Contract Duration: 12 months
Closing Date / Time for applications: Deadline extended to 28 June 2021
Hearing plays a critical role in health and in achieving a high quality of life. It has an influence on the way a person integrates in and relates to society and has an impact on education and employment opportunities. Globally, approximately 430 million people live with disabling hearing loss that affects the quality of their lives. Unaddressed hearing loss is one of the leading causes of morbidity, in terms of 'disability adjusted life years (DALYs)' and years lived with disability (YLD), globally. Moreover, it is estimated that such hearing loss poses an annual global cost of $980 billion. It is expected that this prevalence may rise considerably in coming decades due to changing population demographics, increasing exposure to risk factors as well as persistence of untreated ear conditions. Many of the causes that lead to hearing loss are preventable.
The prevention of deafness and hearing loss and promotion of ear and hearing care was highlighted in 2015 and a resolution (WHA70.13) was unanimously adopted by the World Health Assembly in 2017. This resolution calls upon WHO to “intensify collaboration with all stakeholders with the aim of reducing hearing loss due to recreational exposure to noise through the development and promotion of safe-listening standards, screening protocols, software applications to promote safe-listening and information products.”
Over the last few years WHO has developed Make Listening Safe initiative for addressing the growing risk of hearing loss, especially among youth. The Global standard for safe listening devices was launched in 2019. The development of the Global standard for safe listening entertainment venues (GPHG633) is currently underway. This along with other advocacy products will be launched in September 2021. A school module for safe listening is planned for launch in 2022, along with other communication products.
The development of these resources will be undertaken in close collaboration with experts in the field of audiology, acoustic and communication; regional and country office staff; and other partners (such as the World Hearing Forum).
The Department for Noncommunicable Diseases (NCD) is looking for a consultant to undertake a 6-month contract to support its work on the Make Listening Safe initiative.
The Scope of Work for this contract consists of the following tasks:
- Development of background papers and literature search for Safe listening initiative in schools.
- Assist in the development of the Global standard for safe listening entertainment venues and in coordination of the Apple Hearing Health study through data management and literature survey.
- Organize monthly (online) discussions with partners and WHO colleagues in countries and regional offices, to obtain their inputs and feedback on the technical tools mentioned above.
- Draft communication materials for the Make Listening Safe initiative and coordinate their design process.
The WHO Headquarters Office in Geneva is now inviting eligible individuals to indicate their interest in undertaking this work. Interested parties must provide information indicating why they are qualified to perform the described tasks, including CV, description of similar assignments, experience managing multi-partners projects, and coordinating other such large-scale reports. The contracting party will be selected through a competitive process in accordance with WHO’s operating policies and procedures on procurement of services.
The expected start date is 16 July 2021. The work under this consultant contract does not need to be undertaken at WHO Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, however visits may be planned if required and possible during the period of the assignment. The contractual party will be remunerated at a monthly rate that is commensurate with their experience and based on the WHO consultant pay band.
Qualifications and experiences required:
- First level university degree in public health or a related field
- Demonstrated experience managing similar projects in an international context
- Demonstrated experience in undertaking data analysis and literature reviews
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English are required
- Excellent organizational and interpersonal skills
Expressions of interest must be received no later than 10:00 CET (Geneva time) on 28 June 2021. Please include a copy of your CV as well as a description of similar work undertaken. The expressions of interest are to be delivered electronically to Dr Shelly Chadha at the following email address: chadhas@who.int. Please include the in the subject line: Expression of interest: consultant-hearing.