Short Term Consultancy (STC) – Project Specialist For Technical Support to Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) Ministry Of Health (MOH)

BACKGROUND

The WHO Mekong Malaria Elimination (MME) programme supports Greater Mekong Subregion countries in their efforts to eliminate malaria with a vision to avoid a stagnation of malaria cases and reach the joint elimination targets.  The main key areas of work include partnership coordination, advocacy, communication, as well as leading technical support on cross-country projects, regional and country surveillance and national malaria elimination strategies which includes intensification plans and accelerating approaches in Cambodia, Lao PDR, Viet Nam, Myanmar and Thailand.

Malaria ‘Accelerator Strategies’ (AS) were piloted in Lao PDR in 2021 and scaled up in 2022. The AS focuses on delivery of targeted drug administration (TDA), intermittent preventative treatment for forest goers (IPTF), active fever screening and provision of long lasting insecticide treated hammock nets in 60 of the highest burden villages in the country. The TDA was completed in June 2022 and the IPTF is planned to continue until October 2022. In order to understand the impact of the AS project on malaria in Lao it will be important for WHO to work closely with the national malaria program to undertake a detailed technical assessment of both the pilot and the scale up of the AS work. The assessment will be part of the broader malaria mid-term review process which will be conducted in parallel, and the recommendations from the assessment will inform updates and changes to improve how these strategies will be delivered in 2023.

Planned Timelines:

Start date:  01 October 2022

End date:   31 December 2022

PURPOSE AND DESCRIPTION OF ACTIVITIES TO BE CARRIED OUT

To provide in country technical support to Lao People’s Democratic Republic (PDR) Ministry of Health (MoH) to review, assess and make recommendations on the recently implemented malaria ‘Accelerator Strategies’.

DESCRIPTION OF ACTIVITIES TO BE CARRIED OUT

The consultant will work with the Centre for Malariology, Parasitology and Entomology (CMPE) to develop AS assessment criteria, protocols and tools and support CMPE to undertake the assessment and to then deliver a report. They are expected to exercise initiative as well as sound judgment in the implementation of the assessment and work with partner agencies as required and relevant;

METHODS TO CARRY OUT THE ACTIVITY AND LIST OF OUTPUTS

Output 1: Support CMPE to conduct a full review and assessment of the malaria Accelerator Strategies in
Lao PDR:

Deliverable 1.1: Desk review and ‘Accelerator Strategies Subnational Review Meeting’ where results of the AS will be disseminated and discussed. Feedback from the Review meeting will be incorporated into the assessment report.

Deliverable 1.2: Final AS assessment report that includes:

• • summary of results
• • identification of challenges and bottlenecks (technical, operational, strategic);
• • recommendations on the 2023 AS strategy;
• • methods and selection of target areas for 2023;
• • detailed operational plan and associated budget;
• • updated SOPs and training materials;

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

EDUCATION

Essential:  University degree in medicine, science or equivalent with postgraduate degree in public health or epidemiology from an accredited/recognized institute.

EXPERIENCE

Essential: Minimum 5 years of relevant work experience in public health required, with some experience in malaria. An experience in WHO or other UN Organizations, working on communicable diseases is desirable.

Desirable: work experience in developing countries, especially in Lao PDR or other in the Asia-Pacific region.

TECHNICAL SKILLS & KNOWLEDGE

• • Experience in working with governments to develop public health strategy
• • Ability to work and interact effectively with national counterparts, non-governmental organizations and international agencies at various levels
• • Ability to work harmoniously as a member of a team, adapt to diverse educational and cultural backgrounds and maintain a high standard of personal conduct
• • Ability to work independently under pressure and to deliver high-quality work on-time
• • Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• • Good oral and written communication skills
• • Good computer skills on using Microsoft Word, Excel, PPT

LANGUAGES

High degree of competency in reading, writing and spoken English.

COMPETENCIES

• • Technical Expertise 
• • Producing results
• • Communication

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Place of assignment:
WHO Lao Office

Location/s:  
Vientiane, Lao PDR

Medical clearance 
The selected consultant will be expected to provide a medical certificate of fitness for work.

Travel
Will work in Vientiane Capital with some travel to the southern provinces.

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. WHO Country Office Cambodia will facilitate the procedures to obtain official visa.

APPLICATIONS

Qualified and interested specialists should submit their CV {for individual contractors} and Expression of Interest {cover letter} to the Supply Officer through WP RO UNGM at < wproungm@who.int > by 30 August 2022. 

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. 180451 as subject to all submission. Only successful candidates will be contacted.