1. Background and Justification

WHO Country Office (WCO) Mauritius has experienced a critical erosion of Emergency Preparedness and Response (EPR) operational capacity following two successive personnel departures. The incumbent EPR Officer resigned in October 2025, with EPR functions temporarily redistributed among the four National Professional Officers (NPOs) and International Professional Staff. In January 2026, the Disease Control Officer (DCO), who had assumed approximately 70% of EPR functions in addition to his core responsibilities, retired, leaving the office without dedicated EPR coverage.
As a stopgap measure, technical staff were repurposed to absorb EPR responsibilities. However, these officers are not fully versed in emergency preparedness frameworks, systems, or protocols. As a result, WHO's ability to adequately respond to the expectations of the Ministry of Health and Wellness (MOHW) and partners in the area of public health emergencies is significantly compromised.
Compounding this capacity gap, the country has experienced a leptospirosis outbreak and concurrent Chikungunya transmission since January 2026. The ongoing heavy rainfall season also places Mauritius at heightened risk of Dengue re-emergence. Furthermore, WHO is expected to lead the development of the second generation of the National Action Plan for Health Security (NAPHS), building on the conclusions of the Joint External Evaluation (JEE) for International Health Regulations (IHR 2005) conducted in November 2025.
Given the timeline for full-cycle international recruitment of a permanent EPR Officer, which may take several months, a Special Service Agreement (SSA) is proposed to bridge the gap and ensure continuity of WHO's technical EPR support to national authorities without delay.

2. Purpose of the Position

In the context of the WHO Health Emergencies Programme, the incumbent will manage the development of policies, strategies, and action plans to strengthen country capacities to prevent, detect, report, prepare, respond to, and recover from all-hazard health emergencies in the Republic of Mauritius. In times of emergencies, the incumbent will be part of the WCO Mauritius strategic and operational response in support to the Ministry of Health and Wellness and other government entities.
The incumbent will also support the monitoring, evaluation, and objective assessment of country core capacities, ensuring implementation of the International Health Regulations (IHR 2005), and support the WHO Representative in coordinating in-country activities with partners contributing to emergency preparedness and response.

3. Organizational Context

The mission of WHO's Health Emergency Preparedness and Response (HEPR) Programme is to help countries — and to coordinate international actions — to prevent, prepare for, detect, warn, effectively and rapidly respond to, and recover from outbreaks and emergencies threatening human health.
Under the leadership and supervision of the Head of WHO Country Office and the Regional Emergency Director for the African Region, and in close collaboration with the whole WCO Mauritius team and the Ministry of Health and Wellness, the incumbent provides leadership and acts as an advisor for Health Emergency Preparedness and Response, as well as IHR-related policies, strategies, and activities. The incumbent enables the development, implementation, and monitoring of national strategies that maximize the individual and collective impact of WHO in support of the country throughout the full cycle of health emergencies.
The incumbent's technical support and guidance aligns with the IHR and other international treaties, WHO Resolutions, and recommendations from HQ and the regional office. The incumbent is expected to exercise full judgment in adapting or modifying relevant WHO guidelines and facilitate their adaptation to meet particular national requirements or evolving circumstances. At WHO, the health capabilities needed in emergency situations include those set out in the IHR, as well as capabilities to deal with risks in the areas of: natural disasters, social unrest, emerging or re-emerging epi-/pandemic prone diseases, food safety, chemical or radionuclear incidents, and antimicrobial resistance.

