Emergency Medical Team (EMT) Consultant – Training & Technical Support Coordination

1. Purpose of the Consultancy

To provide training and technical support to the Emergency Medical Teams (EMT) initiative in the Western Pacific Region (WPR), including planning, training, monitoring and evaluation, and facilitation of technical support to EMTs in the Region.

2. Background

The Western Pacific frequently faces outbreaks and disasters. Health threats are inevitable, and the complexity and scale of these events may increase in the future as a result of the complex interaction of a number of factors, such as demographic shifts, climate change, technological developments and economic uncertainty. Addressing these challenges requires continued investment in preparedness and readiness before and between events. Member States, WHO and partners have been working together to strengthen country and regional capacities for all-hazards emergency preparedness and response, including through implementation of the Asia Pacific Strategy for Emerging Diseases and Public Health Emergencies (APSED III), and the Western Pacific Regional Framework for Action for Disaster Risk Management for Health (DRM-H Framework).

The mission of WHO Health Emergencies Program (WHE) is to build the capacity of Member States to manage emergency risks, and when national capacities are overwhelmed, to lead and coordinate the international health response to provide effective relief and recovery to affected populations. WHE brings together and enhances WHO's operational, technical and normative capacity in emergencies and to address all health hazards across the risk management cycle in a predictable, capable, dependable, adaptable and accountable manner. It is designed to operate within the broader humanitarian and emergency management architecture in support of people at risk of, or affected by, outbreaks and emergencies, and to ensure that such efforts strengthen local and national capabilities.

A core function of WHE is operational readiness for emergency response. This includes having leadership and coordination structures established, information products developed, technical guidance and templates available, stocks of supplies and logistic capacities in place, staff identified and trained for deployment, and strong national and international EMTs in place. National and international EMTs represent an important national capacity to respond to emergencies within a country’s borders, as well as an integral part of the global health emergency workforce, ensuring uninterrupted life-saving healthcare is provided to patients affected by a disaster, outbreak or other types of emergency.

In the Western Pacific Region, WHO provides technical and operational support for both national and international EMT development; as well as for requesting, accepting, receiving and coordinating international EMTs, when required.

This 11-month consultancy will support national and international EMT development in the Western Pacific Region through planning, coordination, remote and on-site training, mentoring, monitoring and evaluation, and provision of tailored technical support to Ministries of Health, NGOs and other partners developing, operating and continuously improving EMTs. This consultancy will have a particular focus on supporting the development of national EMTs in the Pacific, but the selected consultant may also support EMT development and coordination in other parts of the Western Pacific Region.

3. Work to be performed

The consultant will support the following outputs:

• Output 1: EMT Training Planning, Content Development & Delivery

  • Deliverable 1: Continuously update and improve EMT orientation and training materials including documenting learning outcomes and developing faculty/mentor guidance materials and training content - including slide decks, activity guides, pre-/post-tests and reference materials. Training packages must be developed alongside WPR Ministries of Health and EMTs through a consultative process and be adaptable to different contexts.
  • Deliverable 2: Coordinate scheduling, planning and delivery of EMT orientation workshops and trainings in countries within the Western Pacific Region. The consultant is expected to coordinate and deliver at approximately 10 EMT training workshops over the course of the consultancy.
  • Deliverable 3: Contribute to regional and/or global EMT trainings and meetings, as required.

• Output 2: Remote and On-Site Technical Support to EMTs in the Western Pacific Region

  • Deliverable 4: Along with other EMT Mentors, support EMTs in the WPR in developing, documenting and continuously improving Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and associated tools/reference materials.
  • Deliverable 5: With other EMT mentors, provide technical and operational advice and support to national/organizational EMT focal points across the Region.
  • Deliverable 6: Support EMT verification, classification and/or national EMT quality assurance through on-site and report mentoring of EMTs. This may also involve participating in EMT mentor training.
• Output 3: Monitoring, Evaluation & Reporting
  • Deliverable 7: Maintain and regularly update the WPR EMT Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) Framework, including tracking progress against key indicators and benchmarks.
  • Deliverable 8: Maintain and organize records of EMT development progress, trainings, and relevant documents, and maintain them in a shared online format that can be easily understood by a diverse audience.
  • Deliverable 9: Draft, edit and review reports on the EMT initiative, including internal reports and donor reports.
  • Deliverable 10: Contribute to the development of operational research by and about EMTs in the WPR, supporting development of operational research studies, development of abstracts/manuscripts and supporting EMT counterparts to expand research and publication on EMT development, deployment and continuous improvement.
• Output 4: Emergency Response Coordination
  • Deliverable 11: In the event of a large-scale international EMT activation, the consultant must be available to support the set-up and operation of an Emergency Medical Team Coordination Cell (EMTCC) within national emergency response structures in the affected country.

4. Method(s) to carry out the activity

Work will consist of desk research and preparation, EMT training content development and documentation, training/workshop planning and facilitation, planning and facilitating meeting with key stakeholders (including EMT focal points), writing/reviewing/editing plans and supporting documents, activity monitoring and reporting, and facilitating exercises/drills. This will include substantial travel to countries across the Western Pacific Region to serve as EMT training faculty and as a mentor for EMTs – including supporting EMT pre-verification and verification exercises, where applicable.

5. Qualification & Experience

EDUCATION

Essential:

A medical degree or master’s degree in public health, medicine, nursing or allied health, or in a discipline related to disaster prevention, emergency management or emergency training from a recognized university.

Desirable:

Specialised training/certification in emergency response, and/or rapid response training such as formal EMT training, EMT mentor training, UNDAC or INSARAG training/certification.

EXPERIENCE

Essential:

At least 7 years’ relevant professional experience at national and international level. Prior experience working with Emergency Medical Teams is required. Candidates who have never worked with a formal EMT should not apply for this consultancy.

Must have demonstrated experience in developing and delivering training workshops for emergency management and/or health emergency response, and in project management.

Desirable:

Experience or good understanding of the IASC/UN emergency response system, WHO, ICRC, IFRC, MSF or national emergency response systems. Experience working in national health or emergency management systems. Experience in capacity strengthening of national and international rapid response teams/EMTs. Demonstrable progressive responsibilities in managing or coordinating programmes or projects. Experience in training and/or mentoring formal Emergency Medical Teams in the Western Pacific is highly desirable.

TECHNICAL SKILLS & KNOWLEDGE

• Excellent communication skills and proven professional writing skills in English. Writing of proposals and reports should be to a level that requires little to no copyediting.
• Capacity to collaborate and coordinate across multiple agencies, countries and teams.
• Demonstrated ability to work in multi-cultural and multi-disciplinary environments.
• Strong organizational skills, including managing shared calendars, file management, version contral and project management.
• Strong presentation and public speaking skills.

LANGUAGES

Excellent written and spoken communication skills in English required. Knowledge of additional languages used in the Western Pacific Region desirable.

COMPETENCIES

Technical expertise

Overall attitude at work

Teamwork

Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences

Communication

Creating an empowering and motivating environment

6. Place of assignment

This position may be based in Manila, Philippines; Suva, Fiji; or may be remote. If based remotely, the consultant is expected to be available during Western Pacific Region working hours (i.e., Manila or Suva).

7. Travel

• This consultancy will require extensive travel within the Western Pacific Region to deliver training workshops, to provide on-site mentoring support to EMTs, and to participate in meetings, workshops and simulation exercises. Occasional travel outside of the Region for meetings or trainings may also be required. Medical fitness for work and travel must be demonstrated.
• 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.

• 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.