1. Purpose of consultancy

The consultant will provide technical support to the WHO WoS health sector coordination team through analyzing available EWARS/ EWARN epidemiological data and taking necessary actions in coordination with for disease outbreak control, emergency preparedness and response to Syria crisis, in coordination with the health cluster and respective WHO stakeholders in the Eastern Mediterranean Region.

2. Background

Following more than 13 years of crisis in Syria, the health system continues to decline. The continued acute emergencies, on top of the prolonged complex crises, causing further negative impacts in the affected communities. As a result, Syria is vulnerable to a range of hazards and epidemiological emergencies. These risks are particularly high due to the ongoing wide movement of population displacement. In such fragile context, the WoS health sector team continues to support the health emergency response in Syria to ensure coordinated and harmonized actions across the three response areas.

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Planned timelines (subject to extension according to budget availability)

Start date: 01/12/2024

End date: 30/10/2025

3. Deliverables

Output 1: Review and update the 2025 WoS health sector risk assessment/ profile and compare with 2023 assessment.

Deliverable 1.1: develop a concept note for the WoS risk profile 2025 with the actions required to perform the exercise, the methodology and the expected outcomes.

Deliverable 1.2: deliver 5 online workshops for all health sector coordinators in the three response areas in Syria (WoS), WHO technical experts from WCO, Gaziantep WHO field office, WoS WASH and Nutrition sectors, EMRO WHE and CPI teams to finalize the risk assessment using the WHO STAR assessment tool.

Deliverable 1.3: prepare WoS health sector Risk profile report including results, recommendations and next steps before the CLA clearance.

Output 2: Review and update the WoS health sector multi-hazards preparedness plan based on the 2025 WoS health sector risk assessment findings.

Deliverable 2.1: Develop the WoS health sector multi-hazards preparedness plan with focus on preparedness actions per hazards groups and implementation timeline.

Deliverable 2.2: Prepare three specific plans for hazard – readiness – contingency for high-priority hazards identified at WoS and the response areas levels built on the WoS health sector risk profile and the 2024 – 2025 multi-hazards preparedness plan.

Output 3: Ensure effective coordination and communication with the surveillance officers in the three response areas in Syria (EWARS/N) to improve the surveillance mechanism and synchronization across the country and strengthen the overall disease outbreak preparedness and response actions at WoS level.

Deliverable 3.1: Develop the surveillance strengthening strategy and action plan (early warning alert, and response), including Rapid Response Teams (according to the existing gaps) based on the synchronized EWARS/N surveillance data across the response areas in collaboration with EMRO.

Deliverable 3.2: Facilitate monthly meetings with the surveillance teams in the three response areas in Syria to ensure EAWRS/EWARN harmonization/synchronization exercise.

Deliverable 3.3: Produce 11 WoS EWARS/N epi-bulletins (in monthly basis) that represents a combined Whole of Syria epidemiological update from the three response areas across Syria.

Deliverable 3.4: Draft the Community-Based Surveillance strategy and action plan in coordination and consultation with three WoS response areas.

Deliverable 3.5:Prepare the analysis report of the exercise of WoS identification of Priority Areas for Multispectral Interventions (PAMI) exercise analysis and establish the WoS multiyear AWD/cholera preparedness plan accordingly.

Output 4: Contribute to the preparation of WoS health cluster communication products with provision of technical and operational support to WoS hubs.

Deliverable 4.1: Develop a plan and related monitoring tool through identification of public health indicators, to be included in the WoS health sector response monitoring HRP log-frame

Deliverable 4.2: Prepare 4 WoS health sector bulletins (quarterly basis) about WoS response efforts, and the relevant situation reports for potential outbreaks

Deliverable 4.3: Provide technical expertise to the health sector team in the response areas and ensure production of contingency plans, outbreak SitReps and situation updates.

Deliverable 4.4: Development of the WoS research and knowledge sharing agenda based on areas that identified in the WoS 2024 – 2025 Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan.

4. Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Educational Qualifications:

Essential: Advanced (Master’s) university degree in medicine, public health; global health policy, epidemiology, or related field, or in from an accredited institution.

Desirable: Specialized education/training in epidemiology, emergency preparedness and response, public health, communicable/infectious diseases control, and surveillance.

Experience:

Essential: At least 7 to 10 years of experience in quantitative epidemiology, emergency preparedness and response,immunization, and public health programming in humanitarian and emergency context, in combination at the national and international levels.

Desirable: Field experience in emergency disaster and diseases outbreak response (such as cholera), Prior experience working with WHO or other UN agencies, humanitarian NGOs, or other health cluster partners. Familiarity with the Whole of Syria context.

Skills/Knowledge:

1. Excellent communication skills and ability to work and coordinate with a wide range of humanitarian stakeholders within the health cluster.
2. Strong analytical skills and experience with technical writing and reporting in the area of epidemiology.
3. Excellent research, drafting skills.
4. Good knowledge of policies, systems, and procedures in global public health settings.
5. Proactivity, effective problem solving and conflict management.
6. Political acumen and excellent interpersonal and negotiation skills.

Languages and level required:

Essential: Excellent knowledge of English

Desirable: Excellent knowledge of Arabic

5. Location:

On-site, Amman, Jordan

In case of any travel:

Visa requirements: it is the consultant’s responsibility to fulfill visa requirements and ask for visa support letter(s) if needed.

6. Travel (If travel is involved, a medical certificate of fitness for work will be required.)

All travel arrangements will be made by WHO – WHO will not be responsible for tickets purchased by the Consultant without the express, prior authorization of WHO. While on mission under the terms of this consultancy, the Consultant will receive subsistence allowance.

7. Medical clearance

The selected Consultant will be expected to provide a medical certificate of fitness for work.

8. Remuneration and budget (travel costs are excluded):

a. Remuneration: the international pay band B

b. Expected duration of contract : 6 months (Maximum contract duration is 11 months per calendar year):

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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• WHO is committed to workforce diversity.
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• 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.
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