Consultant – economic and commercial determinants of health

2 February 2022
Call for consultant

Terms of Reference for this consultancy are below.

If interested, please submit a CV and covering email addressing the criteria, and including a daily rate, to Ms Delphine Barre email: barred@who.int by close of business, 16 February 2022.

Please use “WHO Consultant: Commercial Determinants of Health” as the subject line for your email. 

Purpose of consultancy

To provide technical guidance in the development and implementation of an urban health capacity development programme, which is a Technical Product for the 2022-2023 for the Department of Social Determinants of Health.

Background  

WHO’s 13th General Programme of Work 2019-2023  calls for increased focus and action to address the social determinants and health.  The strategic meeting on Social determinants of health - which took place in September 2019 under the auspices of the newly established WHO Department of Social determinants of health - identified economic and commercial determinants of health as an important thematic priority area . WHO was requested to scope the key activities and products for this area of work.

As a result, a new cross-cutting function was established to shape WHO’s approach to economic and commercial determinants and facilitate coordination across the organization. The objective is to strengthen the work on economic and commercial determinants globally, including research, advocacy and policy tools as well as country support to Member States and local governments.

Two Expert Meetings on Economic and Commercial Determinants of Health were held in 2021 to inform the development of the programme and priorities including for the 2022-2023 biennium. The following four identified priorities reflect the these discussions and are included in programmatic workplan for 2022-2023:

  • Continue the mapping of existing WHO work across the different levels of the organization to foster synergy and technical coherence
  • Prepare a Global Report on Commercial Determinants of Health (a WHO Technical Product 2022-2023)
  • Prepare a global technical Conference on Economic and Commercial Determinants of Health
  • Deliver a series of webinars to raise awareness and advocacy on economic and commercial determinants of health

This contract will contribute to the delivery of these objectives.

Deliverables

Deliverable 1: INTERNAL MAPPING REPORT (Feb-June 2022)

  • Based on the existing methodology and framework, development of interview questions and finalization of interviewees (28 Feb 2022).
  • Delivery of interviews including summaries (30 April 2022).
  • Drafting, consultation and finalization of technical report summarizing interview findings (31 June 2022).

Deliverable 2: PREPARATORY DOCUMENTATION FOR GLOBAL REPORT (Feb-Aug 2022)

  • Concept note development, consultation and finalization (31 Mar 2022).
  • Development of Terms of Reference for Steering Group and Scientific Committee (28 Feb 2022).
  • Technical documentation for Steering Group/Scientific Committee meetings, including meeting reports (31 May; 30 June; 31 July; 31 Aug).

Deliverable 3: PREPARATORY DOCUMENTATION FOR GLOBAL CONFERENCE (Feb-Aug 2022)

  • Draft, consultation and finalization of Scope and Purpose (28 Feb 2022)
  • Draft, consultation and finalization of Call for Abstracts (31 Mar 2022)
  • Draft, consultation and finalization of Call for Reviewers (31 March 2022)
  • Development of Terms of Reference for Steering Group and Scientific Committee (28 Feb 2022).
  • Technical documentation for Steering Group/Scientific Committee meetings, including meeting reports (31 July; 31 Aug).

Deliverable 4: PROGRAMME AND SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS FOR WEBINAR SERIES (15 February; 30 March; 3 May; 14 June)

  • Draft, consultation and finalization of Scope and Purpose x 3 (28 Feb; 15 Mar; 30 Apr)
  • Draft, consultation and finalization of Provisional Programme x 3 (28 Feb; 15 Mar; 30 Apr)
  • Draft and finalization of webinar summaries for dissemination (19 Feb; 4 Apr; 3 May; 17 Jun)

Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Educational Qualifications:

Essential:

  • Minimum first University Degree in public health or related field;

Desirable:

  • Advanced university degree in either public health/public policy  or related field.

Experience

Essential: Over 2 years of relevant experience in health, public health or medicine programmes at local or national level.

Desirable: Familiarity with WHO/UN, experience at the international level preferred.

Skills/Knowledge

Essential: Understanding of public health and governance. Experience in the economic and commercial determinants of health. Good communication, written and oral.

Experience in technical meeting preparation and report (virtual and in-person).

Languages and level required (Basic/Intermediate/Expert):

Essential: Expert knowledge of English

Desirable: Intermediate knowledge of another WHO official language.

Location

Off site, working remotely. The consultant needs to have an adequate working environment and IT equipment for teleworking, familiarity with online meeting platforms (MS Teams, zoom) and access to high-speed internet connections. Availability during office hours (9.00-17.30) in Geneva, Switzerland and flexibility to participate in meetings held to accommodate other time zones are also important.

Travel

Some travel to Geneva may be anticipated if the consultant selected is not based in Geneva.

Remuneration and budget (travel costs are excluded)

  • Remuneration: Payband level A (USD 3,955 -6,980 per month)
  • Living expenses (A living expense is payable to on-site consultants who are internationally recruited): N/A
  • Expected duration of contract: 100% FTE for 8 months (with possibility of renewal).

Additional Information (For HR use only):

  • This vacancy notice may be used to identify candidates for other similar consultancies at the same level.
  • Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.
  • A written test may be used as a form of screening.
  • If your candidature is retained for interview, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. WHO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed through the link: http://www.whed.net/. Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and will require individual review.
  • For information on WHO's operations please visit: https://www.who.int.
  • WHO is committed to workforce diversity.
  • WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.
  • Applications from women and from nationals of non and underrepresented Member States are particularly encouraged.
  • WHO prides itself on a workforce that adheres to the highest ethical and professional standards and that is committed to put the WHO Values Charter into practice. 
  • WHO has zero tolerance towards sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct (i.e., discrimination, abuse of authority and harassment). All members of the WHO workforce have a role to play in promoting a safe and respectful workplace and should report to WHO any actual or suspected cases of SEA, sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct. To ensure that individuals with a substantiated history of SEA, sexual harassment or other types of abusive conduct are not hired by the Organization, WHO will conduct a background verification of final candidates.
  • Consultants shall perform the work as independent contractors in a personal capacity, and not as a representative of any entity or authority. The execution of the work under a consultant contract does not create an employer/employee relationship between WHO and the Consultant.
  • WHO shall have no responsibility whatsoever for any taxes, duties, social security contributions or other contributions payable by the Consultant. The Consultant shall be solely responsible for withholding and paying any taxes, duties, social security contributions and any other contributions which are applicable to the Consultant in in each location/jurisdiction in which the work hereunder is performed, and the Consultant shall not be entitled to any reimbursement thereof by WHO.
  • Consultants working in Switzerland must register with the applicable Swiss cantonal tax authorities and social security authorities, within the prescribed timeframes (Guidelines issued by the Swiss Mission are available at: https://www.eda.admin.ch/missions/mission-onu-geneve/en/home/manual-regime-privileges-and-immunities/introduction/Manuel-personnes-sans-privileges-et-immunites-carte-H/Non%20fonctionnaires%20et%20stagiaires.html