International Consultant - NCD Surveillance (STEPS and P-COSI)

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, WHO operates in more than 150 countries, working to improve health outcomes and address global health challenges. The organization focuses on various health issues, including noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), infectious diseases, and health systems strengthening, among others.

Job Overview:
The consultancy aims to enhance national capacity for noncommunicable disease (NCD) surveillance in Pacific Island Countries and Areas (PICs). This will be achieved through the planning, implementation, analysis, and reporting of WHO STEPwise approach to NCD risk factor surveillance (STEPS) surveys and the Pacific Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative (P-COSI). The consultant will play a crucial role in developing analytical outputs that support policy and program actions, thereby contributing to the improvement of NCD data availability and quality in line with global standards and regional priorities. The role requires collaboration with various stakeholders, including Ministries of Health and international organizations, to ensure effective implementation of surveillance initiatives.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The consultant will be responsible for several key objectives and deliverables: 1) Strengthening planning, implementation, and monitoring of STEPS surveys in selected PICs, including finalizing implementation plans, conducting capacity-building training, and preparing STEPS data for analysis. 2) Enhancing analysis, reporting, and use of STEPS survey data, which involves analyzing datasets, developing analytical outputs, and preparing progress reports. 3) Strengthening planning, implementation, and monitoring of P-COSI surveys, including finalizing implementation plans and conducting training on P-COSI protocols. 4) Supporting the development of context-specific approaches to strengthen NCD policy implementation, including policy analysis and intervention frameworks. 5) Facilitating the implementation of the WHO Country Capacity Survey 2026 in PICs, ensuring completion of survey responses for Member States.

Required Qualifications:
Essential qualifications include a university degree in biostatistics, epidemiology, public health, health sciences, or a related field. Desirable qualifications include an advanced university degree (master’s) and/or training in noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), surveillance, epidemiology, biostatistics, or related public health disciplines. The consultant must possess strong technical skills and knowledge in NCD risk factor surveillance, epidemiology, statistical methods, and WHO standardized tools and methodologies.

Educational Background:
Candidates must have a university degree in a relevant field such as biostatistics, epidemiology, public health, or health sciences. An advanced degree (master’s) in related disciplines is desirable, particularly in areas focusing on NCDs and surveillance methodologies.

Experience:
The position requires at least five years of professional experience in public health, epidemiology, disease surveillance, or NCD prevention and control. Experience in planning, implementing, analyzing, and reporting on population-based health surveys is essential, along with experience in designing and implementing multi-country surveys. Desirable experience includes supporting WHO STEPS surveys and childhood obesity surveillance initiatives, as well as working with Ministries of Health and international organizations in Pacific Island Countries and Areas.

Languages:
Fluency in English is essential for this position. Knowledge of French at an intermediate level or higher is considered desirable, as it may facilitate communication with a broader range of stakeholders in the region.

Additional Notes:
The consultancy is home-based, allowing the consultant to work remotely while supporting activities coordinated by the WHO Division of Pacific Technical Support. Travel may be required to support STEPS and P-COSI implementation activities, including country missions and training activities. The remuneration for this consultancy is estimated to be in the range of USD350 to USD499 per day, depending on qualifications and experience. The expected duration of the contract is between 6 to 11 months, starting from September 1, 2026, subject to recruitment and selection formalities. Candidates should be aware that WHO has a commitment to diversity and inclusion, and encourages applications from women, persons with disabilities, and nationals of underrepresented Member States.