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Purpose of the Consultancy

The Noncommunicable Disease (NCD) unit supports action across government and society in managing noncommunicable diseases – cardiovascular disease, diabetes, sensory health and cancer. This short term international professional consultancy is to support the implementation of the Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer and the Global Platform for Access to Childhood Cancer Medicines in the Western Pacific Region, to ensure that the objectives, activities, and deliverables are successfully achieved.

Background

Childhood cancer is an increasingly recognized public health concern in the Western Pacific Region (WPR), which includes countries with wide variation in health system capacity and cancer outcomes. While childhood cancers are largely curable, survival rates in many low‑ and middle‑income countries and Pacific Island settings in the Region remain substantially lower than in high‑income countries, largely due to late diagnosis, treatment abandonment, limited specialized services, and gaps in access to essential medicines and diagnostics. In line with global patterns, children in resource‑constrained settings in the WPR experience a disproportionately high burden of preventable mortality, compounded by weak cancer surveillance systems and limited coverage of population‑based cancer registries, which hinders accurate planning and monitoring of childhood cancer control efforts.

To address these inequities, the World Health Organization launched the Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer (GICC) in 2018, with the goal of achieving at least 60% survival for children with cancer globally by 2030 through the CureAll framework, which focuses on early diagnosis, standardized treatment, health system strengthening, and financial protection for families. Complementing this effort, the Global Platform for Access to Childhood Cancer Medicines (GPACCM), led by WHO in partnership with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, UNICEF and others, seeks to ensure an uninterrupted supply of quality‑assured, affordable cancer medicines for children in low‑ and middle‑income countries. Together, GICC and GPACCM provide a coordinated approach that combines policy prioritization, technical support, and market‑shaping mechanisms to reduce survival gaps and improve equity in childhood cancer care across the Western Pacific Region and globally.

Deliverables

Under the supervision and guidance of the Technical Coordinator of the Noncommunicable Diseases (NCD) unit of the Division of Health Promotion, Disease Prevention, and Control (DPC), in coordination with relevant country national focal points, WHO Country Offices, Health Ministries in the Western Pacific Region, and other relevant partners, the consultant will perform the following activities:

Specific terms of reference include:

1. Coordinate activities on childhood cancer and liaise with country offices of the Western Pacific Region in the context of systems strengthening and cross-cutting work in relation to childhood cancer.

2. Coordination of activities related to the implementation of the GPACCM – global platform for access to childhood cancer medicines in countries of the Western Pacific Region.

3. Technical assistance to Member States for the development of national childhood cancer plans.

4. Conceptualize, develop layout, format and design promotional materials and activities agreed upon as part of the public awareness strategy related to childhood cancer and the platform.

Outputs

• Situational analysis on the status of childhood cancer epidemiology, national policy, capacity for diagnosis and treatment among countries in the Western Pacific Region.
• Technical support to Member States in the development of national policy on strengthening systems for the early diagnosis and standardized treatment of pediatric cancers.
• Provide support to countries interested in joining the accelerator phase of GICC, starting from expression of interest, grant application to implementation of childhood cancer activities.
• Technical assistance to at least three countries in GPACCM grant application, attainment of minimum standards and program implementation.
• Monthly Progress Report on the activities.

Qualifications, experience, skills, and languages

Qualifications required

Essential: Bachelor’s degree (or higher) in public health or any health-related field from a recognized institution or university.
Desirable: Postgraduate (master's level) training in the fields related to public health, noncommunicable disease, and preferably related to cancer.

Experience required

Essential: Minimum five years' relevant work experience in control of noncommunicable diseases, particularly in childhood cancer including but not limited to public health measures to prevent and manage noncommunicable diseases including exposure to international level.
Desirable: Relevant experience in managing large teams at national and international levels.

Skills / Technical skills and knowledge:

• Broad knowledge of concepts and strategies related to NCD prevention and control, especially childhood cancer.
• Skills in planning, training, monitoring, and evaluation of interventions, and the development of locally adapted tools and instruments.
• Good communication skills, ability to synthesize knowledge and effectively express ideas in writing.

• Ability to coordinate with external partners as well as work harmoniously as a member of a team, adapt to diverse educational and cultural backgrounds and maintain a high standard of personal conduct.

Language requirements

Expert level of English is essential (Read-Write-Speak). Working knowledge of other UN languages is an advantage.

Location

The consultant will be working off-site.

Travel

The consultant maybe required to travel to sites for relevant activities (consultations, information gathering, programme reviews, training, etc.).

Remuneration and budget

Remuneration: Band level A, USD 6,000 (monthly)
Expected duration of contract: 9 months, March to December 2026

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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