Developing an inventory of policies and legislations for climate change and environmental health hazards and risks in Fiji and mapped to responsible institutions and partners
BACKGROUND
In 2014, WHO estimated that that between 2030 and 2050, climate change can cause close to 250,000 additional deaths per year due to malnutrition, diarrhoea, malaria and heat stress alone. Climate and environmental changes threaten the essential elements of good health - clean air, safe drinking water, nutritious food supply, and safe shelter. The WHO has recognized for decades that climate change and environmental degradation problems are not controlled by the health sector alone but is uniquely positioned to join advocacy efforts for broader national action in these domains, thus underlining the need for stronger narratives about the relationship between climate change, environmental degradation and health.
Recognizing the immediate and delayed threats of climate change, WHO has been supporting Pacific Island Countries (PICs) through introducing special initiatives, guidance, plans and strategies on climate change to build resilience in countries health systems. Managing safe levels of environmental determinants of health is equally important in building health resilience to the impacts of climate change, an ecological challenge.
Based on the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Operational Framework for Building Climate Resilient Health Systems, Fiji’s National Climate Change and Health Strategic Action Plan aims to build climate resilient health system in Fiji by providing guidance for health systems and public health programming to increase their capacity for protecting health in a changing climate. The overarching goal of the CCHSAP is to plan climate change adaptation measures for the health system, as well as to prevent and manage existing and future health risks. The CCHSAP includes management of environmental determinants of health as an essential component elaborating that the main impact of climate change on health will be an increase in environment related illnesses and deaths. It recommends that provision of primary health care, and actions to improve the environmental and social determinants of health, ranging from access to clean water and sanitation to enhancing the community well-being as vital.
PURPOSE/SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE OF THE ACTIVITY
In collaboration with the Pacific Climate Change and Environment (PCE) team, WHO Division of Pacific Technical Support (DPS) office and the government of Fiji primarily the Ministry of Health & Medical Services (MoHMS), the consultant will develop an inventory of policies and legislations mapped to responsible institutions and partners undertaking climate change and environmental health hazards and risks in Fiji.
This consultancy will provide the information required to establish a coordinating platform for effective enhancement, compliance, monitoring and evaluation of public health laws, legislations, and policies that address environmental health risks affected by climate change (e.g. food and water safety).
DESCRIPTION OF ACTIVITIES TO BE CARRIED OUT
The general objective of developing an inventory of policies and legislations mapped to responsible institutions and partners undertaking climate change and environmental health hazards and risks in Fiji. The specific objectives are:
- recognize the important environmental health hazards and risks associated with climate change;
- understand all policies and legislations governing important environmental health hazards and risks associated with climate change, this should include important national and international instruments such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), agreements, conventions etc.;
- establish a multisectoral collaboration platform for effective enhancement, compliance, monitoring and evaluation of policies and legislations governing important environmental health hazards and risks associated with climate change;
- ensure there is joint monitoring of environmental exposures using regulatory standards and management of health risks;
- facilitate active coordination and inter-sectoral planning and information sharing for management of environmental health (EH) determinants.
The work required in this terms of reference is very important in the whole process of the Ministry’s approach towards building climate resilient health systems through improved monitoring of climate and environmental health (EH) hazards and risks. The inventory with mapped responsible actors will encourage integrated management of environmental health and climate hazards and risks. This is assurance that policies and regulations will contribute verifying and controlling impacts of environmental determinants of health on epidemiological status pre, during post weather extreme events in identified vulnerable areas. The work requires knowledge of Ministry of Health structure, policies and plans regarding environmental health (EH) and health protection in Fiji.
METHODS TO CARRY OUT THE ACTIVITY
Under the supervision of the PCE team coordinator based in WHO office, Suva, Fiji, the consultant will carry out the following activities:
- The consultant submits a workplan outlining all activities of this contract (e.g., conducting literature review, virtual interviews with key informants;
- The consultant will prepare an inventory of environmental health hazards and risks associated with climate change;
- The consultant will engage relevant climate, environment and health stakeholders, as well as review relevant legislations, policies, and relevant peer-reviewed literature and instruments (SDGs, agreements, conventions, guidelines etc.) to compile and assess climate sensitive environmental determinants of health (hazards and risks);
- Based on the results of above activities, the consultant develops an inventory of policies, legislations and relevant instruments (SDGs, agreements, conventions, guidelines etc.) governing environmental health hazards and risks associated with climate change;
- The consultant uses the inventory to map the policies and legislations to the responsible ministries and agencies implementing the various instruments for protecting environmental determinants of health;
- The consultant recommends steps for multi-sectoral collaboration to address climate sensitive environmental determinants of health through strengthening compliance to policies and regulations;
- The consultant will prepare a report on recommendations and lessons learned which will be submitted with the inventory of policies, legislations and relevant instruments and the map of relevant stakeholders responsible for implementing the instruments in the inventory.
Output/s
Output 1: The workplan including relevant climate change and health stakeholders and activities.
Deliverable 1.1: The list of environmental health hazards and risks associated with climate change;
Deliverable 1.2: The workplan for the consultations and preparation and reporting of the platform and framework.
Output 2: Consultations conducted (including survey, if necessary), and policies and legislations and other relevant instruments are reviewed (to be reviewed by PCE team).
Deliverable 2.1: The list of relevant policies, legislations and other instruments and their custodians;
Deliverable 2.2: Conducted the series of consultations and reviews to collect the baseline information for the inventory and map;
Deliverable 2.3: Prepared inventory of relevant policies, legislations and instruments;
Deliverable 2.4: Map of partners and stakeholders implementing the policies, legislations and instruments of climate change and environmental health.
Output 3: The inventory and mapping are finalized and submitted with outcome report.
Deliverable 3.1: The finalized inventory and mapping report;
Deliverable 3.2: Final consultancy report on recommendation and lessons learned.
QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE
EDUCATION
Essential:
University Degree in the following disciplines: Public Health or Environmental Health or Environmental Science. Advanced qualification in Communication, Health Information Systems Climate change or Environmental sciences.
Desirable: climate change or environmental sciences and public health
EXPERIENCE
Essential:
At least five years of experience environmental health or environment risk assessment of impacts of climate change or extreme weather events.
Desirable: climate change adaptation and mitigation work.
TECHNICAL SKILLS & KNOWLEDGE
Specific technical knowledge of integrated environmental risks management. Has good knowledge of environmental health and climate change stakeholders, operating regulations and policies. Has strong analytical skills; Demonstrated writing skills to prepare technical reports and has excellent communication skills.
LANGUAGES
Expert level of written and spoken English is required.
COMPETENCIES
- • Culturally sensitive
- • Communicating in a credible and effective way; and
- • Producing results
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Place of assignment
The consultant will work remotely according to COVID-19 restrictions and will consult with the Pacific Climate Change and Environment team (PCE) in the WHO Division of Pacific Technical Support Office in Suva, Fiji. The person will also work with the Ministry of Health and Medical Services Environmental Health Unit and the Health Emergency and Climate Change Team (HECC)
Medical Clearance
The selected consultant will be expected to provide a medical certificate of fitness for work.
Travel
The consultant is expected to travel, in-country, for this consultancy depending on easing of COVID-19 travel restrictions; otherwise online and virtual consultation will be the applied.
Payment schedule
- • Signing of contract – 0%
- • Submission of workplan – 50%
- • Submission of final consultancy report with the deliverables in Output 2 and 3 – 50%
Contract duration
30 August 2021 - 15 October 2021
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 19 August 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. 137286 as subject to all submission. Only successful candidates will be contacted.