Consultancy Services for Pacific Health Emergency Logistics

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

Within the context of Pacific Health Security and Communicable Diseases (PSC), and guided by the Pacific Island Countries and Areas WHO Cooperation Strategy and as per the WHO’s General Programme of Work (GPW), the purpose of the position is to provide well-rounded logistics and operations support services to WHO offices in the Pacific, and to member states in sub-region.

The Consultant will support WHO’s tactical capacity to perform its mission in the best possible conditions, ensuring timely and adequate supply of the required medical and non-medical commodities, providing health logistics support to member states and partners, managing field communications capacity, and coordinating field logistics, including identification and setup of working and living space, coordinating local transport, establishing and managing warehousing/storage facilities, and overseeing stock controls. S/he will ensure full compliance with WHO logistics standards. During emergencies/outbreaks, the Consultant will be among the first WHO staff to deploy to affected areas to establish core operations. Outside of emergency settings, the Consultant will coordinate operational readiness and preparedness, including establishing and maintaining emergency stockpiles, training staff on core operations and logistics functions, and participating in overall emergency planning with other PSC staff and consultants.

PURPOSE/SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE OF THE ACTIVITY

To provide technical support to WHO’s Division of Pacific Technical Support (DPS) in the areas of health emergency logistics in support of both preparedness and response capacities for Pacific Island Countries and Territories, and in support of improved operational readiness among WHO’s Pacific Country Offices and Country Liaison Offices.

TECHNICAL SUPERVISION:

Responsible Officer: Mr Sean Casey, Health Cluster Coordinator/PIC

Manager: Dr Angela Merianos, Team Coordinator

DESCRIPTION OF ACTIVITIES TO BE CARRIED OUT

In compliance with the WHO rules and regulation, based on a comprehensive forecast of the supply needs and in collaboration with the UN partners present, plan an end-to-end, timely provision of quality and adequate supplies, equipment and consumables for emergency health operations;

Facilitate customs clearance, reception, transportation, storage and distribution of supplies to partners and affected areas and populations;

Facilitate the set-up of the health emergency response operations supported by WHO, support the appropriate functioning of the health facilities, mobile medical activities such as vaccination campaigns, laboratory support and other health related activities;

Provide quality assurance to the set up and sustainable access to adequate, efficient and safe cold chain facilities for a reliable supply of medical items requiring temperature control environment;

Undertake regular field assessments to monitor supply management, stock movements and storage conditions;

Organize and conduct regular reviews to assess progress, identify gaps and problems, plan and make recommendations to improve programmed implementation;

Strengthen the PICs capacities on logistics and cold chain, particularly for emergencies;

METHODS TO CARRY OUT THE ACTIVITY

The Consultant will support the following outputs:

• Output 1: Support WHO Operational Readiness in the Pacific
  • Deliverable 1: With WHO/WHE colleagues, plan emergency stockpiles in the DPS and WCOs within the sub-region.
  • Deliverable 2: Coordinate storage/warehousing and controls of WHO emergency supplies, including medicines, medical supplies/consumables, WASH supplies, emergency telecommunications equipment, and staff life support supplies for emergency deployments.
  • Deliverable 3: Provide training for WHO staff and consultants regarding emergency logistics, including procurement planning, warehousing planning and telecommunications, among other themes.
• Output 2: Support Health Emergency Logistics Preparedness in PIC Ministries of Health
  • Deliverable 4: With WHO colleagues within the sub-region, support Ministries of Health (MOH) of Pacific Island Countries and Areas in evaluating core logistical needs and gaps for emergency preparedness, including for national Emergency Medical Teams.
  • Deliverable 5: With PIC MOH counterparts (logistics/pharmacy), review national emergency stockpiles and make recommendations for emergency supplies to be maintained, including for national Emergency Medical Teams.
  • Deliverable 6: With PIC MOH counterparts, review emergency transport and telecommunications capacity and make recommendations for improvements.
• Output 3: Logistics Support for Emergency Response in the Pacific
  • Deliverable 7: In response to graded or ungraded emergencies within the Pacific sub-region, lead logistical elements of WHO’s response, including initial logistical assessments, processing emergency procurements, transport and storage of goods, establishing operations base(s) (compliant with MOSS standards), coordinating movement of personnel, and other core logistics functions.
  • Deliverable 8: Support the Health Cluster partners in tracking available supplies of medicines, supplies, and consumables in support of emergency response.
  • Deliverable 9: Support MOH counterparts in planning and coordinating procurements and donations of medicines, supplies and other materials, including supporting importation, quality control, external communication of standards and process, warehousing and distribution.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

EDUCATION

Essential:

University degree in logistics, public or business administration, engineering, or related field from an accredited/recognized institute. For WHO staff only, equivalent professional training or self-study/work experience.

Desirable:

Professional certification/qualification in areas such as transport, distribution and supply chain management. Degree or training in information management systems and their application to logistic, transport or supply management and monitoring.

EXPERIENCE

Essential: 

At least five years’ related experience, at the national and international levels, in managing logistics operations and supply operations, part of which in the field supporting operations. Experience in emergency response operations critical.

Desirable:

Prior working experience with WHO/UN, health clusters partners, recognized humanitarian organizations or with an international nongovernmental organization. Experience or knowledge

of import/export and customs administration.

TECHNICAL SKILLS & KNOWLEDGE

1. Excellent communication skills and proven writing skills in English.
2. Capacity to collaborate and coordinate across multiple agencies.
3. Ability to work in multi-cultural and multi-disciplinary environments.
4. Strong organizational skills.
5. Strong presentation and public speaking skills.

LANGUAGES

Excellent written and spoken communication skills in English.

COMPETENCIES

Teamwork

Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences

Communication

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Start date:  01 October 2019

Duration of Contract:  31 December 2019

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.

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 19 September 2019.  

Please use Tender Notice No. WPRO/2019-09/FIJ_DPS/TN96505/mom as subject to all submission.  Only successful candidates will be contacted.

Peter Ellison – wproungm@who.int, Tel: +63 528 9659, Fax: +63 521 1036
Email: wproungm@who.int
First name: Peter
Surname: Ellison
Telephone country code: Philippines (+63)
Telephone number: 528 9659
Telephone extension: 528 9659
Fax country code: Philippines (+63)
Fax number: 521 1036