Background

It is widely recognized that Malaysia attained universal health coverage (UHC) in the 1980s through supply-side investments prioritizing health infrastructure in rural areas and maternal and child health services. However, the Government of Malaysia acknowledges the necessity to take additional actions against the demographic and epidemiological transitions of the country, including the increasing burden of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and the growing aged population. For promoting healthy ageing and prevention and control of NCDs, multisectoral efforts to address risk factors, as well as social determinants of health, are critical in addition to ramping up people-centred integrated health services. Considering the rising proportion of the population aged 65 years or older in Malaysia, which is expected to reach 14.5% in 2040 from 7.2% in 2020, the City of Taping became the first member of the WHO Global Network of Age-friendly Cities and Communities from Malaysia, followed by the City of Ipoh.

According to the Regional Director's white paper endorsed at the 70th Session of the Regional Committee, WPRO, namely "For the Future – Towards the Healthiest and Safest Region", NCD and ageing are one of four thematic priorities in the Region. To drive this strategic direction, the Regional Action Plan for Healthy Ageing in the Western Pacific was adopted at the 71st Session of the Regional Committee in 2021. In line with these strategies and action plan, the consultant is expected to be part of the WHO Country Office in Malaysia, supporting the Government of Malaysia through promoting a whole of society approach to create a healthy ageing society and improve the health and wellbeing of older people.

Purpose/Specific Objective of the Activity

The purpose of this consultancy is to support the WHO Country Office in Malaysia supervised by the Healthy Ageing Unit (AGE) of the WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific (WPRO) to strengthen actions to address the impact of demographic and epidemiological transitions on the health of people in Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam and Singapore.

Description of activities to be carried out

Under the supervision of the WHO Representative and healthy ageing technical lead, the consultant is expected to support the WHO Country Office in Malaysia in planning, implementing and technically contributing to activities and projects in the area of healthy ageing in collaboration with government counterparts and relevant stakeholders. The scope of activities may include a wide range of healthy ageing topics such as age-friendly cities and communities, people-centred integrated care for older people, long-term care provision in three countries. Also, the consultant is expected to partly contribute to the COVID-19 response, focusing on supports for older people and the aged care sector.

Method(s) to carry out the activity

The work with relevant government counterparts (e.g., ministries of health) and stakeholders (e.g., local/international academics, non-governmental organizations) in Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam and Singapore will involve the following outputs and deliverables:

Output/s

Healthy ageing

• • Analyze the impact of demographic and epidemiological transitions to health and wellbeing of people living in Malaysia and Brunei Darussalam
• • Map the existing policies, institutions and measures to support older people with the object of health, long-term and social care in Malaysia and Brunei Darussalam
• • Identify gaps between the existing policies in health, long-term and social care and needs of older people in Malaysia and Brunei Darussalam
• • Engage with external stakeholders from various sectors to advocate for healthy ageing, beyond the health sector
• • Support organizing knowledge-sharing opportunities from Malaysia and Brunei Darussalam to countries and cities/communities in the Region and beyond
• • Actively seek new opportunities that WHO could support Malaysia becoming well prepared for the ageing society
• • Contribute to the project formulation in the area of healthy ageing such as grant application, proposal development, budgeting, and its execution
• • Support planning and implementing the pilot project of social prescribing for older people in Malaysia by adapting the WPRO Social Prescribing Toolkit
• • Contribute to the ongoing Future Health Dialogue with a focus on healthy ageing in Malaysia
• • Assist WHO Representative and technical supervisors to engage with the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development with any relevant healthy ageing work, including the Taiping/Ipoh Age-friendly City Project
• • Contribute to formulating and implementing activities and technical assistance to Brunei Darussalam promoting healthy ageing, if necessary
• • Connect with WPRO AGE unit through participation at monthly meetings and workshops and collaborate of strategizing for Regional Action Plan implementation

COVID-19 response

• • Support the ongoing COVID-19 response, particularly activities benefitting older people, as a member of the Incident Management Team, WHO Country Office as requested by the supervisor
• • Monitor and support the implementation of the ongoing activities to strengthen infection prevention and control measures at aged care facilities in Malaysia
• • Provide minutes of meetings and follow up action items

Other tasks as requested by WHO Representative

Deliverables

• • Situational analysis of health and wellbeing of older people in Malaysia 
• • Bi-monthly progress report
• • Final technical and project implementation report written in the specified format
• • Advocacy plan for healthy ageing in Malaysia

Qualifications and Experience

Individuals satisfying the following criteria:

Education

• Essential: An advanced university degree in public health or related fields.
• Desirable: Training in geriatrics, gerontology or NCDs would be an asset.

Experience

• Essential: A minimum of 5 years of experience in planning, implementing and monitoring public health programmes or technical assistance in the areas of healthy ageing or related fields.
• Desirable: Experience in providing technical support in the area of healthy ageing, such as people-centred integrated care, age-friendly cities and communities, long-term care, would be advantageous.

Skills 

• • Knowledge of WHO's framework, including global and regional level strategies and action plans for healthy ageing.
• • Knowledge of the epidemiological and demographic contexts in Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam and Singapore.

Languages

Expert reading, speaking and writing in English are required.

Competencies

• • Able to complete the task within the given timeframe
• • Good communication skills

Additional Information

• Starting Date: July 1, 2021
• Duration of Contract: 6 months

Applications

Qualified and interested specialists should submit their CV {for individual contractors} or Company Profile {for institutional applications} and Expression of Interest {cover letter} to the Supply Officer through WP RO UNGM at < [email protected] > by 30 May 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. 128008 as subject to all submission. Only successful candidates will be contacted.