Roster of Consultants/Experts for health, environment and climate change

Purpose of the Post:

To support the Department of Healthier Populations and Non-communicable Diseases in addressing specified aspects of its programme to reduce environmental threats to health.

Objectives of the Programme:

The mission of WHO's Universal Health Coverage/Healthier Populations Division is to contribute to reducing health inequalities and reducing preventable disease and injury caused by environmental, social and economic determinants of health. This is achieved through a coordinated inter-sectoral approach aimed at enabling all people to enjoy better health and well-being, in line with the Organization's 13th General Programme of Work (GPW13) and the Sustainable Development Goals.

Within the WHO South-East Asia Regional Office, the Department of Healthier Populations and Non-communicable Diseases leads WHOs work at a regional level addressing the environmental determinants of health. This is carried out by promoting a healthier environment, intensifying primary prevention and to influencing public policies in all sectors to address the root causes of environmental threats. Its work with Member States of the Region and partners tackles a broad range of environmental and occupational risks to health including ambient and household air pollution; climate change, safety of water; improving access to sanitation services; waste management; strengthening the protection of health and safety of health workers and informal workforce and those in precarious employment and building the capacity of countries to manage chemicals safely including through multilateral conventions and agreements and by supporting regional processes particularly those involving ministries of health and environment. The work is guided by a Regional Plan of Action for implementing the WHO Global Strategy on Health, Environment and Climate Change, adopted by the Regional Committee for WHO South-East Asia and with priority given to the following strategic actions:

1. Scaling up primary prevention
2. Building cross-sectoral action, governance, and political and social support
3. Strengthening the health sector
4. Enhancing the evidence base and risk communication

Organizational Context :

The Department of Healthier Populations and Non-communicable Diseases is building a roster of consultants and experts, at varying levels of seniority, to contribute to specific elements of its work on health, environment and climate change. The consultant roster will provide a cadre of specialists to respond to requests for support from the Member States to enable WHO to achieve its GPW13. Deployments will be for varying lengths of time from days to weeks, including occasional rapid deployment, depending on the nature of the work and the availability of consultants. Various experience levels will be required for individual pieces of work. The incumbent will work under the general guidance of the Director, Department of Healthier Populations and Non-communicable Diseases and the direct supervision of either the Regional Adviser, Chemicals, Environment and Air Pollution or the Regional Adviser, Water, Sanitation, Hygiene and Climate Change as appropriate to the specific project.

Areas of expertise

(Note. This is a generic description of areas of expertise developed for a roster of consultants/experts. The final terms of reference for the assignment/contract will be based on the actual requirements of the assignment)

Water, sanitation and hygiene

• Technical support to strengthen climate resilient water safety planning at country level and assisting countries to strengthen their drinking water quality surveillance activities.
• Technical support for the implementation of the WHO global action plan on water, sanitation and hygiene in health-care facilities including advocacy and policy, monitoring including under SDG6 and facility improvements, and WHO tools such as Track-Fin and WASHFIT.

Air Pollution

• Technical support to countries in the region in areas of policy analysis, development of standard operating protocols for air pollution-related disease surveillance, air pollution monitoring, technical guidance and knowledge products, and situational reports
• Technical support for the development of educational materials on the impact of air pollution on health to different audiences
• Coordination across UN agencies, and with scientific institutions, WHO collaborating centres, city administrations and members of Breathelife networks for developing proposals for collaborative work at country and regional level

Climate change and health

• Technical support to countries in the region in areas of policy analysis, advocacy, development of standard operating protocols, technical guidance, knowledge products, situational reports
• Adaptation of WHO Global tools and guidance to regional and country context
• Coordination with regional country counterparts in government, academia, non-governmental organizations and WHO collaborating centres for development of proposals to access climate finance
• Integration of health into existing climate processes including national adaptation plans (NAP) and nationally determined contributions

Occupational and workplace health

• Technical support to countries in the region in areas of policy analysis, advocacy, development of standard operating protocols, technical guidance, knowledge products, situational reports particularly in respect to the occupational health of health-care workers and vulnerable groups such as informal sector workers and those in high-risk occupations
• Coordination with WHOs network of collaborating centres in occupational health to strengthen their contribution to WHO GPW13 particularly in for COVID-19 response and recovery.
• Technical support for the development of national programmes of occupational health for health care workers in selected countries in the region in accordance with WHO and ILO global frameworks

