Development of an on-line course on electronic nicotine and non-nicotine delivery systems (ENDS/ENNDS) for the Western Pacific Region

The World Health Organization (WHO) is seeking offers for the development of a modular on-line course about  electronic nicotine and non-nicotine delivery systems (ENDS/ENNDS).

PURPOSE OF THE RFP 

The purpose of this APW is to develop an on-line, modular-based course for a target audience of government counterparts, civil society representatives, academia and other tobacco control partners who are interested in obtaining a deeper understanding about ENDS/ENNDS and regulation over these products. The contents of the course shall cover description of ENDS/ENNDS products available at the global level, with a focus on the WHO Western Pacific Region (including available information on product contents), market trends of these products, prevalence of ENDS/ENNDS use among adults and youths, health, social and environmental risks of these products, ENDS/ENNDS’ impact on tobacco control and public health, regulatory measures adopted and implemented in the Region and other WHO Regions, regulatory options, advantages and disadvantages of the various options, challenges applying different regulatory measures and strategies for overcoming or minimizing these challenges, evidence of effects or impact of regulatory measures, as well as case studies). Given that all regions are facing similar challenges in addressing these products, the module should have applicability in other WHO regions as well.

BACKGROUND

Like all other regions, the use of ENDS/ENNDS is increasing in the Western Pacific Region and the spread is largely due to heavy marketing by the tobacco and nicotine product industries. The promotion of a ‘harm-reduction’ narrative and advertising of these products as safer (compared to conventional tobacco products), fashionable, and innovative have led to their increased popularity among both smokers and non-smokers, including young people. The most recent WHO Report on the Global Tobacco Epidemic (2021) noted the toxicity and risks of ENDS/ENNDS and calls on WHO Member States and Parties to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) to regulate these products to protect public health. The 6th Session of the Conference of Parties to FCTC (COP6) invited Parties “to consider prohibiting or regulating ENDS/ENNDS, including as tobacco products, medicinal products, consumer products, or other categories, as appropriate, taking into account a high level of protection for human health. At COP7, Parties were also invited to apply regulatory measures to prohibit or restrict the manufacture, import, distribution, presentation, sale and use of ENDS/ENNDS, as appropriate.  

Although many of the long-term health effects of ENDS use are still unknown, there is growing evidence of the harmful effects of ENDS. The WHO Report on Global Epidemic 2021 reported that a total of 111 countries regulate ENDS in some way. Thirty two of these countries ban the sale of ENDS, and the other 79 countries have adopted one or more legislative measures to regulate ENDS. In the Western Pacific Region, 4 countries ban and 11 regulate ENDS. Member States often face high levels of interference in the regulatory policies/processes from the tobacco/nicotine industry including pressure to reverse regulatory measures.

An accessible course which consolidates all existing WHO and COP recommendations, latest scientific evidence from the WHO Tobacco Laboratory Network (TobLabNet), WHO Study Group on Tobacco Product Regulation (TobReg) and Global Tobacco Regulators Forum (GTRF), research (independent of industry), and experiences from Member States in the Western Pacific Region and other Regions related to ENDS/ENNDS use and regulation is needed. The course shall also highlight and address potential challenges in the development and implementation of regulatory measures. 

WORK TO BE PERFORMED

Objective 1: Final course securely accessible on-line with modules in formats such as, but not limited to, presentation slides, short videos, and case study reports, factsheets, covering the needs of stakeholders and the following:

• • Description and categorization of ENDS/ENNDS products available and prevalent in the WHO Western Pacific Region and other regions (including available information on product contents);
• • Market trends of these products, companies involved in manufacturing of these products and their presence in countries and regions;
• • Prevalence of ENDS/ENNDS use among adults and youths at global and regional levels;
• • Evidence on the health, social and environmental risks and impacts of these products; evidence on the “gateway” effect;
• • ENDS/ENNDS’ impact on tobacco control and public health;
• • COP decisions and evidence from TobLabNet, recommendations by TobReg and Global Tobacco Regulators’ Forum;
• • Regulatory options, advantages and disadvantages of the various options based on evidence and experience of WHO Member States;
• • Regulatory measures (including bans) adopted and implemented in the Region and other WHO Regions;
• • Challenges applying different regulatory measures (e.g., garnering buy-in, litigation, etc.) and strategies for overcoming or minimizing these challenges; and 
• • Evidence of effects or impact of regulatory measures, as well as case studies addressing common challenges faced by Member States across the world and specific challenges in the Western Pacific Region.

The course modules shall be in English with the main considerations of clarity supported by illustration for easy comprehension as well as elements of the Adult Learning Theory (e.g., self-directional, experiential, etc.).

Output 1.1: A workplan (including timeline) for the development of the on-line (internet-based) modular course

Output 1.2: A brief report of a needs assessment among stakeholders including WHO to ensure comprehensive coverage of topics for the course

Output 1.3: Outline of the course modules and overview of contents.

Output 1.4: Draft of at least 2 course modules

Output 1.5: Final compilation of all course modules 

CHARACTERISTICS OF PROVIDER 

EXPERIENCE

Essential: Minimum five years of experience in NCD-related legislation and policy; minimum five years of experience in the area of tobacco control policy development.

Desirable: Experience with public health (particularly NCD prevention) policy-related course content development; organization and facilitation of capacity/skill building and enhancing training workshops.

SKILLS/TECHNICAL SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE

Demonstrated ability to make the logistical arrangements necessary for building an on-line course which may interface with WHO capacity building platforms.

LANGUAGE

Written and spoken fluency in English is essential

SUBMISSIONS

Qualified and interested specialists should submit the following documents to the Supply Officer through WP RO UNGM at < wproungm@who.int > by 18 November 2022

• • Company Profile {for institutional applications} 
• • Technical proposal indicating approach/methodology and timelines, in addition to the below annexes: 
  • o   Annex 2: Confidentiality Undertaking
  • o   Annex 3: Vendor Information Form
• • Financial proposal

Please use Tender Notice No. ENDS-WPR-2022 as subject to all submission. Only successful candidates will be contacted.

Last day of receiving queries for this tender is on 11 November 2022