The World Health Organization (WHO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that is concerned with international public health. It was established on 7 April 1948, and is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. The WHO is a member of the United Nations Development Group. Its predecessor, the Health Organization, was an agency of the League of Nations. The WHO constitution has been signed by 61 countries (all 51 member countries and 10 others) on 22 July 1946, with the first meeting of the World Health Assembly finishing on 24 July 1948. It incorporated the Office International d’Hygine Publique and the League of Nations Health Organization. Since its establishment, it has played a leading role in the eradication of smallpox. Its current priorities include communicable diseases, in particular HIV/AIDS, Ebola, malaria and tuberculosis; the mitigation of the effects of non-communicable diseases such as sexual and reproductive health, development, and aging; nutrition, food security and healthy eating; occupational health; substance abuse; and driving the development of reporting, publications, and networking.
Purpose of consultancy
The consultant will contribute to the successful operation of Health EDRM RN by facilitating the communication among the participants of the Health EDRM RN, and coordinating the research projects linked with Health EDRM RN through producing technical products for planning, assessing and reporting the research projects.
Background
The WHO Centre for Health Development (WHO Kobe Centre (WKC)) is part of WHO Headquarters, and its research focuses on the attainment of WHO’s 13th General Programme of Work, which aims to ensure healthy lives and well-being for all people at all ages through the achievement of universal health coverage (UHC), and to ensure that people are safe from health emergencies. As part of WHO, the Centre has the mandate to support its 194 Member States in generating evidence and promoting learning and innovation across WHO. At the same time, WKC also has a local function in working with researchers locally in Kobe, Hyogo, and the Kansai region of Japan more broadly.
WKC focuses on research and evidence synthesis about health systems and innovations to accelerate progress towards UHC in the context of population aging. Its three main research themes are services and financing, metrics and measurement, and health emergencies and disaster risk management (Health EDRM).
Health EDRM is an emerging research area that addresses broad health needs of prevention, preparedness, response and recovery for emergencies and disasters, which includes disaster medicine and nursing, epidemiology and public health. WHO has been working on the development of this research area since 2016 and established a global research network called WHO Thematic Platform for Health EDRM Research Network (Health EDRM RN) in 2018. Since 2019 WKC has been acting as the secretariat of this research network and facilitated global, regional and local research collaboration to systematically improve the scientific evidence of Health EDRM.
Deliverables
The consultant will produce the following deliverables for each activity.
Output 1: Facilitate Health EDRM RN related activities.
- Activity 1.1: Coordinate the development of WHO Global Research Agenda for Health EDRM in collaboration with the key internal and external partners.
- Activity 1.2: Facilitate three expert meetings (month 3, 6, 9) that involves relevant Health EDRM RN participants and related WHO HQ and Regional Office departments to update the knowledge on Health EDRM including the four existing key research areas (health data collection and management, mental health and psychosocial support, addressing the needs of subpopulations, health workforce development) as well as to discuss future possible international collaborative activities of Health EDRM RN.
- Activity 1.3: Facilitate communication between WKC and external academic associations and expert groups to increase the visibility of WKC at major scientific networks and conferences (e.g. World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine, Japanese Association for Disaster Medicine, UK Alliance for Disaster Reduction, Asia Pacific Disaster Mental Health Network).
- Activity 1.4: Regularly monitor and update the WKC webpages about Health EDRM in consultation with the responsible web designer as needed.
Deliverable 1.1: Three progress reports (month 2, 6, 10) on the development of the WHO Global Research Agenda for Health EDRM.
Deliverable 1.2: Three reports of the expert meetings (month 4, 7, 10).
Deliverable 1.3: Two reports (month 5, 10) on the improvement of the visibility of WKC and Health EDRM RN that includes the progress in at least the above-mentioned four major associations and networks.
Deliverable 1.4: Five times update (month 2, 4, 6, 8, 10) of the WKC webpages on Health EDRM research.
Output 2: Monitor the progress of WKC funded Health EDRM research projects.
- Activity 2.1: Attend and take notes of the research team meeting of the ongoing and possible future WKC funded Health EDRM research projects.
- Activity 2.2: Contact with research teams and monitor the progress of each research project as needed.
Deliverable 2.1: Three progress reports (month 2, 6, 10) of the ongoing research projects.
Qualifications, experience, skills and languages
Educational Qualifications:
Essential:
Minimum first university degree in health sciences, public health, global health or related areas.
Experience
Essential:
At least 3 years of relevant working experience in an academic/research institution.
Skills/Knowledge:
Essential:
Demonstrated ability to facilitate international collaborative projects.
Desirable:
- Knowledge of Health EDRM research or related research areas.
- Familiarity with WHO/UN.
Languages required:
Essential:
Expert knowledge of English.
Desirable:
Expert knowledge of Japanese.
Location
Off-site – Home based. The consultant should have all necessary equipment and supplies for performing the work remotely.
Travel
Ad hoc travel may be required for task-related meetings.
Remuneration and budget (travel costs are excluded):
Remuneration:
Band level A – USD 3,955 – 6,980 per month.
Living expenses (A living expense is payable to on-site consultants who are internationally recruited):
N/A
Expected duration of contract:
11 months. Planned start date is 03/09/2022.
Method of Application
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 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
Interested and qualified? Go to World Health Organization (WHO) on careers.who.int to apply
