Purpose of the Consultancy
The Management of Noncommunicable Diseases (MND), Division of Programmes for Disease Control (DDC) would like to get an expert to provide technical support improvement of eye health and hearing impairment in the Western Pacific Region.ย
The consultant is expected to provide depth, understanding and expert guidance to develop a regional framework for eye and ear health and ensure the 2030 regional targets are met.
Primary implementing partners will be the ministries of health. ย Some activities will be carried out in collaboration with technical partners and academic institutions.
Background
The WHO aims to achieve control of noncommunicable diseases throughout the Western Pacific Region by targeting the reduction of morbidity and mortality of such conditions and diseases, including vision and hearing dysfunction. The Division supports integrated people-centered care approaches by strengthening primary health care services for prevention, diagnosis, care, and treatment of target diseases and conditions along the life-course while ensuring to reach the unreached and achieving universal health coverage.
To address the impact of vision impairment and blindness in the Region, the WHO developed a regional action plan, Towards Universal Eye Health: A Regional Action Plan for the Western Pacific (2014โ2019) which guided the direction of the eye health programmes in the Region for the past years. Recently, WHO launched the first World report on vision on 9 October 2019. The Report provides evidence on the magnitude of vision loss and its prevention and treatment, and rehabilitation. The Report has a strong focus on the need for people-centred eye-care services and integrated eye care within national health systems. The WHO Executive Board in its 146th Session adopted resolution EB146.R8 on โIntegrated people-centred eye care, including preventable vision impairment and blindnessโ, formally recognizing the World report on vision and urging Member States to implement its recommendations. The resolution 73.4 was adopted by the 73rd Session of the World Health Assembly on 3 August 2020.
Considering the situation of ear and hearing care in the Western Pacific Region, it is estimated to have the highest prevalence of hearing loss in the world, with approximately 7% of the population affected. By 2050, the region is projected to have the largest number of individuals with hearing lossโapproximately 760 million. The regional office needs to respond to the growing burden of eye and ear health in the Region and support new WHO initiatives such as WHO SPECS and expansion of access assistive technologies and devices. The regional action plan for eye care has lapsed and there is no regional framework for ear health to guide member states.ย
The WHO in the region is actively promoting actions in eye/vision and ear/hearing care across regional actors and member states, focusing on achieving a people-centered approach through primary health care. Therefore, a consultant for eye health and hearing impairment is required at the WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific.
Deliverables
Under the supervision and guidance of the Technical Coordinator of the Management of Noncommunicable Diseases (MND) unit of the Division of Programmes Disease Control (DDC), in coordination with relevant country national focal points, WHO Country Offices, Health Ministries in the Western Pacific Region, and other relevant partners, the consultant will perform the following activities:
Work to be performed
Specific terms of reference include:
1. Develop sensory health strategies and initiatives consistent with regional and national priorities and facilitate engagement of Members States and the development of an action framework thereby ensuring the effective functioning of collaborative work on vision and hearing impairment activities in the region.
2. Coordinate activities on sensory functions (Eye health and Hearing impairment) in the region and liaise with country offices in context of systems strengthening and cross cutting work in relation to other noncommunicable diseases.
3. Prepare for and support delivery of the newly developed packages of essential eye and ear care interventions in the context of integrated people-centred care; and, in collaboration with WHO CCs build capacities in health workers for eye health and hearing impairment, especially at community level.
4. Conceptualize, develop layout, format, and design promotional materials and activities agreed as part of the public awareness strategy related to eye health and hearing loss activities and assist in conducting workshops in collaboration with relevant WHO CCs and the WPRO Team lead.
5. Support activities of the unit toward the implementation of the Regional Action Framework for the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases, including integration of eye and ear health.
Methods to carry out the activityย
1.Meetings with experts, collaborating centers, member state representatives and WHO colleagues
2.Prepare the background and key documents, and compile relevant data
3.Produce a high-quality reports on the sensory health initiativesย
4.Perform other related work as required
Outputs 15 January โ 15 December 2025 1. A draft regional framework for sensory health for the Western Pacific Region. 2. An updated report and situational analysis on current status of visual and hearing impairment and ongoing initiatives in the Region. 3. Sensory health promotional materials, presentations and meeting reports. 4. Monthly Progress Report on the activities covering the following areas: 4.1. Support in the development of a regional action plan for sensory health for the Western pacific region. 4.2. Support in the design, adaption, implementation, and evaluation of IPEC initiatives in country. This will include provision of trainings on IPEC and contributing to existing and new learning networks to document and disseminate lessonsย and best practices in IPEC in low-resource settings. 4.3. Support to countries to develop and efficiently implement evidence- based clinical practice guidelines and policies for hearing impairment. 4.4. Support for countries to build capacity of relevant stakeholders to prepare for and deliver the newly developed packages of essential eye and earย care interventions. 4.5. Support the preparation of national advocacy events and stakeholdersโ consultation workshop, including the development of background documents, formalย presentations, and guidance for stakeholder forums.
Qualifications, experience, skills, and languages
Qualifications required
Essential: Bachelorโs degree in public health or any health-related field from a recognized institution or university.
Desirable: Postgraduate (master's level) training in the fields related to public health, noncommunicable disease, and eye and ear health.
Experience required
Essential: Minimum five years' relevant work experience in control of noncommunicable diseases, particularly in eye and ear health including but not limited to public health measures to prevent and manage noncommunicable diseases including exposure to international level.
Desirable: Experience in managing large teams at national and international levels; relevant work experience in WHO, other UN agencies, or relevant nongovernmental organizations in the Western Pacific Region. ย ย
Skills / Technical skills and knowledge
โขBroad knowledge of concepts and strategies related to NCD prevention and control, especially eye and ear health.
โขSkills in planning, training, monitoring, and evaluation of interventions, and the development of locally adapted tools and instruments.
โขGood communication skills, ability to synthesize knowledge and effectively express ideas in writing.
โขAbility to coordinate with external partners as well as work harmoniously as a member of a team, adapt to diverse educational and cultural backgrounds and maintain a high standard of personal conduct.
Language requirements
โขExpert level of English is essential (Read-Write-Speak). Working knowledge of other UN languages is an advantage.
Competencies
โขTeamwork
โขCommunication
โขRespecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
โขProducing Results
โขKnowing and managing yourself
Place of assignment
The consultant will be based in Manila.
Travel
The consultant may be required to travel to sites for relevant activities (consultations, information gathering, programme reviews, training, etc.).
Remuneration and budget
Remuneration: Band level A
Expected duration of contract: 11 months, 15 January 2025 to 15 December 2025
Additional Information
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:ย http://www.whed.net/. Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and will require individual review.ย
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