https://www.ungm.org/Public/Notice/124499
1. Background
In order to accelerate Malaria Elimination in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS), it was agreed that WHO should strengthen its role in technical support at the provincial level in the 5 GMS countries – Cambodia, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam – to:
- Strengthen program coordination and provide technical support to ensure full implementation of Malaria National Strategic Plan interventions with a focus on the elimination interventions; and
- Implement an aggressive approach to deploy interventions to impact risk and deplete parasite reservoirs in populations with highest risk of malaria;
Over recent years, Cambodia has made impressive progress in malaria control and elimination. Malaria incidence has decreased to historically low levels and targeted intensive elimination operations have been recently deployed to detect, investigate and clear all cases and foci. WHO continues to support the full implementation of Cambodia’s National Malaria Programme and the implementation of aggressive approaches to accelerate P. falciparum elimination.
In order to continue supporting the NMCP, WHO/MME (Mekong Malaria Elimination) is recruiting 2 epidemiologists to provide technical support in Cambodia. The epidemiologist will closely work with the country project specialist (based at the central level) in the frame of the Intensification Plan for Reducing the Malaria Burden Among Forest Goers and Hard to Reach Populations (Intensification Plan).
Duration: from 01 June 2021 to 31 May 2022 with possible extension of 12 months, depending on available funds
The epidemiologist consultant will be permanently based in his/her assigned province and will provide enhanced and focussed support to the National Malaria and Control Programmes (NMCPs), Provincial and District Malaria Focal Points, implementing partners, health centres and community volunteers. The candidates will travel monthly to the capital city to coordinate with the country project specialist.
PURPOSE AND DESCRIPTION OF ACTIVITIES TO BE CARRIED OUT
- Program coordination and support to ensure full implementation of Malaria National Strategic Plan interventions;
- Enhanced and focused technical support on the implementation of elimination activities to detect, investigate and clear all cases and foci;
- Routine epidemiological analyses and mapping of malaria transmission areas/village/settlements in high malaria endemic areas in order to better focus intensified supervision and response.
2. DESCRIPTION OF ACTIVITIES TO BE CARRIED OUT
Coordination and programme management: contribute to a better coordination and activity planification among partners and improve programme management at the provincial and district levels
Activity 1: Coordinate, supervise and build capacity at the provincial and district levels
Activity 2: Strengthen relationship among partners and ensure optimal planification of implementing activities and programme management
Activity 3: A technical written report on project implementation and outcomes is monthly produced and discussed with partners to facilitate dissemination of practical and useful findings and recommendations
Activity 4: Joint visit with NMCPs, UNOPS and partners is quarterly organized
Surveillance: improve surveillance supporting data process to ensure data reliability. Epidemiological analyses and mapping of cases and forested transmission areas. Technical support on elimination activities including case and foci investigation and classification and foci management according to national guidelines and SOPs
Activity 1: Full review of malaria surveillance management system
Activity 2: Report on data management issues and corrective actions needed to improve quality of malaria data reported at health centre and community levels
Activity 3: Generate malaria epidemiological mapping in collaboration with NMCP Malaria focal points and supporting partners. Mapping of transmission areas based on malaria and forestry data
Activity 4: Build capacity of Malaria Focal Points and CSOs to perform monthly epidemiological mapping and analysis to independently better identify transmission areas and strengthen implementing activities
Activity 5: Technical support to implement case and foci investigation and classification and foci management according to the foci classification
Activity 6: Monitoring and Evaluation of elimination activities
Activity 7: Ensure that foci management activities as vector control measures, intensified early case detection and aggressive approaches, as Targeted Drug Administration for males aged 15-49 (TDA) and Intermittent Preventive Treatment (IPTf) for males aged 15-49 planning to go to high-risk areas are implemented in active foci.
3. METHODS TO CARRY OUT THE ACTIVITY AND LIST OF OUTPUTS
Each consultant will be based at peripherical level and will be responsible to support NMCPs and partners to reach the following deliverable:
Output 1: Improve Coordination and programme management
- Deliverable 1.1: Develop the plan and organize the monthly coordination meeting at all district levels. Identify gaps and challenges for current and future programme implementation activities. Problem-solving approach and coordination with the central level to find solution adapted to the context;
- Deliverable 1.2: Conduct monthly assessment on the status of the malaria activities implemented including elimination activities (case, foci classification and foci management), performance of diagnosis and treatment (quality assurance), surveillance data reporting, population coverage and utilization of services, payments and meeting attendance;
- Deliverable 1.3: Develop quarterly and monthly supervision plan to high burden HCs and VMWs and MMWs with targeted visit to endemic forested areas;
- Deliverable 1.4: Organize monthly meetings to coordinate efforts by Malaria Focal Points and CSOs on the elimination activities and other malaria activities (MMW deployment in high risk areas);
- Deliverable 1.7: Conduct quarterly joint visit with NMCP, UNOPS and partners
- Deliverable 1.8: Summarize and communicate any issue which requires the attention of NMCP/UNOPS and WHO to WHO Country team.
Output 2: Deliverable Surveillance
- Deliverable 2.1: Conduct spot checking at HCs to ensure that the surveillance data from health centre and villages are accurately entered into the Surveillance System in the assigned country. Improve reporting timeliness and completeness of malaria cases from health facilities and villages;
- Deliverable 2.2: Identify high priority areas (with high cases and increasing trend) and map malaria transmission sites.
- Deliverable 2.3: technical support on case and foci investigation and classification and foci management according to the foci classification
- Deliverable 2.4: monthly assessment of the malaria activities with a focus on elimination activities and existing gaps
- Deliverable 2.5: monthly Monitoring and Evaluation of elimination activities as community engagement, census, top up distribution of LLINs and LLIHNs, Active Fever Screening, Targeted Drug Administration for males aged 15-49 (TDA) and Intermittent Preventive Treatment (IPTf) for males aged 15-49 planning to go to high-risk areas.
- Deliverable 2.6:
4. QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE
EDUCATION
Essential: University degree in medicine, science or equivalent with postgraduate degree in public health or epidemiology from an accredited/recognized institute.
EXPERIENCE
Essential: Minimum 1 year of relevant work experience required. An experience in WHO or other UN Organizations, working on communicable diseases is desirable.
Desirable: working at the community level in a low-middle income country
TECHNICAL SKILLS & KNOWLEDGE
LANGUAGES
Good knowledge of English is essential (Read-Write-Speak). Basic knowledge of Khmer desirable.
COMPETENCIES
- Teamwork
- Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
- Communication
- Moving forward in a changing environment
Place of assignment
Locations:
The epidemiologist will be based at the provincial level of the assigned province. The location may be subjected to changes, accordingly to the epidemiology and needs in country.
Medical clearance
The selected consultant will be expected to provide a medical certificate of fitness for work.
Travel
Frequent travels and long stay to provinces is expected.
*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. While on mission under the terms of this consultancy, the Consultant will receive subsistence allowance.*
*Visas requirements: it is the consultant’s responsibility to fulfil visa requirements and ask for visa support letter(s) if needed. WHO Country Office Cambodia will facilitate the procedures to obtain official visa.*
How to apply:
APPLICATIONS
Qualified and interested specialists should submit their CV {for individual contractors} or Company Profile {for institutional applications} and Expression of Interest {cover letter} together with the monthly rate in (USD) to the Supply Officer through WP RO UNGM at < wproungm@who.int > by
05 April 2021 (1700H GMT8)
The cover letter should outline how your experience and qualifications make you a suitable candidate for this position and should include your proposed daily consultancy fee and availability.