Consultancy Roster – Public health researcher and technical writer, WPRO

Purpose of consultancy

The consultant is expected to coordinate and support the drafting and completion of technical documents, research papers, programmatic and other materials to promote dissemination of lessons learnt from WHO’s support in multiple countries for Maternal and Child Health, Infection Prevention and Control (IPC), Surgical and Critical Care Strengthening and Quality Safety.

Successful applicants will be added to the Consultancy Pool and will be contacted and offered opportunities to quote for short‑term consultancies when appropriate opportunities arise.

Background

Safe and Affordable Surgery (SAS)

Strengthening safe surgical care is a priority of the Western Pacific Region given its critical role in reducing death and disability and in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and Universal Health Coverage. Surgical care has received less attention compared to other health interventions despite its potential benefits. The Action Framework for Safe and Affordable Surgery in the Western Pacific Region (2021–2030) was adopted by Member States at the seventy-first session of the Regional Committee for the Western Pacific in 2020. WHO WPRO has supported surgery operational planning in Cambodia, and Mongolia, Vanuatu and Solomon Islands. Of these, Fiji, Cambodia, Mongolia and Solomon Islands began improving the sterilization of medical equipment in 2022 and 2023. Additional activities under SAS include prevention of surgical infections in selected countries of the Region.

Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child Health (RMNCH)

In response to the challenge of continued high rates of newborn mortality, the WHO Western Pacific Regional Office (WPRO) developed an Action Plan Towards Healthy Newborns in the Western Pacific Region (2014–2020). The Regional Action Plan outlines an approach for implementing and scaling up an Early Essential Newborn Care (EENC) package of interventions delivered to the mother and newborn between delivery and the first three days after birth. Implementation of EENC and Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) has focused in nine countries of the WPRO Region. WHO/WPRO is supporting improved quality and reach of EENC by improving routine health systems.

Deliverables

Based on individual selection and discussions, the consultant(s) will perform selective duties from the below:

Output/s

Output 1: In coordination with the MCQ team – support the drafting and completion of technical reports, research papers for publication, and other materials as needed. Support the dissemination of findings and lessons learnt.

Deliverable 1.1: Regional case report on safe and affordable surgery
Deliverable 1.2: Paper on healthcare quality and safety in the WPRO region
Deliverable 1.3: Paper on IPC regional scoping review methodology drafted and submitted for journal peer-review.
Deliverable 1.4: Paper on well-child care findings from the Region drafted and submitted for journal peer-review.
Deliverable 1.5: Prepare communications materials and provide support for dissemination of findings including preparing powerpoint decks, newsletters and regional products.

Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Educational Qualifications:

Essential: Bachelor's degree in public health with a focus on epidemiology, or health systems.

Experience

Essential: Minimum of 3 years of relevant experience in writing articles, journal papers and technical documents.
Experience in writing research papers, technical guidance documents and peer-reviewed papers.

Desirable: Experience in working on quality of care and health systems strengthening.
Work experience in low- and middle-income country (LMIC) contexts

Skills/Knowledge:

Essential:

Ability to independently determine and carry out statistical analysis and write the methods section.
Ability to independently draft the structure for technical documents.
Good knowledge of the use of study design, data entry, and data management.
Ability to proofread and edit technical documents, skilled in referencing documents.
Ability to conduct literature review, document review.
Ability to synthesise findings and develop/edit power point decks
Good analytical skills (making statistical and epidemiologic analysis in an appropriate and reliable manner) and use of statistical software such as excel, STATA, SPSS, SAS or R
Familiarity with public health programs, use of programmatic data and indicators, and monitoring and evaluation of public health program

Languages and level required:

Essential: Expert knowledge of spoken and written English

Location

Off site: Home-based

Travel

The Consultant is expected to be available for travel on-demand basis as necessitated by project requirements. Travel details, including destinations, duration, and any related logistical considerations, will be communicated in advance to facilitate planning and coordination.

Remuneration and budget:

Remuneration: Band level A, USD 200-300 (daily), depending on qualification.

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 purpose of this vacancy is to develop a list of qualified candidates for inclusion in the advertised roster. Successful candidates will be placed on the roster and subsequently may be selected for consultancy assignments; however, contracting of rostered candidates is not guaranteed..