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Qualifications

Terms of Reference

                                                          Department: South Africa Country Office – WHE cluster

PURPOSE OF THE CONSULTANCY

This is a six month contract to provide technical expertise required to support the establishment of the Southern African Emergency Preparedness and Response (EPR) Regional Hub and Center of Excellence for research, innovation, and Laboratory.

BACKGROUND

Each year, more than 100 health emergencies occur in the African Region, including disease outbreaks of cholera, yellow fever, meningitis, measles, Ebola and most recently Covid-19 and mpox disease. Most of these emergencies are preventable and controllable with proven public health interventions. Public health emergencies in the Region often overwhelm already-weak health systems, interrupt essential health services, fuel unprecedented socio-economic disruption, undermine decades of hard-earned health and economic gains. To address these challenges, African Health Ministers endorsed the Regional Strategy for Health Security and Emergencies (2022-2030) which binds Member States to strengthen their capacity for preparedness, detection, and response to address current and future health emergencies. To support Member States in implementing the regional strategy, the World Health Organization.

Regional Office for Africa (WHO AFRO) launched three flagship initiatives to strengthen the capacity

of African countries to prepare for, detect, and respond to public health emergencies. To support the operationalization of the flagships, WHO AFRO is establishing three Health Emergency Hubs/Centres of Excellence across the African Region. Each Centre of Excellence will serve its subregion as part of WHO’s effort to decentralize. The Dakar hub includes a specific focus on Data, Innovation and Intelligence; the Nairobi Hub on Workforce Development; and the South Africa Hub on R&D/Genomic Surveillance. Please note that both the Dakar & Nairobi Hubs are operational, while processes underway to establish the South Africa Hub. Thus, the WHO therefore intends to engage a consultant to support coordination of establishment of the South Africa EPR Hub.

OBJECTIVE

Coordinate activities towards establishment of the South Africa EPR Hub based in Pretoria.

DESCRIPTION OF TASKS

The contractor will be responsible for, but not limited to, the performance of the following tasks:

1.      Support and facilitate preparatory arrangements leading to the establishment of the South Africa EPR hub.

2.      Set up appointments for and attend meetings with key stakeholders critical to the establishment of the EPR hub including documentation and follow up on emerging actions.

3.      Prepare weekly status updates and monthly progress reports to the WHO Representative and Relevant Focal points in AFRO on key milestones towards the operationalization of the EPR hub.

4.      In liaison with and support to relevant technical officers, facilitate and support the implementation of initial activities of the EPR hub as guided by the EPR hub coordinator.

5.      Follow up on timeous implementation of priority activities outlined in the EPR hub establishment roadmap

6.      Engage with key stakeholders and support the clarification of roles and responsibilities of government, WHO, partners, and key stakeholders.

7.      Assessment of structure, process, capacity, resources, effectiveness, and coordination of EPR hub activities

8.      Development of a plan of action to augment, strengthen and enhance capacities for emergency preparedness and response.

9.      Securing key documents including agreements, protocols, guidelines, tools, and other publications critical to the establishment of the EPR hub.

10.  Develop the weekly Influenza Bulletin for publication and distribution on a weekly basis in consultation with RO staff;

11.  Support implementation of respiratory pathogen preparedness activities as outlined in the relevant workplans;

12.  Support all other activities critical to the operationalization and initial functioning of the EPR hub.

13.  Perform other duties as assigned by the supervisor.

Key deliverables

1.      Hub establishment plan of action for six months

2.      Monthly progress report

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS/ PROFILE

Education

·         Essential: Advanced degree in Public health or Epidemiology at master’s or PhD level

·         Desirable: Fellowship in Public Health, Epidemiology, or community health 

Experience

Essential:

·         At least five (5) years of international and/or national professional experience in WHO flagship projects (TASS, PROSE, SURGE), experience in planning, developing, and implementing the disease surveillance, response, control, and prevention of infectious diseases programme including outbreak and pandemic prevention and control, of priority diseases.

·         Relevant work experience with the national and/or provincial department of health in area of surveillance, communicable disease/ pandemic surveillance, preparedness, and response to health emergencies.

Desirable:

·         Relevant work experience in WHO, other UN agencies; experience working in relevant non-governmental organizations with recommendation from at least two immediate supervisors.

Languages:

Essential: Excellent knowledge of English.

Desirable: 

·         Experience working in the developing context

·         Previous work in South Africa context

·         Previous experience of undertaking related assignments under WHO or other UN agencies

Remuneration and Additional Information

The cost implications for this work will be $29,547 over the contract period of six (6) months. 

Level of Education: Bachelor Degree

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: No requirements