EMT Consultant – Logistics Training, Planning and Technical Support

Purpose of the Consultancy

The purpose of this eight-month consultancy is to provide logistics support to the Emergency Medical Teams (EMT) initiative in the Western Pacific Region (WPR).

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 due to the complex interaction of several factors, such as demographic shifts, impacts of 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 emergencies.

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 eight-month consultancy will support EMT development through provision of tailored technical support to Ministries of Health and partners developing, operating and continuously improving EMTs. This consultancy will have a particular focus on supporting the development of national EMTs in the Pacific, however the selected consultant is expected to support EMT development and coordination across the Western Pacific Region.

Planned timelines (subject to confirmation)

Start date: 1 August 2023 End date: 31 March 2024 Total: 8 months, full-time

Work to be performed

The consultant will support the following outputs in support of Pacific EMT development:

Output 1: Pacific EMT Logistics Training and Development

Deliverable 1: Update operations support, logistics and water/sanitation/hygiene (WASH) components of the Western Pacific Region EMT member training package By 31 December 2023, update and strengthen training and guidance materials on EMT logistics, WASH and equipment maintenance for EMTs, including tailored slide decks to fit country contexts. Update and expand training activity guides and associated reference materials. Facilitate in-person EMT logistics training for least eight EMTs in the Region before the end of this consultancy. Deliverable 2: EMT cache inventory management and readiness. Support 10 EMTs in the Region to undertake and complete quarterly cache warehousing/storage readiness assessments and address critical cache or warehousing deficiencies, including EMT inventory management and deployment readiness. Ensure that quarterly assessments are being consistently done by supported EMTs by the end of this consultancy. Develop equipment maintenance schedules/plans with at least 10 national EMT counterparts and ensure that they are being consistently used by EMTs by the end of this consultancy. Deliverable 3: Contribute to regional and/or global EMT activities including EMT verification visits during the consultancy period. Contribute to planning for EMT verification exercises in the Region and participate as EMT logistics focal point.

Output 2: Strengthening EMT logistics operations in the Region

Deliverable 4: Contribute to the development and updating of EMT Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and associated reference materials, with a focus on logistics training and functions, cache warehousing and maintenance planning with at least 10 EMTs before the end of this consultancy. Deliverable 5: Provide remote and on-site logistics support to at least 10 EMTs, particularly in cache planning, warehousing and inventory management, during this consultancy.

Output 3: Cache procurement/provision

Deliverable 6: Facilitate the procurement of cache for EMTs in the Western Pacific Region, including supplemental or replacement items. In consultation with EMTs and relevant experts, identify priority items for EMT cache procurement and provide technical specifications and minimum requirements in accordance with global EMT standards in support of WHO procurement team members.

Output 4: Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting on EMT initiative

Deliverable 7: Provide regular reports on key achievements and ongoing needs related to logistics support provided in line with the EMT initiative in Region Produce high quality documents and reports on achievements and findings, along with proposed solutions to priority issues. Contribute to internal and external reporting on the EMT initiative in the Region.

Output 5: Emergency Response

Deliverable 8: In the event of a large-scale EMT activation, the consultant may support the establishment and operations an Emergency Medical Team Coordination Cell (EMTCC) within national emergency response structures in the affected country.

Method(s) to carry out the activities

Work will consist of desk research, EMT content and documentation development, training workshop planning and facilitation, and planning, on-site mentoring and facilitating exercises/drills. This will include travel in the Western Pacific Region to serve as EMT training faculty and as a mentor for EMTs in the Region.

Qualifications and Experience

EDUCATION Essential: A first degree (bachelor’s level) in international relations, humanitarian logistics or a closely related field.

Desirable: Specialised training/certification in national/international health emergency response, health emergency logistics, emergency water/sanitation or a related field is desirable.

EXPERIENCE Essential: At least 5 years’ relevant professional experience at national and international level with a focus on health emergency logistics, and experience developing and/or deploying as part of an EMT in a logistics leadership role. Candidates must have demonstrated experience in developing and delivering training for health emergency response, including training for Emergency Medical Teams.

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. 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 writing skills in English. Capacity to collaborate and coordinate across multiple agencies and countries. Ability to work in multi-cultural and multi-disciplinary environments, and with a wide range of stakeholders. Strong organizational skills, including managing shared calendars, file management, version control and project management. Strong data management skills, including expertise in Microsoft Excel and similar programmes. Strong presentation and public speaking skills.

LANGUAGES Excellent written and spoken communication skills in English.

Place of assignment

The consultant is expected to work on site and will be based in Suva, Fiji.

Travel

This consultancy will require extensive travel within the Western Pacific Region. Specific dates and destinations are subject to change based on country/EMT requests and management prioritization of activities.

Provisional Travel dates: From 1 August 2023 to 31 Mar 2024 Location: Cambodia, Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Lao PDR, RMI, FSM, Mongolia, New Zealand, Palau, Philippines, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Vietnam Purpose: To deliver training workshops; to provide on-site mentoring support to EMTs; and to participate in meetings, workshops, simulation and verification exercises.

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.

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 each location/jurisdiction in which the work hereunder is performed, and the Consultant shall not be entitled to any reimbursement thereof by WHO.