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Qualifications

Purpose of consultancy

The purpose of this consultancy is to support Pacific Island Countries (PICs), through the Division of Pacific Technical Support (DPS), in strengthening national and regional disease surveillance capacities. This includes updating national communicable disease guidelines in line with revised notifiable disease lists; building the capacity of healthcare workers in surveillance and response; and advancing regional priorities to enhance the implementation of Early Warning and Response System (EWARS) through integrated, multisource approaches. The consultancy will also support the development of a joint epidemic intelligence report to consolidate surveillance data and inform timely, evidence-based public health decision-making at both national and regional levels.

Background

The Division of Pacific Technical Support (DPS), established by World Health Organization to serve 21 Pacific Island Countries (PICs), plays a central role in strengthening national and regional communicable disease surveillance and response systems. DPS provides technical assistance in surveillance, outbreak preparedness, and emergency response, working in close partnership with Ministries of Health, development partners, and regional networks such as the Pacific Public Health Surveillance Network (PPHSN). Its support includes epidemiology capacity building, surveillance system strengthening, laboratory integration, and coordinated response operations.

Communicable disease surveillance across Pacific Island Countries (PICs) remains a priority requiring sustained technical investment and is consistently identified as a key focus area in both State Party Self-Assessment Annual Reporting (SPAR) and Joint External Evaluation (JEE) processes. Recent outbreaks have further underscored the need for more standardized guidance, stronger frontline surveillance capacity, and improved use of real-time data for decision-making.

In response, the DPS is prioritizing the updating and alignment of national communicable disease guidelines with revised notifiable disease lists; strengthening surveillance systems, including the implementation of Early Warning and Response System (EWARS) through integrated, multisource approaches; and enhancing workforce capacity to support early detection, reporting, and response. A key component of this work is the development of a joint epidemic intelligence report to consolidate surveillance data, strengthen situational awareness, and support coordinated public health action across the Pacific.

This consultancy will directly support these priorities by providing dedicated technical expertise to advance surveillance system strengthening, in alignment with WHO standards, the International Health Regulations (IHR) (2005), and broader regional health security frameworks.

Deliverables

Objective 1: Support the updating and alignment of national communicable disease guidelines with revised notifiable disease lists.
Deliverable 1.1: Updated national communicable disease guideline(s) aligned with revised notifiable disease lists and surveillance best practices.

Objective 2: Strengthen implementation and monitoring of the Early Warning and Response System (EWARS) through integrated, multisource surveillance approaches (including syndromic, laboratory, and event-based surveillance).
Deliverable 2.1: Technical guidance and tools to strengthen EWARS implementation and monitoring, including data quality, reporting completeness, and timelines
Deliverable 2.2: Recommendations and practical approaches for strengthening multisource surveillance integration, including improved linkage between syndromic, laboratory, and event-based data streams.

Objective 3: Enhance the capacity of healthcare workers and surveillance focal points in data collection, analysis, interpretation, and use for timely public health decision-making.
Deliverable 3.1: Development and delivery of capacity-building resources (e.g., training & facilitation materials, or job aids) for healthcare workers and surveillance focal points.

Objective 4: Support the development of a joint epidemic intelligence report to consolidate surveillance data, strengthen situational awareness, and inform coordinated action at national and regional levels.
Deliverable 4.1: A joint epidemic intelligence report synthesizing surveillance data across PICs, including analysis, interpretation, and actionable recommendations.

Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Educational Qualifications

Essential: 

• University degree in public health, epidemiology or related field. 

• Training in field-epidemiology or previous experience in infectious disease outbreaks. 
   

Desirable: 

• An advanced university degree (master’s level or above) in public health, epidemiology or related field. 

• Experience in training/instructional design.

Experience

Essential: 

• At least five years of practical experience in disease surveillance and outbreak response, with at least one year in an international setting, preferably in Pacific or with small island developing states (SIDS). 

• Excellent knowledge of Microsoft office applications (MS-Office Word, Excel, and Power Point) and data collection, data management, surveillance system software, data visualization tools. 

• Experience in outbreak response, including development of periodic epidemiological updates.

   

   

Desirable:

• Relevant work experience within the WHO, UN agencies or international NGOs. 

• Experience in gathering, recording, analysing, and reporting of communicable diseases and/or surveillance related data.

Technical skills and knowledge

• Ability to work rapidly and efficiently in fast paced, complex environments.

• Excellent interpersonal skills complemented by the ability to conceptualize ideas and advocate consensus. 

• Excellent presentation/facilitation skills, and strong formal public speaking skills.

• Advanced ability to design, manage, analyze and coordinate complex information system projects, computer-based applications and databases, web-based tools.

• High level of analytical skills. 

• Ability to manage multiple, complex tasks with limited direct supervision. 

• Knowledge of programme management and functioning of WHO and the UN system is an asset. 

• Advanced use of MS Office, particularly Excel spreadsheets, Power BI, data visualization and analysis tools, and databases.

• Design and management of information systems.

• Familiarity with Geographic Information Systems (GIS).

• Skill in use of one or more statistical analysis programmes.
   

Languages:

Essential: Fluency in English Language

Desirable: Working knowledge of French language is an asset.

Competencies

• Communication

• Building and promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond

• Teamwork

• Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences

• Promoting WHO’s position in health leadership 
   

Location

Off-site: Division of Pacific Technical Support (DPS) in Suva, Fiji. During deployment, the duty station may change, and duties may be modified, based on the technical needs of DPS.

Travel

Remote work, with potential travel as needed.

Remuneration (travel costs are excluded)

• Remuneration: The remuneration is set at BAND B between USD350 and USD424/day (20 days per month x 11 months), subject to qualifications and experience.
• Expected duration of contract: 11 months

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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