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1. Purpose of the Consultancy

The purpose of the work is to support the Team Coordinator, Pacific Climate Change and Environment (PCE), Division of Pacific Technical Support (DPS), WHO-WPRO in the following tasks:

1. Conduct a situational analysis on the health co-benefits of climate change mitigation action globally with a focus in Pacific Island countries and on Fiji, including assessment of current health co-benefits of non-health sector projects, stakeholder perceptions, and barriers and facilitators to utilization of health co-benefits framing for advocacy in key sectors such as transport, energy, housing, and agriculture.
2. Generate a strategy report, review paper, presentation, and messages as inputs to communication/advocacy materials (in coordination with PCE Communication team) to be presented during a health co-benefits symposium in Fiji.
3. Provide overall technical support to PCE on climate change and health activities, as needed.

2. Background

The Western Pacific Region is one of the most vulnerable regions to climate and environmental changes. Environmental determinants of health are responsible for more than a quarter of the burden of disease in the Region. Enduring shortage of safe drinking-water and sanitation, air pollution, presence of hazardous chemicals in the environment and climate-change related disasters heighten the threat of communicable and non-communicable diseases, negatively health equity and contribute significantly to morbidity and mortality in the region.

WHO’s work in the Western Pacific Region is guided by the ‘For the Future’ vision, which includes “climate change, the environment and health” as one of four thematic priorities. The overall goal of the CCE Thematic Priority is to ensure that countries and communities have the capacity to anticipate and respond to the changing environment and climate, with the health sector emerging as a strong force to achieving the targets of the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement related to health.

To the Pacific countries, CCE focuses on the following:

1. Pillar 1: advocate for stronger health leadership in climate change agenda in the Region;
2. Pillar 2: strengthening implementation of CCE resilient health care facilities
3. Pillar 3: strengthening evidence on CCE including the health co-benefits of mitigation measures by other sectors; and
4. Pillar 4: advocating CCE agenda in all programmes within WHO.

The proposed consultancy will specifically support Pillar 1 on advocacy for stronger health leadership in climate change agenda in the Western Pacific region and Pillar 3 on strengthening evidence on CCE including health co-benefits of mitigation by other sectors. The consultant will support activities related to raising awareness on the impacts of climate change on health within and among the health sector and to contribute to an advocacy event to share knowledge with the non-health sectors on the health co-benefits of climate change mitigation in key sectors such as transport, energy, housing and agriculture, including the development of strategic advocacy actions and key messages for the preparation of media and communication materials.

3. Planned timelines (subject to confirmation)

Estimated Start date: 15 May 2023

End date:   31 August 2023

For 55 days inputs

4. Work to be performed

Method(s) to carry out the activities

Activity 1: The consultant will conduct a situational analysis on the health co-benefits of climate change mitigation action globally with focus in Pacific Island countries and on Fiji.

Specific tasks include:

1. Develop a workplan to be performed under the consultancy, including methods for the situational analysis (e.g., interview guides), and timeline for engagement with stakeholders, to be shared and approved by PCE team.
2. Conduct a literature review on health co-benefits of climate mitigation in non-health sectors with a focus on Pacific Island countries, and specifically Fiji.
3. Conduct interviews / focus-group discussions / meetings (virtually) with key stakeholder groups (from health and non-health sectors) to gather information on perspectives on health co-benefits and barriers and facilitators to utilization of health co-benefits framing for advocacy.

Activity 2: The consultant will generate a strategy report, review paper, presentation, and inputs to communication / advocacy materials (in coordination with PCE Communication team) to be presented during a health co-benefit symposium in Fiji.

Specific tasks include:

1. Use findings from Activity 1 to develop a report and review paper (for possible submission to a peer-reviewed publication).
2. In coordination with PCE communication team, provide support and key messages in the development and dissemination of communication / advocacy materials on health co-benefits of climate change mitigation action in the context of Pacific Island countries and Fiji.
3. Present findings during the planned health co-benefit symposium in Fiji.
4. Assist with the planning and preparation for the health co-benefits symposium, as needed.

Outputs

Output 1: Situational analysis on the health co-benefits of climate change mitigation action globally with focus in Pacific island countries and on Fiji.

Deliverable 1.1: Finalized workplan with methods for the situational analysis (e.g., interview guides), and timeline for engagement with stakeholders.

Deliverable 1.2: Finalized literature review on health co-benefits of climate change mitigation action globally with focus in Pacific Island countries and on Fiji.

Output 2: Strategy report, review paper, presentation, and inputs to communication / advocacy materials (in coordination with PCE Communication team) to be presented during a co-benefit symposium in Fiji.

Deliverable 2.1: Finalised strategy report on health co-benefits of climate change mitigation in Pacific Island countries and specifically Fiji.    

Deliverable 2.2: Finalised review paper on health co-benefits of climate change mitigation for peer-reviewed publication

Deliverable 2.3: Finalised presentation and key messages to communication / advocacy materials health co-benefits of climate change mitigation action in Pacific Island countries, with a specific focus on Fiji.

Additional technical support and advice will be provided for on-going climate change and health projects, however specific deliverables will not be required given there are other STCs in charge of these projects.

5. Specific requirements

– Qualifications required:   

• The consultant should have advanced degree (Master’s or Doctoral) in public health or environmental health, with a focus on climate change and health impacts resilience, health impact assessment, and health co-benefits of climate mitigation.

– Experience required:

• The consultant should have at least 8-10 years of relevant work experience at the international level (e.g., experience working with WHO, other UN and bilateral agencies, and development institutions, an advantage).

• Must have work experience and advanced knowledge of the health co-benefits of climate change mitigation policies and/or actions in the Asia-Pacific region.

– Skills / Technical skills and knowledge:

• Advanced knowledge of climate change and health literature, including the health co-benefits of climate change mitigation actions in the Asia-Pacific region.
• Experience in technical report writing specifically related to climate change and health projects and health co-benefits of climate change mitigation in the context of Pacific island countries and the Asia-Pacific region.

• Ability to work remotely with minimal supervision.
• Ability to work effectively with a team.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Computer literacy including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, as well as telecommunication platforms.

– Language requirements:

Excellent command of English (spoken and written)

6. Competencies

• Culturally sensitive;
• Communicating in a credible and effective way.
• Producing results.
• Moving forward in a changing environment; and
• Fostering integration and teamwork.

7. Place of assignment

This work will be a combination of remote inputs, desktop job and virtual meetings and presentations, providing support to the WHO Office in Suva, Fiji.  For remote working, the applicant must have a stable internet connection to allow teleconferences with WHO and Member States.

8. Medical clearance

For remote consultants, a medical certificate of fitness for work is not required.

9. Travel

Not applicable.

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.
• For information on WHO’s operations please visit: http://www.who.int.
• WHO is committed to workforce diversity.
• WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.
• 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.
• The purpose of this vacancy is to develop a list of qualified candidates for inclusion in this advertised roster. All applicants will be notified in writing of the outcome of their application (whether successful or unsuccessful) upon conclusion of the selection process. Successful candidates will be placed on the roster and subsequently may be selected for consultancy assignments falling in this area of work or for similar requirements/tasks/deliverables. Inclusion in the Roster does not guarantee selection to a consultant contract. There is no commitment on either side.