Consultant – Eye Health and Hearing Impairment, WPRO – Manila (1 Position)

  • Location:
  • Salary:
    negotiable / YEAR
  • Job type:
    CONTRACTOR
  • Posted:
    20 hours ago
  • Category:
    Health / Medical
  • Deadline:
    11/11/2024

JOB DESCRIPTION

Purpose of the Consultancy

The Management of Noncommunicable Diseases (MND), Division of Programmes for Disease Control (DDC) would like to get an expert to provide technical support improvement of eye health and hearing impairment in the Western Pacific Region.

The consultant is expected to provide depth, understanding and expert guidance to develop a regional framework for eye and ear health and ensure the 2030 regional targets are met.

Primary implementing partners will be the ministries of health.  Some activities will be carried out in collaboration with technical partners and academic institutions.

Background

The WHO aims to achieve control of noncommunicable diseases throughout the Western Pacific Region by targeting the reduction of morbidity and mortality of such conditions and diseases, including vision and hearing dysfunction. The Division supports integrated people-centered care approaches by strengthening primary health care services for prevention, diagnosis, care, and treatment of target diseases and conditions along the life-course while ensuring to reach the unreached and achieving universal health coverage.

To address the impact of vision impairment and blindness in the Region, the WHO developed a regional action plan, Towards Universal Eye Health: A Regional Action Plan for the Western Pacific (2014–2019) which guided the direction of the eye health programmes in the Region for the past years. Recently, WHO launched the first World report on vision on 9 October 2019. The Report provides evidence on the magnitude of vision loss and its prevention and treatment, and rehabilitation. The Report has a strong focus on the need for people-centred eye-care services and integrated eye care within national health systems. The WHO Executive Board in its 146th Session adopted resolution EB146.R8 on ‘Integrated people-centred eye care, including preventable vision impairment and blindness’, formally recognizing the World report on vision and urging Member States to implement its recommendations. The resolution 73.4 was adopted by the 73rd Session of the World Health Assembly on 3 August 2020.

Considering the situation of ear and hearing care in the Western Pacific Region, it is estimated to have the highest prevalence of hearing loss in the world, with approximately 7% of the population affected. By 2050, the region is projected to have the largest number of individuals with hearing loss—approximately 760 million. The regional office needs to respond to the growing burden of eye and ear health in the Region and support new WHO initiatives such as WHO SPECS and expansion of access assistive technologies and devices. The regional action plan for eye care has lapsed and there is no regional framework for ear health to guide member states.

The WHO in the region is actively promoting actions in eye/vision and ear/hearing care across regional actors and member states, focusing on achieving a people-centered approach through primary health care. Therefore, a consultant for eye health and hearing impairment is required at the WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific.

Deliverables

Under the supervision and guidance of the Technical Coordinator of the Management of Noncommunicable Diseases (MND) unit of the Division of Programmes Disease Control (DDC), in coordination with relevant country national focal points, WHO Country Offices, Health Ministries in the Western Pacific Region, and other relevant partners, the consultant will perform the following activities:

Work to be performed

Specific terms of reference include:
1. Develop sensory health strategies and initiatives consistent with regional and national priorities and facilitate engagement of Members States and the development of an action framework thereby ensuring the effective functioning of collaborative work on vision and hearing impairment activities in the region.
2. Coordinate activities on sensory functions (Eye health and Hearing impairment) in the region and liaise with country offices in context of systems strengthening and cross cutting work in relation to other noncommunicable diseases.
3. Prepare for and support delivery of the newly developed packages of essential eye and ear care interventions in the context of integrated people-centred care; and, in collaboration with WHO CCs build capacities in health workers for eye health and hearing impairment, especially at community level.
4. Conceptualize, develop layout, format, and design promotional materials and activities agreed as part of the public awareness strategy related to eye health and hearing loss activities and assist in conducting workshops in collaboration with relevant WHO CCs and the WPRO Team lead.
5. Support activities of the unit toward the implementation of the Regional Action Framework for the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases, including integration of eye and ear health.

