International Health Regulations Consultant - Roster

Contract

This is a No grade contract. More about No grade contracts.

1. Purpose of the Consultancy

To support the newly designated National Focal Point of IHR (2005) in Somalia inbuilding capacity for International Health Regulations (IHR 2005)

2. Background

Globalization has increased interaction between countries due to increased trade and travel. In today’s world a threat in one country can easily cross international borders and pose a global threat. Emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases and other acute public health emergencies also pose a serious socio-economic threat to countries worldwide. The current on-going COVID-19 pandemic is a key example of the devastating effects and the enormous negative impact diseases can exert on countries efforts to achieve its national development goals. It has also demonstrated how diseases of such magnitude can interfere with existing global systems such as trade and travel that as critical to countries economic growth.

These threats have led to the international community efforts to join hands to put in place mechanisms to prevent, detect and respond to existing and emerging health threats. In 2005, the World Health Assembly, passed a resolution on International Health Regulations (2005), obligating the Member States to establish capacities to prevent, detect and respond to health threats at the source with minimal interference to international trade and travel, to secure their national as well as global health security. The revised WHO IHR Monitoring and Evaluation Framework 2015, guides countries to conduct a Joint External Evaluation (JEE) involving national and international experts and partners. Somalia conducted its JEE on 17th to 21st October 2016. This JEE generally indicated the public health systems are weak and a constant engagement is required to facilitate steady capacity building of these systems.

The Health of humans is intimately linked to that of animals and their environment and affected by actions across all government sectors. Outbreaks and other health emergencies depress and degrade countries health systems with a ripple effect across all sectors in Government and ultimately hurts and reverses national economic growth projections. This has led to the call to have countries develop public health emergency response systems with a strong emphasis to a ‘One Health’ approach.

Planned timelines (subject to confirmation)

To be decided

3. Work to be performed

OUTPUT 1: Provide technical support for International Health Regulations (IHR 2005) as part of strengthening the Health Security System of Somalia

Deliverables:

1.1 Provide technical guidance to functionalize IHR taskforce at national and state level with appropriate SOPs and guidelines

1.2 Provide technical input in the development of guidelines for risk communication and management of events at points of entry

1.3 Train health workers in Public Health Emergency Operations Centers (PHEOC) at national and sub national levels

1.4 Participate in completion of All Hazards Preparedness and Response Plan

Provide technical support to conduct risk mapping at sub national level

OUTPUT 2: To provide assistance in development of “one-health” strategy for Somalia.

Deliverables:

2.1 Provide technical support to the federal ministry of health for development of one health strategy for detection, response and management of emerging zoonotic infections

2.2 Link the country’s one-health strategy to IDSRS in the areas of surveillance and data collection for emerging, re-emerging and newly emerging zoonotic infections

2.3 Build national capacities for one- health by working with the ministries of health and ministers of livestock and animal resources as well as with FAO

4. Technical Supervision

The selected Consultant will work on the supervision of:

Responsible Officer:

Dr. Mary Karanja

Email:

[email protected]

Manager:

Dr. Mirza Mashrur Ahmed

Email:

[email protected]

5. Specific requirements

Educational requirements:

Essential: Minimum first university degree in public health or a related field

Desirable: Advanced university degree in public health or a related field. Advanced university degree is defined as Master’s level degree or above

Experience requirements:

From 5 to 6 years of relevant experience on IHR including international experience.

Skills / Technical skills and knowledge:

IHR and NAPHS implementation, monitoring and evaluation.

Planning for health emergencies.

Strategic framework development.

Data analysis.

Report writing.

Communication and coordination skills

Language requirements:

Excellent knowledge of written and spoken English

6. Place of assignment

   Multiple

7. Medical clearance

The consultant will be expected to provide a medical certificate of fitness to work

8. Travel

The Consultant may be requested to travel to Somalia as and when needed for better coordination of the assigned tasks and functions

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 consultancy. 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'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.

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