Consultant – Training and research for rehabilitation

Purpose of consultancy

To provide technical guidance to WHO and Member States in advancing rehabilitation research and training, including in health systems and policy research.

Background

An estimated 2.4 billion people worldwide would benefit from rehabilitation at some point in their lives. This number is expected to increase in the coming years due to people living longer and with more chronic disease and disability. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on future rehabilitation needs is also yet to be seen. Despite this huge need, rehabilitation services remain limited in much of the world. Where rehabilitation is available, major barriers often persist including lack of funding, leadership, available data and evidence for rehabilitation and functioning, skilled workforce and resources.

To address these challenges, WHO launched the Rehabilitation 2030 initiative in 2017, drawing attention to the increasing unmet need for rehabilitation, and calling for coordinated and concerted global action towards strengthening rehabilitation in health systems. WHO is now undertaking a series of activities to accelerate action and support progress in countries. Three such activities include:

1. Building research capacity and expanding the availability and utilization of robust policy-relevant evidence for rehabilitation, with a particular focus on health policy and systems research (HPSR).
2. Development of a virtual training course for WHO partners and colleagues working at Regional or National levels.
3. Strengthening rehabilitation advocacy, to raise awareness about rehabilitation amongst all stakeholders and to establish rehabilitation as a global political priority. In 2024 this area of work will include ongoing coordination of the World Rehabilitation Alliance (a WHO-hosted global network of stakeholders whose mission is to support the implementation of the Rehabilitation 2030 initiative through advocacy activities).

WHO Rehabilitation Programme is seeking a consultant with experience in health policy and systems research and strong technical writing skills to contribute to this work.

Deliverables

• Output 1: Contribute to initiatives for strengthening health policy and systems research for rehabilitation for 2023-30.
  • Deliverable 1.1: Drive the implementation of the HPSR strategy work.
  • Deliverable 1.2: Prepare and organise at least 3 collaborating center network meetings.
  • Deliverable 1.3: Facilitate and contribute to HPSR work in at least 2 countries, by working with the Regional Advisors to develop research strategy and implementation plans for rehabilitation.
    Expected delivery date: August 2025.
• Output 2: Develop a virtual training course for WHO teams and partners to better orient to the Rehabilitation 2030 actions.
  • Deliverable 2.1: Agree on outline and structure of the programme.
  • Deliverable 2.2: Develop the content and structure of the course, working with the relevant team members of the rehabilitation programme and an educational design expert.
    Expected by: April 2025.
• Output 3: Serve as Secretariat focal point for the World Rehabilitation Alliance (WRA) research workstream, providing technical and strategic input to the workstream co-chairs and members.
  • Deliverable 3.1: Contribute to the development of the WRA research workstream 2-year workplan.
  • Deliverable 3.2: Provide regular written and verbal updates to the WHO Rehabilitation Programme on workstream processes and activities.
    Expected by: August 2025.

Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Educational Qualifications:

Essential:

• University degree in medicine or a rehabilitation science (such as physiotherapy, or occupational therapy).
• Advanced university degree in public health, international health, epidemiology or a related field.

Experience:

Essential:

• At least 5-10 years of experience working on rehabilitation-related projects.
• Demonstrated experience conducting rehabilitation-related health policy and systems research (at least three publications).
• Experience in developing and delivering teaching and training for rehabilitation.
• Demonstrated experience in writing policy briefs.

Desirable:

• Previous experience working with WHO or another multilateral organization.

Skills:

Essential:

• Advanced technical knowledge in public health, workforce, and rehabilitation.
• Excellent skills in data synthesis, evaluation and reporting, including in country reports and academic publications.
• Excellent skills in evidence synthesis and appraisal.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Languages required:

Essential:

• Expert knowledge of English.

Location

Off site: Home-based

Travel

The consultant is expected to travel.

Remuneration and budget (travel costs are excluded):

Remuneration:

Band level B – USD 7,000 – 9,980 per month.

Living expenses (A living expense is payable to on-site consultants who are internationally recruited):

N/A

Expected duration of contract:

11 months.

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.
• WHO is committed to workforce diversity.
• WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.
• Applications from women and from nationals of non and underrepresented Member States are particularly encouraged.
• 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 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 final candidates.
• Consultants shall perform the work as independent contractors in a personal capacity, and not as a representative of any entity or authority. The execution of the work under a consultant contract does not create an employer/employee relationship between WHO and the Consultant.
• WHO shall have no responsibility whatsoever 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.
• Consultants working in Switzerland must register with the applicable Swiss cantonal tax authorities and social security authorities, within the prescribed timeframes (Guidelines issued by the Swiss Mission are available at: https://www.eda.admin.ch/missions/mission-onu-geneve/en/home/manual-regime-privileges-and-immunities/introduction/Manuel-personnes-sans-privileges-et-immunites-carte-H/Non fonctionnaires et stagiaires.html