Health Coverage/Health Systems Consultant

Purpose of the Consultancy

The main objective of this consultancy is to support the joint initiative Workplan between the WHE/Emergency Operations (EMO) and the Health Systems in Emergencies Lab (HSEL) and technical units at the Department of Universal health Coverage/Health Systems (UHS).

Background

Emergencies and conflicts necessitate a swift and effective humanitarian response to meet immediate human needs; however, response activities should not compromise existing health systems. Humanitarian assistance will be more effective, efficient, and less costly if integrated into local health systems and addresses specific priority health system bottlenecks and missing synergies between UHC and health security. Investing in acute event preparedness capacities, such as epidemics, as part of health system strengthening for UHC has been found to reduce the health impacts of such events. This successful synergy can be achieved by designing, planning, and implementing humanitarian and early recovery interventions cooperatively and in coordination with a broader developmental framework, using the “new way of working” developed under the auspices of the Agenda for Humanity. This way, humanitarian response, building/strengthening preparedness capacities, and health system development all benefit.

In response to these obstacles, various efforts have been made to provide a range of health services organised by several NGOs and relief agencies, with or without recognized/agreed upon UHC-Prioirty Benefit Package (UHC-PBP). However, UHC-PBP is not a panacea for underperforming, fragmented systems, and its implementation has to be tailored to the local situation. Additionally, such initiatives often require a shift from reactive to more sustainable, long-term health services.

To assist health systems in responding to emergencies and humanitarian crises, improve the efficacy and efficiency of response services, prevent causing damage to existing health systems, and help early recovery and resilience building, the Health Systems in Emergencies Lab (HSEL) facilitates the initiative between WHE and UHS by connecting the work of WHE/Emergency Operations (EMO) and UHS/Access to Health Services (AHS) and other technical units at UHS. This collaboration between WHE and UHS will focus on four interconnected priority areas in FCV settings: 1) Essential package of health services; 2) Health services quality and safety; 3) Operationalization of the humanitarian-development-peace nexus, and 4) Health system recovery.

Work to be performed

The consultant will support the joint initiative Workplan between the WHE/Emergency Operations (EMO), the Health Systems in Emergencies Lab (HSEL) and Access to Health Services (AHS) unit at the UHS by performing the followings duties:

1. Collaborate on the development, and evaluation of the joint initiative Workplan along with a communication plan in following four interconnected priority areas in FCV settings:

i) UHC-Priority Benefit Package

• Conduct desk review at the regional level and participate in the preparation of report on FCV countries experience RE UHC-Priority Benefit Package.

• Finalise the list of interventions needed in emergency countries in EMR

• Provide technical input in developing a Stepwise and time-bounded support plan for developing UHC-PBP for Libya, Yemen and Sudan.

  ii) Health services quality and safety

• Cooperate with HSS internal team members and other relevant stakeholders in:

  • Conducting training need assessment
  • development and implementation of a training course/s on quality and safety in extreme adversity and conflict-affected settings for pilot FCV countries
  • providing country support to Libya on the development of a national quality and safety policy and strategy in FCV settings

  iii) Operationalization of the humanitarian-development-peace nexus

• Prepare the RC side event on Operationalization of humanitarian-development-peace nexus in EMR

• Effectively participate in conducting the Regional training course on HDPNx for health

• Provide technical advice on the work of SDG Accelerator 5 Technical Working Group on innovative approaches in FCV settings in collaboration with Regional Health Alliance (RHA).

  iv) Health system recovery

• Conduct the regional training course on health systems recovery in emergencies

• Collaborate with internal team members and other key relevant stakeholders in early recovery and resilience-building planning in priory countries

2. Supports the EMO and HSEL activities and ensures they are carried out properly and on schedule, as required.

Deliverable, Output and payment

The consultant is expected to produce the following deliverables:

1. Report on the joint initiative's Workplan, including a communication plan
2. Report (literature review) on FCV countries experience RE EHSP.
3. Report on the revised list of EHSP interventions and Libya plan
4. Conduct on the training need-base assessment RE HSS strengthening in Countries with FCV settings.
5. Report on the development and implementation of the training course/s on quality and safety in extreme adversity and conflict-affected settings
6. Report on the outcomes of the RC side event on Operationalization the humanitarian-development-peace nexus in EMR and the Regional training course on HDPNx for health
7. Report on the course on health systems recovery in emergencies
8. Report on the process of early recovery and resilience planning in priority FCV countries

Specific requirements

Education

• Minimum an advanced university degree (Master's degree) in health, public health, or health related fields.

Desirable:

• post graduate degree in those related majors

Experience

• Minimum of 5 years' experience in information management and at least 4 years in managing the assessments and surveys part of which in humanitarian context

Desirable

• Experience in developing countries. Prior humanitarian working experience at field level, with WHO, health cluster partners, recognized humanitarian organizations, other UN agencies or with an international nongovernmental organization.

LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS

Fluency in both written and spoken Arabic and English.

Required skills and knowledge:

• Ability to work as a team
• Ability to work under pressure and meet the deadlines
• Produce and deliver high quality results
• Ability to communicate with and present to a variety of technical and non-technical audiences

• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision

• Good analytical and report writing skills;

• Good interpersonal skills

​​​​​​​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.
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