Closing date: 30 Jun 2019
Purpose of the Consultancy
The purpose of the consultancy is to support the Global Health Cluster unit to finalise the development of the second edition of the Health Cluster Guide.
Background
The Global Health Cluster: Established in 2005, the Global Health Cluster (GHC) under the leadership of WHO works to minimize the health impact of humanitarian and public health emergencies through predictable, effective and accountable health action. Comprised of 55 international member organizations, the GHC platform strengthens global, regional and country capacities for humanitarian health action, engages in collective and coordination field operations and advances the evidence base and practice in preparing for, responding to and recovery from acute and protracted humanitarian health crises. The GHC's overall objective is to provide strategic and technical support to Country Health Clusters[1]. This work is guided by the Global Health Cluster Strategy 2017-2019 that is being extended to cover the period 2020-2021, which addresses 5 Strategic Priorities:
Strengthen the coordination, technical and operational capacity of national, regional and global level actors to prevent, prepare for, respond to and recover from public health and humanitarian emergencies.
Strengthen inter-cluster and multi-sector collaboration to achieve better health outcomes
Strengthen our collective and respective health information management and use
Address strategic and technical gaps
Strengthen Health Cluster advocacy and country and global levels.
Since its creation in 2008, the Health Cluster Guide (HCG) has been the ‘go-to’ document providing comprehensive information on how to operationalise Country Health Clusters. The guide has been widely used by a range of cluster stakeholders at country and global level, however recent changes in humanitarian and health sector policies and coordination architecture prompted the revision of the Health Cluster Guide.
The GHC unit has made substantial progress to date, with 85% of foundation chapters having been written and completed first peer review; content for remaining chapters has been drafted following discussions with subject matter experts. Completing the revision process, will require external consultant support to finalize chapters, undertake final peer review and document harmonization and secure internal and external stakeholder approvals.
Work to be performed
Finalize the Health Cluster Guide (second edition)
This will involve working closely with the designated Technical Officer in the GHC Unit and a wide range of internal and external stakeholders at global, regional and country level to finalize the content and design of the Health Cluster Guide, including:
i. Coordinate all aspects of the content revision and development of the Health Cluster Guide; maintain & update the workplan & provide regular updates to the GHCU Technical Officer.
ii. Review previously drafted chapters, identify and amend sections requiring update to reflect the most recently developed WHO, IASC and/or other related policies and guidance.
iii. Draft and complete any outstanding chapters either directly or through outsourcing to subject matter experts in health and health enhancing clusters (nutrition, WASH, Protection and Food Security).
iv. Collate received contributions and ensure accuracy and coherence across the entire guide.
v. Re-establish and lead the consultation with the Peer Review Group for each chapter and liaise with writers on chapter revisions based on feedback.
vi. Coordinate and collaborate with OCHA and other Clusters to ensure consistency of information in the relevant sections.
vii. Lead the consultation with Health Cluster Coordinators, GHC partners and other key stakeholders to elicit feedback and ensure the HCG is ‘fit-for-purpose’.
viii. Organize and implement a 2 to 3-day multi-stakeholder workshop to review overall coherence of the finalised Health Cluster Guide.
ix. Meet with professional editor to agree final amendments.
x. Oversee the quality of the Health Cluster Guide to the satisfaction of the GHC.
Outcomes
i. Detailed implementation plan (including milestones) for Health Cluster Guide.
ii. All identified chapters drafted, peer reviewed and completed.
iii. Peer Review Group established to oversee HCG development as per defined Terms of Reference
iv. Multi-stakeholder ‘coherence workshop’ implemented
v. Penultimate draft of Health Cluster guide ready for professional editing.
Total four months’ work starting on 15 July 2019. Any adjustments must have prior agreement from the Global Health Cluster Coordinator.
[1] Currently 27 Country Health Clusters supporting the health needs of approximately 66 million people.
Specific requirements
Qualifications required:
Essential: An advanced university degree in a relevant field of study such as a Master’s in Public Health, International Relations, Social Sciences or equivalent qualification.
Experience required:
· Minimum 10 years of professional experience in a relevant field with an emphasis on humanitarian health programming and coordination in acute and protracted contexts.
· Experience in the revision and development of technical and policy guidance for humanitarian health action and/or health enhancing sectors.
· Experience of the IASC Cluster Approach and demonstrated understanding of the Health Cluster at global and country level.
· Experience in coordination of multi-stakeholder activities.
Desirable: Experience of alternative coordination mechanisms for humanitarian heath action (including outbreaks)
Skills / Technical skills and knowledge:
· Strong analytical skills and capacities.
· Strong verbal and written communication skills and attention to detail.
· Strong interpersonal skills.
· Ability to independently plan and execute assigned tasks and duties.
Language requirements:
Expert level of English, both oral and written. French is desirable.
Timelines
Start date: 15 July 2019 End date: 15 November 2019
Place of assignment
The consultant can be based at their usual place of work or WHO Headquarters, Geneva, Switzerland. Place of duty station to be mutually agreed by GHC and the consultant prior to the commencement of the contract.
If the consultant is not based in Geneva, regular travel to Geneva work with the GHC Technical Officer and other experts will be required throughout the contract period at WHO Headquarters. These times will be mutually agreed by GHC and the consultant.
Service providers will be required to be able to be in communication with WHO through e-mail, skype, phone or other means of communication. Hence facilities for teleconferencing, videoconferencing or web conferencing are required.
Service providers need to be in a physical condition and have necessary insurance cover to undertake such travel.
While on mission under the terms of the consultancy, the Consultant will receive travel and subsistence allowance in line with the standard WHO allowances. All travel arrangements will be made by WHO – WHO will not be responsible for tickets purchased by the Consultant without the express, prior authorization of WHO.
Travel
If the consultant is not based in Geneva, regular travel to Geneva work with the GHC Technical Officer and other experts will be required throughout the contract period at WHO Headquarters. Regardless of duty station, other travel may be also required for period of up to 10 days at a time during the contract period. Travel dates to be determined by the Global Health Cluster Coordinator in consultation with the Consultant.
How to apply:
Interested candidates should submit a motivation letter and CV by 30 June 2019 to:
Carolyn Patten at pattenc@who.int