Methods to carry out the activity

1.Meetings with experts, collaborating centers, member state representatives and WHO colleagues
2.Prepare the background and key documents, and compile relevant data
3.Produce a high-quality reports on the sensory health initiatives
4.Perform other related work as required

Outputs

Advertisement
15 January – 15 December 2025
1. A draft regional framework for sensory health for the Western Pacific Region.
2. An updated report and situational analysis on current status of visual and hearing impairment and ongoing initiatives in the Region.
3. Sensory health promotional materials, presentations and meeting reports.
4. Monthly Progress Report on the activities covering the following areas:
4.1. Support in the development of a regional action plan for sensory health for the Western pacific region.
4.2. Support in the design, adaption, implementation, and evaluation of IPEC initiatives
in country. This will include provision of trainings on IPEC and contributing to existing and new learning networks to document and disseminate lessons and best practices in IPEC in low-resource settings.
4.3. Support to countries to develop and efficiently implement evidence- based clinical practice guidelines and policies for hearing impairment.
4.4. Support for countries to build capacity of relevant stakeholders to prepare for and deliver the newly developed packages of essential eye and ear care interventions.
4.5. Support the preparation of national advocacy events and stakeholders’ consultation workshop, including the development of background documents, formal presentations, and guidance for stakeholder forums.

Qualifications, experience, skills, and languages

Qualifications required

Essential: Bachelor’s degree in public health or any health-related field from a recognized institution or university.
Desirable: Postgraduate (master’s level) training in the fields related to public health, noncommunicable disease, and eye and ear health.

Experience required

Essential: Minimum five years’ relevant work experience in control of noncommunicable diseases, particularly in eye and ear health including but not limited to public health measures to prevent and manage noncommunicable diseases including exposure to international level.
Desirable: Experience in managing large teams at national and international levels; relevant work experience in WHO, other UN agencies, or relevant nongovernmental organizations in the Western Pacific Region.

Skills / Technical skills and knowledge

•Broad knowledge of concepts and strategies related to NCD prevention and control, especially eye and ear health.
•Skills in planning, training, monitoring, and evaluation of interventions, and the development of locally adapted tools and instruments.
•Good communication skills, ability to synthesize knowledge and effectively express ideas in writing.
•Ability to coordinate with external partners as well as work harmoniously as a member of a team, adapt to diverse educational and cultural backgrounds and maintain a high standard of personal conduct.

Language requirements

•Expert level of English is essential (Read-Write-Speak). Working knowledge of other UN languages is an advantage.

Competencies

•Teamwork
•Communication
•Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
•Producing Results
•Knowing and managing yourself

Place of assignment

The consultant will be based in Manila.

Travel

The consultant may be required to travel to sites for relevant activities (consultations, information gathering, programme reviews, training, etc.).

Remuneration and budget

Remuneration: Band level A

Expected duration of contract: 11 months, 15 January 2025 to 15 December 2025

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
  • The WHO is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The WHO recruits workforce regardless of disability status, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, language, race, marital status, religious, cultural, ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds, or any other personal characteristics.
    The WHO is committed to achieving gender parity and geographical diversity in its workforce. Women, persons with disabilities, and nationals of unrepresented and underrepresented Member States (https://www.who.int/careers/diversityequity-and-inclusion) are strongly encouraged to apply for WHO jobs.
    Persons with disabilities can request reasonable accommodations to enable participation in the recruitment process. Requests for reasonable accommodation should be sent through an email to reasonableaccommodation@who.int 
  • An impeccable record for integrity and professional ethical standards is essential. 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 (https://www.who.int/about/who-we-are/our-values) 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 short-listed candidates. 
  • WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco. 
  • Consultants shall perform the work as independent contractors in a personal capacity, and not as a representative of any entity or authority. 
  • WHO shall have no responsibility 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. 
  • Please note that WHO’s contracts are conditional on members of the workforce confirming that they are vaccinated as required by WHO before undertaking a WHO assignment, except where a medical condition does not allow such vaccination, as certified by the WHO Staff Health and Wellbeing Services (SHW). The successful candidate will be asked to provide relevant evidence related to this condition. A copy of the updated vaccination card must be shared with WHO medical service in the medical clearance process. Please note that certain countries require proof of specific vaccinations for entry or exit. For example, official proof /certification of yellow fever vaccination is required to enter many countries. Country-specific vaccine recommendations can be found on the WHO international travel and Staff Health and Wellbeing website. For vaccination-related queries please directly contact SHW directly at shws@who.int
  • In case the recruitment website does not display properly, please retry by: (i) checking that you have the latest version of the browser installed (Chrome, Edge or Firefox); (ii) clearing your browser history and opening the site in a new browser (not a new tab within the same browser); or (iii) retry accessing the website using Mozilla Firefox browser or using another device. Click the link for detailed guidance on completing job applications: Instructions for candidates

..