National consultant to Develop Sierra Leone Health National Adaptation Plan (H-NAP)

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Qualifications

1.     Area of expertise : 

Technical experts to develop a Health National Adaptation plan (H-NAP) for the health system

2.     Purpose of consultancy : 

The purpose of the consultancy is to support Ministry of Health (MOH) of Sierra Leone to develop a Health National Adaptation plan (H-NAP) for the health system to better understand how climate change is impacting the health system in the country and identify strategies and actions that can be implemented to maintain a resilience health system.

3.     Background  

The World Health Organization (WHO) has been working on climate change and health (CCH) for over twenty years and has been supporting countries to implement actions aiming to strengthen the climate resilience of health systems. This work on climate change is mandated and guided by a World Health Assembly Resolution (61.19), a regional strategy for addressing environmental determinants of health (2017-2021) and a work plan approved by the WHO Executive Board in its 136^th session, which includes raising awareness, promoting and guiding the generation of scientific evidence, and providing policy and technical support to the implementation of the public health response to climate change.

The Ministry of Health (MOH) had developed the Climate Health Vulnerability and Adaptation report supported by the World Bank. This comprehensive document outlines the potential health impacts of climate change and proposes strategies for enhancing resilience within health systems and communities. By addressing these vulnerabilities, the MOH aims to safeguard public health and ensure sustainable development in the face of environmental challenges.

4.     Deliverables:

The consultant will:

The consultant will lead the following tasks, working closely with MOH CCH lead & team and WHO technical officer.

i)               Consultation with key stakeholders, literature review and inception report (two weeks)

• Hold consultation meetings with key informant stakeholders[1] in the health sector and the technical working group for climate and health to ensure common understanding of climate and health in general and document discussions.
• Review relevant report, secondary data and existing literature to understand the impacts of climate change on the health system in Sierra Leone.
• Review Sierra Leone relevant health system report, V&A report, NAPs, NDC, environment and climate change policies, strategies, and plans in the country.
• Prepare, submit, and refine an inception report with methodology (WHO guideline) and detailed work plan (activities with timelines for deliverable including time for review).
• Prepare and deliver a presentation for the TWG to validate inception report and accept relevant comments provided.

ii)              Field visits and consultations with relevant stakeholders (three weeks)

• Conduct field visits to selected health facilities in agreement with MOH to understand the context and assess health infrastructure vulnerability to climate change. The MOH will support identifying health facilities and frontline workers (including community health workers) situated in high-risk zones, including those exposed to floods, and landslides.
• Field visits and consultation should also cover on-going programmes and educational initiatives in schools and health facilities to identify practices (both harmful practices and opportunities) including medical waste management by health facilities, water management, solid waste management in urban settings, handling of hazardous materials, and disposal of equipment and electronics.
• Lead multi-sectoral consultation (one-on-one as well as in a workshop) with relevant stakeholders to consolidate findings, agree on impacts of climate change on the health systems, health services and propose interventions within health sector to adapt and reduce the negative impacts of climate change on health. These interventions may include retrofit interventions, system strengthening interventions and building and infrastructure interventions such as new standards and guidelines, and improvement on health infrastructures.

iii)            Draft a Health National Adaptation Plan report (three week)

• Based on review and analysis of existing data and V&A report, Naps, NDC, stakeholder consultations, and stakeholder workshop, the consultant will draft climate Health National Adaptation Plan report using WHO Quality criteria for health national adaptation plans, which will include a child-sensitive and gender-transformative assessment of how the health systems and services (including, inter-alia, infrastructure, equipment, staff, patients, and vulnerable communities[2]) are being impacted (and will be impacted) by climate change.
• Develop a costed Health system action plan and motoring and evaluation including indicators.

iv)             Present the draft assessment report (one week).

•        Prepare a power point presentation to present the draft H-NAP report to (i) The WHO technical team during technical meeting. (ii) TWG, MoH key stakeholders and other national and international partners and revise the documents considering consulted stakeholders’ feedback.
•        Integrate feedback and conduct a broader validation workshop.

Finalize deliverables, submit hard and electronic copies of the final H-NAP report and other documents in an edited format ready for printing with illustrations, figures, maps, tables, and charts.

4.1 Scope of Work

The consultant will undertake the following:

(i)     Assess the existing and expected impacts of climate change on healthcare facilities, WASH in healthcare facility, malnutrition, and climate related disease burden of the health system in Sierra Leone (including direct, environmental system mediated and socially mediated impacts[3]) using available data (vulnerability and adaptation report 2024[4]) and other data sources in the country.

(ii)    Examine and assess the vulnerability and adaptation capacities of the health systems, healthcare facilities, healthcare personnel (frontline workers) and other services such as inter-alia and vulnerable community segments including their ability to adapt to the impact of climate change with strong focus on children, gender, and equity.

(iii)   Develop and submit a proposal with plan costed activities, and movement plan according to consultancy fee available to WHO and MOH technical Officers for approval.

5.     Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Education: (Qualifications)

Essential:

·       Masters Degree in Public Health, Environmental Health/ Sciences, Climate Science or equivalent

Desirable:

•        Additional postgraduate qualifications in Public Health, Environmental Health/Sciences, Climate Science, or related fields.
•        Relevant professional experience in public health, environmental health, or climate science.
•        Familiarity with relevant national and international policies, frameworks, or standards.
•        Proof of similar work done.

Experience

Essential: 

•        At least 5 years’ experience in climate change and health environment sector, especially in similar or related works.
•        To have performed at least one V&A or H-NAP for the health sector and/or at least two assignments related to climate change and health with proving documents.
•        Experience in working with health institutions regarding health and climate change adaptations is desirable.
•        Technical knowledge of health linkages with climate change, social and environmental determinants of health, One Health and Planetary Health 
•        Excellent interpersonal and communication skills

•      Desirable: Experience in preparing technical documents for UN organizations/agencies or international institutions
•      Experience working in UN organizations/agencies or international institutions/health related ministry.

6.     Technical skills and knowledge:

-          Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to create team spirit; promote collaboration and foster open communication.

-            Excellent knowledge of Microsoft applications (e.g., Excel, Word, PowerPoint, etc.) with an emphasis on Excel or a similar workbook application.

7.     Languages and level required –

-          Working proficiency in English (written, presentation and verbal communication skills)

Location:

c/o World Health Organization, Sierra Leone, 21 A&B Riverside Drive, off King Harman Road

P.O. Box 529 Brookfields, Freetown, Sierra Leone

8.     Travel

The Consultant is expected to have in country local travels to be determined.

9.     Remuneration and budget (travel costs are excluded):

The duration of this consultancy is for 3 Months. Remuneration will be at applicable fees as per the World Health Organization scale of Consultant at NOC. 

Expected duration of contract (Maximum contract duration is 11 months per calendar year):

3 Months.