SHORT TERM CONSULTANCY (STC) - “Country Project Specialist for Technical Support to National Malaria Control Programmes in the GMS Countries”
BACKGROUND
In order to accelerate Malaria Elimination in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS), it was agreed that WHO should strengthen its role in technical support at the provincial level in the 5 GMS countries – Cambodia, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam – to:
- Strengthen program coordination and provide technical support to ensure full implementation of Malaria National Strategic Plan interventions; and
- Implement an aggressive approach to deploy interventions to impact risk and deplete parasite reservoirs in populations with highest risk of malaria.
In order to fulfil this role, WHO/MME (Mekong Malaria Elimination) is recruiting a Country Project Specialist to work in the frame of the Intensification Plan for Reducing the Malaria Burden Among Forest Goers and Hard to Reach Populations (Intensification Plan). The Country Project Specialist will be responsible of his/her respective countries: Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam to plan, monitor, report and timely support field work at central level in close collaboration with the National Malaria Control Programmes (NMCPs) while the GMS project specialist, who is also based in Cambodia will be responsible for the GMS Region.
Duration: from 01 August 2022 to 30 November 2023 with possible extension of 6 months according to available funds
The Country Project Specialist will extensively travel to high burden targeted areas of his/her respective countries while the GMS Project Specialist consultant will monthly travel to the GMS counties (capital and provincial level) to launch the Intensification Plan in the region. In addition, they will travel to other GMS countries for ad hoc epidemiological support.
PURPOSE AND DESCRIPTION OF ACTIVITIES TO BE CARRIED OUT
- Support the Intensification Plan assessment in the five GMS countries
- Support the epidemiologists and field staff involved in the Intensification Plan
- Coordination and collaboration with National Malaria Control Programmes and partners at the central level
- Improve communication between National Malaria Control Programmes, WHO and partners, including development of technical reports and presentations
- Provide technical support the NMCPs to define the most appropriate aggressive interventions to accelerate malaria elimination
- Strengthen the overall capacity of all national programmes to be eligible to WHO requirements for malaria free certification by 2023.
DESCRIPTION OF ACTIVITIES TO BE CARRIED OUT
Support the Intensification Plan assessment in the five GMS countries: launch the intensification plan in the region to accelerate malaria elimination.
Activity 1: Coordinate with the NMCPs of each country to define the best strategy to commence the implementation of the Intensification Plan in each country and deploy epidemiologists and field staff based on epidemiological needs
Activity 2: Coordination between the GMS and the Country Project Specialists to assess an homogenous plan adapted to each country
Activity 3: Monthly travel of the GMS Project Specialist to the GMS countries to strengthen collaboration with NMCPs and partners and ad hoc support of the Country Project Specialists in other GMS countries
Activity 4: Extensive travels of the Country Project Specialist to the provincial levels to support the epidemiologist and field staff based at the peripherical level
Coordination and collaboration with National Malaria Control Programmes and partners at the central level to plan, monitor, and report the assessment of the intensification plan and highlight challenges and bottlenecks.
Activity 1: Plan quarterly joint field visits with the NMCPs and partners to observe progress, challenges and provide adapted recommendations
Activity 2: Monitor the implementation of the intensification plan activities
Activity 3: Monthly reports on the epidemiological situation and the implementation of malaria activities in the GMS region (GMS Project Specialist) and in each of the GMS countries (Country Project Specialist)
Activity 4: Draft reports to the UNOPS and The Global Fund including the necessary reprogramming requests when needed
Support NMCPs to define the most appropriate aggressive interventions to accelerate malaria elimination and strengthen the overall capacity of all national programmes to be eligible to WHO requirements for malaria free certification by 2023.
Activity 1: Collaborate with NMCPs to define the situation and define the most appropriate aggressive interventions.
Activity 2: Close work with GMP in the definition of the WHO requirements for malaria free certification.
METHODS TO CARRY OUT THE ACTIVITY AND LIST OF OUTPUTS
The consultant will be based in WHO Country Office and will be responsible for the following deliverables in support to the NMCPs to accelerate malaria elimination in the GMS region:
Output 1: Support the Intensification Plan assessment in the five GMS countries
- • Deliverable 1.1: Plan team activities at the region (GMS Project Specialist) and country level (Country Project Specialists)
- • Deliverable 1.2: Produce biannual technical reports on the assessment of the implementation of emergency response plan by travelling to priority provinces (including epidemiology, logistics, and operations)
Output 2: Coordination and collaboration with the National Malaria Control Programmes and partners at the central level
- • Deliverable 2.1: Plan quarterly joint field visits with the NMCPs and partners in targeted areas based on the epidemiology
- • Deliverable 2.2: Monitoring of the malaria implementing activities
- • Deliverable 2.3: Monthly reporting of the region situation with details for each country
- • Deliverable 2.4: Financial and technical report every semester to submit to UNOPS and The Global Fund
Output 3: Appropriate aggressive interventions to accelerate malaria elimination and eligibility to WHO requirements for malaria free certification by 2023
- • Deliverable 3.1: 5 countries supported by WHO to implement the intensification plan, with at least 2 of them implementing aggressive approaches in Year 1
- • Deliverable 3.2: 5 countries supported by WHO to implement the intensification plan, with at least 4 of them implementing aggressive approaches in Year 2
QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE
EDUCATION
Essential: University degree in medicine, science or equivalent with postgraduate degree in public health or epidemiology from an accredited/recognized institute.
Desirable: Postgraduate degree in public health or epidemiology
EXPERIENCE
Essential: Minimum 5 years of relevant work experience required. An experience in WHO or other UN Organizations, working on communicable diseases is desirable.
Desirable: working as a team leader in a low-middle income country
TECHNICAL SKILLS & KNOWLEDGE
Good knowledge of English is essential (Read-Write-Speak). Basic knowledge of Khmer/Vietnamese/Thai desirable.
LANGUAGES
Expert level of English is essential (Read-Write-Speak). Working knowledge of other UN languages is an advantage.
COMPETENCIES
- Teamwork and Leadership
- Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
- Communication
- Moving forward in a changing environment
PLACE OF ASSIGNMENT
Locations:
The country project specialist will be based at WHO Country Offices (Cambodia, Vietnam or Thailand) and travel extensively (at least 50% of his/her time) at the provincial level. The travel location will be subjected to changes, accordingly to the epidemiology.
MEDICAL CLEARANCE
The selected consultant will be expected to provide a medical certificate of fitness for work.
TRAVEL
Frequent travels and long stay to provinces is expected.
All travel arrangements will be made by WHO – WHO will not be responsible for tickets purchased by the Consultant without the express, prior authorization of WHO. While on mission under the terms of this consultancy, the Consultant will receive subsistence allowance.
Visas requirements: it is the consultant’s responsibility to fulfil visa requirements and ask for visa support letter(s) if needed.
SUBMISSIONS
Qualified and interested specialists should submit the following documents to the Supply Officer through WP RO UNGM at < wproungm@who.int > by 12 June 2022
- • Curriculum Vitae
- • Expression of Interest (cover letter). The cover letter should outline how their experience and qualifications make them a suitable candidate for this position and should include their proposed daily fee and availability.
Please use Tender Notice No. 175030 as subject to all submission. Only successful candidates will be contacted.