Job Summary:

Purpose of consultancy

To contribute to the development and publication of a public health intelligence competency framework and curriculum.

Background

The mission of WHO’s Health Emergencies Programme (The Programme) is to build the capacity of Member States to manage health emergency risks. When national capacities are overwhelmed, the Programme leads and coordinates the international health response to contain outbreaks and provide effective relief and recovery to affected populations.

The Health Emergency Intelligence and Surveillance Systems Division (WSE) is responsible for establishing a system of collaborative intelligence enabling better decisions to avert and manage public health threats and risks. WSE aims to support countries, regional actors, and global efforts through collaborative problem-solving and decision-making, informed by improved data and analytics.

The WHO Hub for Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence, located in Berlin, works with partners to enable the generation of relevant information to provide timely actionable insights and improve decision making to prepare for, avert and respond to public health threats. It also aims to reduce fragmentation and inefficiency by creating an ecosystem that promotes collaboration across multiple professional disciplines, sectors, and initiatives; and empower decision makers, public health professionals, and civil society to make informed public health decisions.

Recent emergencies, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, have underscored the catastrophic impact of public health emergencies at all levels, from sub-national to global. Responding effectively to a pandemic requires professionals who can provide relevant and timely information (intelligence) to officials and the public for confident, data-driven decisions and actions. Therefore, there is a critical need for public health personnel who can transform raw data from diverse sources into useful information. Developing and sustaining Public Health Intelligence (PHI) capacity necessitates professionals with the appropriate competencies. As the Public Health Intelligence community grows and evolves, training and capacity building for a unified all-hazards, One Health approach become increasingly crucial.

Responsibilities

Essential:

•  Advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in instructional design, educational technology, educational psychology, anthropology, public health, international health, epidemiology, education, curriculum and instruction, learning and technology, or related field.

Desirable:

• Training in principles of andragogy and the planning, development and facilitation of training curricula for adults.

Experience:

Essential:

• At least ten years of relevant work experience in the development and delivery of training materials related to public health, surveillance, epidemiology, public health intelligence or related field (e.g. development of curriculums, facilitated training workshops, self-study material, online training modules, etc.).
• At least five years of relevant work experience with a successful track record in public health intelligence, epidemiology, and/or public health intelligence at the national and/or international levels.
• Experience in developing multiple training approaches and styles, including group discussion, role play and other active training methods.
• Experience in the application of andragogic (adult-learning) methodologies.
• Experience defining evaluation criteria for assessing training material and delivery and implementing these to evaluate and revise content and delivery as well as to provide feedback to trainees.
• Experience in training and developing trainers.
• Demonstrated exposure at the international level.

Desirable:

• Experience with inter-agency collaboration.
• Experience in WHO, UN, UN Agencies, or other international organizations.
• Experience with Public Health Intelligence processes for detection, verification, alert and response to health threats.

Skills:

• Demonstrated skills related to designing and delivering training modules and tools.
• Proven ability to create a positive, inclusive and supportive training environment, motivating trainees and adapting to different learning styles.
• Demonstrated knowledge of adult learning theory.
• Demonstrated tact and ability to interact in complex situations involving technical, cultural and political elements.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to influence, negotiate, advocate, motivate and resolve conflict.
• Proven ability to interact in a multi-disciplinary and cross-cutting environment involving technical, cultural and political elements.
• Sound analytical and organizational skills.
• Excellent presentation and communication skills, both oral and written.
• Proven ability to work and produce results under pressure in critical situations.

Desirable:

• Demonstrated knowledge and skills in public health intelligence, surveillance and emerging diseases in the international context.

Languages required:

Essential:

• Expert knowledge of English.

Desirable:

• Intermediate knowledge of another UN language.

Location

Off site: Home-based.

Travel

The consultant is expected to travel.

Remuneration and budget (travel costs are excluded):

Remuneration:

Band level C – USD 10,000 – 12,500 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. Additional contracts may be offered based on satisfactory performance and programme needs.

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 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

REQUIRED EDUCATION Advanced Degree
WORK HOURS: 8 Hours a Day
EXPERIENCE IN MONTHS: 120