Mission and objectives

As one of the six WHO Regions, WHO South-East Asia is home to over a quarter of the world’s population. Committed to building a better, healthier future for the nearly two billion people in the Region, WHO is working with the 11 Member States (Bangladesh, Bhutan, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, India, Indonesia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Timor-Leste) to address persisting and emerging epidemiological and demographic challenges. The WHO South-East Asia Regional office (SEARO) is based in New Delhi, India. The main objective of the Communicable Disease (CDS) department within SEARO is to support the countries in the South-East Asia Region in reducing morbidity and mortality from communicable diseases, improve the existing system of communicable disease surveillance including data management and response.More information on the department can be found here: https://www.who.int/southeastasia/teams/communicable-diseases-department.

Context

The Communicable Disease Surveillance (CSR) unit of WHO SEARO works horizontally between different other disease specific programmes, units and departments in SEARO with the aim to improve surveillance in the region. Under this assignment, the Online Volunteer will support the CSR team in the preparation of a summary of an evaluation report of currently used communicable disease surveillance systems and strategic information sources within the WHO South-East Asia Region. This elaborate work was initiated in 2023 with the aim to obtain an evidence base of currently used surveillance systems to subsequently develop a regional framework for integrated/collaborative communicable disease surveillance. The Online Volunteer will closely collaborate with Regional Advisors and technical staff in the other units and departments, as well as with technical colleagues in the country offices in the region.

Task Description

Under the overall guidance of the Director of the Communicable Disease (CDS) department and under direct supervision of the Medical Officer (Epidemiologist) of the Communicable Disease Surveillance (CSR) unit in WHO SEARO, the Online Volunteer will specifically perform the following task remotely. Summarise a report on the evaluation of communicable disease surveillance systems in nine SEAR MS by: • Supporting the review of the report, validation of information and integration of comments • Closely coordinating with WHO’s CSR team and partners to summarise the report • Ensuring alignment and update of all references within the Endnote® library • Preparing concise briefs and presentations for each country/disease area • Preparing an executive summary • Preparing action points for follow-up and recommendations for the way forward

Competencies and values

Living conditions and remarks