Consultant – Social Prescribing, Health Systems and Services, Manila

Purpose of the consultancy

The consultant will support improving linkage between health systems and social and cultural factors beyond health sector, by taking a life course approach, focusing on building evidence, providing technical support to Member States and sharing knowledge by creating technical information products.

Background

In the Western Pacific Region, it is becoming ever more imperative to ensure coordinated health, long-term care, and social services are readily available and accessible within the community. Social prescribing emerges as a pivotal approach, linking patients with community services to address underlying health issues comprehensively (World Health Organization Regional Office for the Western Pacific, 2022). It shifts the focus from merely treating symptoms to embracing holistic well-being care, seamlessly integrating community-based support and curbing medicalization. Although specifics may differ, social prescriptions typically encompass mental health, social inclusion, financial aid services, and activities fostering physical and creative engagement. Adaptable in its execution, social prescribing tailors to diverse community and care contexts, offering personalised plans through dedicated link workers or healthcare providers (WHO, 2022). This strategy nurtures holistic health enhancement by tackling social determinants and championing integrated care models.

The UK National Academy for Social Prescribing underscores the significant impact of social prescribing, which encompasses community-based arts on prescription, on well-being and self-efficacy (Social Prescribing Academy, n.d.). Social prescribing has shown promising outcomes, including cost-effectiveness, reduced general practitioner consultations, and heightened well-being and self-efficacy, thus alleviating strain on community nursing and mental health services (Social Prescribing Academy, n.d.). An anthropological and behavioural comprehension of local context proves pivotal in crafting interventions for public health efficacy and forging connections between health systems and the community, extending beyond the health sector for integrated, people-centered primary healthcare.

This consultancy aims to bolster countries in the Western Pacific Region in enhancing integrated PHC service delivery by integrating anthropological approaches into public health planning and interventions

Deliverables

Output 1: Provide support in building evidence base for the development of policies, strategies, guidelines, toolkits, and other related initiatives.
Deliverable 1.1: Support MCQ and other collaborating units to collect, analyze, and disseminate social and health data based on the specific requirements of Member States – focusing on improving linkage between health service delivery and factors beyond health sector (eg. social determinants of health, social drivers, social capital, etc.)
Deliverable 1.2: Support collaboration with academic partners by drafting study proposals, providing technical input, and managing research initiatives to contribute to evidence-based policies and programmes to improve linkage between health service delivery and factors beyond health sector (eg. social determinants of health, social drivers, social capital, social prescribing)
Deliverable 1.3: Assist with publication in peer-reviewed academic journals to disseminate new research findings to key stakeholders, policy makers and the public by drafting, editing, and submission of manuscripts.
Deliverable 1.4: Assist with creating WHO technical products (guidance, framework, action plan, toolkit etc.) by supporting with conceptualization, planning and execution.
Deliverable 1.5: Assist in the organization and execution of internal and external meetings, webinars, workshops, and trainings for the MCQ and other collaborating units by providing technical input for concept notes, agendas, meeting reports, and other relevant materials.
Deliverable 1.6: Contribute to the development of regional strategy and case study evidence from member states on cultural and behavioural approaches to public health design and implementation.

Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Educational Qualifications

Essential: Advanced university degree (Master’s) in public health, nursing, medicine, anthropology, relevant health, or social sciences.

Experience

Essential: Minimum 7 years of work experience in public health and/or academic research in relevant public health topic or population ageing.
Desirable: International experience within WHO or other UN Organizations at multiple geographical locations.
Demonstrated experience in evidence generation and knowledge sharing for public health (e.g. academic articles, presentation at international conferences, field projects).
Experience in producing technical reports, frameworks, action plans at WHO or other UN organizations.
Experience in leading and conducting research studies, publishing academic articles in peer-reviewed journals as a first author.
Experience in editing academic publications.

Skills/Knowledge

Outstanding ability to understand and support health promotion, noncommunicable diseases and population ageing case studies or research
Demonstrated project management skills
Excellent written and verbal communication skills
Good knowledge of the dynamics of the international public health work
Ability to plan, design and implement a systematic approach to problem solving
Ability to provide technical support to countries
Ability to work harmoniously as a member of the team, adapt to diverse cultural and educational backgrounds and maintain a high standard of personal conduct

Languages and level required

Essential: Expert knowledge of English (Read – Write – Speak)
Desirable: Expert knowledge of other UN language (Read – Write – Speak)

Location

Off site: Home-based

Travel

The Consultant is expected to undertake any travel (mission) as part of this assignment for the following purposes:

• Qualitative data collection for case studies on cultural and behavioural approaches to public health design and implementation
• Participation in a conference/meeting on social prescribing

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) 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.
• The WHO is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The WHO recruits workforce regardless of disability status, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, language, race, marital status, religious, cultural, ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds, or any other personal characteristics.
  The WHO is committed to achieving gender parity and geographical diversity in its workforce. Women, persons with disabilities, and nationals of unrepresented and underrepresented Member States (https://www.who.int/careers/diversity-equity-and-inclusion) are strongly encouraged to apply for WHO jobs.
  Persons with disabilities can request reasonable accommodations to enable participation in the recruitment process. Requests for reasonable accommodation should be sent through an email to [email protected]
• An impeccable record for integrity and professional ethical standards is essential. 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 (https://www.who.int/about/who-we-are/our-values) 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 short-listed candidates.
• WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.
• Consultants shall perform the work as independent contractors in a personal capacity, and not as a representative of any entity or authority.
• WHO shall have no responsibility 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 each location/jurisdiction in which the work hereunder is performed, and the Consultant shall not be entitled to any reimbursement thereof by WHO.
• Please note that WHO’s contracts are conditional on members of the workforce confirming that they are vaccinated as required by WHO before undertaking a WHO assignment, except where a medical condition does not allow such vaccination, as certified by the WHO Staff Health and Wellbeing Services (SHW). The successful candidate will be asked to provide relevant evidence related to this condition. A copy of the updated vaccination card must be shared with WHO medical service in the medical clearance process. Please note that certain countries require proof of specific vaccinations for entry or exit. For example, official proof /certification of yellow fever vaccination is required to enter many countries. Country-specific vaccine recommendations can be found on the WHO international travel and Staff Health and Wellbeing website. For vaccination-related queries please directly contact SHW directly at [email protected].
• In case the recruitment website does not display properly, please retry by: (i) checking that you have the latest version of the browser installed (Chrome, Edge or Firefox); (ii) clearing your browser history and opening the site in a new browser (not a new tab within the same browser); or (iii) retry accessing the website using Mozilla Firefox browser or using another device. Click the link for detailed guidance on completing job applications: Instructions for candidates.