4. Summary of Assigned Duties

The incumbent will perform the following duties:
A. Emergency Preparedness Policy and Planning
1. Advise on the elaboration, implementation, and evaluation of country policies, strategies, and workplans pertaining to country preparedness and response to public health threats and emergencies, as well as programs ensuring compliance with the International Health Regulations and the WHO organization-wide Health Emergencies Preparedness Response and Recovery (HEPR) policies and strategies.
2. Ensure documentation of progress, outcomes, effectiveness, monitoring, and evaluation of country capacity and national action plans related to the implementation of the IHR (2005).
3. Lead the development of the second generation National Action Plan for Health Security (NAPHS) in follow-up to the Joint External Evaluation (JEE) conducted in November 2025, ensuring multistakeholder engagement and alignment with IHR requirements.
B. IHR Coordination and Compliance
4. Manage IHR-related work pertaining to required national procedures, skills, information sharing, and ensure that coordination mechanisms are established and functioning, in collaboration with the National IHR Focal Point.
5. Support the elaboration, adaptation, application, and implementation of policies, norms, standards, and guidelines to support the development of and training for national critical core capacities for global health security, including coordination, risk monitoring, integrated surveillance, early detection and investigation, laboratory capacities, case management, risk communication, and access to countermeasures.
C. Outbreak Response and Surveillance
6. Provide technical guidance for the management of a unified surveillance and information system in accordance with the Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) system, including case incidence, case management, laboratory surveillance data, and contact tracing. Support the MOHW in implementing the electronic IDSR system and ensure its interoperability with the HMIS/DHIS2 system.
7. Coordinate and provide technical leadership for the WHO Country Office response to active outbreaks, including leptospirosis, Chikungunya, and potential dengue resurgence, in close coordination with the MOHW and national health authorities.
8. Manage, analyze, systematize, and disseminate scientific and evidence-based information and technical knowledge; support the development of WHO situation reports and other regular reports.
D. Partnerships and Multi-Sectoral Coordination
9. Promote multi-disciplinary and cross-cutting approaches such as One Health and joint activities with key partners at the country level, including OIE, FAO, JCAO, UNWTO, multi- and bilateral development partners, civil society, and the private sector, to ensure successful implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of capacities in line with IHR (2005) requirements.
10. If required, support the assessment of the performance of national transport, tourism, points of entry, and mass gatherings capacity; disseminate practical guidelines and tools to support national capacity enhancement; and oversee the effective implementation of national EPR systems in accordance with IHR (2005).
E. Resource Mobilization and Other Duties
11. Support and contribute technically to the resource mobilization efforts of the Country Office, the Ministry of Health and Wellness, and other partners to support the implementation and operationalization of health security strategies and action plans.
12. Perform any other related duties as required by the functional supervisor.

5. Difficulty, Sensitivity, and Nature of Work Relations

The role requires:
• High-level technical engagement with Ministry of Health and Wellness officials, national EPR focal points, and development partners on sensitive public health matters.
• Ability to operate effectively under emergency conditions, with short deadlines, and concurrent multi-outbreak situations, including leptospirosis, Chikungunya, and dengue risk.
• Cross-institutional coordination across WHO AFRO, HQ Health Emergency hubs, and national institutions.
• Balancing technical rigor with diplomatic engagement in a small island development state context where resource constraints and institutional capacity limitations require adaptive approaches.
• Demonstrated capacity to work independently, exercise judgment, and maintain continuity of WHO EPR support in a transitional staffing environment.

6. Recruitment Profile

Education

Essential: University degree in a public health field or a medical degree. Specialized training or demonstrated experience in emergency management.
Desirable: Master's or postgraduate degree in public health, a public health-related discipline, or emergency management. Specialized training in epidemiology from an accredited institution.

Experience

Essential:
• A minimum of five (5) years of professional experience in planning, developing, and implementing health security, emergency, surveillance, disease control, and/or public health programmes.
• Relevant experience with inter-agency mechanisms used to coordinate international preparedness for and response to health emergencies, including those relevant to coordination of health policy and action in health emergencies.
• Relevant experience in the implementation of International Health Regulations (IHR 2005).

Desirable:

• Relevant work experience in WHO, other UN agencies, or relevant non-governmental or humanitarian organizations on emergency preparedness and response.
• Experience in multisectoral coordination, including One Health approaches.
• Prior experience working in small island developing states or resource-constrained country contexts.

Functional Skills and Knowledge

• Thorough knowledge of International Health Regulations (2005), the epidemiology of infectious diseases and other health security threats, and best practices for disease prevention and control.
• Proven ability to coordinate and manage projects and build partnerships with multiple stakeholders in the context of health emergencies.
• Sound tactical thinking with the ability to formulate clear, comprehensive strategies and plans, and to present facts and data in a concise and effective manner.
• Demonstrated organizational skills with the ability to multi-task and produce results under pressure.
• Solid operational skills and knowledge in outbreak response and IHR implementation.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with abilities for argumentation, negotiation, and persuasion with national multi-stakeholders and development partners.

IT Skills

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications.
• Knowledge of office software applications, including those related to epidemiological and statistical data management (e.g., Epi Info, DHIS2, Excel for data analysis).
• Familiarity with WHO reporting platforms and digital surveillance tools is an asset.

WHO Competencies

• Producing results
• Building and promoting partnerships across the Organization and beyond
• Ensuring the efficient use of resources
• Teamwork and respecting individual and cultural differences
• Communicating in a credible and effective manner

7. Languages

Essential: Excellent knowledge of English and French (oral and written).
Desirable: Knowledge of Mauritian Creole is an advantage.

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.
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• 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.