International Consultant- to support the strengthening of the notification and information sharing of acute public health events in the Eastern Mediterranean Region

1. Purpose of consultancy

The purpose of the consultancy is to support the implementation of the special project on “Strengthening the Notification and Information Sharing of Acute Public Health Events to WHO by the IHR-NFP in the Eastern Mediterranean Regional Countries.” The consultant will be in charge of coordinating all the activities of the project, co-developing the training materials, monitoring tool, identification and collecting Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), training of participants, documenting all the activities, analyzing the findings from the monitoring and evaluation and preparing the final project report.

2. Background

The WHO Health Emergencies Programme (WHE) is mandated to enhance WHO’s capacity for the rapid detection, assessment, and follow-up of all public health risks. This provides the opportunity to establish a framework that facilitates the implementation of a common approach to public health intelligence and public health event management across all levels of the organization.

The Health Emergency Information and Risk Assessment (HIM) Unit is responsible for identifying new public health events, assessing risks to public health, conducting epidemiological surveillance and field investigations, monitoring public health interventions, and communicating public health information to technical partners.

Under the HIM Unit is the Public Health Intelligence (PHI) Team, which is at the forefront of rapidly identifying emerging public health threats, assessing the risks and communicating them. This enables timely response and strategies to address critical needs and avoid further morbidity and mortality.

The key to deliver this crucial task is to identify signals within 24 hours, verify, risk assess and communicate and manage these acute public health events. Different sources of information have been used to detect acute public health events. One of the most important sources of information is the notification by the International Health Regulations-National Focal Points (IHR-NFPs) to the WHO. From 2017 to March 2022, less of 10% of the 189 public health events identified in the Eastern Mediterranean region, were notified by the IHR-NFPs. Most of these events were assessed as at high or very high risk. Additionally, signal verification also takes time (0-24 days) and most of the time conducted by the WHO country office (WCO). The role of the States Parties in the implementation of IHR (2005), especially with regard to notification, verification and exchange of information, is critical to global health security.

A special project has been approved for funding aimed at enhancing the exchange of information between WHO and Member States. In this regard, external support is needed to implement the activities stipulated in the approved project proposal: “Strengthening the Notification and Information Sharing of Acute Public Health Events to WHO by the IHR-NFP.”

3. Work to be performed
   1. Output 1. Provide technical Support in the operations of the Project.

Deliverable 1.1: Coordinate all activities outlined in the approved proposal, ensuring timely implementation.

Deliverable 1.2: Coordinate the preparation of the project financial report

Deliverable 1.3: Prepare final report of project.

1. 2. Output 2: Provide technical support in development of training materials.

Deliverable 2.1: Review existing training materials within the PHI team and documents produced by the Lyon office team.

Deliverable 2.2: Enhance and finalize training material to be used for the project, based on the review.

1. 3. Output 3. Build the capacity of WCO focal points and IHR NFPs to report and share information about acute public health events.

Deliverable 3.1: Train participants in the planned workshop training.

Deliverable 3.2: Coach Focal Points in Country Offices and IHR-NFPs during supportive supervision.

Deliverable 3.3: Assist the WCO focal points and IHR-NFPs identify the KPIs that will be used during the quarterly monitoring and final assessment

Deliverable 3.4: Support the focal points (Country offices and IHR-NFPs) in preparing the presentation during the Annual Workshop

1. 4. Output 4: Conduct monitoring and evaluation

Deliverable 4.1: Develop checklist that will be used during the supportive supervision in the 22 EMR countries

Deliverable 4.2: Finalize the KPIs based on the inputs from the WCO focal points and IHR-NFPs

Deliverable 4.3: Collect and analyse data from the 22 countries

Deliverable 4.4: Prepare the final evaluation of each country for presentation at the annual workshop.

4. Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Educational Qualifications: Essential: Minimum first university degree for lower end of range, an advanced university degree for mid and high end of range in Medicine, Public Health, Epidemiology or related field

Experience:

• 5-10 years of experience in project management
• 5- 10 years of experience in the field of public health, including epidemiology
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in Public Health Intelligence
• Work experience with MOH(s), especially on IHR
• Work experience with WHO or another international public health organization

Skills/Technical skills and knowledge:

1. Excellent training and communication skills
2. Excellent report-writing skills in English
3. Ability to work effectively in a cross-cultural and multi-disciplinary environment
4. Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work under pressure
5. Tact, discretion and diplomacy

Languages and level required:

Essential: Excellent Knowledge of English.

Desirable: Good knowledge of Arabic Language.

5. Location

   Cairo, Egypt

6. Planned timelines (Subject to confirmation)

Start date: 10 October 2022

End date: 9 September 2023

7. Medical clearance

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

8. Travel

International travel to the 22 countries will be required.

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.
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