1. Purpose of consultancy
The purpose of the consultancy is to support the development of Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) during mass gathering for early detection, verification, risk assessment and communication of acute public health events. In addition, the consultant will also enhance the existing SOP for emergency response. He/she will pilot test the SOPs at the Regional and WCO levels. The consultant will also be required to assist the Public Health Intelligence (PHI) team in all aspects of detection, verification and risk assessment and develop Situation Reports when needed.
2. Background
The mission of WHOs Health Emergencies Programme (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 (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.
The HIM Unit is also in charge of the communication with the International Health Regulations (IHR) National Focal Points (NFPs): as Regional Contact Point, the Unit receives notifications of public health events from IRH NFPs and sends them request for verification when a signal or an event is detected.
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 other social media platforms in collecting relevant information that may have potential to international public health. Apart from the routine detection, the PHI is also in charge of detection and risk assessment of acute public health events during mass gatherings. In this regard, it is high time to develop the SOPs that can be used during such events and pilot test the SOP. In this regard, a consultant with technical expertise on implementing surveillance in big mass gatherings and in acute emergencies is requested.
3. Work to be performed
Under the direct supervisor of Team Lead, Detection, Verification and Risk Assessment, Health Emergency Information and Risk Assessment Unit and overall guidance of the Program Area Manager, Health Emergency Information and Risk Assessment Unit, the Consultant will be responsible for the following outputs/deliverables:
Output 1: Develop SOP for mass gathering early detection and risk assessment
Deliverable 1.1: take stock of the existing SOPs globally
Deliverable 1.2: organize working group to advise on the SOP
Deliverable 1.3: produce SOP based on consultation and best epidemiologic practices/guidelines
Output 2: Pilot test SOP
Deliverable 2.1: List all the mass gathering events in the EMR and globally
Deliverable 2.2: Pilot test the developed SOP
Deliverable 2.3: Document the process and provide recommendations
Deliverable 2.4: Update the SOP based on the pilot tests
Output 3: Support the enhancement of existing SOPs for emergency response
Deliverable 3.1: Review existing SOP to identify parts that need to be updated
Deliverable 3.2: Consult with key WHO personnel (both team and HQ) on technical content.
Deliverable 3.3: Update the SOP based on consultation and best epidemiologic practices/guidelines
Output 4: Support early detection and risk assessment of acute public health events
Deliverable 4.1: Coordinate with PHI team on the detection of signals, events and emergencies
Deliverable 4.2: Support the analysis of the signals and events and come up with concrete recommendations for improvement
4. Qualifications, experience, skills and languages
Educational Qualifications:
Essential: Bachelor of Science in Public Health or Doctor of Medicine or Veterinary Medicine
Desirable: Master’s Degree in Public Health or related Field
Experience:
Essential: At least two-year of progressive professional experience in Public health, epidemiology or Information Management either in Public or Private sector with at least one-year work in conducting risk assessment or monitoring and evaluation.
-Experience in mass gathering surveillance in the government or private sector with focus on communicable and non-communicable diseases and its relation to public health in general.
Desirable: -Data management work includes data collection, cleaning, analysis and report generation .
Skills/Technical skills and knowledge:
1) Demonstrated knowledge in health information management system and technologies especially as it applies to public health;
2) Demonstrated Knowledge of public health, emergency response, communicable disease control, and date analysis;
3) Expertise in capacity building in information management for health
4) Good knowledge of WHO mandate and goals and UN programmes
5) Proven ability to communicate effectively. Excellent communication and writing skills;
6) Ability to work effectively in a cross-cultural and multi-disciplinary environment, while implementing best practices
7) Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work under pressure.
8) Tact, discretion and diplomacy
Languages and level required:
Expert level in English and Arabic
5. Location
Cairo, Egypt
6. Planned timelines (Subject to confirmation)
Start date: 15/02/2024
End date: 14/02/2025
7. Medical clearance
The selected Consultant will be expected to provide a medical certificate of fitness for work.
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 WHOs operations please visit: http://www.who.int.
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