Consultant - Points of Entry

Contractual Arrangement : External consultant
Contract Duration (Years, Months, Days) : ‎3 months
Job Posting : Jul ‎2, ‎2023, ‎6:01:‎39 AM
Closing Date : Jul ‎9, ‎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 the Consultancy
To provide technical support to enhance the capacities of the countries in the
Eastern Mediterranean Region related to Points of Entry (PoE) and
international travel.
Background
The mission of WHO's Health Emergencies Program is to build the capacity of
Member States to manage health emergency risks and, when national capacities
are overwhelmed, to lead and coordinate the international health response to
contain outbreaks and to provide effective relief and recovery to affected
populations.

Points of Entry (PoE) serve as the key conduits for international travel,
transport, and trade, (representing airports, seaports, and ground crossings),
and therefore their capacities and resources must be in place for routine
operations, as well as to meet the exigencies required in response to public
health emergencies. Data from both the Joint External Evaluations (JEE) and
IHR States Parties Annual Reporting (SPAR) nevertheless indicate that PoE
capacities consistently rank amongst the lowest, both Regionally and globally.
In response, countries have developed National Action Plans for Health
Security (NAPHS) to prioritize and address these identified gaps, including
those pertaining to the Points of Entry.
During the initial months of the COVID-‎19 pandemic, capacities at Points of
Entry became categorically strained as countries faced large numbers of
passengers under repatriation efforts, and the need to adequately equip PoE
with the proper resources became apparent. As countries in the Eastern
Mediterranean have been gradually resuming their international commercial
operations, ensuring these key capacities outlined within the International
Health Regulations (IHR) in Annex 1B has gained significant political will and
traction across sectors to be maintained and enhanced.
The objective of this assignment is to provide Points of Entry technical
support to enhance the capacity of the countries in the Eastern Mediterranean
Region. By leveraging expertise and resources, the consultancy seeks to
strengthen the capacities of PoE and facilitate the implementation of risk-
based approach public health measures to effectively manage public health
emergencies in the EMR. The ultimate aim is to contribute to the overall
health security and resilience of the region, and ensuring safe and
international travel, and trade

Planned timelines (subject to confirmation)

Start date: Upon request
Duration: ‎3 months

Work to be performed
Output ‎1: Field Assessments of Points of Entry Premises in alignment with
IHR Capacities
Deliverables
* Perform on the ground assessments of the physical premises of national airports, seaports, and ground crossings for identification of critical gaps and targeted technical support
* Provide practical training for PoE staff, on assessment of physical premises of national airports, seaports, and ground crossings, for identification of critical gaps and targeted technical support
* Develop/adapt guidelines and tools for capacity assessment of PoEs tailored to meet the specific needs of countries

Output ‎2: Fostering Cross Border Collaboration
Deliverables
* Perform mapping of cross border country needs, and to identify areas for collaboration inside EMRO and globally
* Provide support to countries in developing joint MoUs and SoPs for joint surveillance and response and cross-border collaboration
* Facilitate discussions amongst countries for cross-border collaboration on public health threats under IHR (‎2005)
* Document the process and lessons learned in fostering cross border collaboration amongst countries

Output ‎3: Provision of Expert Training and Exercise Simulation
Deliverables
* Identify national training needs and conduct curriculum overview within EMR countries
* Analyze HR capacities at national level and support capacity led frameworks for HR at PoE
* Develop action plans for targeted capacity building with national PoE counterparts and support multi-sectoral approaches at national PoE
* Develop training materials for Points of Entry national professional training programs for human resource, health and non-health according to WHO resources and guidelines
* Conduct diverse technical training related to Points of Entry topics under IHR capacity building Provide technical support in designing and conducting SimEx to test the PoE capacities

Output ‎4: Conducting Risk Assessment
Deliverables
* Technically support risk assessment national exercises through evaluating PoE components with WHO led tools and guidelines
* Provide technical input in the establishment or strengthening of reporting mechanisms at PoE premises
* Develop guidelines and advice on risk-based approach travel measures in context of various public health threats in the region and globally

Output ‎5: Contingency Planning
Deliverables:
* Recommend the roles of stakeholders at PoE to support the National Planning and PoE planning
* Provide technical support in developing, testing and updating the PoE specific contingency plans and the operationalization of related SOPs

Specific requirements
Education

Essential

• University degree in biological science, public health, or related domain


• Training in one or more of the following fields: health surveillance, public health, emergency preparedness, travel and health, hygiene and sanitation at points of entry (ports, airports, ground crossings), ship sanitation inspection, food safety and vector control, highly desired
  Experience

__Essential

• At least ‎5 years of experience of work in International Health Regulations (‎2005), international travel and transport/ points of entry public health issues


• Demonstrated international experience, in particular working at country-level

Desirable
* Experience working with WHO

Knowledge of language(s)

Essential
Excellent knowledge of English
Desirable
Excellent knowledge of Arabic and/or French

Skills
Essential
Demonstrated capacity to work within different cultures
Demonstrated ability to interact in complex situations involving technical,
cultural and political elements
Desirable
Demonstrated understanding of the IHR (‎2005)
Excellent knowledge of Microsoft Office

Place of assignment
Cairo, Egypt
Medical clearance
The selected Consultant will be expected to provide a medical certificate of
fitness for work.
Travel
The Consultant is expected to travel. Destination and duration of travel will
be identified through the progress work identified in-country.
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 fulfill
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.
* 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