Consultant – Public Health Emergency Management software (ePHEM)

1. Purpose of consultancy

Provide technical input to support regional efforts to expand the piloting and implementation of the electronic Public Health Emergency Management software (ePHEM) in the countries of the EMR and other regions.

2. Background

Within the Programme, the Country Health Emergency Preparedness & the International Health Regulations unit (CPI), crucial component of a functional PHEOC is a robust information management system equipped with practical technological solutions. The Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office (EMRO) initiated the development of the electronic Public Health Emergency Management (ePHEM). This open-source platform is designed to operate within countries at both the national and subnational levels to facilitate emergency management operations, with a focus on operations anchored within the PHEOC.

The piloting and implementation of the ePHEM extended beyond this region to include countries in the African Region (AFRO) and is anticipated to expand to other WHO regions (SEARO, EURO, WPRO, etc.). Based on this, it is highly required to deploy additional support to maintain the system’s functionality in the countries and facilitate its implementation in further ones.

Planned timelines (10 months, subject to performance and availability of budget)

·Start date: 20/11/2024

·End date: 19/09/2025

3. Deliverables

The consultant will conduct the following activities with specific outputs and deliverables:

Output 1: Support community (country) piloting and implementation of ePHEM

Deliverable 1.1: Address and follow up on countries’ requests for piloting and implementation of ePHEM.

Deliverable 1.2: Assist countries in preparing the requirements for piloting and implementation of ePHEM, including usernames, affiliations, roles and responsibilities, command hierarchy, data privacy and security levels, contextual information, and information technology requirements (server, devices, data warehousing, physical structure and communication).

Deliverable 1.3: Address countries’ requests for maintenance (bugs and technical errors) and modifying the software during its initial implementation phase. And to integrate ePHEM within the PHEOC Standard Operation Procedures (SoPs).

Deliverable 1.4: Engage in regular communication and conduct follow-ups with ePHEM focal persons at countries to oversee the system implementation and ensure that their technical requests are met.

Deliverable 1.5: Maintain ePHEM community of practice, sharing and exchanging countries experiences in piloting, implementing and developing ePHEM.

Output 2: Support in documenting and developing technical products for ePHEM

Deliverable 2.1: Draft an ePHEM user manual guide, covering the software’s key features and functionalities in English language. And provide support for translation of the manual into Arabic language/ other languages according to the need.

Deliverable 2.2: Prepare a training module for ePHEM to be included within the PHEOC capacity building training package.

Deliverable 2.3: Contribute to the creation of technical demonstrations (demos) and presentations for the software, highlighting the system’s key features and functions under the guidance of the technical officers.

Deliverable 2.4: Support the documentation of countries’ experiences in piloting and implementing ePHEM and writing scientific papers.

Output 3: Support PHEOC training and public health emergency management simulation exercises.

Deliverable 3.1: Assist the technical officer in the development and delivery of PHEOC-related training programs.

Deliverable 3.2: Coordinate and support the design and implementation of simulation exercises aimed at testing the functionality of PHEOCs at the national and sub-national levels.

Deliverable 3.3: Support the technical officer in the provision of technical guidance to the member states on integrating PHEOC operations into national emergency preparedness and response frameworks.

4. Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Qualifications required:

Education:

Essential: First-level (Bachelor’s) university degree in health discipline, public health, health information technology and management and, related field.

Desirable: Advanced university degree in information management, epidemiology, public health, humanitarian emergencies, emergency- and disaster management and relevant field.

Experience required:

Essential: Up to five years relevant experience with successful track record in PHEOC, all hazards surveillance, emergency management at national or regional level. Experience in implementation of information systems software for supporting operations and information management.

Skills/Knowledge:

1. ·Outstanding interpersonal and ; diplomatic skills

   ·High level of communication with country representatives, public health officials, international partners and stakeholders.

   ·Solid knowledge on planning, implementing and demonstrating electronic software,

   ·Strong presentation and writing skills.

Languages and level required :

• Expert level of Arabic and English language

5. Location:

Off-site (remote)

In case of any travel:.

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

6. Travel (If travel is involved, a medical certificate of fitness for work will be required.)

All 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. While on mission under the terms of this consultancy, the Consultant will receive subsistence allowance.

7. Medical clearance

The selected Consultant will be expected to provide a medical certificate of fitness for work.

8. Remuneration and budget (travel costs are excluded):

a. Remuneration: the international pay band B

b. Expected duration of contract : 6 months (Maximum contract duration is 11 months per calendar year):

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: http://www.whed.net/. Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and will require individual review.
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• WHO is committed to workforce diversity.
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• 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.
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