International Consultant - Pacific Rapid Response

Job Posting

Closing Date

Primary Location

Organization

Schedule

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Purpose of consultancy

The incumbent will support WHO’s Division of Pacific Technical Support (DPS) Pacific Health Security and Communicable Diseases (PSC) to effectively support Pacific Island Countries (PICs) to manage sub-national, national, and sub-regional surveillance and response capacity by implementing a rapid response training targeting first responders of public health events in PICs.

Background

Experiences from responding to COVID-19, H1N1, dengue outbreaks, and other public health emergencies have highlighted the vital role of multidisciplinary Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) in the timely investigation and containment of public health events. Across the WHO Pacific region, where infectious disease outbreaks, emerging threats, and natural disasters frequently converge, national RRTs exist in various forms and at different stages of development. These teams are collectively referred to as EpiNet teams under the Pacific Public Health Surveillance Network (PPHSN) framework.

The PPHSN EpiNet Technical Working Group (TWG) coordinates and supports EpiNet teams across PICs, promoting standardization of team composition, competencies, and response protocols. However, significant gaps remain in: (i) the capacity of EpiNet teams to respond rapidly and effectively to public health events; (ii) the availability of standardized training curricula tailored to the Pacific context; (iii) the systematic use of structured after action review processes to capture lessons from responses; (iv) operational readiness through functional event management systems; and (v) a defined minimum standards framework applicable across diverse PICs.

In line with the International Health Regulations (IHR 2005) and the Asia Pacific Health Security Action Framework (APHSAF), the WHO DPS PSC aims to address these gaps through a one-year consultancy to provide technical support for outbreak response operations and structured rapid response capacity-building activities under the EpiNet. The consultant will support outbreak response and the strengthening of EpiNet teams (the designated rapid response teams of PPHSN) through Rapid Response Team (RRT) capacity building in PICs, establishing minimum standards for EpiNet teams in collaboration with the PPHSN EpiNet Technical Working Group (TWG), building risk assessment capacity, and supporting lessons learned through after action reviews (AARs) for public health events.

Deliverables

Objective 1 - Roll Out RRT/EpiNet Training in Three Pacific Island Countries
Adapt and deliver the standardized RRT/EpiNet training in three PICs, documenting lessons at each stage to inform scale-up.

• Deliverable 1.1: Adapt the PIC standardized RRT training curriculum to the country context in consultation with national health authorities and EpiNet team leads.
• Deliverable 1.2: Facilitate delivery of the training (in-person or hybrid) for EpiNet team members and nominated rapid responders in PIC.
• Deliverable 1.3: Produce a training report including participant feedback, pre/post assessment results, and lessons learned.
• Deliverable 1.4: Compile a cross-country synthesis note on lessons from RRT training delivery across the three PICs to inform future scale-up.
   

Objective 2 - Strengthen and Standardize EpiNet Teams through Minimum Standards
Lead a comprehensive review of EpiNet team structures, functions, and capacities across PICs in close collaboration with the PPHSN EpiNet TWG to form the evidence base for a minimum standards framework applicable to all EpiNet teams in the Pacific.

• Deliverable 2.1: Identify key gaps, strengths, and priorities to inform the minimum standards framework and training design.
• Deliverable 2.2: Support the facilitation of EpiNet TWG meetings and provide technical secretariat support throughout the consultancy period.
• Deliverable 2.3: Support technical drafting of a comprehensive minimum standards document for EpiNet teams in PICs, covering: team composition and multidisciplinary membership, core competencies and training requirements, SOPs for activation, deployment, and operations, data management and reporting standards, coordination with national and sub-regional structures.
• Deliverable 2.4: Develop a TWG workplan for 2027 that reflects the priorities identified in the situational analysis.
• Deliverable 2.5: Develop a concept framework for regional capacity of EpiNet teams, including a roadmap.
• Deliverable 2.2: Recommendations and practical approaches for strengthening multisource surveillance integration, including improved linkage between syndromic, laboratory, and event-based data streams.

Objective 3 - Strengthen outbreak response measures in PICs in alignment with national and regional guidelines, including Pacific Outbreak Manual  

• Deliverable 3.1: Technical support to Pacific Island Countries during outbreak response, including the development of outbreak response plans, alignment of technical guidance, and operational application of the POM in support of outbreak management.
• Deliverable 3.2: Capacity building on risk assessment tools for use by EpiNet teams in the Pacific, aligned with IHR (2005) and WHO guidance.
• Deliverable 3.3: Conduct at least two after action review for a public health event (outbreak, alert, or emergency response) in the target PICs.

Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Educational Qualifications

Essential: 

• University degree in public health, epidemiology or related field. 

• Training in field-epidemiology or previous experience in infectious disease outbreaks.

  
   

Desirable: 

• An advanced university degree (master’s level or above) in public health, epidemiology or related field. 

• Experience in training/instructional design.

Experience

Essential: 

• At least five years of practical experience in disease surveillance and outbreak response, with at least one year in an international setting, preferably in Pacific or with small island developing states (SIDS). 

• Excellent knowledge of Microsoft office applications (MS-Office Word, Excel, and Power Point) and data collection, data management, surveillance system software, data visualization tools. 

• Experience in outbreak response, including development of periodic epidemiological updates.

   

   

Desirable:

• Relevant work experience within the WHO, UN agencies or international NGOs. 

• Experience in gathering, recording, analysing, and reporting of communicable diseases and/or surveillance related data.

Technical skills and knowledge

• Ability to work rapidly and efficiently in fast paced, complex environments.

• Excellent interpersonal skills complemented by the ability to conceptualize ideas and advocate consensus. 

• Excellent presentation/facilitation skills, and strong formal public speaking skills.

• Advanced ability to design, manage, analyze and coordinate complex information system projects, computer-based applications and databases, web-based tools.

• High level of analytical skills. 

• Ability to manage multiple, complex tasks with limited direct supervision. 

• Knowledge of programme management and functioning of WHO and the UN system is an asset. 

• Advanced use of MS Office, particularly Excel spreadsheets, Power BI, data visualization and analysis tools, and databases.

• Design and management of information systems.

• Familiarity with Geographic Information Systems (GIS).

• Skill in use of one or more statistical analysis programmes.
   

Languages:

Essential: Fluency in English Language

Desirable: Working knowledge of French language is an asset.

Competencies

• Communication

• Building and promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond

• Teamwork

• Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences

• Promoting WHO’s position in health leadership

   

   

Location

On site: Division of Pacific Technical Support (DPS) in Suva, Fiji. During deployment, the duty station may change, and duties may be modified, based on the technical needs of DPS.

Travel

Remote work, with potential travel as needed.

Remuneration (travel costs are excluded)

• Remuneration: The remuneration is set at BAND B between USD350 and USD499/day (20 days per month x 11 months), subject to qualifications and experience.
• Expected duration of contract: 11 months

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.
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