Consultant-Online capacity building for Pacific Island Countries

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Purpose of consultancy  

Under the guidance of the Coordinator- Capacity and Leadership Strengthening unit (CAL) - Data, Strategy and Innovation (DSI) Group, the consultant who will provide technical support in Pacific Open regarding capacity building of healthcare workers in 

Background  

Universal health coverage (UHC) requires a capable, motivated and well-distributed health and care workforce. Countries in the Western Pacific Region face evolving demands due to demographic change, epidemiological transition, emergencies and rapid technological development. Strengthening the competencies of health workers, managers and policymakers are therefore a core priority of WHO’s work in the Region. 

 Within the DSI Group, the CAL team works with Member States, WHO country offices, headquarters and partners to conceptualize and implement capacity-building initiatives for the health workforce. This includes Pacific Open Learning Health Net (POLHN), the Global Health Learning Centre (GHLC) for mid-level government officials, WHO fellowships and study tours, and other regional learning programmes.

The Pacific Open Learning Health Net (POLHN) has historically supported the continuous professional development (CPD) of health workers in Pacific Island Countries (PICs) by providing access to quality learning opportunities that address the region’s unique geographical and resource challenges. Since its establishment in 2003, POLHN has trained thousands of health professionals through its online learning platform, including through various degree programmes. The platform was temporarily closed in 2022, but relaunced in 2025 through the WHO Academy’s online learning platform to respond Member States request for POLHN revital.

POLHN aims to offer high quality short online courses, degree programs and training opportuitnies aligning with national priorities and continuous professional development reuqirments in PICs. This work will be done in close collaboration with regional universities, professional councils, and relevant agencies.

The objective of this consultancy is to support the expansion and improvement of POLHN learning offerings, strengthen regional alignment and governance, and enhance partnerships and collaboration, including with the WHO Academy and other stakeholders.

Deliverables

Output 1.  Expand and improve learning offerings in POLHN

Deliverable 1.1. Coordinate and support the design, development, and delivery of POLHN online learning courses in collaboration with WHO technical units, learning production companies, and the WHO Academy.

Deliverable 1.2: Support the review, and updating POLHN learning space and platforms to ensure relevance, quality, and accessibility

Deliverable 1.3: Promote POLHN for wider access and use in collaboration with communication team and relevant units

Output 2: Strengthen regional alignment of POLHN and country-level engagement

Deliverable 2.1: Provide technical support to align POLHN learning offerings with Continuing Professional Development (CPD) systems of Pacific Island Countries. This includes understand countries CPD system and establishing and operating coordination mechanisms with countries.

Deliverable 2.2: Provide technical support in drafting concept notes, meeting materials,

presentations, briefs, and reports as required aligned in this workstream.

Delivarable 2.3: Provide technical support to country engagement including POLHN project in Fiji as required, to ensure country’s POLHN projects are aligned with POLHN’s strategic direction and regional policies.

Output 3: Faciltate Partnership and collaboration

Deliverable 3.1: Identify and establish partnership with Member States, academic institutions,

collaborating centres and relevant agencies on POLHN and capacity building programs.

Deliverable 3.2: Facilitate collaboration between the WHO Academy and the Region to enhance

POLHN and capacity building programs. This includes managing POLHN learning space, monitoring and evaluating POLHN, and explore other collaborative initiatives.

Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Educational Qualifications:  

Essential: Master's degree in education, public health, public policy, social science or related

field from a recognized university

Desirable: Training in health education, health workforce, health programme and policy

development/management at national or international level.

Experience

Essential: At least 7 years of experience in health education and capacity building, health workforce, public health and health policy

Desirable:

·       Experience in working with international organization, desirably WHO and WHO Academy, or in a multicultural working environment

·       Experience in working with Pacific Island Countries in terms of capacity building, health workforce or health policy

Skills/Knowledge:

Essential:

·       Good understanding of health workforce and health systems issues in the Western Pacific Region. 

·       Knowledge of principles of adult learning, competency-based education and online/hybrid learning. 

·       Strong writing skills including developing concept notes, reports, and donor proposals

·       Technical and diplomatic skills to engage and collaborate with WHO teams, ministry of health, experts and partners.

·       Ability to think and work independently or with minor supervision to plan, design and implement a systematic approach to problem solving.

·       Ability to work harmoniously as a member of the team, adapt to diverse cultural and educational backgrounds and maintain a high standard of personal conduct

Desirable:

·       Experience using digital platforms for learning and collaboration (e.g. virtual classrooms, learning management systems, online learning production tools). 

·       Experience in designing and implementing adult learning or training programmes

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

Essential:

Expert knowledge of English

Location

Onsite for insurance purposes. The consultant should conform to working hours of WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific, in Manila, Philippines.

 Travel

The consultant is expected to travel if it contributes to the deliverables of this TOR. 
The 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.

Visa requirements: It is the responsibility to fulfill visa requirements and ask for visa support letter(s) if needed.