Purpose of the work
To contribute to the development of multi-sectoral implementation guidance for the Comprehensive framework for action on accelerating anaemia reduction with WHO partners in the Anaemia Action Alliance, ensuring the guidance meets the needs of the target audience.
Background
Anaemia remains a global public health concern with an estimated 30% of women 15-49 years of age, 36% of pregnant women, and 40% of children 6 to 59 months of age affected. Reducing the prevalence of anaemia in women is a World Health Assembly target and an indicator for the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Achieving this target would improve the lives of millions of women and newborns and contribute to a more productive global economy. Yet progress in reducing anaemia has stagnated, both globally and regionally, and the annual rate of reduction is well below that needed to meet the targets.
In response to the slow rate of progress, WHO committed to develop the Comprehensive framework for action to accelerate anaemia reduction, and, in collaboration with UNICEF, committed to establish an Anaemia Action Alliance to foster accelerated and coordinated efforts to reduce anaemia, including through implementation of the Comprehensive framework. Countries require pragmatic guidance on “how to” deliver the recommended tools and strategies to prevent, diagnose, and manage all forms of anaemia. WHO seeks to provide guidance on how end users can implement each of the five action areas of the Comprehensive framework. WHO seeks a consultant to support the development of a product focused on the needs of the people who will use it and benefit from it. The consultant will help technical support providers understand what anaemia programme managers really need so that the co-creation process yields solutions that are relevant and important to end users.
Work to be performed
Output 1
Facilitate a virtual workshop with WHO and partners in the coordinating team and country representatives to refine the plan and scope of the work and establish a work plan for developing the implementation guidance based on the concept note and deliverables outlined below and in line with the WHO handbook for the development of normative products.
- Deliverable 1.1: Work plan, including a description of a draft approach for co-design with end users, agreed upon with the coordinating team.
- Deliverable 1.2: Provide technical guidance to the coordinating team in the identification of contributors, focusing on those who have on-the-ground experience implementing anaemia interventions to provide input into the key questions, facilitators of and barriers to implementation, and guide optimal presentation.
Output 2
Facilitate the process with the coordinating team to define the relevant ‘how-to’ questions and elements that the implementation guidance will address.
- Deliverable 2.1: Mapping of existing implementation guidance resources organized by the five action areas of the Comprehensive framework, and tagged to each relevant programmatic area of work (developed in collaboration with intern).
- Deliverable 2.2: Summarizing the learnings from the mapping and recommend the most important for inclusion in the implementation guidance.
- Deliverable 2.3: Based on the priority elements and key questions for inclusion, develop a logic model to illustrate their placements and interdependencies within the five action areas, incorporating feedback from the coordinating group and subject matter experts, expected by 31 December 2024.
Output 3
Gather and examine relevant inputs in collaboration with the coordinating group.
- Deliverable 3.1: Determine what types of inputs will inform the key questions, including the results of the mapping exercise and addition experiential evidence, expert opinion and behavioural theory.
- Deliverable 3.2: Facilitate calls with all writers to develop content for each module of the implementation guidance, based on Deliverable 3.1.
Output 4
Oversee development of the modules of the implementation guidance
- Deliverable 4.1 Interact with writers to ensure they are on track, there is appropriate cross-referencing and avoidance of duplication across modules.
- Deliverable 4.2 Facilitate sessions to facilitate feedback among the coordinating group.
- Deliverable 4.3 Facilitate sessions to facilitate feedback among the end users.
- Deliverable 4.4 Recommend appropriate ways to present materials that corresponds to end users’ needs.
- Deliverable 4.5 Pilot test the guidance with additional end users.
- Deliverable 4.6: Facilitate the completion of the final deliverable, ensuring revised draft of the implementation guidance.
- Deliverable 4.7: Editors comments are addressed and implementation guidance is ready for clearance by WHO, UNICEF and partners.
Specific requirements on qualification, experience, skills and languages
Educational qualifications:
Essential: Advanced university degree (masters or higher) in public health or related disciplines
Desirable:
Post-graduate work or specialized training in one of the following areas:
infections (e.g. malaria, parasitic infections, tuberculosis, HIV),
inflammation, chronic diseases, gynaecological and obstetric conditions, and
inherited red blood cell disorders, social determinants of health, health
systems strengthening, nutrition, gender.
Experience:
Essential
- 7 to 10 years’ experience in the field of public health or related disciplines
- At least 5 years’ experience in developing implementation/operational guidance for public health programmes
- At least 5 years’ experience in project management, including the facilitation of inputs from target audience and stakeholders
Desirable
- Experience working on multi-sectoral public health programmes/projects
- Experience working with international partners
Skills/knowledge:
Essential: Excellent
oral and written communication, including active listening
Desirable
- Excellent interpersonal skills and emotional intelligence, with the ability to generate momentum and buy-in from target audience and stakeholders
- Openness to feedback
- Ability to work under pressure, complemented by demonstrated ability to identify and manage difficult situations
- Knowledge of and experience in anaemia programmes
Languages and level required (Basic/Intermediate/Advanced):
Essential: Expert knowledge of English
Desirable: Basic knowledge of a second UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, Spanish)
Location
Home-base, off-site. The consultant is expected to travel.
Remuneration
The remuneration of the contractor is based on experience according to the WHO pay scale. Band level B (USD 7’000-9’980 per month on a full-time basis)
Planned timelines
Expected duration of contract: 6 months at 50% with potential for renewal.
How to apply
- Kindly send your CV and cover letter to the following e-mail address NFS@who.int before 9 September 2024.
- Please include “Consultant - Anaemia Framework” in the subject matter of your email application.
- Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.