Consultancy Services for Strengthening Legal Frameworks for Health

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

The general purpose of this consultancy is to support HLE in assisting Member States of the Western Pacific to strengthen legal frameworks to achieve health in the Sustainable Development Goals.

The Western Pacific Regional Action Agenda on Strengthening Legal Frameworks for Health in the Sustainable Development Goals was endorsed by Member States at the 69th session of the Regional Committee for the Western Pacific in October 2018. The action agenda provides guidance to countries on prioritizing action areas, improving processes and enhancing capacities of stakeholders.

As part of these efforts, WPRO is developing an interactive tool that supports the development, implementation and evaluation of health-related law. The tool is designed primarily for use by legal officers, regulators and other government staff who work on legal matters for health as well as policymakers, parliamentarians, NGOs, civil society, academia, and staff from WHO and other development agencies. With preliminary content for the tool now drafted, and a prototype version developed, the next phases will involve testing the prototype, refining the tool, developing a beta version and a content management system for on-going administration of the tool, including any supplemental content.

In October 2019, WPRO will be co-hosting the Asia-Pacific Regional Meeting for National Bioethics/Ethics Committees (AP-NEC2) with the New Zealand National Ethics Advisory Committee, the WHO South East Asia Regional Office (SEARO) and UNESCO, on Reducing Inequities through Solutions-Orientated Bioethics – the Asia Pacific . The objectives of the meeting will be to explore ethics across three thematic areas: climate change, emerging technologies and indigenous peoples, and support development of national capacities and future development of ethics institutions in the regions.

In November 2019, the Asia-Pacific Academic Consortium for Public Health (APACPH) will be hosting a conference on SDGs in Reality. WPRO is an active participant in the conference that provides a platform for convening experts, health leaders, policy-makers and other stakeholders to address challenges in regional health.

In July 2019, WHO HQ hosted an Informal Consultation on the Revision of the WHO Guidance for IHR Implementation in National Legislation. WPRO was a participant in this consultation. Draft revised guidance is being prepared at WHO HQ. WPRO will be participating in canvassing country level feedback on the revised guidance and providing input into the draft revised guidance.

PURPOSE/SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE OF THE ACTIVITY

Specifically, the consultant will support:
(1) the on-going development of an interactive tool on strengthening legal frameworks for health;
(2) WPRO’s role at the Asia-Pacific Academic Consortium for Public Health;
(3) WPRO’s role at the Asia-Pacific Regional Meeting for National Bioethics/Ethics Committees (AP-NEC2); and (4) WPRO’s contribution to the development of revised guidance on the implementation in national legislation of the International Health Regulations (IHR).

DESCRIPTION/METHODS OF ACTIVITIES TO BE CARRIED OUT

• Output 1:  Meeting on the Asia-Pacific Regional Meeting for National Bioethics/Ethics Committees (AP-NEC2)
  • Deliverable 1.1: Support development of meeting agenda and WPRO contribution to the meeting
  • Deliverable 1.2: Support facilitation of invitations and coordination of proceedings

• Output 2: Meeting on Asia-Pacific Academic Consortium for Public Health 
  • Deliverable 2.1: Support WPRO participation and contribution to the meeting
  • Deliverable 2.2: Support facilitation of invitations and coordination of proceedings

• Output 3: Development of revised guidance on IHR implementation in National Legislation 
  • Deliverable 3.1: Review revised draft guidance on IHR implementation produced by WHO HQ
  • Deliverable 3.2: Coordinate and provide written comments on draft guidance on IHR implementation
  • Deliverable 3.3: Support development of further content within IHR, if needed, to support build of beta version of the Health Law Tool

TECHNICAL SKILLS & KNOWLEDGE

Qualification required: University and/or post-graduate degree/s in law and public health or medicine

Experience required: Minimum of two (2) years’ work experience in public health law, including health systems administration, health systems strengthening, legal reform for health, work at country/regional/international level(s) preferred, work with government(s) and/or inter-governmental organization(s) preferred

Skills/Technical skills and knowledge: Ability to review legal instruments and draft technical papers, concept notes and reports; ability to prepare and deliver presentations to various stakeholders; and ability to organize technical workshops

Language requirements: Fluent knowledge of English (reading, writing, speaking) is required

PLACE OF ASSIGNMENT

• WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific
• While the place of assignment is principally in Manila, Philippines, the Consultant may be requested to undertake travel overseas and within the country as part of the engagement.
• In such cases, 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. The Consultant is responsible to fulfil visa requirements and ask for visa support letter(s) if needed.
• Travel will be required to Wellington, New Zealand for the Asia-Pacific Regional Meeting for National Ethics/Bioethics Committees (20 to 24 October 2019) and Bangkok, Thailand for the Asia-Pacific Academic Consortium for Public Health (19 to 23 November 2019). While on mission under the terms of the STC, the Consultant will receive subsistence allowance.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Start date:  09 September 2019

Duration of Contract:  4 months

APPLICATIONS

Qualified and interested specialists should submit their CV (with proposed professional rate) and Expression of Interest to the Supply Officer through WP RO UNGM at < wproungm@who.int > by
24 August 2019.

Please use Tender Notice No. WPRO/2019-08/HLE_DHS/TN95154/mom as subject to all submission.  Only successful candidates will be contacted.

Contacts

Peter Ellison – wproungm@who.int, Tel: +63 5289659, Fax: +63 5211036
Email: wproungm@who.int
First name: Peter
Surname: Ellison
Telephone country code: Philippines (+63)
Telephone number: 5289659
Telephone extension: 5289659
Fax country code: Philippines (+63)
Fax number: 5211036