Consultant – New and Emerging Tobacco, Nicotine and Related Product Regulation in the Western Pacific Region, Manila, Philippines

A consultant is required to support the Tobacco Free Initiative in the Western Pacific Region to monitor, assess and prepare for information dissemination of: the latest science and regulatory approaches to electronic nicotine and non-nicotine delivery systems and other imitation tobacco products; flavours in tobacco and nicotine products; and cross-border advertising of tobacco and related products.

The Tobacco Free Initiative (TFI) programme, under the NCD Prevention and Health Promotion unit of the WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific, is mandated to assist Member States in the full implementation of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), and the Regional Action Plan for Tobacco Control in the Western Pacific (RAP) (2020-2030) in order to reduce tobacco and nicotine use and protect people from secondhand smoke exposure and thereby prevent and mitigate tobacco-related diseases and premature death.

Through the Regional Action Plan for Tobacco Control in the Western Pacific (RAP) (2020-2030), the Member States of the Western Pacific Region proactively included an objective to either ban or strongly regulate electronic nicotine and non-nicotine delivery systems; and if these products are not banned, to adopt measures such as “banning the use of flavours, including those that appeal to children and youth, as well as ingredients that increase palatability.”

The Tenth Session of the Conference of the Parties of the WHO FCTC adopted specific guidelines to address cross-border tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship and the depiction of tobacco in entertainment media for implementation of Article 13 (Tobacco advertising, promotion, and sponsorship (TAPS)) of the WHO FCTC.

Under the supervision of the Technical Lead, TFI, the consultant will perform the following activities:

Output 1: Preparation for and facilitation of a sub-regional workshop on regulating new and emerging challenges in tobacco and nicotine products such as electronic nicotine and non-nicotine delivery systems.

Deliverable 1.1: Compilation of the latest science and regulatory approaches to electronic nicotine and non-nicotine delivery systems and other imitation tobacco products.

Deliverable 1.2: Draft program, background documents and draft presentation outlines for the sub-regional workshop on regulating new and emerging challenges in tobacco and nicotine products in the Pacific Island countries

Deliverable 1.3: Draft Summary Report from the sub-regional workshop on regulating new and emerging challenges in tobacco and nicotine products in the Pacific Island countries

Deliverable 1.4: Final Report of the sub-regional workshop on regulating new and emerging challenges in tobacco and nicotine products in the Pacific Island countries

Deliverable 1.5: Draft supporting documents for other capacity-building activities related to the regulation of new and emerging challenges in tobacco and nicotine products such as electronic nicotine and non-nicotine delivery systems

Output 2: Preparation for the Tobacco Free Initiative side event at the 75th Regional Committee Meeting of the Western Pacific Region

Deliverable 2.1: Draft program, background documents for the TFI RCM75 side event including the Two Decades of Action in Tobacco Control in the Western Pacific

Deliverable 2.2: Draft presentations and communications materials for the TFI RCM75 side event

Output 3: Summary of regulatory options for countering tobacco industry tactics related to increasing attractiveness of tobacco and nicotine products.

Deliverable 3.1: Compilation report of the latest science and regulatory approaches of flavours in tobacco and nicotine products.

Deliverable 3.2: Compilation report of the regulatory approach to cross-border advertising of tobacco and related products (with a focus on internet-based channels).

Deliverable 3.3: Draft country-specific policy briefs for at least 2 WPR Member States featuring regulatory approaches of e-cigarettes and/or flavours in tobacco and related products such as e-cigarettes.

Deliverable 3.4: Draft country-specific policy briefs for at least 2 WPR Member States featuring regulatory approaches to cross-border advertising of tobacco and related products (with a focus on internet-based channels).

Method(s) to carry out the activity

Desk-based literature review

Technical writing, presentation preparation

Data and information management

Coordination with WHO country offices

Essential: University degree in public health or social sciences

Desirable: Postgraduate degree in public health or its equivalent training.

Essential: Minimum five years of experience in tobacco control, especially with government

Desirable: Experience in tobacco, electronic nicotine and non-nicotine delivery systems regulation

Essential: Written and spoken fluency in English

The consultant will be on-site based in Manila, Philippines.

The Consultant may be expected to undertake occasional duty travel to support countries in the region related to outputs as needed. Travel dates and destination(s) to be confirmed.

Remuneration:

Expected duration of contract : The consultant is expected to work for 198 days, starting 15 July 2024 (TBC), to deliver the above work by 30 April 2025.

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