Consultancy - Strengthening the capacity of vulnerable communities to respond to climate-sensitive health risks in Fiji

BACKGROUND

A new WHO global strategy on health, environment and climate change was approved by member states in 2019 at the 72nd Annual World Health Assembly for 2019–2023, outlining the transformation needed to improve lives and well-being sustainably through healthy environments. With Small Island Developing States (SIDS) being extremely vulnerable to climate change and its potential health impacts, WHO Member States approved a WHO global plan of action on climate change and health in SIDS in 2019 for 2019–2023.

Fiji is prone to the impacts of climate change, e.g., sea-level rise, cyclones, and floods, and prediction models suggest that there would be an increase in both the dry season and wet season rainfall with an increased likelihood of extreme rainfall days. Given that scientific evidence indicates SIDS, including Fiji, are likely to experience more extreme weather events such as floods and droughts consequent from climate change, these changes are expected to influence disease patterns, community vulnerability and resilience including health systems in general.

Initial work under the Piloting Climate Change Adaptation to Protect Human Health (PCCAPHH) project and the climate-informed Early Warning System (EWS) in Fiji provided evidence that the distribution of the four climate-sensitive diseases (CSDs), typhoid, dengue, leptospirosis and diarrheal diseases are sensitive to climate patterns. Some correlations were observed between monthly temperature, rainfall, humidity and extreme weather events and monthly cases of CSDs in several regions of Fiji.

Fiji is already experiencing a rapidly growing health burden due to the increased incidence and prevalence of non-communicable and communicable diseases and the various health impacts of climate change. In accelerating efforts to mitigate climate change and its adaptation to the impacts of climate change, Fiji MOHMS published the Climate Change and Health Strategic Action Plan (CCHSAP) 2016-2020 (extended to 2022) focusing on building a climate-resilient health system. The plan, to be reviewed in 2022, specifies activities to identify communities most vulnerable to climate variability and change and exposed to greater health risks; and build capacity through interventions with adaptive measures in these identified vulnerable communities with the goal of reducing the risks of climate-sensitive diseases and building resilience of vulnerable communities.

This project is funded by the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) under the project Strengthening Health Adaptation Project (SHAPE): Responding to Climate Change in Fiji.

The contractor, will be responsible for assisting the MOHMS in the implementation and monitoring of the SHAPE work plan output 3.2 through strengthened community’s response and capacities for climate resilience and environmental health.

MOHMS will provide guidance on the selection of communities and training materials will be provided to standardize the delivery to communities. A trainer’s workshop will be organized for the selected contractor/s.

PURPOSE/SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE OF THE ACTIVITY

In collaboration with the Pacific Health Systems & Policy (PHS), WHO Division of Pacific Technical Support (DPS) office, and the government of Fiji, primarily the Ministry of Health & Medical Services (MOHMS) Health Protection Unit, the contractor is to organise assessments, training workshops and establish localized monitoring mechanisms for target vulnerable communities on strengthening their capacity to respond to climate-sensitive health risks.

The contractor will assist the MOHMS in responding to Climate Change in Fiji through the implementation and monitoring of strengthening vulnerable communities’ capacity to respond to climate-sensitive health risks

DESCRIPTION OF ACTIVITIES TO BE CARRIED OUT

1. Submission of a workplan for all activities including assessments, community engagement, training , and communication plans.

2. Assessment of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) and Communicable Diseases (CD) prevalence, climate-sensitive environmental determinants of health using WASH FIT tool and Water Safety Plan and climate-sensitive vulnerabilities in a chosen community         

3. Build capacity and facilitate collaboration between community health workers, public health committees and working with target communities, to support multi sectoral action and information sharing to address climate-sensitive health risks

4. Conduct participatory planning and identification of key interventions to address climate-sensitive environmental determinants of health in vulnerable communities (e.g., vector control, implementation of improvement plans from water safety planning, etc.)

5. Based upon community prioritization, provide necessary resources  to implement public health interventions at the community level that address climate-sensitive environmental determinants of health; establish localized monitoring mechanisms to support continued project monitoring and updating to respond to emerging issues and challenges in implementation; and develop and distribute communication products and host community workshops to support community capacity building in resilience to climate-sensitive health risks.

6. Submit the final report for the strengthening of the chosen vulnerable communities’ capacity to respond to climate-sensitive health risks

METHODS TO CARRY OUT THE ACTIVITY

Output 1: Approved workplan for the scope of works to be performed and completed

• Deliverable 1.1: Assessment tool and assessment protocol.
• Deliverable 1.2 Analysis and reporting protocol.
• Deliverable 1.3 Training plan and package.

Output 2: Assessment of a/the selected communities (as per the selection criteria provided) on climate-sensitive disease prevalence and climate vulnerabilities

• Deliverable 2.1 Report highlighting NCD and CD prevalence, climate-sensitive environmental determinants of health and climate vulnerabilities in the community.

Output 3: Conducted training or workshop (capacity building) and facilitated collaboration amongst stakeholders to address Climate Sensitive Health Risks (CSHR)

• Deliverable 3.1 Training report upon completion of training and capacity building activities in the communities.
• Deliverable 3.2 Developed a pathway for stakeholders to collaborate with the community for climate resilience building.

Output 4: Conducted participatory planning and identification of key interventions to address climate-sensitive environmental determinants of health in the chosen vulnerable communities [1] (e.g., vector control, water safety planning, etc.)

• Deliverable 4.1: List of prioritized interventions to address climate-sensitive environmental health determinants.
• Deliverable 4.2: Project proposal for the prioritized interventions.

Output 5: Implemented public health interventions at the community level that address climate-sensitive environmental determinants of health

• Deliverable 5.1: Project intervention reports
• Deliverable 5.2: Established localized monitoring mechanisms to support continued project monitoring and updating, to respond to emerging issues and challenges in implementation.
• Deliverable 5.3: Communication products to support capacity building of communities to respond to climate-sensitive health risks

Output 6: Submitted the final report for the strengthening vulnerable communities’ capacity to respond to climate-sensitive health risks

• Deliverable 6.1: Outcome report of the vulnerable communities that have addressed strengthening their vulnerable communities’ capacity, infrastructure or response to climate-sensitive health risks

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

EDUCATION

Essential:  Bachelor’s or Advanced Degree in Environmental Health, Public Health, Climate Change, Disaster Risk Reduction or other Study Area with demonstrated experience and currently working with Civil Society Organizations, Non-government Organizations or Institutions operating in Fiji working on Environmental Health, Public Health, Climate Change, Disaster Risk Reduction or other relevant projects

Desirable: Proven track record of implementing community development projects in Fiji

EXPERIENCE

Essential:

• • Experience in engaging communities on health and climate change or disasters will be an added advantage
• • Organising training workshop and producing results with communities
• • Communicating clearly and consistently
• • Working as a team member
• • Planning and reporting

TECHNICAL SKILLS & KNOWLEDGE

Specific technical knowledge on the organisation of workshops, training on health and climate change programs or similar Environmental Health or Public Health Disaster Risk Reduction or other relevant experience with communities will be considered

LANGUAGES

Fluent in written and spoken English. Expertise in vernacular will be desirable

COMPETENCIES

• • Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
• • Communicating in a credible and effective way
• • Producing results
• • Moving forward in a changing environment

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Duration of contract: 6 months (26 September 2022 – 24  March 2023)

Place of assignment: Fiji

Travel: The contractor will be required to travel within Fiji

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

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 15 September 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. 181565 as subject to all submission. Only successful candidates will be contacted.