Short-Term Consultant, NCD and Healthy Ageing

Background

It is widely recognized that Malaysia attained universal health coverage (UHC) in the 1980s through supply-side investments prioritizing health infrastructure in rural areas and maternal and child health services. However, the Government of Malaysia acknowledges the necessity to take additional actions against the demographic and epidemiological transitions of the country, including the increasing burden of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and the growing aged population. For promoting healthy ageing and prevention and control of NCDs, multisectoral efforts to address risk factors, as well as social determinants of health, are critical in addition to ramping up people-centred integrated health services. Considering the rising proportion of the population aged 65 years or older in Malaysia, which is expected to reach 14.5% in 2040 from 7.2% in 2020, the City of Taiping became the first member of the WHO Global Network of Age-friendly Cities and Communities from Malaysia, followed by the City of Ipoh. In addition, the Ministry of Health (MOH) developed the Salt Reduction Strategy to Prevent and Control NCD for Malaysia 2015-2020 with the aim to reduce population salt intake from 8.7 g to 7.4 g/day by 2020, towards WHO’s global salt reduction target of 30% by 2025. WHO in Malaysia supports the implementation of the Strategy through a project assessing salt levels in street foods and strengthening behavioural communication toward the population.

According to the Regional Director’s white paper endorsed at the 70th Session of the Regional Committee, WPRO, namely “For the Future – Towards the Healthiest and Safest Region”, NCD and ageing are one of four thematic priorities in the Region. To drive this strategic direction, the Regional Action Plan for Healthy Ageing in the Western Pacific was adopted at the 71st Session of the Regional Committee in 2021. WPRO also expects to update the existing regional action plan for the prevention and control of NCDs with the upcoming years. In line with these strategies and action plans, the consultant is expected to be a part of the WHO Country Office in Malaysia supporting the Government of Malaysia by promoting the whole of society approach to improve health and wellbeing of older people.

Purpose/Specific Objective of the Activity

The purpose of this consultancy is to support the WHO Country Office in Malaysia supervised by the Healthy Ageing Unit (AGE) as well as other relevant divisions/units of the WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific (WPRO) to strengthen actions to address the impact of demographic and epidemiological transitions through advancing the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases and provide technical support healthy ageing

Description of activities to be carried out

The consultant is expected to support the WHO Country Office in Malaysia by engaging with a wide range of activities for the prevention and control of NCDs as well as healthy ageing in Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam and Singapore. The scope of activities includes addressing social determinants and modifiable risk factors of chronic health conditions as well as reforming health service delivery according to demographic and epidemiological transactions. The consultant is expected to formulate, implement and monitor the projects and technical assistances in the area of NCD and healthy ageing.

Method(s) to carry out the activity

The work with the Family Health Development Division, MOH Malaysia, Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development of Malaysia and other relevant counterparts in Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam and Singapore will involve the following outputs and deliverables:

Output/s

4.1.1. Healthy ageing

• • Analyze the impact of demographic and epidemiological transitions to health and wellbeing of people living in Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam and Singapore
• • Map the existing policies, institutions and measures to support older people with the object of health, long-term and social care in Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam and Singapore
• • Identify gaps between the existing policies in health, long-term and social care and needs of older people in Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam and Singapore
• • Monitor and support the implementation of the ongoing activities to strengthen infection prevention and control measures at aged care facilities in Malaysia
• • Assist WHO Representative and technical supervisors to engage with the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development with regards to the Taiping Age-friendly City Project in Malaysia
• • Actively seek new opportunities that WHO could support Malaysia and Brunei Darussalam becoming well prepared for the ageing society
• • Contribute to the project formulation in the area of healthy ageing such as grant application, proposal development, budgeting, and its execution

4.1.2. NCD

• • Monitor and support the implementation of the ongoing activities of salt reduction in Malaysia including a nationwide survey of salt contents in street food as well as strengthening strategic communication to reduce salt intake
• • Support planning for salt reduction situation analysis and plan for interventions as needed. 
• • Lead the project management of the existing and prospective NCD-related projects such as coordination, resource acquisition, documentation, monitoring of the budget execution and donor reporting through close communication with administrative staffs of the WHO Country Office
• • Actively seek new opportunities that WHO could support Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam and Singapore for better prevention and control of NCDs and their risk factors 
• • Contribute to the project formulation related to NCD prevention and control such as grant application, proposal development, budgeting, and its execution

4.1.3. COVID-19 response

• • Support the ongoing COVID-19 response related to vulnerable populations in particular persons with comorbidities and aged populations as a member of the Incident Management Team, WHO Country Office as requested
• • Provide minutes of meetings and follow up action items

4.1.4. Other tasks as requested by WHO Representative

Deliverables

4.2.1. Draft situational analysis of health and wellbeing of older people in Malaysia and discuss similar analysis in Brunei Darussalam

4.2.2. Quarterly project management report

4.2.3. Donor reports with financial information written by the specified format

Qualifications and Experience

Individuals or institutions with a resource person satisfying the following criteria:

Education

Essential: An advanced university degree in gerontology, geriatrics, public health or related fields.

Desirable: Training in NCDs and nutrition would be an asset.

Experience

A minimum of 2 years of experience in NCDs, healthy ageing or related fields including experience in project planning, implementing and monitoring public health and research programmes.

Skills

Essential: Knowledge on WHO’s framework including strategies and action plans of the prevention and control of NCDs and associated risk factors as well as healthy ageing

Desirable: Knowledge of the demographic and epidemiological contexts in Malaysia and Brunei Darussalam

Language

Expert reading, speaking and writing in English are required. Everyday competence in speaking and reading Bahasa Malaysia is required.

Competencies

• • Communicating in a credible and effective way.
• • Producing results.
• • Moving forward in a changing environment.
• • Fostering integration and teamwork.
• • Knowing and managing yourself.

Additional Information:

• Starting Date: 01/03/2021
• Duration of Contract: 6 months

Applications

Qualified and interested specialists should submit their CV {for individual contractors} or Company Profile {for institutional applications} and Expression of Interest {cover letter} to the Supply Officer through WP RO UNGM at < wproungm@who.int > by 14 February 2021. 

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. 121231 as subject to all submission. Only successful candidates will be contacted.