Consultant - WHO Biorisk Working Group (BRWG) Secretariat

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Application deadline 2 years ago: Monday 13 Dec 2021 at 22:59 UTC

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Purpose of consultancy

The consultant will provide guidance to the WHO Biorisk Working Group (BRWG) Secretariat in coordinating and overseeing WHO’s work on biorisk in the context of the newly established UN BRWG.

The consultant will also be required to provide guidance to other interagency initiatives related to public health as relevant.

Background

The WHO (BRWG) Secretariat was set up in October 2020 to respond to the needs of the UN-BRWG. Since then, the demand for the support and services of this group has increased substantially; and consequently, project management services are required to efficiently manage their multiple workstreams, stakeholders and activities within WHO and externally as well as project management services required for the implementation and reporting of the WHO BRWG Secretariat for the different projects involved.

Expected outcomes:

Support the management of the WHO BRWG Secretariat in liaison with other UN agencies and member organizations of the UN-BRWG; Prepare first drafts of concept notes, reports, briefings, talking points, meeting notes, presentations and other documents, as required. Provide support in analysis, including intelligence gathering and information sharing on trends, policies and political opportunities;

The COVID-19 pandemic is showcasing the centrality of the (public) health sector as a (co)guarantor of countries’ security. After many years, in September of 2020 the UN decided to create a ‘space’ for collectively managing biorisks within the UN family – the UN Biorisk Working Group (UN-BRWG). The group is co-led by UNODA and WHO; secretariat provided by EOSG.

The UN-BRWG’s activities/deliverables, as identified by UNSG, include:

1.Map biorisk activities and expertise within UN 2.Develop an emergency management framework for UN’s preparedness/response to deliberate biological events 3.Explore the establishment of a staff exchange programme on biorisk among agencies 4.Convene a UN table-top biorisk exercise 5.Develop a strategy for multi-stakeholder engagement

The WHO Biorisk Working Group Secretariat was established with a programmatic and enablement role, and with the aim of fulfilling WHO’s mandate vis-à-vis UN-BRWG as well as facilitating and harmonize WHO’s work on biorisk. The WHO Biorisk Working Group Secretariat is led by EXD/WHE, across relevant divisions/departments and ROs (with representatives/focal points). It is hosted by EXO/WHE.

Deliverables

Activity 1.1. Secretariat support

UN Biorisk Working Group

  • Conduct literature reviews and support statistical and analytic needs for Working Group activity streams, especially WG5;
  • Compile and align reports from the five activity workstreams, especially activity 1, 3 and 5 mentioned above as well as provide the technical editing for the reports;
  • Draft and edit briefings, minute notes, talking points, presentations, advocacy tools and other communication materials.

Group of Friends of Solidarity for Global Health Security

Provide expert support to the Secretariat group (literature reviews, statistics, analysis, drafting of reports, briefings, minuting notes, presentations, advocacy tools etc.)

Activity 2.1: Information Management & Coordination

  • Contribute to building and updating databases of key operational partners both for the WHO Secretariat to the UN-BRWG with the aim of strengthening multi-sectoral dialogue and collaboration;
  • Provide technical support to the WHO Office at the United Nations in monitoring developments in health in emergencies carrying out trend analyses;
  • Provide expert advice to the External Relations Officer in order to strengthen WHO positioning and leadership in global public health, with focus on health in the security sector and in emergencies.

Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Educational Qualifications:

Essential:

A first university degree in public health, international relations or another related field.

Desirable:

An advanced university degree (master level) in one of the above fields.

Experience

Essential:

Minimum of 5 years relevant experience in project management support.

Desirable:

  • Demonstrated experience at the international level
  • Experience in public health project management

Skills/Knowledge:

  • Strong organizational and management skills
  • Strong technical writing skills
  • Capacity to work in a multidisciplinary team and communicate effectively with different target audiences.

Languages required:

Essential:

Expert knowledge of English

Desirable

Working knowledge of another official UN language

Location

Home based – Off-site

Travel

Duty travels may be required

Remuneration and budget (travel costs are excluded):

Remuneration:

Payband level B USD 7,000 – 9,980 depending on the consultant’s educational background and years of experience

Living expenses (A living expense is payable to on-site consultants who are internationally recruited):

N/A

Expected duration of contract:

11 months

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 prides itself on a workforce that adheres to the highest ethical and professional standards and that is committed to put the WHO Values Charter 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 final candidates.
  • 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.
  • Consultants working in Switzerland must register with the applicable Swiss cantonal tax authorities and social security authorities, within the prescribed timeframes (Guidelines issued by the Swiss Mission are available at: https://www.eda.admin.ch/missions/mission-onu-geneve/en/home/manual-regime-privileges-and-immunities/introduction/Manuel-personnes-sans-privileges-et-immunites-carte-H/Non fonctionnaires et stagiaires.html
Added 2 years ago - Updated 2 years ago - Source: who.int