Qualifications

 

 

 

1.      Purpose of consultancy

 

The purpose of the consultancy is to support the detection, verification, risk assessment and communication of acute public health events. The consultant will also support the implementation of the automation plan of the WHE Daily and Weekly bulletins and other information products, including Rapid Risk Assessment (RRA), Public Health Situational Analysis (PHSA), Event Information Site (EIS), situation reports. The consultant in collaboration with the bulletin automation focal person, will travel to participate in trainings to WHO Country Office (WCO) staff involved in public health intelligence (PHI) or surveillance.

 

 

2.      Background  

 

The WHO Health Emergencies Programme (WHE) is mandated to enhance WHO’s capacity for the rapid detection, assessment, and follow-up of all public health risks. This provides the opportunity to establish a framework that facilitates the implementation of a common approach to public health intelligence and public health event management across all levels of the organization.

 

 

 

 

The Health Emergency Information and Risk Assessment (HIM) Unit is responsible for identifying new public health events, assessing risks to public health, conducting epidemiological surveillance and field investigations, monitoring public health interventions, and communicating public health information to technical partners.

 

 

 

 

Under the HIM Unit is the Public Health Intelligence (PHI) Team which is at the forefront of rapidly identifying emerging public health threats, assessing the risks and communicating them. This enables timely response and strategies to address critical needs and avoid further morbidity and mortality. The key to deliver this crucial task is to identify signals within 24 hours, verify, risk assess and communicate and manage these acute public health events. The team systematically uses the Epidemic Intelligence from Open Source (EIOS) and social media platforms in collecting relevant information that may have potential to international public health. The team works 24/7 and produces results with a very tight deadline.

 

Technical support is needed to provide assistance in automating the daily, weekly bulletins and other information products like RRA, PHSA, EIS, situation reports. Support is also needed to scale up the collection of information from the WHO country offices, Ministries of Health (MOH), UN agencies and other agencies.

 

 

3.       Work to be performed

 

Output 1: Support EMRO-HIM on strengthening the automation of WHE bulletins and information products

 

Deliverable 1.1: Collect epidemiologic bulletins from WCO, MOH, UN agencies and other partners on a weekly basis

 

Deliverable 1.2: Support the bulletin automation focal person in developing the SOP of the automation plan

 

Deliverable 1.3: For the duration of consultancy, encode the information on developed database systematically

 

 

 

 

Output 2. Support EMRO-HIM on training HIM, relevant WHE and WCO staff

 

Deliverable 2.1: Develop training plan and needs on data collection and analysis relevant to the WHE bulletins

 

Deliverable 2.2: Conduct trainings and refresher courses relevant to the automation plan of the WHE bulletins

 

 

 

 

Output 3. Support EMRO-HIM in strengthening linkage with Berlin hub

 

Deliverable 3.1: Participate in regular calls (at least quarterly) and one in-person meeting with the WSE Division.

 

Deliverable 3.2: Collaborate with the other regional teams and regularly share updates and progress of the work they are delivering

 

Deliverable 3.3: Help teams in the other regions to adopt or implement the technical solutions developed.

 

Deliverable 3.4: Contribute to the annual reporting requirements of the WHO Hub for Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence

 

 

 

 

4.      Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

 

Educational Qualifications:

 

Essential: Minimum first university degree for lower end of range, an advanced university degree for mid and high end of range in Public Health, Medicine, Veterinary Medicine, Pharmacy or other related field

 

Experience:

 

5 to 10 years’ of  progressive professional experience in public health, epidemiology, or information management either in public or private sector including at least one-year experience in conducting EI, risk assessment, or surveillance.

 

Desirable: Experience in production of information products

 

 

 

 

Skills/Technical skills and knowledge:

 

— Demonstrated knowledge of public health, emergency response, communicable disease control, and risk assessment.

– Demonstrated skills in R program for analysis.

– Good knowledge of WHO mandate and goals and UN programmes.

– Proven ability to communicate effectively.  Excellent communication and writing skills.

– Ability to work effectively in a cross-cultural and multi-disciplinary environment.

– Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work under pressure.

– Tact, discretion, and diplomacy

Other Skills (e.g. IT)

 

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications.

Knowledge of R software, power BI

Languages and level required:

Essential: Excellent Knowledge of English.

 

Desirable: Good knowledge of Arabic Language

 

 

 

 

5.      Location 

 

Cairo, Egypt

 

6.       Planned timelines (Subject to confirmation)
Start date: 03/03/2024
End date: 31/12/2025

 

 

 

 

7.      Medical clearance

 

The selected Consultant will be expected to provide a medical certificate of fitness for work.

 

 

 

 

8.      Travel

 

It depends on the identified need to support WCOs in orienting the countries on the automation of information products

 

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.

 

 

 

 

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.
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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  reasonableaccommodation@who.int

 

·         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.

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• Consultants shall perform the work as independent contractors in a personal capacity, and not as a representative of any entity or authority.
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