Senior M&E Consultant

BACKGROUND

As of 19 May, Lao PDR has reported 19 confirmed cases of COVID-19. All cases have a known epidemiological link or travel history to an affected country. Since the start of COVID-19 surveillance in the country, there have been a total of 4,653 samples tested. The Emergency Operation Centre (EOC) has been activated within MOH and is meeting daily to discuss preparedness and response activities including multi-sectoral coordination, point of entry (PoE), surveillance, health services and risk communication. The Minister and Vice Minister of Health have overseen the development of a National COVID19 Preparedness and Response Plan as well as a two-year costed operational plan for the response. The plans have been developed in consultation with all Ministry departments, central hospitals, and WHO and will need to be adapted so that the progress and status of each of the activities, their funding source, their gaps and their budget can be easily tracked and routinely reported to the MOH and the EOC.

PURPOSE/SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE OF THE ACTIVITY

The consultant will assist the Ministry of Health in updating core International Health Regulation (IHR) obligations, as well as support MOH, WHO and other stakeholders with the annual review of the National Emerging Infectious Disease and Health Security Plan and lead the writing team to ensure that updated plan is adequately and accurately reflected in the narrative.

Additionally, the consultant will work with the Department of Planning and Coordination within the MOH to develop and build capacity on developing project management tools and strategies to monitor and report on the implementation status of the national COVID19 two year operational plan.

DESCRIPTION OF ACTIVITIES TO BE CARRIED OUT

Output 1: Support MOH to complete and finalize the 2-year operational planning tool for the national COVID response;

• Deliverable 1.1: Provide a centralised and integrated national operational planning tool that is fully updated and adaptable.

Output 2: Work with MOH to build capacity to coordinate internal and external updates and changes to the national COVID operational plan;

• Deliverable 2.1: Provide training and day to day support of DPC staff on how to access, update, analyse and report data from the operational planning tool.

Output 3: Develop routine reporting protocols and procedures and capacity build MOH to analyse and report implementation status of the national COVID response to the MOH Cabinet and PHEOC;

• Deliverable 3.1: Provide SOPs and routine protocols for MOH/DPC staff on how to provide routine updates and reports to the COVID taskforce and the EOC by extracting data and information from the operational planning tool.

Output 4: Support MOH with the annual review of the National Emerging Infectious Disease and Health Security Plan and support development of narrative sections to support the plan;

• Deliverable 4.1: Provide a final version of the revised National Emerging Infectious Disease and Health Security Plan.

Output 5: Support MOH to review and revise the State Party Annual Reporting of IHR capacity;

• Deliverable 5.1: Provide a final version of the Annual Reporting of IHR capacity.

METHODS TO CARRY OUT THE ACTIVITY

1. Support MOH to complete and finalize the 2-year operational planning tool for the national COVID response;
2. Work with MOH to build capacity to coordinate internal and external updates and changes to the national COVID operational plan;
3. Develop routine reporting protocols and procedures and capacity build MOH to analyse and report implementation status of the national COVID response to the MOH Cabinet and PHEOC;
4. Support MOH with the annual review of the National Emerging Infectious Disease and Health Security Plan and support development of narrative sections to support the plan with WHE team;
5. Support MOH to review and revise the State Party Annual Reporting of IHR capacity with WHE team;

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

EDUCATION

Essential:  Minimum bachelor’s degree, preferably in medical/health science, public health from a recognised tertiary institution. Post graduate qualifications in management would be highly regarded.

EXPERIENCE

Essential: The candidate should have at least 5 years’ experience working in the field of public health, with project management and M&E experience, and working in a developing country context.

TECHNICAL SKILLS & KNOWLEDGE

Experience in managing and coordinating projects within a public health context, as well as with developing monitoring and evaluation frameworks, data analysis and report writing.

LANGUAGES

• • High level of ability in spoken and written English.

COMPETENCIES

• • Technical expertise
• • Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
• • Communication

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Place of assignment

Lao PDR – 6 months in the capital Vientiane with potentially some visit to the provinces required

APPLICATIONS

Qualified and interested specialists should submit their CV and Expression of Interest {cover letter} to the Supply Officer through WP RO UNGM at < wproungm@who.int > by 25 June 2020. 

The cover letter should outline how their experience and qualifications make them a suitable candidate for this position and should include their proposed daily consultancy fee and availability.

Please use Tender Notice No. 109860 as subject to all submission. Only successful candidates will be contacted.