International Consultant - Strengthening of Public Health Emergency Operation Centres (PHEOCs) in Yemen

1. Purpose of the Consultancy

To assess the current status of Public Health Emergency Operation Centres (PHEOCs) in Yemen, in terms of performing their essential functions, identifying gaps and needs to better develop future plans. The aim is to strengthen PHEOCs capacities at national and subnational levels, to meet the standard PHEOC and minimum International Health Regulation (IHR) requirements and ensure effective preparedness and response to multiple public health risks and public health emergencies in Yemen.

2. Background

A Public Health Emergency Operations Centre (PHEOC), public health version of an EOC, is a hub to share information and resources to support coordinated responses to major public health emergencies in a structured manner using the Incident Management System (IMS). The PHEOCs also provides a platform to engage various stakeholders to better coordinate multi-hazard health emergencies preparedness, response, and recovery activities. And hence, PHEOC must be considered as a vital component of a comprehensive risk management cycle. The International Health Regulation (IHR 2005) requires countries to have a functional PHEOC as part of the national capacity to prepare and respond to public health emergencies of national and international concern.

The Ministry of Public Health and Populations (MOPHP) and Governorate Health Offices (GHO) in Yemen established 27 (2 Central and 25 Governorate level) PHEOCs since July 2017. The World Health Organization (WHO) established 2 PHEOCs in Sana’a and Aden inside its offices which are also serving as back up to the other PHEOCs. The WHO has been supporting 29 PHEOCs (27 under Government and 2 WHO), along with 2 hotlines, mainly in terms of procurement and maintenance of ICT equipment and assignment of ICT focal persons in each PHEOCs through service-level agreement (SLA) with World Food Program (WFP).

Five years since its inception in 2017, there was no documented review, report or assessment of PHEOCs in Yemen that shows the current status and performance of PHEOC functions across all its core components except that of WFP report on ICT infrastructure and functions. And hence, understanding the current status of the PHEOCs functions across each of the core components is indispensable to identify gaps and needs to better craft comprehensive priority interventions to help meet minimum standards required by the IHR and PHEOCs guidelines. Accordingly, the need to strike a pause and do rapid assessment of the PHEOCs status across each component to improve their functions have been discussed and agreed with the MoPHP during the recent visits and Mid-Term Review (MTR).

Therefore, this Term of Reference (TOR) outlines the rationale, purpose, scope, activities, expected deliverables and timelines for an independent and external consultant ( more than one expert in the field can be identified addressing each PHEOC component) to assess key functions across each core component to better inform future plans aimed at strengthening PHEOCs in Yemen to meet IHR requirements.

3. Objectives of the consultancy:

• To assess the legal framework and governance structures that guided the establishment and operation of PHEOCs in the country.
• To assess the current performance of the five essential PHEOCs functions (i.e. event management, health operations and expertise, planning and information, logistics and operational support and finance and administration)
• To assess existing capacity of PHEOCs in terms of each component of the PHEOCs (i.e. Plans and procedures, physical and ICT infrastructure, information systems and data standards and human resources)
• To provide concrete recommendations to strengthen each component of the PHEOCs to perform its essential functions.

4. Methodology

   • Key Informant Interview (KII)
   • Focus Group Discussions (FGD)
   • Desk reviews of existing legal framework, manuals, Plans, IMS structures, SOPs, EOC products, project reports, IHR/JEE self-assessment reports, the bi-regional 5 years PHEOC strengthening strategic plan.
   • Field visit/observation to selected PHEOCs listed below.

5. Proposed PHEOCs for the site visit

The consultant(s) need to visit 14 PHEOCs in Sana’a, Aden, Hadramout, Abyan, Ibb, Hudeidha, Saada, Marib, Taiz, and Lahj, Al - Dhale'e, Al-Mukalla EOC and/or Syuon EOC in Hadramout governorate. The detailed list of PHEOCs to be visited and potential list of key informants will be provided as annexes to this TOR.. Governorates that are going to experience multiple emergencies and hence require activation of PHEOCs were prioritized for the assessment. Besides, consideration was given to ensure equitable distribution and representation of the PHEOCs from the South and North. Field visits to the proposed sites depends on access and security clearance from UNDSS.

6. Planned timelines (subject to confirmation)

Start date: 01 March 2023

End date: 31 August 2023

7. Work to be performed.

Output 1: Review and agree on the assessment tools, workplan and deliverables.

Deliverable 1.1: Adapt the assessment tool from, among others, CDC’s public health emergency management capacity development tool (PHEM Tool) and WHO’s PHEOC framework questionnaires (WHO 2015) to be used for KII, FGD and site visit.

Deliverable 1.2: Review and agree with the proposed assessment work plan, activities and deliverables.

Output 2: Review the legal framework and governance structures of PHEOCs in Yemen in light of WHO guidelines

Deliverable 2.1: Document available legal and policy documents pertaining to the establishment, mandate, scope and operation of PHEOCs including budget allocations.

