Consultant – To facilitate Tobacco Control Activities related to tobacco product regulation
( 2305378 )
Contractual Arrangement : External consultant
Contract Duration (Years, Months, Days) : 11 months
Job Posting: Jun 14, 2023, 8:21:25 AM
Purpose of consultancy
To provide technical input to the tobacco product regulation work, including activities related to novel and emerging nicotine and tobacco products.
Background
The No Tobacco Unit (TFI) of the Health Promotion Department provides support to WHO Member States to reduce the overall burden of tobacco use. This is achieved within the context of the Thirteenth General Programme of Work 2019−2023.
Tobacco use accounts for more than 8 million deaths a year. Efforts through various initiatives, such as the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) and the WHO MPOWER, have contributed to combating the tobacco epidemic. However, there is a need to further accelerate the implementation of the WHO FCTC to meet the global voluntary targets to reduce the prevalence of tobacco use by 2025/SDG 3A Goals. The proposed work will cover work related to tobacco product regulation, including novel and emerging nicotine and tobacco products. The consultant will undertake activities related to the broad objectives enumerated under section 1 of the Terms of Reference.
Deliverables:
- Deliverable 1 – Advance the work of WHO, in particular through maintenance of the EZcollab website and monthly regulatory/legislative updates, contributing to activities related to the Global Tobacco Regulators Forum (GTRF) and realization of the outputs.
- Output 1.1: Provide technical input to the work of WHO, in particular the GTRF and other related deliverables:
- Maintain the EZcollab website;
- Develop, review and revise resources and documents prepared as part of this deliverable;
- Contribute to developing documents related to this deliverable, including the planning of these activities.
- Output 1.2: Undertake desk-based research on tobacco product regulation for the monthly regulatory updates and draft monthly updates.
- Output 1.3: Liaise with relevant editors and WHO Staff to prepare for publication of relevant tobacco product regulation materials.
- Output 1.1: Provide technical input to the work of WHO, in particular the GTRF and other related deliverables:
- Deliverable 2 – Provide technical input to the teams on activities related to the WHO Tobacco Laboratory Network (TobLabNet).
- Output 2.1: Contribute to finalizing documents/recordings for the WHO TobLabNet SOPs online training modules.
- Output 2.2: Compile information related to method verification and validation, as well as nicotine and tobacco testing research.
- Output 2.3: Post queries from TobLabNet members and other relevant information on nicotine and tobacco product testing on EZcollab, under the guidance of WHO.
- Output 2.4: Review relevant documentation to support the tobacco product regulation team:
- undertake desk-based research to support tobacco product regulation initiatives,
- post queries on EZcollab on topics of interest to TobLabNet members and ensuring that the most-up-to-date information is uploaded and available to members,
- maintain and update the list of current TobLabNet members and drafting membership letters for prospective TobLabNet members, as required.
- Deliverable 3 – Provide technical input into research projects on nicotine and tobacco products.
- Output 3.1: Conduct desk-based research, including literature reviews, and review of country regulations to support research.
- Output 3.2: Draft documents on the implications of research findings and identifying gaps.
- Output 3.3: Provide technical input to develop briefs, manuscripts, and editorials on product regulation.
- Output 3.4: Provide technical input to finalize technical materials on nicotine and tobacco products.
- Output 3.5: Draft research protocols and providing technical support to facilitate approvals.
- Output 3.6: Gather and synthesize relevant evidence on product regulation from peer-reviewed journals and identified sources.
- Deliverable 4 – Facilitate dissemination of information and knowledge on tobacco product regulation.
- Output 4.1: Provide technical input to develop publications relating to the WHO Study Group on Tobacco Product Regulation (TobReg).
- Output 4.2: Prepare resource materials for expert and technical meetings on product regulation.
- Output 4.3: Liaise with the designer, technical editor, and proof-reader to finalize TobReg report.
- Output 4.4: Draft meeting documents, such as briefs, concept notes, agendas, annotated agendas, list of participants, etc.
- Deliverable 5 – Develop country briefs and notes for the record of country level engagement on product regulation, including novel and emerging nicotine and tobacco products.
- Output 5.1: Draft relevant tobacco product information briefs /materials, including information sheets, incorporating feedback.
- Output 5.2: Prepare technical background documentation for country engagement.
- Output 5.3: Provide technical input for capacity building activities related to product regulation in countries.
- Deliverable 6 – Contribute to activities related to the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the WHO FCTC and the Trends report.
- Output 6.1: Contribute to drafting and review of COP background documents.
- Output 6.2: Identify relevant sources and publications to contribute to the development of the background papers or meetings to prepare for COP.
- Output 6.3: Conduct an independent data validation on all analyses reported in the WHO Tobacco Trends report.
Qualifications, experience, skills and languages.
Educational Qualifications:
Essential:
- First university degree in health sciences, public health, social science, analytical chemistry, political science, law, public administration or other relevant areas.
Desirable:
- Post-graduate degree in health sciences, public health, social science, political science, law, public administration or other relevant areas.
Experience
Essential:
- 2-5 years of relevant demonstrated experience in the field of tobacco control or any other NCD risk factors, e.g., academia and civil society associations.
- Demonstrated experience in managing and implementation of projects and multi-country engagement.
- Prior experience of providing technical input to WHO to build tobacco product regulation capacity.
- Demonstrated experience in data analysis and data management.
Desirable:
- Prior experience working with UN and/or national government institutions.
- Previous work in tobacco product regulation.
Skills/knowledge
- Excellent writing and communication skills, with demonstrable expertise in written outputs.
- Organizational, planning skills and attention to detail.
- Analytical and synthesis capacity.
- Team player but able to work autonomously and take initiative for implementing the tasks.
- Expert knowledge of common communication platforms such as Zoom and Microsoft Teams.
- Social media knowledge.
- Demonstrated flexibility to excel in a multi-cultural environment.
- Ability to provide feedback and comfortable with receiving constructive feedback.
- Proven track record of meeting tight deadlines.
- Research skills and knowledge of literature reviews.
- Administrative and report writing skills.
Languages required:
Essential:
- Expert knowledge of English.
Location
Off-site
Home based.
Travel
The consultant is not expected to travel.
Remuneration and budget (travel costs are excluded):
Remuneration:
Band level A
USD 3,955 – 6,980 per month.
Living expenses (A living expense is payable to on-site consultants who are internationally recruited):
N/A
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.
- 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 each location/jurisdiction in which the work hereunder is performed, and the Consultant shall not be entitled to any reimbursement thereof by WHO.
- Consultants working in Switzerland must register with the applicable Swiss cantonal tax authorities and social security authorities, within the prescribed timeframes (Guidelines issued by the Swiss Mission are available at: https://www.eda.admin.ch/missions/mission-onu-geneve/en/home/manual-regime-privileges-and-immunities/introduction/Manuel-personnes-sans-privileges-et-immunites-carte-H/Non fonctionnaires et stagiaires.html
