Consultant – Maternal Child Health and Quality Safety, Anywhere At WHO – World Health Organization


Consultant – Maternal Child Health and Quality Safety

( 2304546 )

Contractual Arrangement : External consultant

Contract Duration (Years, Months, Days) : 160 days

Job Posting: May 21, 2023, 6:59:14 PM

1. Purpose of the consultancy

To develop anthropological approaches to public health design and programme implementation for better understanding and reflection of cultural and social context into regional strategies and country supports.

2. Background

Community engagement is an important part of Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health (RMNCAH) strategy and WHO “Reaching the Unreached” policy focus. Lao PDR has developed “CONNECT,” a community engagement and local governance initiative which aims to strengthen primary healthcare through empowering local action and building trust between communities, health services and local government. The initiative is led by the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Home Affairs and supported by WHO. By improving essential healthcare access and quality through community engagement, the initiative aims to strengthen the continuum of care for RMNCAH including vaccination. This can also facilitate an integrated approach to service delivery for RMNCAH services.

A key part of the initiative is the development of social science / anthropological approaches in community engagement to build trust and relationships between health services and users. The initiative has demonstrated significant increase in the uptake of COVID-19 vaccination in villages that historically had low vaccination coverage, which was facilitated by increased understanding of the cultural and social aspects of the communities and methods of building trust between the communities, health system and the government. Through the initiative, WHO has learnt the importance and necessity of integrating social science / anthropological perspectives into WHO’s support to the country to understand the cultural context of the communities WHO works for, reflect their local context in public health strategies and interventions.

Through this consultancy, DHS aims to start developing a strategy for integration of anthropological approaches into WHO-supported public health programs through supporting and learning from the CONNECT Initiative in Laos and applying this learning to programs in other countries.

3. Planned timelines (subject to confirmation)

Start date: 1 August 2023

End date: 31 March 2024

Total days of work: 160

4. Work to be performed

Method(s) to carry out the activity

Qualitative data collection and analysis

Technical writing for publications, reports and presentations

Taking part in meetings and dissemination activities

Field trips to WPRO member countries

Scientific literature review

Output/s

Output 1: Developing evidence and strategy for improving vaccine uptake based on the CONNECT approach through research in selected communities in Lao PDR from anthropological aspect.

Deliverable 1: Report/article on impact of community engagement strategy and recommendations for improving vaccination strategy from anthropological aspect.

Output 2: Detailed analysis of the impact and key learnings of CONNECT in building trust between communities, health services and local government for essential healthcare uptake and recommendations from anthropological aspect for WPRO strategy.

Deliverable 2: Report/article analyzing the impact of CONNECT in building trust between communities, health services and local government from anthropological aspect.

Output 3: Drafted publication on RMNCAH Integrated Service Delivery strategy and implementation in Lao PDR and relevance to WPRO region

Deliverable 3: Technical report/article drafted for publication on RMNCAH Integrated Service Delivery strategy and implementation in Lao PDR

Output 4: Draft strategy for integration of anthropological approaches into WPRO country-level programmes

Deliverable 4: Short written strategy on integration of anthropological approaches into WPRO country-level programmes

Output 5: Pilot visit(s) to WPRO country sites for development of culturally and contextually appropriate methods for programme implementation

Deliverable 5: Report on completed field visit(s) to WPRO country sites

5. Specific requirements

Qualifications required: Master’s degree in anthropology or social science

Experience required: Minimum of 5 years of experience in public health programme and social science research

Previous publication output in peer-reviewed journals and/or other publications

Experience of developing and evaluating community engagement strategies for healthcare

Experience in managing research communications is appreciated

Extensive anthropological fieldwork experience within the WPRO regional context is highly appreciated

Skills / Technical skills and knowledge: Collecting and analysing qualitative data to produce evidence-based outputs

Producing written reports to a high standard

Ability to utilise evidence and theory from social science in guiding health interventions

Ability to communicate and disseminate research findings through a variety of mediums

Ability to develop educational materials adapted to diverse audiences

Language requirements: Excellent spoken/written English

6. Competencies

  •  Technical expertise
  •  Overall attitude at work
  •  Teamwork
  •  Producing results
  •  Respecting and Promoting Individual and Cultural Differences

7. Place of Assignment

Off-site support will be provided. Duty travel to WHO WPRO will be scheduled as required by the MCQ Unit, and to countries when requested by WHO country offices and Ministries of Health.

8. Medical Certificate (Consultants only)

The selected Consultant will be expected to provide a medical certificate of fitness for work.

9. Travel

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

Location: From

5/8/2023

To

20/8/2023

Papua New Guinea

Purpose: Pilot site visit for development of culturally and contextually appropriate methods for programme implementation

From

21/8/2023

To

30/8/2023

Vanuatu

Purpose: Explore potential opportunities for multisectoral collaboration and community engagement from anthropological perspective

From

14/10/2023

To

30/10/2023

Marshall Islands

Purpose: Conduct analysis and suggest approach on community engagement for COVID-19 acceptance

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.

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.
  •  WHO is committed to workforce diversity.
  •  WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.
  •  Applications from women and from nationals of non and underrepresented Member States are particularly encouraged.
  •  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 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 final candidates.
  •  Consultants shall perform the work as independent contractors in a personal capacity, and not as a representative of any entity or authority. The execution of the work under a consultant contract does not create an employer/employee relationship between WHO and the Consultant.
  •  WHO shall have no responsibility whatsoever 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 in each location/jurisdiction in which the work hereunder is performed, and the Consultant shall not be entitled to any reimbursement thereof by WHO.
  •  The purpose of this vacancy is to develop a list of qualified candidates for inclusion in this advertised roster. All applicants will be notified in writing of the outcome of their application (whether successful or unsuccessful) upon conclusion of the selection process. Successful candidates will be placed on the roster and subsequently may be selected for consultancy assignments falling in this area of work or for similar requirements/tasks/deliverables. Inclusion in the Roster does not guarantee selection to a consultant contract. There is no commitment on either side.

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