Consultant - Internal assessment of IHR in the Republic of Palau in preparation of JEE (Joint External Evaluation)

1. BACKGROUND

Palau conducted the Joint External Evaluation (JEE) orientation workshop in November-December, 2018 with the technical assistance from WHO. After the orientation workshop, MoH further requested to get WHO’s assistance for the internal assessment process in early March, 2019. Their indicated time for JEE mission is July 29-August 2, which has been agreed by WHO.

1. PURPOSE/SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE OF THE ACTIVITY

To closely assist Ministry of Health and IHR (International Health Regulation) Committee in Palau to conduct the internal assessment and draft the report in preparation of the JEE mission dated as in July 29-August 2, 2019

1. METHOD(S) TO CARRY OUT THE ACTIVITY

1. In collaboration with the Ministry of Health of Palau, WHO/CLO-FSM office and WHO-South Pacific | Division of Pacific Technical Support, the consultant will undertake the following duties:
   1. Review all existing IHR self-assessments (IHR Monitoring Questionnaires and 2018 State Party Annual Report for Palau
   2. Draft a visit agenda for the field trip and provide materials to support the self-assessment process to the national counterpart
   3. Create or adapt a data collection tool to be populated and enable preliminary self-assessment scoring
   4. Facilitate a multi-sectoral workshop to begin the process of populating a spreadsheet addressing the JEE questions
      1. Conduct a stakeholder analysis for each of the functional areas of the JEE to identify where partner support enables access to capacities that are not fully available in-country.  Incorporate the information gathered into the background narrative of the self-assessment report
      2. Guide the MOH and other sectors if needed to collect and collate the documentary evidence required to assess progress in IHR core capacity implementation against the JEE toolkit
      3. If required, meet individually with finance and administration for health, animal health, biosecurity, port authorities, food safety, chemical and radiation safety authorities and other IHR stakeholders to raise awareness of the JEE and their contribution to the self-assessment process
      4. Create a repository to compile and review the available documents, mapping them to the documents identified in the JEE and required for JEE, and identify potential gaps in core capacities
2. In collaboration with the MOH, airport and seaport authorities, complete the detailed spreadsheet on IHR capacities at points of entry using the IHR (2005) Assessment tool for core capacity requirements at designated airports, seaports and ground crossings (Oct 2009)
3. Support the drafting of the self-assessment report. Ensure that each of the JEE functional area teams are fully briefed in the final response to their questions so that they are able to present their area to the external team
4. Support each functional area team to develop their presentation slides using the WPRO template.  Facilitate sessions for each functional area team to practice presenting their slides to colleagues  for Q&A and to identify areas requiring clarification
5. Provide a pre-departure debriefing to the health leadership
6. Provide WHO with a detailed mission report with recommendations within one week of departure.

PLEASE SEE ATTACHED SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES FOR THE 30 DAYS CONSULTANCY

1. QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

    

EDUCATION

Essential:  

Medicine, nursing, public health or related undergraduate degree, and master or higher level degree in public health or related discipline from a recognized university in the International Association of Universities’ Worldwide database of Higher Education Institutions, systems and Credentials (WHED).

EXPERIENCE

Essential:

Minimum of ten years progressive experience in communicable disease prevention and control.

Desirable:

Experience working in Pacific island countries and territories and public health experience in health security are an advantage.

TECHNICAL SKILLS & KNOWLEDGE

• Has a broad knowledge of principles, practices, methodology and techniques in public health. 
• Expert knowledge of IHR (2005), APSED and the IHR MEF essential.
• Has highly developed interpersonal skills with the ability to work well with, and positively relate to, people at all levels and from diverse cultural and educational backgrounds and orientations.
• Has or can quickly acquire, a thorough working knowledge of essential WHO procedures, policies, rules and regulations that support WHO's presence in countries.
• Able to establish and maintain harmonious relations with national and international colleagues.
• Experience in resource limited situations/ developing countries, preferably with experience in the Pacific.
• Excellent skills in using Microsoft Office software including Excel.

LANGUAGES

Written and spoken fluency in English is essential. Working knowledge of French is desirable.

COMPETENCIES

• Applying technical expertise
• Overall attitude at work
• Fostering integration and teamwork
• Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
• Communication

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

1.  Planned timelines

Start date:  February 28, 2019

End date:  April 10, 2019

*Total working days is 30 working days.

2.  Place of assignment

Koror, Palau

3.  Travel

The Consultant is expected to travel according to the itinerary and estimated schedule below:

Travel dates

Departure:  March 2  Home place

Arrival:        March 3   Koror, Palau

Location:   Home to Koror, Palau

Purpose:    To deliver outputs for Palau

Travel dates

Departure:   April 6   Koror, Palau

Arrival:         April 7    Home place

Location:    Koror, Palau to Home

Purpose:    To deliver outputs for Palau

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.

4.  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} 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 11 February 2019. 

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. WPRO/2019-01/DPS_IHR/TN83000/mom as subject to all submission.  Only successful candidates will be contacted.