Purpose of consultancy

The purpose of this consultancy is to support the integration of migrant health into broader public health and social protection systems, addressing the immediate health and social care needs of migrants and establishing sustainable frameworks that can respond to the longer-term impacts of climate change on migration patterns in the region. Specific objectives include addressing the social determinants of migrant health, improving surge planning for health in urban and educational settings, enhancing evidence-based decision-making using disaggregated, equity-minded data, and conducting cross-cutting advocacy and engagement to raise awareness and foster support for migrant health.

Background

Migration in the Western Pacific Region has increased in recent decades due to economic factors, environmental crises, and social disruptions, leading to unique health challenges of mobile populations. Outward migration is significant in countries like the Philippines and Vietnam, while countries such as Malaysia and Australia attract large numbers of migrants. These movements are complicated by language barriers, cultural differences, limited healthcare access, and varied legal statuses. The region, exposed to climate change impacts such as typhoons and rising sea levels, sees communities displaced and vulnerable to disruptions in healthcare access and disease outbreaks. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted these vulnerabilities, with many migrants facing high infection rates and with limited care. Migrants, especially those with low-income and hazardous jobs, often lack social protections, increasing health risks. Addressing these complex challenges requires comprehensive, culturally inclusive, and people-cantered health systems that can address social determinants of health and manage both current and future risks.

The Western Pacific Region has made substantial progress in establishing foundational initiatives. Activities thus far include advocating for migrant-inclusive policies and launching initiatives to improve migrant healthcare access. Building on this progress, WHO in the Western Pacific Region aims to implement recommendations from the Regional High-level meeting on the health of migrants and refugees, held in December 2023, and build resilience within health systems to respond to climate and migration-driven challenges while supporting migrants and displaced populations and protecting their right to health.

Deliverables

Under the supervision of the Health Enabling Societies (HES) Coordinator, the consultant will perform the following activities:

Output 1: Support the building of evidence on the mental, emotional, and physical health impacts of migration and displacement for enhanced evidence-based decision-making using disaggregated, equity-minded data.
Deliverable 1.1: Review existing evidence related to the health impacts of migration, support the collation and analysis of disaggregated, equity-based data, and facilitate impact assessments and equity analysis.
Deliverable 1.2: Ensure health equity profiles are updated with data on migration and health for countries in the Western Pacific Region.
Deliverable 1.3: Collaborate to publish comprehensive health equity profiles for at least three countries and expand health equity profiles for at least three countries on migrant health, including mental, emotional, and physical health impacts of environmental displacement.
Deliverable 1.4: Provide technical assistance to build capacity for local researchers to collect and analyze health equity data.
Deliverable 1.5: Consult with key stakeholders to validate findings, prioritize indicators, and implement evidence-based policy based on data.

Output 2: Support countries to address the social determinants of migrant health, with a focus on climate change.
Deliverable 2.1: Support a regional study on the interactions between climate change and social determinants of health among migrants and host populations, including barriers to accessing healthcare and identify regions especially vulnerable to climate change related migration.
Deliverable 2.2: Support the development of a regional toolkit for multisectoral action on the sustainable development of migrant health and implement, monitor, and evaluate in five pilot countries with significant migrant populations.
Deliverable 2.3: Convene a regional workshop to share best practices and progress reports for multisectoral action.
Deliverable 2.4: Support long-term surge planning for cities and schools to address the health needs of those displaced by climate change in at least three countries by developing toolkits, using community engagement approaches, and providing training to local governments and school managers.

Output 3: Support strengthening awareness and advocacy to promote migrant health as a regional priority.
Deliverable 3.1: Facilitate at least three advocacy sessions during key regional gatherings, including the Pacific Health Ministers’ Meeting.
Deliverable 3.2: Support the documentation of good practices, developing of case studies and communications materials, and dissemination of good practices related to health and migration in the Western Pacific Region.
Deliverable 3.3: Support the showcasing of the Western Pacific Region’s progress in tackling health impacts and root causes of climate-induced displacement during at least two high-level global meetings.
Deliverable 3.4: Engage key stakeholders to identify and implement effective advocacy strategies, facilitate networking opportunities to leverage regional and global platforms, and support coalition building to amplify advocacy efforts to prioritize the health of migrants.

Note:

Upon finalization of the contract intellectual property of content and products shall revert to WHO.
Any data or results may not be shared or distributed without approval of the Responsible Officer in WHO.

Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Educational Qualifications:

Essential: First university degree in public health, social sciences, or a related field.
Desirable: Advanced university degree in public health, social sciences or related field.

Experience:

Essential: Minimum of 5 years of combined national and international experience in public health, including at least three years in health and migration.
Desirable: Additional experience in social determinants of health and health inequities, community engagement and gender equality and human rights is desirable. Relevant experience working with the UN or international organization, preferably with the World Health Organization

Skills/Knowledge:

• Facilitation, qualitative and quantitative research methods, communication, and report writing.
• Excellent writing skills and ability to summarize and disseminate information to a wide range of audiences.

Languages and level required:

Essential: Written and spoken fluency in English
Desirable: Working knowledge of other UN languages is an advantage.

Location

On-site: Manila, Philippines

Travel

The contractual partner will be required to travel to sites for relevant activities (consultations, information gathering, programme reviews, training etc,) where necessary.

Remuneration and budget

Remuneration:  Payband B, USDD 7,000 – USD 8,000 (monthly)
Duration: 11 months, February to December 2025

..

Level of Education: Bachelor Degree

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: No requirements