Chemical safety

• Technical support to countries for implementation of WHO guidance on the establishment of poisons centres, for promoting policies and developing capacities in counties for the prevention and management of chemical exposures and for improving the availability and use of essential antidotes.
• Adapting WHO guidelines for prevention and management of poisoning for implementation at country level and working with countries to implement national programmes for example on lead poisoning and other chemicals highlighted by WHO as of high public concern.
• Coordination with relevant technical units and UN agencies, scientific institutions and WHO collaborating centres to strengthen and promote WHO networks for chemical risk assessment.
• Coordination with WHO HQ to amplify regional needs for effective development and implementation of key multilateral environment agreements such as the Basel, Stockholm and Rotterdam Convention, the Minamata Convention and the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management.

RECRUITMENT PROFILE

Competencies:

1. Teamwork

2. Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences

3. Communication

4. Moving forward in a changing environment

5. Producing results

Education (Qualifications):

Essential: For all assignments University degree in medicine: public health; life sciences; environmental science; toxicology; climate change; industrial hygiene; occupational health; or public health engineering from a recognized university.

P4 and P5 level assignments require, in addition: Masters-level university degree in one of the following areas: public health; life sciences; environmental science; toxicology; climate change; industrial hygiene; occupational health; or public health engineering as relevant, from a recognized university.

Desirable: Doctorate level degree/ in Public Health, environmental science or toxicology. Research experience/ PhD in relevant field.

Experience: At least two to ten years of experience addressing the environmental impacts on public health as per the below grades:

For P2-P3: At least 2 years (for P2) and at least 5 years (for P3) of professional experience in development and implementation of environmental health projects specifically in areas of water sanitation and hygiene, climate change and health; air pollution, occupational and workplace health or chemicals safety at national and sub-national level working closely with government and international partners and agencies. Skills in data analysis to support development and implementation of environmental health policies and programmes.

For P4-P5: At least 7 years (for P4) and 10 years (for P5) of progressive professional work experience of environmental health projects specifically in areas of water sanitation and hygiene, climate change and health; air pollution, occupational and workplace health or chemicals safety at the national and international levels in environmental health programme development, management, monitoring and evaluation as appropriate to the assignment including considerable experience obtained in an international context.

Functional skills and knowledge

Essential Skills:

• Proven experience in implementation of projects in any of the specified technical areas
• Proven experience in working efficiently and independently to deliver quality results
• Proven analytical and conceptual skills for undertaking situational assessments at country level in any of the specific technical subject areas

Desirable skills:

• Knowledge and experience of WHO tools and guidance relevant to the specific technical areas
• Thorough knowledge of policies, strategies and applicable guidelines in the specified technical areas with a demonstrated understanding of country's needs and priorities to meet global, regional and national priorities and commitments.
• Knowledge on ways to work with the government institutions and related departments/agencies and experience of working in an international environment and with recognized UN and other partner organizations
• Experience in the application of health, environment and climate change policies, guidelines, laws and legislation
• Ability to build and maintain relations and network with stakeholders across relevant sectors with understanding of the potential motivating factors within the regional context and ability to adjust to new approaches in an increasingly changing environment.

Languages: Excellent knowledge of spoken and written English

Other Skills (e.g. IT): Proficient in standard MS Office software applications, data analysis using statistical packages, dietary patterning and modelling of healthy diets

Additional information:

• The purpose of this VN is to invite qualified professionals with relevant expertise for P2/P3/P4/P5 grades for inclusion in a roster of experts for possible short-term consultant assignments which may arise from time to time at the WHO Regional Office for South-East Asia or in any of the WHO country offices located in the Member States of the Region namely: Bangladesh, Bhutan, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, India, Indonesia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Timor-Leste.
• The grade of the position will be fixed based on the level of responsibilities and complexity of tasks assigned as reflected in the terms of reference.
• The duration of assignment would vary from two weeks to one year. Any extension of contract would be subject to programmatic requirements, performance of the incumbent and availability of funds.
• Please note applications should be submitted through WHO's online recruitment portal. Please visit www.who.int/careers to complete an online profile and to apply to this vacancy.
• Please indicate in your application (cover letter), the technical areas that you wish to be considered for .
• In the event your candidature is retained for an proposed consultant assignment, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of the degree(s)/diploma (s)/certificate(s) required for the assignment. 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.