Deliverable 2.2: Document existing PHEOCs governance structures (Policy group, steering committee and PHEOC organograms) at national, governorate and WHO offices

Deliverable 2.3: Propose legal framework and governance structures for future improvement

Output 3: Assess PHEOCs plans and procedures at MOPHP, GHO and WHO levels and proposed steps to developing national PHEOC handbook

Deliverable 3.1: Review existing plans and procedures at PHEOCs at MOPHP and WHO

Deliverable 3.2: Propose step-by-step plan to developing national PHEOC handbook

Deliverable 3.3: Develop national PHEOC handbook that guides the day-to-day operation of PHEOCs which includes the following key elements consistent with 2021 WHO and African CDC Handbook for Public Health Emergency Operations Center Operations and Management and other countries experience. The handbook needs to include the following topics:

• • A concept of operations (CONOPS)
  • Map of the PHEOC workstations, rooms and inventories of equipment
  • Routine staffing requirements
  • Standard operating procedures (SOPs)
  • Forms and templates for data collection, reporting, briefing etc
  • Documentation and records management processes
  • Role descriptions and job aids for PHEOC functional positions
  • Response levels and thresholds
  • Activation, scaling, deactivation thresholds and procedures
  • Contact information for key officials and PHEOC personnel
  • Notification and communication protocols with host agency, response organizations and partner agencies.

Deliverable 3.4: Organize workshops to validate the PHEOCs handbook

Output 4: Assess the physical and ICT infrastructures of PHEOCs at MOPH, GHO and WHO levels

Deliverable 4.1: Visit the proposed 14 PHEOCs

Deliverable 4.2: Produce inventory of the current physical (floor plan) and ICT infrastructures highlighting major gaps and needs per each PHEOCs visited

Output 5: Assess the information systems and data standards of PHEOCs at MOPH, GHO and WHO levels

Deliverable 5.1: Document existing data sets, data flow system, use of data for decision in the PHEOCs, existing parallel information systems (e.g. diseases surveillance and EPI), SOPs, and information products at PHEOCs highlighting gaps and needs as part of the reports.

Deliverable 5.2: Identify minimum data set (MDS) and information systems necessary to develop a common operational picture for priority risks in Yemen as part of the reports.

Deliverable 5.3: Identify list of information products and reporting tools expected of PHEOCs

Output 6: Assess the human resources capacities at PHEOCs at MOPH, GHO and WHO levels

Deliverable 6.1: Document existing (permanent and surge) staff capacity, competency and payment mechanisms at each PHEOCs visited

Deliverable 6.2: Propose staffing and training needs for PHEOCs to perform IMS functions.

Output 7: Assess overall performance and functions of the PHEOCs at national, Governorate and WHO levels

Deliverable 7.1: Map the existing PHEOCs in terms of capacities (level A, B, C) and mode of operations (watch, alert and response) based on WHO handbook

Deliverable 7.2: Provide KPI to monitor PHEOCs performance around each key function.

Deliverable 7.3: Develop 6-12 months action plan to improving PHEOC functions across each PHEOC component.

Output 8: Regularly report on the progress and findings of the assessment

Deliverable 8.1: Conduct KII, FGD and site visits

Deliverable 8.2: Submit weekly and monthly progress reports

Deliverable 8.3: Debrief in country stakeholders on the assessment process, major findings and recommendations

Deliverable 8.4: Submit interim (zero draft) and final comprehensive reports before the end of the assignment.

9. Specific requirements

- Qualifications required:

Master’s degree in Epidemiology, Public Health, Humanitarian Emergencies, Emergency management or equivalent.

- Experience required:

Minimum 7 years’ experience in the following:

• PHEOC assessment, planning and management at national or regional level
• Outbreak Response, Medical Response or Humanitarian Response
• Experience in outbreak control or emergency coordination and management
• Previous experience in the Region is an asset

- Skills / Technical skills and knowledge:

Ability to maintain and establish good interpersonal relations; diplomatic skills in dealing with senior public health officials, international partners and stakeholders; Excellent communication and proven ability to communicate effectively. knowledge on planning, implementing, managing and assessing PHEOCs, Strong presentation, and writing skills .

P.S. Since Yemen is Grade 3 emergency, SSAFE training is mandatory requirement for the consultant to travel.

- Language requirements:

• English (Read – Write – Speak / Expert).
• Arabic language skill is an asset

10. Place of assignment

Sana’a and Aden, Yemen

This will require travel to the place of duty and may require travel within country for specific activities in selected governorates proposed for the visit above (i.e. Ibb, Hudeidha, Saada, Marib, Taiz, Lahj, Al - Dhale'e, Al-Mukalla, Syuon EOC, and Marib EOC in Hadramout governorate.)

11. Medical clearance

The selected Consultant will be expected to provide a medical certificate of fitness for work.

12. Travel

The Consultant(s) is (are) expected to travel, including for taking up assignment, according to the itinerary and estimated schedule below:

Travel dates

Location:

From

1 March 2023

To

31 August 2023

Sana’a and Aden, Yemen

Purpose:

To perform the expected tasks as outlined in the TOR.

Travel within the country will depend on availability of flights and security permission.

Subsistence allowance: As per the standard United Nations per diem rate for Sana’a and Aden at the time of the assignment.

All travel arrangements will be made by WHO by air and car within the country.

While on mission under the terms of this consultancy, the Consultant will receive subsistence allowance in line with the instructions applicable locally, or up to the maximum of the UN DSA. The consultant will be paying the guest house and catering by his own using DSA.

Visas requirements: WHO will facilitate entry visa and provide support letters. It is the Consultant’s responsibility to fulfil visa requirements and ask for visa support letter(s) if needed.

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.
• 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.
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• 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 - https://www.who.int/about/who-we-are/our-values
• 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.
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• 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.
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Added 1 year ago - Updated 1 year ago - Source: who.int