Consultancy Services for health emergency preparedness and response capacity

Item Description:

The World Health Organization (WHO) was established in 1948 as a specialized agency of the United Nations. The objective of WHO (www.who.int) is the attainment by all peoples of the highest possible level of health. “Health”, as defined in the WHO Constitution, is a state of complete physical, mental and social well being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. WHO’s main function is to act as the directing and coordinating authority on international health work.

The Western Pacific Regional Office (WPRO) is one of the six regions of the World Health Organization. Headquartered in Manila, Philippines, we work with health authorities and other partners in 37 countries and areas with more than one quarter of the world’s population.

BACKGROUND

Kiribati is an island republic in the Central Pacific, comprising 33 coral atolls and isles stretching along the equator, with most of its land area at or just above sea level. Given its unique geography, Kiribati is highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, in addition to a range of other natural and man-made hazards.

The Kiribati Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) is charged with protecting the health of the population, and with coordinating the response to any health emergency, working in coordination with other key Ministries and government departments.

The World Health Organization (WHO) maintains a Country Liaison Office (CLO) in Kiribati in support of the Ministry of Health and Medical Services, and to facilitate coordination with key partners in the health sector, including UNICEF and the Kiribati Red Cross Society, among others.

The Kiribati Ministry of Health and Medical Services is currently developing its next Strategic Plan. In line with the International Health Regulations (2005), the MHMS intends to integrate health security across the Ministry through this plan, and to compliment it with a refined and operationalized Health Emergency Preparedness & Response plan, based on a comprehensive risk assessment/profile, considering the full range of potential hazards facing the country and its population.

PURPOSE/SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE OF THE ACTIVITY

The purpose of the Consultancy is to support the Ministry of Health & Medical Services (MHMS) of the Republic of Kiribati to improve its health emergency preparedness and response capacity and to institutionalize and operationalize this capacity across the Ministry and its departments.

DESCRIPTION OF ACTIVITIES TO BE CARRIED OUT

The Consultant will:

• Support an all-hazards risk assessment process with the Kiribati Ministry of Health & Medical Services, in partnership with relevant stakeholders (i.e. NDMO, Kiribati Red Cross Society, etc.)
  • Identify/review/refine appropriate tools
  • Document the risk assessment
  • Draft a national health risk profile with MHMS
• Update and finalize the National Health Emergency Preparedness & Response Plan, along with relevant/useful tools, including:
  • Rapid assessment tools
  • Quick-reference cards/job cards for key incident management functions
  • Decision trees (relevant to different levels of the Ministry)
  • Contact lists and emergency communication protocols
  • Templates (i.e. sitrep)
  • Poster versions of relevant content for outer-island health facilities, Tarawa health facilities, etc.
• Support the development of key mechanisms/systems linked to the Health Emergency Preparedness & Response plan, including:
  • Incident Management structure and key functions
  • Health Emergency Operations Centre plans
  • Emergency finance release mechanisms
  • Emergency travel/deployment mechanisms
• Support integration of IHR/health security across relevant departments/units in the new MHMS strategic plan.

METHODS TO CARRY OUT THE ACTIVITY

Work will consist of desk research, workshop planning/facilitation, meetings with key stakeholders, writing/reviewing editing plans and supporting documents, and facilitating exercises/drills to test products developed. All work must be closely coordinated with the WHO Country Liaison Office in Kiribati, the WHO health security team in the Division of Pacific Technical Support, and with MHMS counterparts.

Output/s

Output 1: National risk assessment undertaken

Deliverable 1: Risk assessment plan and operational tools prepared and endorsed

Deliverable 2: Risk assessment completed and report shared finalized/endorsed by MHMS and WHO

Output 2: National Health Emergency Preparedness & Response Plan completed and endorsed

Deliverable 3: Plan and facilitate at least one multi-stakeholder workshop

Deliverable 4: Updated National Health Emergency Preparedness & Response Plan drafted, complete with relevant tools/annexes

Output 3: National health emergency mechanisms/systems documented and operational

Deliverable 5: Key mechanisms/systems, as elaborated in the National Health Emergency Preparedness & Response Plan documented through Standard Operating Procedures

Deliverable 6: At least one exercise completed to ensure operability of key health emergency plans/mechanisms/systems, including incident management system, basic health EOC, and emergency administrative functions.

Output 4: Health emergency preparedness and response/health security integrated across the new MHMS Strategic Plan

Deliverable 7: Health security inputs to a strategic plan drafted for inclusion, in line with IHR (2005)

Output 5: Final report submitted

Deliverable 8: Consultancy report, with all products/materials produced in the annex, submitted no later than 27 December 2019.

TECHNICAL SUPERVISION

Responsible Officer: Mr Sean Casey

Manager: Dr Corinne Capuano, WRSP/DPS

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

EDUCATION

Essential:

University degree in public health, emergency management or a related discipline.

Desirable:

Postgraduate qualification or training in public health and/or emergency management

EXPERIENCE

Essential: 

At least five years’ international experience working on health emergencies, preparedness and response, with demonstrated experience working with government institutions and international organizations.

Desirable:

Professional experience designing national-level health emergency preparedness and response plans, tools and exercises. Experience developing/reviewing/revising national all-hazards emergency and response plans.

Pacific experience highly advantageous

TECHNICAL SKILLS & KNOWLEDGE

Strong interpersonal skills.

Strong capacity facilitating exercises and simulations – including large-scale simulations with diverse participants.

Strong analytical, thinking and writing skills.

Ability to distil and capture key learnings from group exercises/discussions.

LANGUAGES

Expert-level written and oral communication skill in English.

COMPETENCIES

Teamwork

Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences

Communication

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

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 23rd August, 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/2019-08/FJI_DPS/TN95158/bab as subject to all submission.  Only successful candidates will be contacted.

Contacts

Peter Ellison – wproungm@who.int, Tel: +63 25289654, Fax: +63 25252512
Email: wproungm@who.int
First name: Peter
Surname: Ellison
Telephone country code: Philippines (+63)
Telephone number: 25289654
Telephone extension: 89654
Fax country code: Philippines (+63)
Fax number: 25252512