Consultant - surveillance, him/whe/wproWorld Health Organization

Purpose of the Consultancy
The purpose of the consultancy is to support principal tasks for HIM teams including Event-based surveillance, risk assessment and FETP training. Working with designated staffs assigned to the area of work, the consultancy participates in epidemic intelligence activities, backstops, and provides technical support in the areas of epidemiology, detection, verification, and risk assessment of health in emergencies including COVID-19 outbreak.
Background
Since 2 January 2020, the three levels of WHO (China Country Office, Regional Office for the Western Pacific and Headquarters) have been working together to respond to this outbreak of COVID-19. On 30 January 2020, WHO declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). On 11 March 2020, WHO Director General characterized COVID-19 as a pandemic. WPRO HIM team has supported response to the COVID-19 outbreak in the Western Pacific region, supporting Member States and WHO Country Offices to prepare and respond to COVID-19.
Aside from the COVID-19 response, HIM team has continued to maintain infectious diseases and public health crises monitoring, verification and response functions. However, due to the resource intensive and protracted nature of the COVID-19 response the HIM team is looking to strengthen its team to conduct routine monitoring and response activities for all hazards including COVID-19 outbreak in the western pacific region.
Work to be performed
Note: Below activities include the events related to COVID-19 in the Western Pacific Region.
Under the supervision of the Programme Area Manager, Health Emergency Information and Risk Assessment (HIM), the consultant will be responsible for delivering the following:
Output 1: Support detection of potential outbreaks and public health events including disaster that pose a risk in the countries in the Western Pacific region.
Deliverable 1.1: Monitoring official and unofficial information sources using Event-based (EBS) and indicator-based surveillance (IBS).
Deliverable 1.2: Verification of the detected events through WHO Country Office, if necessary.
Output 2: Support the risk assessments and situation analyses.
Deliverable 2.1: Support undertaking event notification of risk assessments on a daily basis
Deliverable 2.2: Support rapid risk assessments
Deliverable 2.3: Support situation analysis of public health events through IHR communication
Output 3: Support development and use of EIOS boards for priority public health threats, including for COVID-19 monitoring in close collaboration with the Information and Planning pillar of the WPRO COVID-19 IMST.
Output 4: Support to produce information products, including daily surveillance report, weekly and biweekly indicator-based surveillance report, as well as other information products on an ad-hoc basis.
Output 5: Support the maintenance, updating, development and implementation of surveillance and assessment databases and tools (including Signal application module of EMS2) used in detection, documentation, and communication of all-hazard acute public health events, including event detection, and risk assessment.
Output 6: Support WHO Country Offices, including information sharing and helping risk assessment of events.
Output 7: Provide the monthly progress report on the work performed and achieved, and the submission of the final mission report at the end of consultancy
Output 8: Support other activities as requested by the Programme Area Manager, Health Emergency Information and Risk Assessment.
Qualifications, experience, skills, and languages
Education: minimum university degree in a public health, epidemiology, quantitative methods and/or medicine, complemented by degree in epidemiology, public health, control of infectious diseases or a related discipline from a recognized university;
Desirable: Post-graduate degree in a public health, epidemiology, quantitative methods and/or medicine,
Experience: Minimum two years' relevant work experience with successful track record in epidemiology, information management, quantitative methods, surveillance and/or control of outbreaks, with proven field experience in epidemics or public health emergencies at national and international level;
Desirable: Relevant work experience in WHO, other UN agencies; experience working in relevant nongovernmental or humanitarian organizations. Experience in developing countries.
Language
Competent in written and verbal English.
Competencies
Building and promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond
Moving forward in a changing environment
Ensuring the effective use of resources
Fostering Integration and teamwork
Communication in a credible and effective way
Place of assignment
The consultancy will initially take place remotely with travel to Manila, Philippines, if conditions allow.
Medical clearance
The selected Consultant will be expected to provide a medical certificate of fitness for work.
Travel
Depending on the situation, travel to countries in the Region may be arranged as necessary.
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: . Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and will require individual review.
For information on WHO's operations please visit: .
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 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 in each location/jurisdiction in which the work hereunder is performed, and the Consultant shall not be entitled to any reimbursement thereof by WHO.
World Health Organization

Manila City, Metro Manila
Permanent
Full-time