-setting process and outcomes) and communication and dissemination plans.****

Deliverable 2.1:

• Draft plans for research priority-setting process and outcomes in 2 – 3 Member States, including communication and dissemination plans to ensure awareness, uptake and implementation of the research priorities.

Output 3:

• ****Support the Validation / verification of the translations of the publication “A systematic approach for undertaking a research priority-setting exercise. Guidance for WHO staff” in Arabic, French, Farsi and Urdu.****

Deliverable 3.1:

• Coordinate / follow up the translation processes
• Identify and communicate with WHO staff or WHO collaborating centres that can verify / validate the translated documents
• Prepare a monitoring and evaluation plan on the dissemination strategy for the translated publication

Required Qualifications

Education:

• University degree in Medicine, Pharmacy or Dentistry. Master’s degree in public health or related sciences is an asset.

Experience:

• At least 5 years’ experience in health sciences, preferably in the field of research and innovation.

  Skills / Technical knowledge

• Health programme planning, implementation, and report-writing

• Communication and advocacy planning

  Language

• Expert in English

  Location

• WHO/EMRO, Cairo, Egypt

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.

Remuneration and budget (travel costs excluded) Remuneration: international consultant (P3 level)

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.
• 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.