Purpose of the Consultancy

This consultancy will support the Ministries of Health in Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam, and Singapore by assisting the Ministry of Health (MOH) in formulating and executing strategies to enhance the International Health Regulations (IHR, 2005). This includes strengthening laboratory systems, biosafety and biosecurity measures (such as the national public health laboratory network, specimen referral mechanisms, and genomic surveillance), aligned with the Asia Pacific Health Security Action Framework (APHSAF) and guided by performance indicators from IHR monitoring and evaluation frameworks (e.g., the IHR Joint External Evaluation – JEE and the State Party Self-Assessment Report – SPAR).

Additionally, in collaboration with WHO Headquarters, Regional Offices, and WHO Collaborating Centres, this role will facilitate and coordinate capacity-building initiatives aimed at enhancing national and subnational laboratory capabilities. These efforts will focus on detecting, confirming, and characterizing pathogens responsible for emerging, re-emerging, vaccine-preventable, and other infectious diseases with epidemic and pandemic potential.

Background

In the Western Pacific Region, the Asia Pacific Health Security Action Framework (APHSAF) serves as a unified strategic framework that guides the collaborative efforts of Member States (MSs), WHO, and partners in advancing the implementation of the International Health Regulations (IHR, 2005). As the successor to the Asia Pacific Strategy for Emerging Diseases and Public Health Emergencies (APSED III), APHSAF builds upon lessons learned from previous iterations and outlines six interconnected multisectoral domains that form a robust health security system. The WHO Health Emergencies (WHE) team supports the Ministry of Health in strengthening its overall capacity to prevent, detect, and manage emerging diseases, as well as prepare for and respond to public health emergencies through APHSAF’s implementation.

Enhancing public health laboratory capacity, a vital public health function, spans multiple subdomains of APHSAF to establish a comprehensive health security system. These include detecting, reporting, and monitoring novel and unusual events (assess and respond domain); prevention and risk mitigation (readiness and resilience domain); and developing and maintaining the health security workforce (support and enable domain). Expertise in laboratory diagnostics is essential for supporting Member States in building effective diagnostic and laboratory capacities for pathogen and genomic surveillance, which are integral to health emergency preparedness, response, and resilience.

Deliverables

Under the supervision of the WHO Representative and WHE focal point, the selected consultant will provide technical expertise and operational support in health emergency preparedness, response and resilience, focusing on laboratory-related activities.

Output 1: Support the Ministry of Health (MOH) in designing and implementing strategies to enhance the International Health Regulations (IHR, 2005) with a focus on laboratory systems, biosafety, and biosecurity. This includes strengthening the national public health laboratory network, specimen referral mechanisms, and genomic surveillance, aligned with the Asia Pacific Health Security Action Framework (APHSAF) and guided by performance indicators from IHR monitoring and evaluation frameworks (e.g., IHR Joint External Evaluation – JEE and State Party Self-Assessment Report – SPAR).

Deliverable 1.1: Support the enhancement of laboratory infrastructure and development of standard operating procedures and analysis of human specimens and laboratory quality management systems.
Deliverable 1.2: Monitor and evaluate the development of genome sequencing surveillance system to detect variants of emerging diseases and other infections pathogens as per the EMPaCT approach.
Deliverable 1.3: Support member states for the High Containment Laboratory Training (Biosafety Level 3 Laboratory) including assessment of laboratory engineering requirements and application of standard operating procedures on handling  high-risk pathogen in preparations for the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).
Deliverable 1.4: Support the enhancement of laboratory detection of environmental Organic Pollutants in Environment.
Deliverable 1.5: Support the enhancement of Laboratory detection for chemical and biological agents as bioweapons as part of the preparedness under Biosafety and Biosecurity.
Deliverable 1.6: Support the development of National Biorepository Policy for Malaysia.

Output 2: Coordinate and facilitate capacity-building initiatives, in collaboration with WHO Headquarters, Regional Offices, and WHO Collaborating Centres, to enhance national and subnational laboratory capabilities. These efforts focus on detecting, confirming, and characterizing emerging, re-emerging, and other communicable diseases, including vaccine-preventable diseases and those with epidemic and pandemic potential.

Deliverable 2.1: Coordinate with technical leads to provide support for laboratory components to supplement better programme implementation, with regard to laboratory capacity to detect pathogens with outbreak potential, other communicable diseases and support an appropriate response at the sub-national level through laboratory assessment and training.
Deliverable 2.2: Technical support and coordination with BRN MOH on NIC recognition.
Deliverable 2.3: Technical coordination with WHE WPRO laboratory focal point and WHO CCs for laboratory strengthening support to Member States.

Output 3: Submission of reports

Deliverable 3.1 Monthly consultancy reports
Deliverable 3.2 Final technical reports with all deliverables

Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Educational Qualifications:

Essential: First university degree (bachelor’s level) in life science, biology, medical virology or microbiology from an accredited/ recognized institute. Certified training or qualification in molecular biology, virology, bacteriology, infectious diseases and/or epidemiology and laboratory techniques.

Desirable: Advanced university degree in public health, epidemiology, infectious diseases or health emergency management.

Experience

Essential: At least five years of practical and operational application and management of laboratory services, laboratory diagnosis of communicable diseases at national and international levels.

Desirable: Experience in biotechnology and biomedical research.
Experience in planning and implementing laboratory training at local, national and regional levels.
Previous experience in United Nations organizations/agencies, health cluster partners, recognized humanitarian organizations, international institutions or nongovernmental organizations, particularly in developing countries.

Skills / Technical skills and knowledge

Excellent knowledge of English. Working knowledge of another WHO official language would be an asset.
Good computer skills in Microsoft Office, EPI Info, SPSS etc.

Languages and level required

Essential: Expert knowledge of English

Location

The consultant can work remotely with regular physical visits to the WHO Country Office in Malaysia when necessary.

Travel

The consultant is not expected to travel.

Remuneration and budget

Remuneration: MYR 8,500 (monthly)
Expected duration of contract: 11 months, February to December 2025 (part-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 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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Level of Education: Bachelor Degree

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: No requirements