Consultant for Disease Surveillance Capacity Strengthening

Job Posting Organization:
The Division of Pacific Technical Support (DPS) is a branch of the World Health Organization (WHO) established to enhance public health across 21 Pacific Island Countries (PICs). The DPS plays a pivotal role in strengthening national and regional communicable disease surveillance and response systems. It collaborates closely with Ministries of Health, development partners, and regional networks such as the Pacific Public Health Surveillance Network (PPHSN). The organization focuses on providing technical assistance in areas such as surveillance, outbreak preparedness, and emergency response, ensuring that health systems are robust and capable of addressing public health challenges effectively. The DPS is committed to improving health security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security in the Pacific region by investing in surveillance capacities and responding to the unique health needs of small island developing states (SIDS).

Job Overview:
The consultancy aims to bolster the disease surveillance capacities of Pacific Island Countries (PICs) through the Division of Pacific Technical Support (DPS). The consultant will be responsible for updating national communicable disease guidelines to align with revised notifiable disease lists, enhancing the skills of healthcare workers in surveillance and response, and advancing regional priorities for the Early Warning and Response System (EWARS). This role is crucial for developing a joint epidemic intelligence report that consolidates surveillance data, thereby facilitating timely and evidence-based public health decision-making at both national and regional levels. The consultant will provide technical expertise to ensure that the surveillance systems meet WHO standards and comply with the International Health Regulations (IHR) (2005).

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Support the updating and alignment of national communicable disease guidelines with revised notifiable disease lists, ensuring they reflect best practices in surveillance.
• Strengthen the implementation and monitoring of the Early Warning and Response System (EWARS) through integrated, multisource surveillance approaches, including syndromic, laboratory, and event-based surveillance.
• Develop technical guidance and tools to enhance EWARS implementation, focusing on data quality, reporting completeness, and timelines.
• Provide recommendations for improving the integration of multisource surveillance data streams.
• Enhance the capacity of healthcare workers and surveillance focal points in data collection, analysis, interpretation, and use for timely public health decision-making.
• Create and deliver capacity-building resources such as training materials and job aids for healthcare workers.
• Support the development of a joint epidemic intelligence report that synthesizes surveillance data across PICs, including actionable recommendations for public health action.

Required Qualifications:
Essential qualifications include a university degree in public health, epidemiology, or a related field, along with training in field epidemiology or prior experience in managing infectious disease outbreaks. Desirable qualifications include an advanced university degree (master’s level or above) in public health or epidemiology and experience in training or instructional design. Candidates should possess excellent knowledge of Microsoft Office applications and data management tools, as well as experience in outbreak response and epidemiological updates. Relevant work experience within WHO, UN agencies, or international NGOs is also desirable.

Educational Background:
Candidates must have a university degree in public health, epidemiology, or a related field. An advanced degree at the master’s level or above is preferred, particularly for those with experience in training or instructional design.

Experience:
Candidates should have at least five years of practical experience in disease surveillance and outbreak response, with a minimum of one year in an international setting, preferably within Pacific Island Countries or small island developing states (SIDS). Familiarity with Microsoft Office applications and data visualization tools is essential, as is experience in gathering, recording, analyzing, and reporting communicable disease data.

Languages:
Fluency in English is essential for this position. A working knowledge of French is considered an asset, enhancing communication capabilities in diverse environments.

Additional Notes:
The consultancy is remote, with potential travel as needed. The remuneration is set at BAND B, ranging from USD350 to USD424 per day, based on qualifications and experience, for a duration of 11 months. Candidates should be aware that this vacancy may also be used to identify candidates for similar consultancies at the same level. Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted, and a written test may be part of the screening process. Candidates must provide scanned copies of required degrees and certificates, and WHO only recognizes qualifications from accredited institutions. The organization is committed to diversity and inclusion, encouraging applications from women, persons with disabilities, and nationals of underrepresented Member States.