IDS consultant Roster

Contractual Arrangement : External consultant
Contract Duration (Years, Months, Days) : ‎11 months (Subject to
confirmation)
Job Posting : Apr ‎4, ‎2023, ‎5:23:‎47 AM
Closing Date : May ‎4, ‎2023, ‎4:59:‎00 PM
Primary Location : Egypt-Cairo
Organization : EM/WHE WHO Health Emergencies Programme (WHE)
Schedule : Full-time

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Please note that the deadline for receipt of
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• 
  

  Purpose of consultancy
  The main objective of this consultancy is to develop an operational guide for
  the Integrated Disease Surveillance (IDS) based on the regional IDS strategy
  including COVID-‎19 and support the implementation of IDS at the member states
  level. The consultant will also provide technical advice to enhancing the
  Even-based component of the surveillance system as well as training of
  surveillance workforce (e.g. FET(L)Ps) on basic surveillance concepts and
  contact tracing. The consultant is expected to work with the IDS technical
  working group "WHE/HIM team and the Communicable Disease Control Division
  (DCD), the Science, Information, and Dissemination Department (SID), and the
  Polio Eradication Department"

  
  


• 
  

  Background

  
  

The World Health Organization (WHO) proposes that Member States of the Eastern
Mediterranean Region commit to implementing integrated disease surveillance
systems by the end of ‎2025. Integrated Disease Surveillance will improve the
efficiency and effectiveness of health information systems in using data to
guide decisions, such as rapid response to epidemics, priority-setting,
intervention planning, resource mobilisation and allocation, and monitoring
and evaluation. Most countries already have systems for disease-specific
surveillance in place; however, these are usually not coordinated, and their
implementation often leads to redundancies and gaps that make them less
effective, particularly in early threat detection.
The COVID-‎19 pandemic signified major challenges to the health and well-being
of communities, the resilience of health systems, the stability of national
economies, and progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The
pandemic has also highlighted the central role of integrated and globally
networked public health surveillance in preventing, detecting, and responding
to epidemics and pandemics.
To fill the specific gaps in surveillance systems and have a systematic
solution, a scoping review on published experiences for in-country integration
of public health surveillance systems; and a mapping of existing country data
collection and data management activities were performed at the WHO Regional
Office for the Eastern Mediterranean (EMRO). In light of these exercises, a
regional IDS strategy has been developed and a resolution by WHO Regional
Committee adopted. Furthermore, a Technical Working Group has been established
to assess, plan, implement and evaluate progress toward the IDS in the region.
Progress in implementing the strategy will be reported in ‎2023 to the WHO
Regional Committee for the Eastern Mediterranean.
To support the implementation of the IDS strategy, WHO-EMRO will develop
operational guidance and implementation tools to assist Member States in
adopting the IDS. Considering the regional and national COVID-‎19 surveillance
experience the consultant will be tasked with developing a regional IDS
operational guide and implementation of IDS at the member states' level.
Additionally, the consultant will work with EMR member states on updating the
national EBS guidelines and training the surveillance workforce (e.g. FET(L)P)
on basic surveillance concepts and contact tracing.

• Work to be performed
  Output : Support the implementation of the regional strategy of
  Integrated Disease Surveillance (IDS) in EMR Member states


• Review national and regional COVID-‎19 surveillance experiences


• Map and review the existing guidelines, references, and governing documents at the national, regional, and international levels on all hazards surveillance and integrated disease surveillance including EBS


• Map at national, regional, and international stakeholders involved in surveillance activities including COVID-‎19


• Draft the regional operational guidance for IDS implementation including EBS and incorporating COVID-‎19 surveillance and present it to the partners, experts, and EMR Member States


• Finalize the guidance based on the inputs from the expert's consultation and meetings with Member States


• Provide technical advice on the the implementation of IDS at the national level


• Co-develop of IDS training package including FETP


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  Support updating/deployment of electronic Public Health Emergency Management (ePHEM) toolkit in EMR member states
  Deliverables:
  Deliverable ‎1.1: Review Report of the existing guidelines, references, and
  governing documents on all hazards surveillance and integrated disease
  surveillance including COVID-‎19
  Deliverable ‎1.2: Mapping Report of the Partners and national, regional and
  international stakeholders involved in surveillance activities
  Deliverable ‎1.3 Conduct Experts consultation meeting and develop regional
  meetings reports
  Deliverable ‎1.4: Submit Final Regional Operational Guidance for integrated
  disease surveillance document
  Deliverable ‎1.5: Submit country progress report for the IDS implementation
  Deliverable ‎1.6: Co-develop FET(L)P training site plan in EMRO
  Deliverable ‎1.7: Technically Support contact tracing activities and deployment
  of Go.data in EMR member states considering the COVID-‎19 experience
  Deliverable ‎1.8: develop Deployment report of ePHEM toolkit in selected
  countries

  
  


• 
  

  Qualifications, experience, skills and languages
  Educational Qualifications:

  
  


• Essential: Master's degree in epidemiology, public health, or a related field from a recognized institution


• Desirable: Specialized training in public health surveillance systems, surveillance, EBS, contact tracing, EIOS and FE(L)TP

Experience:
* Essential: At least ‎7 years of experience of relevant working experience in surveillance, EBS, contact tracing, EIOS and FE(L)TP
* Desirable: Previous work experience with WHO, CDC, or other international organization.

Skills/Technical skills and knowledge:
* Good knowledge of WHO mandate and goals and UN programs;
* Proven ability to communicate effectively. Excellent communication and writing skills;
* Demonstrated ability to manage complex, multi-stakeholder projects, including work planning and reporting.
* Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work under pressure.
* Excellent organizational and analytical skills

Languages and level required:
Essential: Expert knowledge of English
Desirable : Expert knowledge Arabic

• Location
  WHO-EMRO office, Cairo, Egypt


• Planned timelines (‎11 months, duration and dates are subject to confirmation)
  Start date: ‎21 May ‎2023
  End date: ‎20 April ‎2024


• Medical clearance
  The selected Consultant will be expected to provide a medical certificate of
  fitness for work.
  ‎8 . Travel
  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 .
  Visas requirements: it is the consultant 's responsibility to fulfil visa
  requirements and ask for visa support letter(s) if needed.
  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.