Consultant – Global Health Cluster COVID19 Task Team

Purpose of consultancy

To strengthen the coordination and effectiveness of Health Cluster preparedness and response through harmonized efforts to identify and promote minimum standard, practical solutions to technical and operational challenges to mitigate the impact of COVID19 amongst vulnerable populations affected by humanitarian crises.

Background

Within WHO’s Health Emergencies Programme, the Global Health Cluster (GHC) unit leads, coordinates and monitors the work of the Global Health Cluster and coordinates its work with other partner agencies, WHO Departments and Regional Offices. The GHC unit contributes to the effectiveness and quality of Country Health Cluster performance by promoting predictable response and collective action by GHC partners in accordance with IASC and health sector related policies and good practice. This work is guided by the GHC Strategy 2020-2023.

The COVID19 pandemic continues to present an unprecedented threat to global public health and socio-economic stability particularly in countries affected by humanitarian crises where health systems are weak and large numbers of vulnerable people live in sub-optimal conditions which may accelerate COVID19 transmission. In response, the Global Health Cluster has scaled-up its country coordination support to provide context appropriate technical and operational guidance to effectively implement the COVID-19 Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan as an integral component of the 2021 & 2022 HRPs both to mitigate the direct impact of COVID19 but to also maintain the provision of existing humanitarian action, including essential health services.

The GHC COVID19 Task Team was established in May 2020 to lead this work, and reviews of its work by the GHC Strategic Advisory Group (SAG) has highlighted the valuable role it has played in guiding the Health Cluster response and other sectors. The SAG agreed continuation was essential to provide consistent support to Health Clusters as the pandemic evolves. The GHC COVID19 Task Team’s work is a priority within the GHC work-plan for which BHA funding has been secured. The Task Team is comprised of 32 partners with 4 officers supporting the workplan. The consultant will undertake work to achieve the related deliverables as outlined below within the overall objectives of the COVID19 Task Team Terms of Reference namely: (1) collate country-level technical, operational and coordination challenges; (2) promote and support adaptation and use of COVID19 guidance for low capacity and humanitarian settings; (3) support multi-sectoral action (4) capture and share lessons learned, good practices; and (5) advocacy to address unmet needs/ operational barriers.

Deliverables

Activity 1: Conduct systematic needs and gap analysis identifying thematic webinars to be conducted; coordinate and engage with experts to lead webinars. Deliver 10 expert led thematic cluster to cluster webinars; produce, publish and disseminate supporting FAQs.
Deliverable:

• Priority topics identified; 10 thematic webinar/s delivered, supporting documents collated and FAQs for each webinar produced.
  Expected by July 2023.

Activity 2 Develop and disseminate learning products from GHC study conducted on COVID-19 multi-sectoral collaboration in humanitarian settings.
Deliverables:

• Develop tools, advocacy, key messages on multi sectoral collaboration and action.
  Expected by April 2023.
• 3 Webinars held with key stakeholders such as health cluster coordinators, health cluster partners, WHO HQ, WCO.
  Expected by July 2023.

Activity3: Develop and disseminate learning products from GHC study conducted on coordination of COVID-19 response in humanitarian settings.
Deliverables:

• Develop tools, advocacy, key messages on coordination of COVID-19 response in humanitarian settings.
  Expected by March 2023.
• 3 Webinars held with key stakeholders such as health cluster coordinators, health cluster partners, WHO HQ, WCOs.
  Expected by July 2023.

Activity 4: Conduct real-time tracking of COVID-19 vaccine status and related operational issues across minimum of 31 cluster settings; populate and maintain database; produce regular status reports and disseminate to key stakeholders. Collate primary and secondary information from health clusters or partners where needed.
Deliverables:

• Write Reports and live dashboard tracking COVID-19 vaccination in humanitarian settings generated by GHC COVID-19 Task Team Information Management Officer quality checked and kept updated on weekly basis.
• Produce report tracking COVID-19 vaccination in humanitarian settings, quality checked and disseminated on monthly basis.

Activity 5: Develop and disseminate learning products from GHC study conducted on COVID-19 and routine immunization services in humanitarian settings.
Deliverables:

• Develop tools, advocacy, key messages on coordination of COVID-19 vaccination in humanitarian settings.
  Expected by March 2023.
• 3 Webinars held with key stakeholders such as health cluster coordinators, health cluster partners, WHO HQ, WCOs.
  Expected by July 2023.

Activity 6: Develop and disseminate learning products from GHC study conducted on impact analysis of COVID-19 on Health Cluster response.
Deliverables:

• Develop tools, advocacy, key messages on coordination of impact COVID-19 in humanitarian settings.
  Expected by July 2023.
• 2 webinars held with key stakeholders such as health cluster coordinators, health cluster partners, WHO HQ, WCOs.
  Expected by July 2023.

Activity 7: Provide technical input to the overall GHC COVID-19 Task Team functioning.
Expected deliverable:

• Contribute to report writing e.g., for GHC Strategic Advisory group.
• Contribute and present internal briefing materials e.g., to senior leadership and public facing reports.
• Input activities reports including quarterly SAG reports and other updates.
• Provide relevant analysis on evolving COVID-19 related trends, in humanitarian settings and produce briefing materials.

Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Educational Qualifications:

Essential:

• Advanced university degree in public health.

Experience:

Essential:

• At least 10 years’ relevant experience in public health in humanitarian settings.
• Previous experience of the cluster approach.
• Experience of working collaboratively with multiple internal and external stakeholders.

Desirable:

• Experience with WHO, UN Agencies or International NGOs.
• Learning and development experience.

Skills/Knowledge:

• Demonstrated understanding of the health cluster at global and country level.
• Expert knowledge of IASC protocols and guidelines, tools and policies and health cluster.
• Strong knowledge of current COVID 19 guidance and applicability to humanitarian settings.
• Proven ability in writing guidance, policy or advocacy papers.
• Excellent communication skills, both oral and written.

Languages required:

Essential:

• Expert knowledge of English.

Desirable:

• Basic knowledge of French.

Location:

Off site: Home-based

Travel:

The consultant is not expected to travel.

Remuneration and budget (travel costs are excluded):

Remuneration:

Band level B-USD 7,000- 9,980 per month.

Living expenses (A living expense is payable to on-site consultants who are internationally recruited):

N/A

Expected duration of contract:

8 months

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 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 that is committed to put 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.
• Consultants working in Switzerland must register with the applicable Swiss cantonal tax authorities and social security authorities, within the prescribed timeframes (Guidelines issued by the Swiss Mission are available at: https://www.eda.admin.ch/missions/mission-onu-geneve/en/home/manual-regime-privileges-and-immunities/introduction/Manuel-personnes-sans-privileges-et-immunites-carte-H/Non fonctionnaires et stagiaires.html