WHO Consultant International - Adaptation du système sanitaire aux changements climatiques

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 globally, focusing on health issues that transcend national boundaries and require coordinated international action.

Job Overview:
The consultancy aims to strengthen the capacity of the Burundian health system to anticipate, prevent, and respond effectively to the impacts of climate change on health. The consultant will evaluate the impact of climate change on health in Burundi, assessing the vulnerability and adaptation capacities of health systems and services, including infrastructure and frontline workers, with a particular focus on vulnerable communities such as children and women. The consultant will also develop a national adaptation strategy for the health system to address climate change, ensuring that the strategy is comprehensive and operational. The evaluation and modeling of climate change impacts will have a national scope with targeted sub-national disaggregation, focusing on key climate-health risks, priority diseases, and the vulnerability of the health system, utilizing available data and plausible climate scenarios to produce actionable results for health system planning and adaptation.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The consultant will be responsible for conducting a comprehensive assessment of the current and projected impacts of climate change on health in Burundi, including morbidity burden and the overall health system. Specific tasks include: 1) Establishing a risk mapping to identify key climate-health risks, priority geographical areas, and the most vulnerable population groups to guide targeted prevention and adaptation actions. 2) Evaluating the preparedness and resilience of the Burundian health system against climate risks, focusing on governance, surveillance, human resources, infrastructure, and continuity of essential health services. 3) Analyzing the integration of health issues into national climate change and development policies, strategies, and plans, and formulating recommendations for strengthening this integration. 4) Developing and applying climate and epidemiological modeling approaches to project future climate impacts on health, including potential changes in pathogens and vectors, to support health system planning. 5) Drafting a national adaptation strategy for the health system based on the assessment and modeling results, employing an integrated, multisectoral, and operational approach.

Required Qualifications:
The consultant must possess the following qualifications: 1) Proven expertise in public health, epidemiology, and climate change. 2) Mastery of the 'One Health' approach and climate vulnerability analysis tools. 3) Skills in health risk analysis, climate modeling, and strategic planning. 4) Proven expertise and experience in strategic planning, with prior experience in similar assessments being an asset. 5) Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to work in international contexts with diverse personnel.

Educational Background:
Essential: A master's degree in public health, epidemiology, climatology, environmental science, or related fields. Desirable: A doctoral degree in public health, epidemiology, climatology, environmental science, or related fields.

Experience:
Essential: The consultant must have a minimum of 10 years of professional experience, with at least 7 years in climate change and environmental health, particularly in similar work. The consultant should have completed at least three missions related to climate change and health, with supporting documentation. Knowledge of geospatial information systems, geodatabase management, environmental modeling, and remote sensing is required. Experience working with health institutions on climate change adaptation is preferred. Desirable: Experience in preparing technical documents for UN organizations or international institutions, and experience working within UN agencies or international institutions.

Languages:
Essential: High proficiency in French. Desirable: Knowledge of English is an asset.

Additional Notes:
The consultant will be recruited at Band level B (High) with a daily rate of USD 499 for working days. Travel and subsistence costs within Burundi will be covered by the organization. The mission will be conducted over a period of 45 days (from August to October), with payment for 45 man-days according to a schedule to be validated with the consultants. The consultant will work under the supervision of the Team Lead for emergencies (EPR) and will oversee a national consultant. Collaboration with WHO experts will be required, and recommendations from the steering committee and technical committee will be taken into account. This vacancy notice may also be used to identify candidates for other similar consultancies at the same level.