Support on Horizon Scanning of Emergency Tools and Platforms

Mission and objectives

With its establishment on 7 April 1948, WHO works worldwide to promote health, keep the world safe, and serve the vulnerable. WHO’s goal is to ensure that a billion more people have universal health coverage, to protect a billion more people from health emergencies, and provide a further billion people with better health and well-being.

Context

An increasingly wide range of digital tools, platforms, and services is used during emergencies for early warning, surveillance, risk assessment, coordination, logistics, communication, and post-event review. The landscape is dynamic and fragmented, creating a need for structured horizon scanning to understand what exists, how tools are used, and where key gaps and opportunities lie. This online assignment will support PHHE in conducting a structured review of existing and emerging tools and platforms relevant to public health emergency preparedness and response.

Task Description

Under the guidance of the PHHE supervisor, the Online UN Volunteer will:

• Support the development of a structured horizon scanning approach, including key categories and criteria for mapping tools and platforms.
• Conduct desk research (approx. 25–40 tools/platforms) using scientific literature, grey literature, operational reports, and publicly available documentation.
• Compile and maintain a structured inventory/database capturing key characteristics (purpose, users, functionalities, evidence of use).
• Support limited remote consultations (3–5 stakeholders) to validate findings and gather practical insights.
• Analyze findings to identify trends, gaps, and opportunities in the use of tools and platforms in emergencies.
• Contribute to drafting a concise analytical report (15–20 pages) summarizing findings, good practices, and recommendations.
• Prepare summary outputs, including key messages and a presentation (8–12 slides).

Competencies and values

Living conditions and remarks