Consultant 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 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 (RC69) in October 2018.  The action agenda provides guidance to countries on prioritizing action areas, improving processes, and enhancing capacities of stakeholders.  Direct support to countries on the strengthening of legal frameworks for health is a key priority for the Health Law and Ethics unit.

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.  The tool is now in alpha stage, the next phases will involve testing and building it, development of the beta version, then building a content management system to allow for on-going administration of the tool, including to add supplemental content.  The tool will form the basis of capacity building for key stakeholders on legal issues related to health.

PURPOSE/SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE OF THE ACTIVITY

The general purpose of this consultancy is to support the Health Law and Ethics Unit in assisting Member States of the Western Pacific to strengthen legal frameworks towards achieving health in the Sustainable Development Goals.  Specifically, the consultant will support the Health Law and Ethics Unit in direct country support for developing health laws and support content development of a health law website.

Specifically, the consultancy will support the following activities:

1. Technical guidance on the review, development and implementation of public health laws, particularly for Pacific Islands countries;
2. Facilitation of stakeholder workshops to support policy analysis and development, and the identification of legal mechanisms to support public health objectives;
3. Content development for an electronic health law tool (website), including but not limited to topics such as legal analysis and addressing legal issues in health; designing laws and regulation and supporting their implementation; universal health coverage; health workforce regulation; and international health regulations; and
4. Support the training and capacity building of key health stakeholders on the role of law in addressing public health issues.

DESCRIPTION/METHODS OF ACTIVITIES TO BE CARRIED OUT

Output 1: Technical support to strengthen specific country legal frameworks for health for Cook Islands, Kiribati and Papua New Guinea

1. Deliverable: Background documents country Cook Islands
2. Deliverable: Background documents country Kiribati
3. Deliverable: Background documents country Papua New Guinea
4. Deliverable: Progress report country Cook Islands
5. Deliverable: Progress report country Kiribati
6. Deliverable: Progress report country Papua New Guinea

Output 2: Technical support for the health law tool content development including the law-making process, universal health coverage

1. Deliverable: Draft Topic – universal health coverage content
2. Deliverable: Refine the drafts for universal health coverage and incorporate changes requested by HLE
3. Deliverable: Draft Topic – law making process
4. Deliverable: Refine the drafts for universal health coverage and incorporate changes requested by HLE
5. Deliverable: Draft Topic – health workforce and financing
6. Deliverable: Refine the drafts for health workforce and financing and incorporate changes requested by HLE

TECHNICAL SKILLS & KNOWLEDGE

Qualifications required:
University and/or post-graduate degree/s (a) in law and (b) in public health or medicine.

Experience required:
Minimum of three (3) years’ work experience in public health law, including health systems administration, health systems strengthening, legal reform for health; work at country level preferred, work with government(s) and/or at intergovernmental organization(s) preferred. Previous experience working as a public health lawyer or related legal professional would be an advantage. A comprehensive understanding of legal issues related to health systems.

Skills / Technical skills and knowledge:
Ability to review legal instruments, and draft technical papers, concept notes, and reports; proven analytical skills and strong communication skills.

Language requirements:
Highly articulate with an excellent command of written English.

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.
• Starting Date: 20 January 2020
• Duration of Contract: 10 months (subject to confirmation and funding beyond June 2020)

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 22 December 2019.

Please use Tender Notice No. 101489 as subject to all submission.  Only successful candidates will be contacted.

Contacts

Peter Ellison – wproungm@who.int, Tel: +63 285289651
Email: wproungm@who.int
First name: Peter
Surname: Ellison
Telephone country code: Philippines (+63)
Telephone number: 285289651