.

Qualifications

Area of expertise:  National Consultant for Project Implementation Support for Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Country Preparedness

1. Purpose of consultancy:

• Assist the Project Manager and the Country Office in engaging with national stakeholders, including activities related to the implementation of the DG SANTE funded project aimed at enhancing Romania’s preparedness for CBRN events.
• Facilitate the preparation and testing of national multi-sectoral preparedness and response (contingency) plans.
• Collaborate with the Project Manager, the Country Office and national authorities to develop CBRN-specific workforce development and training plans/programs to build and exercise national CBRN capacity.
• Contribute to the development (including adaptation and translation) of risk communication messages related to CBRN hazards, threats, and events.
• Provide technical guidance to the Project Manager, the Country Office and national authorities in delivering generic CBRN awareness training for Healthcare Workforce, covering hazards, decontamination, and Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) and safe and effective clinical management.
• Provide technical guidance on monitoring and evaluation the project implementation according to the Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) framework of the project.

2. Background:

On 24 February 2024, Ukraine experienced a dramatic escalation in the security situation, affecting areas beyond the previously conflict-affected regions of Donetsk and Luhansk Oblasts. This rapid deterioration began in the early morning and continued throughout the day.

The COVID-19 pandemic, combined with the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, has highlighted the urgent need to enhance health emergency preparedness and response at both national and subnational levels in the region. Improving collaboration between health and other sectors in Romania is crucial, as endorsed by the International Health Regulations (IHR). Strengthening laboratory support and information sharing are also vital components of effective emergency preparedness.

The conflict, particularly the hostilities around Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant poses significant threats, including the risk of chemical and nuclear accidents due to compromised safety procedures. Ukraine has numerous chemical and nuclear facilities that could be vulnerable to similar attacks if the conflict persists.

This year, the WHO Regional Office for Europe and EU DG SANTE signed an agreement to bolster prevention, preparedness, and response capacities to all types of threats (chemical, biological, and radiological) in Ukraine and neighboring countries participating in the EU4Health Programme. This effort involves coordination with existing EU Mechanisms, such as the Union Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM), and collaboration with the WHO. In line with this agreement, WHO Country Office Romania (WCO) is tasked with several actions, including:

-Supporting the national and cross-border prevention, preparedness, and response capacities, including crisis coordination and inter-sectorial collaboration.

– Assisting national authorities in developing an effective emergency care system, encompassing hospital and emergency medical team capacities to respond to mass events.

3. Deliverables:

• Liaise with relevant stakeholders, including government agencies, partner organizations, and other key stakeholders, to ensure alignment with project objectives and monitor progress.
• Support national authorities in conducting risk, vulnerability, and gap assessments for CBRN hazards through desk reviews, capacity mapping, national planning workshops, legal framework reviews, and exercises.
• Assist in analysing the current legal framework, plans, procedures, and action protocols for CBRN events in Romania and internationally.
• Engage with stakeholders from various sectors, through regular consultations, to gather input, feedback, and suggestions for refining the emergency preparedness framework.
• Provide technical guidance to national authorities on update and development a national contingency plan, procedures, and action protocols for CBRN events in Romania.
• Engage with the relevant stakeholders to assess existing national workforce training programmes and CBRN-specific capacity-building initiatives.
• Provide technical support to national authorities in initiating a planning for cooperation and exchange of best practices between Romania and other countries with relevant CBRN experience to enhance the national framework based on identified gaps.
• Provide technical guidance in revising and developing publicity materials that provide basic information on the locations of the civil protection structures, county units, and emergency medical care units.
• Identify national and sub-national human resource capacities and training needs for all emergency health operations (CBRN, public health, and healthcare service delivery) in collaboration with national authorities.
• Initiate planning a capacity building exercise for operational and command staff of relevant emergency preparedness institutions.

4. Qualifications, experience, skills and languages:

Educational Qualifications:

Essential

• University degree in medicine, emergency medicine, epidemiology, public health, international health, or other relevant field.

Desirable

• Master’s degree in relevant field

Experience:

Essential

• At least 1 year of relevant professional experience in public health, laboratory medicine, emergency medicine and/or other relevant field.
• Work experience related to emergency response, outbreak response and related field.

Desirable

• Experience working with WHO or UN Agencies
• Experience working with the national health institutions

Skills/Knowledge:

• Ability to work with a team and deliver output within agreed deadline
• Strong interpersonal skills, ability to work independently without supervision
• Demonstrated ability to manage collaborations between multiple organizations
• Excellent presentation and communication skills, with emphasis on writing skills
• Sound analytical and organizational skills.

Languages and level required (Basic/Intermediate/Expert):

Essential:

• fluency in Romanian
• proficiency in English

Desirable:

• Working knowledge of another UN official language

5. Location:

On-site: WHO Country Office, Romania/ Bucharest

6. Travel:

The consultant is expected to travel as required by WHO.

7. Remuneration and budget (travel costs are excluded):

   1. Remuneration: RON 21,486 per month. (The pay band reflects the NO-A salary scale of the country, matched to the labour market in Romania)
   2. Locally contracted consultant
   3. Expected duration of contract: 11 months (1 October 2024- 31 August 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.
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