.

Qualifications

1.       Purpose of the Consultancy

The main objective of this consultancy is to develop a relevant training package on using and implementing the Regional Framework for Community Engagement, including good practices for co-production, by collecting evidence, inputs, and insights in support of the implementation and communication of the regional framework on community engagement in health, which was developed by WHO/EMRO in 2023.

2.       Background

WHO Regional Office for the Eastern (EMRO) duly acknowledges the significance of community engagement in health and well-being and has been providing support to countries through community-based actions and interventions. The Forteenth General Programme of Work of WHO emphasises achieving the milestone and calls for proactive engagement with the community to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those related to health. Community engagement is also critical for implementing the regional strategy the EMR.  It is essential, therefore, that all WHO programmes, divisions and departments at develop a concerted approach towards effective community engagement in their work towards the improvement in health of populations across Eastern Mediterranean countries.

The updated regional framework for community engagement (2023), in line with the good practices and lessons learned from countries within and outside the region and in view of the lessons learned during the COVID-19 situation, provides a sound perspective for countries across the region. The barriers to  achieving community engagement have been identified as better access to hard-to-reach areas, including slum communities, to build trust and to improve access to the vulnerable to digital media. Addressing these challenges will require a dedication to resource allocation and to co-production with relevant stakeholders. In accordance with the strategic direction of the framework this will include the participation of communities in the planning, co-production and implementation of all health programmes. Likewise, preparedness and co-production enable both governments and communities to be more resilient to plan to improve health and wellbeing and to recover quicker from conflict and health emergencies.

The regional framework and the accompanying communication plan emphasize that communities must have the capacity to engage and co-produce health programmes as valued partners. The working together of communities with those people , and resources to improve health, and wellbeing is crucial to achieving national health and wellbeing who deliver the services, information, and resources to improve health and wellbeing is essential in achieving national health and well-being targets.  In particular, in the planning, delivery monitoring, and evaluation of health interventions. The goal is to achieve more effective and sustainable health care and health promotion services across countries in the region. Sound guidelines based on relevant good practices that will enable the Eastern Mediterranean region to lead the development of co-production are needed towards achieving the improvement in health of populations including for the vulnerable and hard-to-reach areas.

The service of the same expert who developed the regional framework in 2019 and updated the framework in 2023 is required by the Unit of Health Promotion at the Division of Health and Population in EMRO. The expert will be required to carry out the necessary work on identifying relevant good practices for co-production in support of the training package for capacity building on implementation of the regional framework on community engagement in health, the development of guidelines that are implementable in the Eastern Mediterranean countries and a roadmap for implementing the guidelines on co-production in the region.

3.       Planned timelines.

Start date:  15 December 2024

End date: 15 March 2025    

4.       Work to be performed.

Output: Develop training package based on the regional framework including relevant good practices for co-production in support of implementing the regional framework on community engagement in health and wellbeing.

Deliverables:

1.       Define, develop, and create the outline for the training course on the regional framework for community engagement in health developed in 2022.

2.        Develop a strategy for implementing capacity-building activities on the regional framework for community engagement in health developed in 2022, encompassing best practices and actionable interventions in the Eastern Mediterranean countries.

3.       Provide a slide deck and roadmap for implementing the training package on the regional framework, which aims to strengthen community engagement and build resilient communities, as endorsed by the Regional Committee in 2021.

5.       Technical Supervision

The selected Consultant will work on the supervision of:

6.       Specific requirements

– Qualifications required:      

Essential: Master’s degree in public health, health promotion and other relevant fields

Desirable: PhD in public health, community, health promotion or related fields.

– Experience required:

At least 7 years’ experience in health promotion, health education, community empowerment and engagement in diverse settings for development of policy, guidance, implementation and

Monitoring.

Desirable: working experience with WHO and or international organizations

a)         High level of expertise in developing guidance, frameworks and programme documents

b)         Excellent skills in literature review, analysis and writing evidence driven reports.

– Language requirements:

Fluency in English is required.

7.       Place of assignment

Unless specified later, this assignment will be performed remotely.

8.       Medical clearance

The selected Consultant will be expected to provide a medical certificate of fitness for work.

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 fulfil 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. 

Level of Education: Bachelor Degree

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: No requirements