National Consultant – Supporting Surveillance System’s and Health Emergency’s Capacity Building

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Qualifications

Purpose of consultancy

The purpose of the consultancy is to position a regional resource dedicated to supporting the strengthening of the early warning function of the surveillance system – more specifically its event-based surveillance component – in Member States through the implementation and adoption of the regional strategy of Integrated Disease Surveillance (IDS).

Background  

The mission of WHO’s Health Emergencies Programme (WHE) (The Programme) is to build the capacity of Member States to manage health emergency risks and, when national capacities are overwhelmed, to lead and coordinate the international health response to contain outbreaks and to provide effective relief and recovery to affected populations.

The Health Emergency Information and Risk Assessment Unit (HIM) 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.

The World Health Organization (WHO) proposes that Member States of the Eastern Mediterranean Region commit to implementing integrated disease surveillance systems by the end of 2025. Integrated Disease Surveillance will improve the efficiency and effectiveness of health information systems in using data to guide decisions, such as rapid detection and response to epidemics, priority-setting, intervention planning, resource mobilisation and allocation, and monitoring and evaluation. Most countries already have systems for disease-specific surveillance in place; however, these are usually not coordinated, and their implementation often leads to redundancies and gaps that make them less effective, particularly in early threat detection.

Work to be performed

Output 1: Enhancement of Event-Based Surveillance (EBS) in EMR Member States

Deliverable 1.1: Support the development of the regional EBS guidance

Deliverable 1.2: Develop processes for implementing EBS in Member States requesting support.

Deliverable 1.3: Engage with identified Member States to initiate support for implementing EBS including EIOS.

Output 2: Support development of Monitoring Evalation Accountability and Learning (MEAL) Strategy

Deliverable 2.1. Conduct desk review to support context analysis

Deliverable 2.2. Support stakeholder mapping and draft engagement document

Deliverable 2.3. Conduct intradepartmental consultations to solicite feedback on draft strategy document

Educational Qualifications

Essential: Completion of a university degree in medicine, public health or related field

Desirable: Relevant advanced qualification in epidemiology and/or public health

Experience

Essential: Minimum of 2 years of experience working in the country support, surveillance

Desirable: Working knowledge of the EIOS platform; Work experience with the WHO or other UN agencies.

Skills/Knowledge

·       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

Languages and level required

Essential: Competent in written and verbal English

Location

The work is expected to be carried out from the WHO Regional Office in Cairo, Egypt. Selected consultant may be deployed for surge in any EMR countries.

Medical clearance

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

Hiring Unit

Health Emergency Information and Risk Assessment – WHO’s Health Emergencies.

Remuneration and Expected duration of the contract (Maximum contract duration is 11 months per calendar year)

·                 Remuneration: National rate at NOB Level

·                 Expected duration of the contract: Start date: 01/07/2024 – End date: 29/09/2024

WHO Competencies

Enhanced WHO Global Competency Model: Enhanced WHO global competency model

Interested candidates are strongly encouraged to apply online through Stellis. For assessment of your application, please ensure that:

a)               Your profile on Stellis is properly completed and updated.

b)               All required details regarding your qualifications, education, and training are provided.

c)               Your experience records are entered with elaboration on tasks performed at the time.

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 an 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 is committed to putting 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.