Digital Health Planning and Implementation

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 Division of Health Systems in the Division of Pacific Technical Support (DPS) assists countries in the Region with the design and implementation of appropriate health policies and systems to strengthen universal health coverage. It works to strengthen data-driven, evidence-informed, contextually tailored health policy development and implementation at national, regional and local levels, taking an inclusive approach across the life course. The Division advocates strengthening of public health leadership, focusing on implementing policies that are people centred, promote health, prevent illness, and address the social and economic determinants of health, while fostering leadership on equity, human rights and gender mainstreaming in health. It focuses on building capacity for health systems innovation to enable the sustainable delivery of high-quality primary health and community services that are effectively linked to hospitals, and mental health, public health and social care services. To do so, DPS supports country efforts to facilitate access to leave nobody behind, to improve financial protection, to strengthen the health workforce, to increase access to affordable medicines and technologies, and to promote the uptake and implementation of digital technology.

WHO sub-regional office provides technical and policy guidance and expertise on the safety and efficacy of digital health solutions and health information management tools; and preserving health equity, gender equality, equity and human rights as core values in their deployment. Through its work it will support countries to leverage the use of digital technologies for improving the interface between people and health services; for improving health system performance; and for strengthening critical public health functions including disease surveillance, early warning and risk assessment.

PURPOSE/SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE OF THE ACTIVITY

The purpose of the position is to support the implementation and delivery of the WPRO Action Plan for eHealth through direct country assistance, assisting with development of technical guidance on digital health and supporting the development of products and activities in the area of digital health.

DESCRIPTION OF ACTIVITIES TO BE CARRIED OUT

Working with the WHO HIS Technical Officer and assisting Pacific Health Information Network, the Ministries of Health, the contractor will address the following outputs:

Key duties:

• Analyse data on digital health by country and resourcefully collect data where there may be gaps (i.e. update digital health country profiles);
• Regionally contribute to the drafting of reports and information products including potential journal articles (in collaboration with knowledge management unit);
• Coordinate and support regional activities on national digital health assessments, development of digital health road maps and provide feedback to Member States on best-practice design of digital health systems and services (based on the Digital Health and Maturity Assessment) as appropriate;
• Coordinate, develop and support implementation of regional activities (such as training courses and webinars with PHIN) with Member States and development partners aimed at increasing digital health literacy amongst the health workforce;
• Contribute to updating, innovating and creating contents for PHIN’s online digital health presence to disseminate cutting-edge information knowledge, best practices, and guidance;
• Support development and implementation of regional PHIN annual meeting and materials on digital health;
• Support the PHIN Secretariat with identifying and drafting grant proposals to fund PHIN activities
• Support the PHIN Secretariat in carrying out its workplan;
• Support the administration, management, coordination and implementation of WHO regional HIS and digital health projects, including reviewing project deliverables and workplans .

Planned timelines:

• Start date: June 17, 2021
• End date: December 30, 2021

Technical Supervision:

• Responsible Officer:Katri Kontio/Technical Officer
• Manager: Dr Akeem Ali Acting Representative/Director, WHO DPS

METHODS TO CARRY OUT THE ACTIVITY

The incumbent will work as a member of the DPS Health Systems team, in the Division of Pacific Technical Support (DPS) with close collaboration with WHO country offices.

The methods to carry out the work will include remote support for PICs from duty station while travel restrictions are in place and in-country support as required; meetings with health partners including ministries of health, WPRO, JIMT and Clusters as appropriate.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

EDUCATION

Essential: University degree (Bachelor’s level) information technology and/or public health

Desirable: University degree (Master’s level) in digital health.

EXPERIENCE

Essential:  

• At least 5 years of experience in public health and information management systems;
• Strong business (clinical and public health) and digital/ technical acumen with demonstrable track record of success
• Experience working in resource poor setting and remote locations.

Desirable:

• Previous experience in resource poor settings in public health, health information systems, health informatic management, and monitoring and evaluation;
• Previous international experience in digital health or similar role;
• A medical science, public health or related health professional background is desirable.

TECHNICAL SKILLS & KNOWLEDGE

• Excellent communication skills;
• Excellent analytical, planning and organizational skills;
• Ability to work in a team with limited supervision; and
• Ability to work under pressure.

LANGUAGES

• Written and spoken fluency in English is essential;
• Written and spoken fluency in one of the UN languages, preferably French, would be an asset.

COMPETENCIES

• Building and promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond;
• Moving forward in a changing environment;
• Ensuring the effective use of resources;
• Fostering Integration and team work; and
• Communication in a credible and effective way.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Place of Assignment

Home-based

Medical clearance

The selected Consultant will be expected to provide a medical certificate of fitness for work.

Travel (travel dates to be determined)

The Consultant is not expected to travel.

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 24 May 2021.

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. 128577 as subject to all submission. Only successful candidates will be contacted.

Contacts

Thi Minh Ly Nguyen – wproungm@who.int
Email: wproungm@who.int
First name: Thi Minh Ly
Surname: Nguyen