National Consultant - Technical Support for EHA

Overview

Provide technical support for health emergency and disease response.

You have:

• Degree in medicine or university degree or diploma in public health, epidemiology or disaster management.
• Minimum two (2) years of relevant experience at national level in health emergency risk management including planning and implementation in Maldives.
• Expert knowledge of English.
• Expert knowledge of Dhivehi.
• Ability to interact and coordinate with Ministry of Health counterparts on technical areas related to comprehensive emergency preparedness and response.
• Current knowledge of Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) issues and policies, WHO's Emergency Response Framework (ERF), and IHR 2005 core capacities.
• Ability to work under tight deadlines with self-initiative.

Purpose of consultancy

To hire a local consultant to ensure continuity of the WCO programs and activities related to Health Emergencies, IHR, AMR, Food Safety and tuberculosis in addition to Health laboratories, under the direct supervision of Medical Officer, Public Health, and the overall guidance of the WHO Representative to Maldives, the consultant shall support the NPO EHA and WCO team.

Background

WHO Maldives Country Office collaborates with the Government of Maldives, mainly through the Ministry of Health and relevant stakeholders within the framework of the collaborative Country Cooperation Strategy (CCS). The objective of the General Management area of the WHO Country Office for Maldives is to ensure implementation of CCS and the biennial workplans. The General Management area of work has a key strategic role in overseeing, planning and implementation of CCS priorities that span across diverse technical areas and workplans. Work involves cross-cutting technical inputs from country office (CO) staff working on all priority areas such as, health systems and Universal Health Coverage, communicable diseases, noncommunicable diseases and risk factors, maternal, new-born, child and adolescent health and WHO emergency programme. The specific objective of strategic planning is to explore options and contribute to integrating all health problems and issues within the context of health system to achieve national health targets, universal health coverage and sustainable development goal.

All the Member States of WHO South-East Asia Region share the common value of the highest attainable standard of health as a fundamental human right. All WHO actions are based on this and rooted in the underlying values of equity, solidarity, and participation.

To ensure continuity of the WCO programs and activities related to Health Emergencies, IHR, AMR, Food Safety and tuberculosis in addition to Health laboratories. The overall main objectives are to support MoH to implement the workplan activities for the biennium year 2022-23, with guidance and support from the WHO Representative, Medical Officer as well as support from WHO Regional Office SEARO. the consultant is expected to work together with WCO team and in partnership with MoH and partners to harmonize efforts & use available resource efficiently for the benefit of the affected people to provide coordinated best possible health response.

Terms of Reference:

Under the direct supervision of Medical Officer, Public Health, and the overall guidance of the WHO Representative to Maldives, the consultant shall support the NPO EHA and WCO team to perform the following duties:

• Provide technical support to WHO Maldives team, to prepare and respond to emergencies, strengthen and enhance the surveillance program, and provide technical guidance support to develop national plans, and guidelines.
• Support to Ministry of Health to enhance health laboratory and diagnostic capacities in Maldives in coordination with SEARO technical unit and in partnership with HPA and partners such as QARD and IGMH.
• Coordinate organization of trainings (simex, ffx, ttx), workshops and meetings related to emergency preparedness and response, IHR, AMR, Food Safety, Health laboratories and TB programs for Ministry of Health upon guidance from WHO.
• Provide technical support and facilitate development of risk communication strategy and plan in partnership with the WHO team as and when needed.
• Support Maldives Food and Drug Authority and Ministry of Health to implement National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance and to strengthen the Food Safety program.
• Provide technical support and guidance to MFDA to implement the activities under the Codex Trust Fund CTF, and support to conduct high level meetings, mock drill exercises, trainings and awareness for Food safety program as well as CTF.
• Provide technical support to Ministry of Health team to strengthen the country's IHR 2005 core capacities and strengthen migrant health.
• Support the Health Protection Agency and Ministry of Health to strengthen the National TB Program to accelerate Maldives efforts to end TB in Maldives by 2025 as per the newly updated National Strategic Plan NSP for endingTB in Maldives by 2025.
• Participate actively in relevant regional meetings and represent the above-mentioned program areas in addition to ensuring regular reporting to SEARO as and when needed.
• Prepare updates for the WHO Representative and technical team on relevant program areas, as well as briefs and presentations as and when required, in addition to preparing talking points for the WHO Representative or technical unit as and when needed for meetings organized by WHO, MoH and even UN Country teams.

1. Deliverables

• Technical report of monthly progress of the activities.

2. Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Educational Qualifications:

Essential: Degree in medicine or University degree or diploma in public health, epidemiology or disaster management

Desirable: Master's degree in public health, Epidemiology or disaster management would be an advantage

Experience

Essential: Minimum two (2) years of relevant experience at national level in health emergency risk management including planning & implementation in Maldives.

Desirable:

• Experience and trainings from WHO in the past is also desirable.
• Experience of working in Government, WHO, UN and/or other international organizations or agencies.
• Experience working in public health and/or program management, including experience in networking, partnership, resource mobilization and M&E.

Skills/Knowledge:

Essentail

• Ability to interact with and advise as well as coordinate Ministry of Health counterparts on technical areas related to comprehensive emergency preparedness and response, AMR, Food Safety, TB and Health Laboratories.
• Ability to work harmoniously with the WHO team,and support the technical team of WHO Maldives and ability to adapt to diverse educational and cultural backgrounds.
• Current knowledge of Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) issues and policies, WHO's Emergency Response Framework (ERF) and IHR 2005 core capacities is an advantage.
• Knowledge of Maldives Health Emergency Operations Plan (HEOP), National Action Plan on AMR (NAP AMR), National Strategic Plan on EndingTB (NSP TB) and Maldives Food Safety policy is desirable.
• Familiarity of Maldives Health Laboratory Standards and guidelines is an advantage.
• Ability to work under tight deadlines with self-initiative.
• Ability to develop plans and proposals and deliver on time.
• Excellent time management skills

Desirable: Analytical, negotiation, communication and advocacy skills will be an asset.

Languages and level required (Basic/Intermediate/Advanced):

Essential: Expert knowledge of English. Expert knowledge of Dhivehi.

Location

On site: WHO Country office, Maldives

Travel

The Consultant is not expected to travel

Remuneration and budget (travel costs are excluded):

• Band level NO-A; MVR 44,950.00 per month.
• Expected duration of contract: 7 months

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) in English 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 are 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.
• This assignment is subject to local recruitment and will be filled by persons recruited in the local commuting area of the duty station/assignment location.

Apply now

Potential interview questions

Added 3 years ago - Updated 1 year ago - Source: who.int