..
The overall objective of the Noncommunicable diseases, mental health and violence and injuries (NCD/MH) team in the WHO Regional Office for Africa (AFRO) is to work with Member States and partners to strengthen the prevention and management of NCDs and mental and neurologic disorders through the development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation (M&E) of multisectoral actions to reduce the associated mortality, morbidity and disabilities in order to improve the health of the populations towards the attainment of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in the WHO African region. The team focuses on the following NCDs, namely, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancer, chronic respiratory diseases, and mental and neurologic disorders, as well as others such as sickle cell disease, psychoactive substance use, eye health, ear health and oral health disorders including noma through a Primary Health Care (PHC) approach. The team also work in the area of violence and injuries, rehabilitation and disability.
Under the supervision of the NCDs management team lead and overall coordination of the director of the Health Promotion, Disease Prevention and Control (DPC) cluster in AFRO, the incumbent is required to have extensive knowledge in one or some of the following areas:
1. Integrated NCDs Management / Service Delivery Expert
• Role/Objective: The consultant focuses on improving the management and delivery of NCD services within health systems. They support the development of integrated approaches to ensure continuity of care from prevention through to treatment and rehabilitation. Their role includes working with health ministries to optimize service delivery models, ensuring equitable access to essential NCD services, and strengthening primary health care. They provide technical assistance for the integration of NCD management across various levels of the health system, with an emphasis on person-centered care and multisectoral collaboration.
2. NCDs Strategic Information and Surveillance (Epidemiologist / Data Analyst/ Biostatistician/ M&E Expert)
• Role/Objective: The consultant specializes in the design and implementation of NCD surveillance systems to monitor the burden of disease, risk factors, and the impact of interventions. He/she analyses complex NCD datasets to produce insights that drive national and regional NCD strategies. They apply statistical methodologies to monitor trends, assess program outcomes, and model future disease projections. Supports the design, development, and implementation of digital health solutions, and software platforms for NCD management. The consultant will support monitoring and evaluation of the program. Their role is to guide national NCD surveillance strategies, ensure alignment with international guidelines (e.g., WHO STEPS), and help countries generate reliable, actionable data for policy and program development.
3. Cardiovascular Diseases Expert
• Role/Objective: The cardiovascular diseases (CVD) consultant provides technical expertise to guide the prevention, diagnosis, and management of CVDs in line with global standards, such as the WHO HEARTS technical package. They assist governments in developing and implementing strategies to reduce the burden of CVD through enhanced screening, treatment protocols, and public health interventions. Their role includes building capacity in health systems particularly at the primary health care level.
4. Diabetes Expert
• Role/Objective: The diabetes expert consultant focuses on supporting countries to strengthen their capacity in diabetes prevention and management. They help develop national diabetes action plans and protocols for early diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up care. The consultant works on integrating diabetes care into broader health systems, promoting access to essential medicines like insulin, and improving patient education on disease management.
5. Chronic Respiratory Diseases Expert
• Role/Objective: This consultant provides expertise in the management of chronic respiratory diseases (CRDs), such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). They guide health systems in adopting evidence-based treatment guidelines, improving access to essential medications, and building capacity for CRD management in primary and secondary care settings.
6. Cancers Expert (Breast, Cervical, Childhood, Prostate, Liver, Colorectal)
• Role/Objective: Cancer specialists in this category provide technical assistance to support the development and implementation comprehensive cancer control strategies. This encompasses the entire continuum of cancer care, from prevention to diagnosis, treatment, and palliative care. The specialist will collaborate closely with national health programs to strengthen screening initiatives and help establish standardized treatment protocols that enhance patient outcomes, support national programs.
7. Sickle Cell Disease and Other Genetic Disorders Expert
• Role/Objective: This consultant specializes in the management of sickle cell disease (SCD) and other genetic disorders. They assist health systems in implementing screening programs, developing treatment protocols, and ensuring patient access to appropriate therapies, such as hydroxyurea. The expert also supports the development of community education programs to raise awareness about SCD and improve patient outcomes through early detection and consistent care.
8. Ear and Hearing Care Expert
• Role/Objective: The ear and hearing care consultant provides technical support in developing national strategies for the prevention and management of hearing impairments. They assist in strengthening hearing screening programs, expanding access to hearing aids, and training healthcare workers in ear care. The expert plays a key role in integrating hearing care into primary health care and ensuring access to quality services.
9. Eye Health Expert
• Role/Objective: This consultant supports the development of eye health programs, focusing on preventing and treating conditions such as cataracts, glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy. Their work includes advising on national strategies for eye care, improving access to essential ophthalmic services, and training healthcare providers in vision screening and surgical interventions. They also support public awareness campaigns.
10. Oral Health Expert
• Role/Objective: The oral health consultant plays a vital role in promoting the integration of oral health into primary care and public health initiatives. They provide expertise on the prevention and management of common oral diseases, such as dental caries and periodontal disease, and support the development of national policies for improving access to dental care. They also promote the inclusion of oral health in NCD programs.
11. NCD Risk Factors Expert
• Role/Objective: This consultant provides expertise in developing strategies to address the risk factors associated with NCDs, such as tobacco use, unhealthy diets, physical inactivity, and harmful alcohol use. They support the design of public health campaigns, policy reforms, and community-based interventions aimed at promoting healthier lifestyles. Their work includes advising on multisectoral action to reduce the prevalence of NCD risk factors across populations.
