Information management consultancy at WHO SEARO At World Health Organization

1. Purpose of the Consultancy

This Consultant will undertake information management (including data management and analysis) related to health emergencies and health security threats, as part of the Health Emergency Information and Risk Assessment (HIM) unit of WHO Health Emergencies Programme (WHE) at the World Health Organization South-East Asia Regional Office (WHO SEARO).

2. Background

The World Health Organization (WHO) South-East Asia Region continues to face various types of health emergencies, including infectious disease epidemics and pandemics, natural disasters, humanitarian crisis, and food safety events. It is crucial to strengthen both national and regional health security systems including the systems for surveillance, risk assessment, and field epidemiology.

Health emergency information and risk assessment (HIM) unit provides authoritative information for decision-making in emergencies, with responsibility for identifying and verifying new public health events, monitoring epidemiological situation and public health response, assessing risks to public health, and communicating timely health emergency information. The unit conducts public health intelligence activities, running regional event-based surveillance, facilitating International Health Regulations event communication and conducting relevant analytics and risk assessment. The HIM unit also supports countries to strengthen systems and capacities for surveillance, risk assessment and field epidemiology to manage health security threats.

The work of the HIM unit at SEARO is guided by the Strategic Framework for Action for Strengthening Surveillance, Risk Assessment and Field Epidemiology for Health Security Threats in the WHO South-East Asia Region. This framework was developed as guided by lessons learnt from recent severe emergencies in the Region, including the COVID-19 pandemic, and through consultations with Member States and partners. One of the key priorities highlighted in the Framework is to further strengthen Regional Public Health Intelligence (PHI) function to ensure timely regional alert for health security threats.

Information management is a critical function that enables effective public health intelligence activities. The effective information management requires sound systems and standardized procedures to collect, manage, store and analyse the information to enable risk assessment and evidence-based decision making. The proposed consultant will support ongoing information management activities, while support strengthening information management and analytics activities at regional and country levels.

3. Detailed Terms of Reference

Under the overall guidance of HIM Programme Area Manager (PAM), the information management Consultant will undertake following duties.

1. Collect data related to health security threats and emergencies, especially those on epidemic- and pandemic-prone diseases.
   • Data will be collected from open-source websites, including sources like the Ministry of Health, publications and other relevant sources identified by the HIM team.
   • Various tools and techniques will be used for data extraction, including web scraping scripts.
2. Organize and store the collected data in an analyzable format within the HIM repository.
3. Automate data handling using software such as PowerBI, Excel, R Shiny, xMart and other relevant tools.
4. Create visual representations of data, including production of visual charts and maps to display the results of the epidemiological analyses.
   • Tools like PowerBI, Tableau, R, Excel, and other statistical software, will be used.
   • Produce GIS maps using GIS platforms
5. Assist in the production of information products, including IMST slides, situation reports and internal and external bulletins
6. Support R shiny dashboard development
7. Provide technical support for Epidemic Intelligence from Open Sources (EIOS)
8. Respond to requests from Programme Area Manager when appropriate.
9. Submit activity reports on monthly basis and a final report at the end of the assignment.

4. Technical Supervision

The selected Consultant will work on the supervision of the Unit Head or Team Lead:

Dr Masaya Kato, PAM-HIM

5. Deliverables and Schedule of payment

1. The consultant is expected to deliver following outputs:
2. Contribution to information management related to the Health Emergency
3. Contribution to weekly or bi-weekly information products, expected on routine basis
4. Monthly activity reports, expected in the first week of the subsequent month, and the final report at the end of assignment

6. Duration and Remuneration (exclusive of per diem, travel costs or other expenses)

Start date: TBC End date: TBC

The duration of the consultancy will be discussed and is expected to be approximately 5 months.

Remuneration: Monthly rate will range from USD 1500 to USD 5000 depending on the experiences and skills of the candidate.

7. Specific requirements

– Qualifications required:

Essential

• University degree in public health, epidemiology, data science, health informatics, biostatics, computer science

Desirable

• Advanced university degree (Master level or above) in above health disciplines

– Experience required:

Essential

• At least three years of professional experience in public health surveillance, infectious disease prevention and control or public health data management and analytics.

Desirable

• Demonstrated experiences in conducting advanced analytics to inform public health decision making using R, Python and/or similar analytics package.
• International exposure, as defined as work experience in a multicultural environment; and/or proven relevant experience of working with partners across different geographical/cultural settings.

– Skills / Technical skills and knowledge:

• Proven interpersonal and communication skills, with appropriate diplomacy in communicating with relevant government and stakeholders
• Demonstrated capacities to work as part of a team of people with various backgrounds and culture
• Proven ability to write technical documents and information products on public health matters in a clear and concise manner.
• Ability to quickly summarize information from various sources and communicate the key points in timely manner.
• Technical knowledge and skills in surveillance, investigation, risk assessment and control of infectious diseases with epidemic and pandemic control

Desirable:

• Knowledge and skill in epidemiological analysis
• Sound knowledge and skills in database management
• Language requirements:
• English (Expert Level)

8. Place of assignment

• Off site, or on-site (to be discussed)