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Qualifications

1.    Purpose of the Consultancy

Under the WHO Health Emergencies Programme, the incumbent will provide technical support to enhance health emergency preparedness and response at the country level, ensuring compliance with the International Health Regulations (IHR). The role involves advising the WHO country office on health security issues, development of all-hazard health emergency plan and supporting the implementation of emergency preparedness and response plans. Besides, the incumbent will be deployed to emergency operations whenever required.
2.    Background
Somalia has demonstrated incremental progress in strengthening its health emergency response capacities over recent years. Nevertheless, various external and internal factors continue to impede sustained development in this domain. The country remains vulnerable to a broad spectrum of health threats, including infectious disease outbreaks, natural disasters, and other public health emergencies, which can significantly undermine national and global health security.
Multiple evaluations have highlighted critical gaps in Somalia’s preparedness and response frameworks. The 2016 Joint External Evaluation (JEE) revealed limited capacity or complete lack of capacity across 44 out of 48 technical areas under the International Health Regulations (IHR). Key deficiencies include inadequate legislation and regulatory frameworks, weak surveillance systems, insufficient laboratory capacity—particularly for antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and zoonotic diseases—and fragmented coordination among stakeholders. The country’s health workforce faces challenges in hiring, training, and retaining qualified personnel, while existing protocols for disease notification and emergency response are either underdeveloped or not operational.
Cross-cutting issues such as limited legal authority, inadequate domestic funding, reliance on external support, and security concerns further hinder Somalia’s ability to develop robust health emergency preparedness and response mechanisms. The country’s capacity for real-time event-based surveillance, risk assessment, and multi-sectoral coordination remains insufficient, risking being a weak link that could compromise global health security.
In 2018, Somalia conducted a multi-hazard risk assessment using WHO’s STAR approach, which identified cholera, measles, polio, malnutrition, and dengue/chikungunya as key hazards. Persistent cholera outbreaks, diphtheria outbreaks, low vaccination coverage, inadequate access to safe water, recurrent droughts, floods, and ongoing conflict and displacement create a complex emergency environment that demands an integrated, multisectoral approach to preparedness and response.
Despite these challenges, Somalia’s IHR capacities stand at approximately 35%, well below the EMRO/ regional and global averages of 60% and 65%, respectively, underscoring the urgent need for targeted technical assistance. A dedicated WHO consultant is essential to support the Somali WHO country office and health authorities in addressing these gaps, strengthening emergency response capabilities, enhancing preparedness and response plan, and ensuring a coordinated approach to health security that aligns with international standards and best practices.

3.    Planned Timelines:
Start date:    (TBD): 20th May 2026
End date:    (TBD): 19th November 2026

4.    Expected Outputs and deliverables:
Output 1:   Provide expert technical guidance to national authorities in strengthening health  emergency preparedness and response capabilities, ensuring effective planning, risk assessment, and implementation of emergency measures.
Deliverable 1.1: Gather, consolidate data to develop technical reports and guidelines to support national authorities in emergency preparedness and response planning.  
Deliverable 1.2: Develop comprehensive, operational all-hazard emergency response and contingency plans, tailored to the national context.”
Deliverable 1.3: Develop detailed hazard analyses and risk assessments to identify vulnerabilities and prioritize actions. 
Deliverable 1.4: Support and coordinate the development of preparedness and response plans for all identified hazard risk. 
Deliverable 1.5: Provide technical guidance to national authorities on operationalization of the emergency operation center to support in implementation of hazard preparedness efforts.  

Output 2: Support capacity-building initiatives and provide workshops for national health authorities and partners on the multi-hazard preparedness and response plans.
Deliverable 2.1: Conduct workshops in collaboration with the national authorities for the development of the multi-hazard emergency response plan.
Deliverable 2.2: Produce Multi- Hazard Emergency preparedness and response plan. 
Deliverable 2.3: Assess existing capabilities, identify gaps, and conduct capacity-building workshops and training sessions for national health authorities on multi-hazard emergency preparedness and response planning.
Output 3: Coordinate the operationalization of the public health emergency operation centers (PHEOCs) in collaboration with relevant stakeholders to ensure readiness and effective response capabilities.
Deliverable 3.1: Review the PHEOC standard operating procedures (SOPs) and protocols. 
Deliverable 3.2: Establish communication and coordination mechanisms among PHEOCs and relevant partners.
Deliverable 3.3: Ensure integration of PHEOCs into the national emergency response framework.
Deliverable 3.4: Collaborate with the WHO M&E team to Monitor and evaluate the readiness and functionality of each PHEOC regularly.
Deliverable 3.5: Conduct capacity-building workshops and training sessions for PHEOC staff.
Output 4:  Develop a National Cholera plan.
Deliverable 4.1: Conduct workshops in collaboration with the national authorities and other stakeholders for the development of the National Cholera plan.
Deliverable 4.2: Develop a National Cholera plan, tailored to the National context.
5.    Specific requirements 
- Qualifications required: 
•     Essential: Advanced university degree (Master’s level or above) for high end of range in medicine, public health, epidemiology, health systems, or related field. from an accredited/ recognized institute with Master`s degree in in Public Health.
- Experience required:
•      7–10 years of relevant experience at national and international levels in health operations, with proven expertise in managing outbreaks and health emergencies. Experience in managing both human and financial resources is required

- Skills / Technical skills and knowledge:
•     Excellent presentation and communication skills
•     Excellent leadership and coordination skills 
•     Strong analytical and report-writing skills
•     TOT Certified
•     Excellent facilitation and materials development; English required
•     Strong analytical and report-writing skills.

Language requirements:
 Expert in English.

6.     Place of assignment
The consultant to be based in Mogadishu with travel to different Federal Member States.
7.     Medical clearance 
The selected Consultant will be expected to provide a medical certificate of fitness for work.
8.     Travel
In-country travel.
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.

Additional Information

·  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.

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·    Applications from women and from nationals of non and underrepresented Member States are particularly encouraged.

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·   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 in each location/jurisdiction in which the work hereunder is performed, and the Consultant shall not be entitled to any reimbursement thereof by WHO.

·   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.