Consultant - Networks for pandemic preparedness

Purpose of consultancy

The purpose of this consultancy is to support the World Health Organization (WHO) in enhancing global pandemic preparedness and response efforts, particularly in the context of the workplace and trust-building initiatives. This includes facilitating the WHO Health in the World of Work Network and the WHO Faith Network by organizing communication channels, scheduling meetings, and providing administrative and technical support to ensure effective collaboration between network members and the WHO Steering Committee. Additionally, the consultancy aims to integrate these networks into broader WHO pandemic planning projects like the Seasonal and Pandemic Influenza Preparedness and PRET (Preparedness and Resilience for Emerging Threats), supporting the development of sector-specific tools and resources such as simulation exercises, policy briefs, and pandemic preparedness checklists. The role also involves providing technical guidance in aligning WHO frameworks, such as the HEPR (Health Emergency Preparedness, Response) and GPW14 (13th General Programme of Work), with the efforts of the trust initiative, ultimately contributing to national, regional, and global pandemic preparedness and response.

Background

The Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness and Prevention (EPP) Department in the Health Emergencies Programme of the World Health Organization (WHE) is leading the development and implementation of innovative multi-sectoral approaches for pandemic preparedness. As countries’ attention expands from COVID-19 response-specific programming to consideration of more integrated approaches for strengthening preparedness and response systems, EPP is supporting countries to strengthen the involvement of a number of critical sectors in pandemic planning including the Faith and World of Work sectors. Documenting and publishing strong examples of the involvement of these sectors in past and ongoing health emergencies, including the COVID-19 pandemic, is vital to advocating for increasing the participation of these sectors in multiple levels of pandemic planning- with the ultimate aim of increasing the effectiveness and resilience of future epidemic and pandemic responses. In addition, trust has emerged as an important component of epidemic and pandemic preparedness and response. The EPP department is leading an initiative to define, measure and increase trust. In the context of the WHO Health Emergencies Programme, the incumbent will provide specialist technical support to the Pandemic Preparedness Global Platforms Unit particularly to support in the development of case studies, resources and tools for future disease pandemic preparedness. In addition, the incumbent will support the convening and engagement of global networks in pandemic preparedness planning and in managing the WHO Trust Initiative.

Deliverables

• WHO Health in the World of Work Network
  • Work with the WHO Secretariat to convene the WHO Health in the World of Work Network by scheduling calls, maintaining the list of participants, developing notes for the record and drafting call agendas and PowerPoints.
  • Finalize and support dissemination of H-WoW case studies/publication on health/labour sector collaborations.
  • Facilitate the inclusion of the WHO Health in the World of Work Network and the WHO Faith Network into the Seasonal and Pandemic Influenza Preparedness and PRET Pandemic Planning projects at national, regional and global levels, including:
    • Attend WHO Steering Committee calls and identifying opportunities for network members (including national simulation exercises, national pandemic planning workshops)
    • Facilitate communication between WHO Steering Committee and network members
    • Support the co-development of influenza and PRET derivative products with Network members, including influenza advocacy materials, sector specific simulation exercises, pandemic preparedness checklists and case studies
• WHO Initiative on Trust and Pandemic Preparedness
  • Work with the WHO Secretariat to convene the working groups and research group of the trust initiative by scheduling calls, maintaining the list of participants, developing notes for the record and drafting call agendas and PowerPoints.
  • Provide technical support to the WHO Secretariat for the integration of WHO frameworks and approaches (such as HEPR, PRET and GPW14) into the work/outputs of the working groups, research group and wider Initiative.
• PRET Initiative
  • Contribute to the delivery of PRET national pandemic planning exercises such as workshops and simulation exercises, and in reviewing draft national plans.

• Deliverable 1: Monthly Network notes for the record published on the WHO website
• Deliverable 2: Updated LOP for the network and the trust initiative working groups
  Deliverable 3: Pandemic influenza simex package developed for travel and tourism sector
• Deliverable 4: At least 5 national pandemic plans reviewed.
• Deliverable 5: 3 draft workplans for the trust initiative working groups
• Deliverable 6: 1 draft policy brief
• Deliverable 7: 1 collation of case studies on the incorporation of trust into epidemic and pandemic preparedness and response efforts
• Deliverable 8: A draft agenda for a workshop on trust-building

Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Educational Qualifications

Essential:

• Advanced university degree in public health or similar field.

Experience

Essential:

• At least seven years’ experience in health/science communication, community engagement, health policy/research or policy-advocacy related to public health, and public health emergencies such as epidemics and pandemics.
• Experience in establishing/managing community networks and communities of practice.

Desirable:

• Experience working with WHO Headquarters and Regional Offices.

Skills/Knowledge

• Excellent communication and negotiation skills and ability to convene stakeholders and facilitate coordination.
• Familiarity with relevant International Organizations and subject matter experts.
• Translating science/guidance/research for policy/pandemic preparedness or similar.

Languages and level required

Essential:

• Expert knowledge of English

Location

Offsite: Home-based

Travel

The consultant will be required to travel.

Remuneration and budget (travel costs are excluded)

Remuneration

Band level B: USD 7,000 - 9,980 per month

Living expenses (A living expense is payable to on-site consultants who are internationally recruited)

N/A

Expected duration of contract

6 months.

Additional Information:

• This vacancy notice may be used to identify candidates for other similar consultancies at the same level.
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• A written test may be used as a form of screening.
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