12. Violence and Injuries Expert
• Role/ Objective: The violence and injuries expert consultant will support countries to strengthen their capacity to develop and implement national policies, legislation, strategies, plans, programmes and initiatives, to prevent violence against children and girls; prevent drowning and traffic injuries and deaths, ensuring people-centred approaches across the life course.
13. Rehabilitation and Disability Expert
• Role/ Objective: The Rehabilitation and Disability expert consultant will support countries to strengthen their capacity to deliver inclusive health and rehabilitation services for all the population, with a focus on integration of rehabilitation into health planning, priority packages of care, primary health care, and emergency preparedness and response.
• Essential: A degree in medicine with a specialization in one of the NCD areas, or a degree in public health or health-related fields. For roles related to data science, a university degree in statistics, data science, health informatics, or other related fields is required.
• Desirable: An advanced university degree (Master's level or above) in medicine, public health, or any specialized field related to NCDs, such as Integrated NCD Management/Service Delivery, Epidemiology, NCD Surveillance, Cardiovascular diseases, Diabetes, Chronic Respiratory Diseases, Cancers (e.g., breast, cervical, childhood, prostate, liver), Sickle Cell Disease and Genetic Disorders, Ear and Hearing Care, Eye Health, Oral Health, Violence and Injuries, Rehabilitation and Disability.
• Essential:
B band levels - P4/P3
At least 5 years of relevant work experience in the area of expertise applied for. This could include NCD management, integrated service delivery, specific NCD fields (e.g., cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, violence and injuries), data management, quantitative analysis, and data visualization.
WHO Competencies
- Producing results.
- Teamwork.
- Communication.
- Moving forward in a changing environment.
- Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences.
• Disease Specialists: In-depth expertise in the management of specific NCDs, including cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, chronic respiratory diseases, cancers (breast, cervical, childhood, prostate, liver, colorectal), sickle cell disease and genetic disorders, oral health, eye and hearing care.
• NCD Management and Integrated Service Delivery: Expertise in planning, implementing, and monitoring NCD prevention, diagnosis, and care services, with a focus on primary health care integration and WHO packages (e.g., PEN, PEN-Plus, HEARTS, PIR, mhGAP).
• Risk Factor Management: Proficiency in promoting NCD prevention strategies, including alcohol regulation, physical activity promotion, and healthy diets, aimed at reducing NCD risk factors across populations.
• Violence, Injuries, Rehabilitation and Disability: Experience in managing violence and injuries or rehabilitation and disability programs and working with stakeholders in these areas of work.
• Epidemiologist / Data Analyst/ Biostatistician/ M&E Expert): Proficiency in conducting and analyzing population-based surveys (e.g., STEPS, GSHS) and competence in implementing and managing health information systems such as DHIS2. Advanced skills in statistical modeling, data analysis, quantitative research methods, and data visualization to inform NCD policy and program development. Proficiency in statistical software such as R, Python and Stata.
Expert knowledge of one of the three UN languages (English/French/Portuguese) in African and the working knowledge of a second.
This will be based on applicable experience as per the consultant payment guidelines according to band levels (B)
• This vacancy notice may be used to identify candidates for other similar consultancies at the same level.
• Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.
• A written test may be used as a form of screening.
• If your candidature is retained for interview, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. WHO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed through the link: http://www.whed.net/. Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and will require individual review.
• For information on WHO's operations please visit: http://www.who.int.
• WHO is committed to workforce diversity.
• WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.
• Applications from women and from nationals of non and underrepresented Member States are particularly encouraged.
• WHO prides itself on a workforce that adheres to the highest ethical and professional standards and that is committed to put the WHO Values Charter into practice.
• WHO has zero tolerance towards sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct (i.e., discrimination, abuse of authority and harassment). All members of the WHO workforce have a role to play in promoting a safe and respectful workplace and should report to WHO any actual or suspected cases of SEA, sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct. To ensure that individuals with a substantiated history of SEA, sexual harassment or other types of abusive conduct are not hired by the Organization, WHO will conduct a background verification of final candidates.
• Consultants shall perform the work as independent contractors in a personal capacity, and not as a representative of any entity or authority. The execution of the work under a consultant contract does not create an employer/employee relationship between WHO and the Consultant.
• WHO shall have no responsibility whatsoever for any taxes, duties, social security contributions or other contributions payable by the Consultant. The Consultant shall be solely responsible for withholding and paying any taxes, duties, social security contributions and any other contributions which are applicable to the Consultant in each location/jurisdiction in which the work hereunder is performed, and the Consultant shall not be entitled to any reimbursement thereof by WHO.
• Consultants working in Switzerland must register with the applicable Swiss cantonal tax authorities and social security authorities, within the prescribed timeframes (Guidelines issued by the Swiss Mission are available at: https://www.eda.admin.ch/missions/mission-onu-geneve/en/home/manual-regime-privileges-and-immunities/introduction/Manuel-personnes-sans-privileges-et-immunites-carte-H/Non fonctionnaires et stagiaires.html
The purpose of this vacancy is to develop a list of qualified candidates for inclusion in this advertised roster. All applicants will be notified in writing of the outcome of their application (whether successful or unsuccessful) upon conclusion of the selection process. Successful candidates will be placed on the roster and subsequently may be selected for consultancy assignments falling in this area of work or for similar requirements/tasks/deliverables. Inclusion in the Roster does not guarantee selection to a consultant contract. There is no commitment on either side.
