BACKGROUND

The Pacific Health Security and Communicable Diseases unit covers three main areas of work – (1) WHO’s Health Emergencies Programme (WHE), (2) communicable diseases, and (3) reproductive and maternal health/gender and equity. The mission of WHE is to build the capacity of Member States to manage health emergency risks and, when national capacities are overwhelmed, to lead and coordinate the international health response to contain outbreaks and to provide effective relief and recovery to affected populations. WHE brings together and enhances WHO’s operational, technical and normative capacity in outbreaks, emergencies and risk analysis to address all health hazards across the risk management cycle in a predictable, capable, dependable, adaptable and accountable manner. It is designed to operate within the broader humanitarian and emergency management architecture in support of people at risk of, or affected by, outbreaks and emergencies, consistent with ways that strengthen local and national capabilities. The Infectious Hazards Management programme area within the Health Emergencies Programme is responsible for providing support to countries in prevention and control of high threat diseases of pandemic and epidemic potential through forecasting, characterization of diseases and/or infectious risks and development of evidence-based strategies to management of infectious hazards.

PURPOSE/SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE OF THE ACTIVITY

Within the context of Pacific Health Security and Communicable Diseases (PSC), and guided by the Pacific Island Countries and Areas WHO Cooperation Strategy and as per the WHO’s General Programme of Work, the main purpose of this post under the WHO Health Emergencies Programme is to support Pacific island countries and areas (PICs) in infectious hazards management, health emergency information and risk assessment of influenza and other outbreak-prone diseases. Common outbreak diseases in the Pacific include arboviral diseases (dengue, chikungunya and Zika), typhoid fever and leptospirosis. The post also supports the International Health Regulations (IHR) core capacity implementation, monitoring and evaluation.

DESCRIPTION OF ACTIVITIES TO BE CARRIED OUT

• • Expand, strengthen and consolidate epidemiological and virological surveillance and provide project management support to the implementation of the Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Framework in the Pacific;
• • Provide day-to-day guidance to the PSC/NPO-Surveillance Officer to expand and strengthen national   and Pacific regional indicator-based and event-based surveillance systems, risk assessment and response capacities in conjunction with implementing partners, and to detect, verify and assess the risk of potential and ongoing health emergencies;
• • Develop and support outbreak prevention and control strategies, tools and capacities for influenza and other high-threat infectious hazards, including data management, analytics and reporting to produce and disseminate timely emergency health information products;
• • Provide expert technical advice concerning COVID-19, influenza and other infectious diseases, and establish and maintain expert networks to detect, characterize and manage new or emerging infectious diseases;
• • Support countries to develop national plans and critical core capacities for all-hazards health emergency preparedness in accordance with the IHR, 2005;
• • Collaborate closely with the Pacific Health Security Programme Manager in the implementation of planned IHR core capacity strengthening activities and of the IHR Monitoring and Evaluation Framework;
• • Provide secretariat support for the implementation of the IHR (2005) and technical support to countries to monitor and objectively assess IHR core capacities and the implementation of the Asia Pacific Strategy for Emerging Diseases and Public Health Emergencies;
• • As required, support outbreak and disaster responses, including as a member of the DPS Incident Management System;
• • Participate in the design, implementation and, when appropriate, publication of action research supportive of communicable disease prevention and control;
• • Collaborate on cross-cutting issues (e.g. outbreaks of vaccine preventable, vector borne, diarrhoeal diseases etc. with other DPS programme areas; and
• • Undertake other duties as required by supervisors.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

EDUCATION

Essential:  An advanced university degree (Master’s level or above) in epidemiology, public health, medicine or international health or related field with postgraduate training in epidemiology from an institution or university recognized in the International Association of Universities’ Worldwide Database of Higher Education Institutions, Systems and Credentials.

Desirable: Specialized training in communicable disease epidemiology, risk assessment and/or  emergency management. Advanced formal training in field epidemiology highly desirable.

EXPERIENCE

Essential: At least seven years of relevant experience at national and international level, in developing and promoting collaborative partnerships in outbreak prevention and response, including experience in managing and coordinating health programmes in sudden-onset emergencies.

Desirable: Relevant work experience in WHO, other UN agencies, relevant nongovernmental or humanitarian organizations. Experience in the delivery of adult education. Pacific experience highly desirable.

TECHNICAL SKILLS & KNOWLEDGE

• • In-depth knowledge of communicable disease prevention and control.
• • Demonstrated knowledge of rapid response operations and their implementation in emergencies as related to public health, complemented by demonstrated ability to identify and manage difficult situations, to lead and direct multidisciplinary and multinational staff.
• • Sound knowledge and experience about disaster prevention and preparedness programmes and the incident management system.
• • Excellent negotiation skills and ability to convene stakeholders and facilitate a policy process among national health authorities, supranational organizations, UN and donors.
• • Ability to work harmoniously as a member of a team, adapt to diverse educational and cultural backgrounds and maintain a high standard of professional and personal conduct.

COMPETENCIES

• • Teamwork
• • Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
• • Communication
• • Building and promoting partnerships across the Organization and beyond
• • Producing Results

LANGUAGES

Written and spoken fluency in English is essential. Fluency in French would be an advantage.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Given COVID-19 travel restrictions, the consultant may be required to work remotely until they can be deployed to Suva, Fiji.  While working outside of Fiji, the incumbent will be expected to work during the core working hours of the Division of Pacific Technical Support in Suva, Fiji (GMT + 12 time zone).

The selected candidate must be able to travel to the designated Pacific country for the duration of this consultancy. This includes the ability to transit through required countries to reach the destination in the context of global COVID-19 travel restrictions/measures, to potentially undergo multiple periods of quarantine, and to cope with uncertainty regarding travel timelines and routings.

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.

APPLICATIONS

Qualified and interested specialists should submit their CV {for individual contractors} and Expression of Interest {cover letter} to the Supply Officer through WP RO UNGM at < [email protected] > by 7 December 2021

The cover letter should outline how their experience and qualifications make them a suitable candidate for this position and should include their proposed daily consultancy fee and availability.

Please use Tender Notice No. 156664 as subject to all submission. Only successful candidates will be contacted.