National Consultant - All Hazard Prevention, Preparedness and Response

Purpose of the Consultancy

The contractor will be responsible for providing technical support to the WHO Health Emergencies in WHO Representative’s Office Mongolia on pandemic preparedness, monitoring and evaluation, and multisectoral coordination under One Health approach.

Background

The COVID-19 will not be the last pandemic. Pathogens will emerge and re-emerge with the potential to cause disease, death, and disruption of a magnitude equal to or greater than SARS-CoV-2. Outbreaks of infectious pathogens have been a defining feature of human history, and any analysis of prevailing trends strongly suggests that outbreaks of pathogens of pandemic potential will continue to increase in frequency for the foreseeable future. Most health emergencies have a disproportionately severe impact on low-income and fragile settings, but also carry significant risks to all countries in today’s interconnected world. The actions and investments required to address these risks must, therefore, be considered as a collective burden. One of the recommendations issued by the WHO Director-General to all States Parties during the IHR EC meeting that was held on 4 May 2023 was to sustain the national capacity gains and prepare for future events to avoid the occurrence of a cycle of panic and neglect. States Parties should consider how to improve country readiness for future outbreaks.

Of over 200 zoonotic diseases identified globally, over 30 are recorded in Mongolia and WOAH considers Mongolia to be a high-risk country for zoonotic diseases. Zoonoses and cross-species transmission are recognized in Mongolia with evidence of transmission from wildlife to livestock, wildlife to humans, and livestock to humans. Major zoonoses of high pandemic risk prevalent in Mongolia are the avian influenza viruses with the same clade being found also in China, Russia and Europe carried by migratory birds. Other zoonoses include borreliosis, rickettsia, coronaviruses, rabies, ecto- and endo-parasites, and bubonic plague. The vulnerability of the population due to extreme weather conditions, the geographical limitations in accessing health services and the high risk of zoonotic infections presents the urgent need for Mongolia to invest in the continuum of pandemic prevention, preparedness and response through a strong multi-sectoral and One Health Approach. WCO.

MoH submitted the proposal “Strengthening pandemic prevention, preparedness and response through One Health in Mongolia” for Pandemic Fund to reduce health, social, and economic impact of pandemics on surveillance and early warning, laboratory, and workforce strengthening should be submitted on 19 May 2023. Future support and revisions will be required on revision based on comments and questions from the technical committee and Pandemic Fund secretariat.

Therefore, technical support for WHE is needed for strengthening pandemic preparedness, conducting JEE, and supporting multisectoral coordination on One Health activities.

Planned timelines

Start date: 21 August 2023 End date: 20 July 2024

Work to be performed

Method(s) to carry out the activity

· Support the development of the overarching framework for all-hazard prevention, preparedness, and response through a one health approach

· Support the government and other sectors in the development of plans and programmes all-hazard response, in particular, the implementation of the Deputy Prime Minister’s Decree no. 28

· Support the coordination, implementation, and monitoring of WHO’s collaborative work with other sectors at the national and/or regional level

· Provide technical support and coordination of joint evaluations of core capacities, including the Joint External Evaluation (JEE), State Party Self-Assessment Annual Reporting (SPAR) Tool, bridging workshops, among others

· Support WHO Country Office in coordinating cross-sectoral response to health emergencies and other hazards, including joint action with UN and other sectors within the framework of humanitarian country team.

· Support the drafting of operational protocols for multi-sector response to specific hazards such as chemical, radiation and natural disasters

Deliverables:

1. Draft framework for all-hazard prevention, preparedness, readiness, and response through one health approach.

2. Draft plan for the implementation of Deputy Prime Minister’s Decree No. 28

3. Report on coordination and conduct of joint evaluations (process, results and lessons learned)

4. Report on coordination of cross-sectoral responses to health emergencies

5. Draft of operational protocols for multi-sector response to specific hazards.

Specific requirements

Education

Essential: Postgraduate degree in public health, emergency management or related field. Desirable: Post-graduate degree or training in epidemiology.

Experience

Essential: Minimum 7 years’ experience in epidemiology, IHR implementation with proven experience in the system review, development of national guidelines, procedures and risk assessment. Desirable: Working experience in public relations, emergency response and management with multisectoral organizations; monitoring and evaluation including worked as national and international facilitator IHR&PVS National Bridging Workshop.

Skills and technical knowledge:

Proven skills and knowledge on emergency management and response

Language requirements:

Excellent knowledge of written and spoken English is essential. Working knowledge of other UN languages is an advantage.

Place of assignment

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

Medical clearance

The Consultant will provide a medical certificate of fitness for work.

Travel

The Consultant is expected to travel according to the itinerary and estimated schedule below:

Location:all provinces and remote districts From : 21 August 2023 To: 20 July 2024

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.

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