Consultant – Health Security Systems Strengthening

Purpose of Consultancy

This consultancy aims to strengthen public health preparedness and response capacities in Lao PDR by supporting the implementation of the International Health Regulations (IHR) monitoring and evaluation framework. The consultant will work closely with the WHO Health Emergencies Programme (WHE) team and WHO Country Office to enhance surveillance, risk assessment, and response systems. Key activities include facilitating joint external evaluations, after-action reviews, and simulation exercises; updating the national health security workplan and related standard operating procedures; and developing technical documents and training materials. Deliverables include meeting and technical reports, updated guidelines, and training outcomes, contributing to improved national health security aligned with the Asia-Pacific Health Security Action Framework.

Background

WHO Lao PDR has been working closely with the Ministry of Health (MOH) to strengthen the health security capacities required under the International Health Regulations (IHR, 2005). The WHO Health Emergencies Programme (WHE) supports MOH in strengthening key areas of surveillance, risk assessment, and response and to infectious diseases and other public health hazards.

Deliverables

The consultant will work together with WHE technical staff by providing on-site technical support as necessary, under the supervision of the team leader of WHE Lao PDR and be guided by the WHO Country Office. The consultant will provide support in the following activities and submit reports as requested and as needed:

• Support the preparation, conduct and reporting for IHR monitoring and evaluation framework activities including the joint external evaluation (JEE), after-action reviews (AAR), simulation exercises, and updating the national health security workplan;
• Support the country in updating standard operating procedures and other technical documents related to surveillance, risk assessment, and response following the recommendations from the review of surveillance systems and the JEE;
• Strengthen surveillance, risk assessment, and response capacities in line with the Asia-Pacific Health Security Action Framework;

Output/s

Output 1: Support the preparation, conduct and reporting for IHR monitoring and evaluation framework activities including the joint external evaluation (JEE), after-action reviews (AAR), simulation exercises, and updating the national health security workplan.

Deliverable 1.1: Meeting reports related to the JEE, AAR, and the review of the National Health Security Workplan
Deliverable 1.2: Technical reports and other relevant documents related to IHR monitoring and evaluation framework activities.

Output 2: Support the country in updating standard operating procedures and other technical documents related to surveillance, risk assessment, and response following the recommendations from the review of surveillance systems and the JEE.

Deliverable 2.1: Technical reports and other relevant documents related to the review of the surveillance system and the JEE.
Deliverable 2.2: Updated standard operating procedures, workplans, or other technical documents related to surveillance, risk assessment, and response.

Output 3: Strengthen surveillance, risk assessment, and response capacities in line with the Asia-Pacific Health Security Action Framework.

Deliverable 3.1: Updated training materials related to surveillance, risk assessment, and response.
Deliverable 3.2: Training reports, meeting reports and other relevant documents related to strengthening surveillance, risk assessment, and response activities.
Deliverable 3.3: Technical reports related to surveillance, risk assessment and response in Lao PDR.

Output 4: Monthly technical reports

Deliverable 4.1: Timely submission of the technical reports of WHO supported activities

Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Education Qualifications:

Essential: University degree in health sciences or relevant areas from a recognized university.
Desirable: Post-graduate training in epidemiology (Field Epidemiology Training Programme) or advanced university degree (master’s level or higher) related to epidemiology.

Experience:

Essential: Minimum of five years’ relevant work experience related to epidemiology. Relevant international experience is required.
Desirable: Relevant work experience in WHO and/or other UN agencies. Field experience in outbreak and emergency surveillance and response programmes in low and/or middle-income countries in Asia.

Knowledge & skills:

• Skills and knowledge in the International Health Regulations (IHR, 2005) and IHR monitoring and evaluation framework
• Skills and knowledge in field epidemiology in low- or middle-income countries.
• Skills and knowledge of conducting outbreak investigation planning, policies and standard operating procedures in low- or middle-income countries.
• Ability to establish harmonious working relationships as part of a team, adapt to diverse educational and cultural backgrounds, and maintain a high standard of personal conduct.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Flexibility for urgent work

Language requirements:

Expert knowledge of English (speaking, reading and writing) is essential.

Location

On site: Vientiane Lao, PDR

Travel

The consultant is expected to travel.

Remuneration and budget

Remuneration: Pay band level A, USD 4,000.00 (monthly)
Duration: 5 months, January to June 2025

Additional Information:

• This vacancy notice may be used to identify candidates for other similar consultancies at the same level.
• Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.
• A written test may be used as a form of screening.
• If your candidature is retained for interview, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. WHO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed through the link: http://www.whed.net/. Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and will require individual review.
• For information on WHO’s operations please visit: http://www.who.int.
• The WHO is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The WHO recruits workforce regardless of disability status, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, language, race, marital status, religious, cultural, ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds, or any other personal characteristics.
The WHO is committed to achieving gender parity and geographical diversity in its workforce. Women, persons with disabilities, and nationals of unrepresented and underrepresented Member States (https://www.who.int/careers/diversity-equity-and-inclusion) are strongly encouraged to apply for WHO jobs.
Persons with disabilities can request reasonable accommodations to enable participation in the recruitment process. Requests for reasonable accommodation should be sent through an email to [email protected]
• An impeccable record for integrity and professional ethical standards is essential. WHO prides itself on a workforce that adheres to the highest ethical and professional standards and that is committed to put the WHO Values Charter (https://www.who.int/about/who-we-are/our-values) into practice.
• WHO has zero tolerance towards sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct (i.e., discrimination, abuse of authority and harassment). All members of the WHO workforce have a role to play in promoting a safe and respectful workplace and should report to WHO any actual or suspected cases of SEA, sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct. To ensure that individuals with a substantiated history of SEA, sexual harassment or other types of abusive conduct are not hired by the Organization, WHO will conduct a background verification of short-listed candidates.
• WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.
• Consultants shall perform the work as independent contractors in a personal capacity, and not as a representative of any entity or authority.
• WHO shall have no responsibility for any taxes, duties, social security contributions or other contributions payable by the Consultant. The Consultant shall be solely responsible for withholding and paying any taxes, duties, social security contributions and any other contributions which are applicable to the Consultant in each location/jurisdiction in which the work hereunder is performed, and the Consultant shall not be entitled to any reimbursement thereof by WHO.
• Please note that WHO’s contracts are conditional on members of the workforce confirming that they are vaccinated as required by WHO before undertaking a WHO assignment, except where a medical condition does not allow such vaccination, as certified by the WHO Staff Health and Wellbeing Services (SHW). The successful candidate will be asked to provide relevant evidence related to this condition. A copy of the updated vaccination card must be shared with WHO medical service in the medical clearance process. Please note that certain countries require proof of specific vaccinations for entry or exit. For example, official proof /certification of yellow fever vaccination is required to enter many countries. Country-specific vaccine recommendations can be found on the WHO international travel and Staff Health and Wellbeing website. For vaccination-related queries please directly contact SHW directly at [email protected].
• In case the recruitment website does not display properly, please retry by: (i) checking that you have the latest version of the browser installed (Chrome, Edge or Firefox); (ii) clearing your browser history and opening the site in a new browser (not a new tab within the same browser); or (iii) retry accessing the website using Mozilla Firefox browser or using another device. Click the link for detailed guidance on completing job applications: Instructions for candidates.

..