National Consultant (Non-communicable Diseases)

BACKGROUND

Non-communicable Diseases (NCDs) are the leading causes of death worldwide. It has accounts for about 41 million deaths every year, equivalent to 71% of all deaths globally. Comparatively, Cardiovascular Diseases (CVDs) has remained a major cause of mortality in the world, including the Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICTs). In Solomon Islands, the risk factors associated with NCDs are tobacco smoking, betel nut chewing, unhealthy diet, drinking alcohol and physical inactivity. Though CVDs remained a major cause of deaths in the country, however, cancers, diabetes and chronic lung diseases are also increasing annually.

The term NCDs refers to a group of conditions that result in long-term health consequences and often create a need for long-term treatment and care. These conditions include cancers, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and chronic lung illnesses. Many NCDs can be prevented by reducing common risk factors such as tobacco use, harmful alcohol use, physical inactivity and eating unhealthy diets. However, most of the strategies implemented by governments are focused mainly on behavioural health-promotion strategies. The exposure to the common risk factors is conditioned by the community environments and underlying social conditions, and takes place at population-level, more than individual level. Therefore, the approach on the social determinants of health defined as “the conditions in which people are born, grow, work, live, and age, and the wider set of forces and systems shaping the conditions of daily life” is essential. These forces and systems include economic policies and systems, development agendas, social norms and policies, and political systems. These conditions can be very different for various population subgroups and can lead to disparities in health outcomes. The experience of such conditions may simply be unavoidably different, in which case they are considered inequalities, or they may in fact be unnecessary and avoidable, in which case they are considered inequities and therefore appropriate targets for policies designed to increase equity.

In this sense, behavioural health-promotion strategies usually tend to assume that people are completely able to be receptive to health promotion messages and subsequent adoption of healthier behaviours. The reality is that people’s lives reflect a range of the social determinants, which means that peoples’ abilities and opportunities both to respond to health promotion messages and improve their health and risk factor status vary significantly, and the overall impact is greater in social and economically advantaged groups, increasing health inequities related to NCDs.

PURPOSE/SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE OF THE ACTIVITY

The purpose of the APW is to engage an external expert to support a review of the implementation of the current NCD Policy and Strategic Plan 2019-2023 and facilitate Develop a new NCD Policy and Strategic Plan for 2024-2034.

DESCRIPTION OF ACTIVITIES TO BE CARRIED OUT

The Scope of Services to complete the terms of reference:

• To carry out a series of discussions with focal points and key informants at the country level inclusion the Noncommunicable Diseases, line ministries, stakeholders and NGOs, churches to create and identify a mapping with ongoing activities addressing NCDs risk factors and social determinants.
• To conduct and facilitate a workshop / training “Capacity building on how underlying social conditions influence NCDs risk factors and limit access to health services and interventions, specifically on populations in situations of vulnerability”.
• To update of the country's situation on NCD risk factors practical tools for the development of mapping ongoing activities related to NCD risk factors and social determinants of health in Suriname and for identifying opportunities for support and intervention.
• To identify necessary interventions to address NCD risk factors and reduce inequities especially in populations in situations of vulnerability.

• To prepare a report on the workshop outcomes, review of the implementation of the current policy and draft 10-year Policy on NCD.

  Deliverables

  Date

  1. Work plan outlining the schedule of activities

  15 June 2023

  2. Consultation with stakeholders and line ministries

Progress Report 1 (report on review)

28 June 2023

3. Multisectoral workshop: development draft of new NCD plan based on the mapping of ongoing activities, challenges, and opportunities.

15 July 2023

4. Writing reports from multisectoral workshops. Continue to write the multi-sectoral plan.

28 July 2023

5. Progress report and plan for writing

28 August 2023

6. Multisectoral workshop 2, final draft of the plan

20 September 2023

7. Workshop final report & end of assignment report- a new NCD Policy and Strategic Plan for 10 years

15 December 2023

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

Qualifications required:

• A degree in public health, health or social science, nutrition, or a related field

Experience required****:

• Prior experience with Non-Communicable Diseases and Nutrition programmes in Solomon Islands
• Experience working with international organizations including NGOs

Language requirements****:

• Fluent in spoken and written English

PLACE OF ASSIGNMENT

• Solomon Islands

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.

• A written test may be used as a form of screening.

• In the event that your candidature is retained for an 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.

• Any appointment/extension of appointment is subject to WHO Non-Staff Regulations, Rules and Manual.

• For information on WHO's operations please visit: http://www.who.int.

• WHO is committed to workforce diversity.

• 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.

• 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.