Consultant for Climate-Informed Early Warning and Response System (CI-EWARS)

Job Posting Organization:
The World Health Organization (WHO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for international public health. Established on April 7, 1948, WHO's mission is to promote health, keep the world safe, and serve vulnerable populations. With over 7,000 employees in more than 150 countries, WHO works in various areas including disease prevention, health systems strengthening, and emergency response. The organization operates in multiple countries, focusing on improving health outcomes and addressing global health challenges, particularly in vulnerable regions such as the Pacific Islands.

Job Overview:
The consultant will provide essential technical support to four Pacific Island countries—Kiribati, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu—in developing a climate-informed Early Warning and Response System (CI-EWARS) for climate-sensitive diseases. This role involves close collaboration with the WHO Division of Pacific Technical Support (DPS), the Pacific Climate Change and Environment (PCE) team, and various health ministries in the respective countries. The consultant will be tasked with integrating climate-related risks into health interventions to manage the current and projected burden of climate-sensitive health risks and diseases. The overarching goal is to enhance the adaptive capacities of national health systems to effectively respond to climate change impacts, which are increasingly threatening public health through various channels such as increased disease prevalence and disruptions to healthcare services. The consultant will also be responsible for ensuring that the CI-EWARS is sustainable and integrated with existing health information systems, thereby promoting country ownership and operational effectiveness.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The consultant's duties will encompass a wide range of responsibilities aimed at the successful development and implementation of the CI-EWARS. Key responsibilities include:

• Conducting a comprehensive review of existing disease surveillance systems and health Early Warning and Response Systems (EWARS) in the four countries, providing recommendations for strengthening these systems from a climate change perspective.
• Collaborating with the Ministries of Health in each country to select and prioritize climate-sensitive diseases for inclusion in the CI-EWARS.
• Developing a detailed inception report outlining the scope, methodology, and work plan for the assignment, including specific sub-work plans for each country.
• Preparing an overview report of the current health data management systems, including challenges and recommendations for improvement.
• Mapping meteorological data collection and sharing systems to ensure integration with health data.
• Designing the architecture of the CI-EWARS, including dashboards and visualizations that reflect climate variables and disease linkages.
• Preparing operational manuals and training materials for the system, and conducting training sessions for health workers.
• Organizing workshops to orient stakeholders on the developed systems and facilitating ongoing knowledge sharing and troubleshooting support.
• Providing technical support for the operationalization of the CI-EWARS, including the development of user-friendly health early warning products. 1
• Submitting a completion report summarizing the developed systems and recommendations for sustainability and potential replication in other Pacific countries.

Required Qualifications:
The position requires a Master’s degree in environmental health, public health, epidemiology, or a related field. A PhD or equivalent degree in epidemiology, medicine, or a related public health field is desirable. Candidates must have at least eleven years of relevant professional experience in climate change, environmental health, or public health, with a specific focus on surveillance systems. Experience in health-climate data integration or modeling is essential. Familiarity with WHO and/or other UN agencies is advantageous, as is experience working closely with government and partner organizations in designing and evaluating health early warning systems. Experience in developing countries, particularly small island states, is considered an asset.

Educational Background:
Candidates must possess a Master’s degree in environmental health, public health, epidemiology, or a related field. A PhD or equivalent degree in a relevant area is preferred, indicating a higher level of expertise and research capability in the field of public health and epidemiology.

Experience:
The consultant should have a minimum of eleven years of professional experience in relevant fields, particularly focusing on climate change and public health. This experience should include significant work with surveillance systems and health data integration. Previous work with WHO or similar organizations is a plus, as is experience in resource-limited settings or small island nations, which will provide valuable insights into the unique challenges faced in these environments.

Languages:
Fluency in English is essential for this position, as it is the primary language of communication within the WHO and the countries involved. Proficiency in additional languages relevant to the Pacific region may be beneficial but is not mandatory.

Additional Notes:
This consultancy is remote-based, with travel required to the four project countries (Kiribati, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu) and potentially to Suva, Fiji, for meetings with the WHO DPS PCE team. The contract is expected to last for 110 working days over a period of 11 months, from July 1, 2026, to May 31, 2027, with remuneration estimated between USD 500 to USD 625 per day, depending on qualifications and experience. Candidates should be aware that WHO has a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and abuse, and all candidates must adhere to the highest ethical standards. Additionally, candidates must confirm their vaccination status as required by WHO before undertaking any assignments.