Consultant - GEF Coordination and Implementation

Purpose of the consultancy

The consultant will provide coordination and administrative support for the implementation of the identified activities in close coordination with the WHO Division of Pacific Technical Support (DPS) Pacific Climate Change and Environment (PCE) team, the Ministry of Health, key governmental technical staff, partners, and beneficiaries, with a particular focus on mobilising and garnering stakeholder support, supporting close monitoring of project timelines and activities and contributing to reports.

Background

The health impacts of climate change are diverse and serious, including water- and vector-borne diseases, undernutrition, and the mental and physical effects of extreme weather and climate events. Extreme weather and climate events also disrupt the delivery of health care services. Ministries of Health from Kiribati, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu have limited technical capacity to effectively integrate climate-related risks into policy, planning, and regulatory frames, and into interventions to control the current and project future burden of climate-sensitive health outcomes.

Working closely with Member States, WHO is leading the implementation of a project for building climate resilience for health systems in Kiribati, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu, in partnership with UNDP who is providing project oversight. The GEF LDCF project, “Building Resilience of Health Systems in Pacific Island Least Developed Countries to Climate Change” is designed to increase the capacity of national health systems and institutions, and sub-level actors, to manage long-term climate-sensitive health risks, through four complementary outcomes: (1) strengthening governance of health system and institutional capacities; (2) strengthening capacities of health system institutions and personnel to manage the health risks of climate change; (3) improving the coverage and quality of health services addressing climate-related diseases; and (4) enhancing south-south cooperation. The regional approach will facilitate catalytic partnerships across countries, training and capacity development of climate change and health specialists in the countries, and documentation of lessons and best practices, thereby ensuring that these can be replicated and scaled-up across the region. The project is implemented closely between WHO and Ministries of Health in participating countries.

To facilitate the effective implementation of project activities in Tuvalu a STC position is needed, which will provide support, in close coordination with the WHO and Tuvalu Ministry of Health and other key partners.

Deliverables

The consultant will lead the design and implementation of several project related activities, including coordinating inputs from relevant stakeholder groups, as well as support timely delivery of project-related reports, in close coordination with the WHO DPS PCE team. The specific outputs include:

Output 1: Support development of Climate Change and Health Technical Working Group / Steering Committee

Deliverable 1.1: Conduct a comprehensive review of relevant climate change and health-related policies, legislation, and plans, as well as stakeholder mapping to identify key representatives to be a part of the Climate Change and Health – Technical Working Group / Steering Committee.
Deliverable 1.2: Prepare draft Terms of Reference for Climate Change and Health – Technical Working Group / Steering Committee.
Deliverable 1.3: Support establishment of Climate Change and Health – Technical Working Group / Steering Committee, including holding bi-monthly meetings, in close coordination with Ministry of Health.

Output 2: Climate Change and Health Vulnerability and Adaptation (CCH V&A) Assessment Scoping

Deliverable 2.1: Using WHO guidance on V&A assessments, complete preparation steps for conducting CCH V&A including establishing an assessment team, defining the health risks, outcomes, geographical region and time period that will be the focus of the assessment, developing a stakeholder process, and identifying information / data needs and sources for the assessment.
Deliverable 2.2: Finalize a work plan for conducting the Tuvalu CCH V&A, including an outline that details scope (geographic), priority health risks, tools to be used, timeline, and cost.
Deliverable 2.3: Support the roll-out of the CCH V&A work plan, including administering assessment tools, compiling secondary information/data sources, and analysing existing data, to be summarizing in a draft CCH V&A report.

Output 3: Support the planning for the development of the Health Component of the National Adaptation Plan (H-NAP).

Deliverable 3.1: Develop / adapt / utilize a tool to review list of relevant policies and plans for the H-NAP e.g., National Adaptation Plan, National Adaptation Programs of Action, Nationally Determined Contributions, Climate Vulnerability Assessments and other Health Vulnerability reports, etc.
Deliverable 3.2: Draft workplan that includes information from 3.1 with potential dates for consultation events and key informant interviews with stakeholders.
Deliverable 3.3: Organization stakeholder consultation meetings to gather inputs and develop a draft outline of the H-NAP for review by Tuvalu Ministry of Health.

Deliverable 3.4: Submit a plan and next steps report for finalization of the H-NAP.

Output 4: Delivery of timely donor reports to track project implementation progress.

Deliverable 4.1: Review project work plan and take lead on financial management and procurement tasks related to the Project in close coordination with Ministry of Health and WHO DPS PCE.
Deliverable 4.2: Hold regular meetings with project-related team members to discuss progress and challenges.
Deliverable 4.3: Provide input for Tuvalu into quarterly and annual donor reports.

Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Educational Qualifications:

Essential: University degree in environmental health, public health, climate change and health, environmental science, or other relevant field.
Desirable: Advanced university degree in environmental health, public health, climate change and health, environmental science, or other relevant field.

Experience

Essential: At least five years of relevant professional experience in the field of climate change, environmental health or public health.
Desirable: Experience working with UNDP and/or WHO, as well as working closely with governmental and partner organizations, developing and conducting assessment, policy review and development, and report writing.

Skills/Knowledge:

Advanced knowledge of climate change and health literature, including impacts and adaptation in the context of Pacific Island countries;
Proven skills in technical report writing and policy analysis, specifically related to climate change and health projects in the context of Pacific Island countries;
Proven ability to conduct assessments related to climate change and/or environmental health in low resource contexts;
Knowledge of project and workplan planning and implementation including an understanding of timeline monitoring and risk management;
Competent in using a computer including MS Teams and/or Zoom, MS Excel, MS Word, and MS PowerPoint;
Strong organizational skills and results management;
Ability to work harmoniously as a member of a team as well as independently;
Maintain a high standard of personal conduct.

Desirable: Understanding of Tuvalu country context.

Languages and level required

Excellent written and spoken fluency in English is essential.

Location

On site: Funafuti, Tuvalu

Travel

The consultant will be based in Funafuti, Tuvalu and will be required to travel locally within Tuvalu. There may be travel required to Suva, Fiji, to meet periodically with the WHO DPS PCE team.

Remuneration and budget

Remuneration: Payband B, USD 8,000 (monthly)
Expected duration of contract: 6 months (full-time), March to September 2025

Additional Information

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