Public Health Contingency Plan for Point of Entries (POEs) at International Organization for Migration

Internal and External Candidates

Position Title: Public Health Contingency Plan for Point of Entries (POEs)

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Duty Station: IOM Libya in Tunis

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Type of Appointment

45 days

Estimated Start Date

As soon as possible

Closing Date

15^th May 2021

Established in 1951, IOM is a Related Organization of the United Nations, and as the leading UN agency in the field of migration, works closely with governmental, intergovernmental and non-governmental partners. IOM is dedicated to promoting humane and orderly migration for the benefit of all. It does so by providing services and advice to governments and migrants.

IOM is committed to a diverse and inclusive work environment. Internal and external candidates are eligible to apply to this vacancy. For the purpose of the vacancy, internal candidates are considered as first-tier candidates.

Context:

1. Development of Public Health Contingency Plan for Points of Entry and Capacity building of public health and other stakeholders at Points of entries.

Introduction

Libya shares a border with six countries: Tunisia and Algeria to the west, Niger and Chad to the south, Egypt and Sudan to the east. There are 24 points of entry in Libya: 8 airports, 8 seaports and 8 ground crossings points.

The ever-increasing speed and scope of human mobility through international travel has led to a global transport network for infectious diseases with the potential to introduce pathogens into non-endemic areas and to facilitate the rapid spread of novel or mutated zoonotic agents.

Points of entry, including airports, ports and ground crossings, provide various opportunities for interactions between communities at countries of transit/destination and travellers from all over the world with the potential for exposure, transmission and spread of infectious disease.

World Health Organization and National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) have conducted Joint External Evaluation (JEE) in July 2018 and found that there was “limited capacity” of designated PoE having access to appropriate medical services including diagnostic facilities for the prompt assessment and care of ill travelers and with adequate staff, equipment and premises. Similarly, it was observed that “no” national public health emergency contingency plan exists for responding to public health emergencies occurring at points of entry.

IOM as a co-lead of Migration Health-Sub Working Group and as a lead on PoE pillar of the COVID strategic response, have conducted multiple meetings and regular assessments of PoEs. As part of IOM’s endeavor to strengthen the capacity of NCDC to control and manage the threat of COVID-19, high resolution thermal cameras were installed at 6 locations (POEs) – Ras Aljadir and Wazen (borders with Tunisia), Mitiga Airport, Misrata Airport, Benina Airport and Amsad (border with Egypt). Additionally, prefabricated units for temporary/transient isolation are established in 5 PoEs: Ras Aljadir, Wazen, Mitiga, Benina and Amsaed. A total of 99 PoE health staff have been trained on Infection Prevention and Control and COVID-19 Case Management between June and December 2020. 3 IOM medical officers are working at the PoEs of Misrata, Wazen and Ras Jedir to support the NCDC in surveillance of the travellers and staff working at the PoEs and to ensure that COVID-19 surveillance SOPs are followed.

UN specialized agencies, including WHO and its International Health Regulations (IHR), International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and its Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs), as well as International Maritime Organization (IMO) and its guidelines, provide a wide range of procedures and health measures to be implemented at points of entry enabling to mitigate public health risks.

The International Health Regulations (IHR) technical standards are fully integrated into IOM migration health activities at the IOM Migration Health Assessment Centres, partner health clinics and points of entry. IOM’s Health, Border & Mobility Management (HBMM) Framework is one of the main instruments to empower governments and communities to prevent, detect and respond to health threats along the mobility continuum.

In the context of the IOM Global Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan (SRP) -COVID-19 response: IOM and its partners, upon member states request, are working continuously to ensure that health security and human mobility dots are connected.

In order to have more in-depth integration of health concerns into an Integrated/Coordinated Border Management approach to guide national immigration and border authorities and in line with recommendations of the Ministry of Health Libya, there is a need to develop public health contingency plan for the POEs and enhance capacity of public health staff and other relevant stake holders at the points of entry.

Core Functions / Responsibilities:

Objective:

1. Capacity building of public health staff working at points of entry staff to make them familiarized with the regulatory procedures of detection and notification of public health threats in compliance with the (WHO) International Health Regulations requirements, ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) standards, IATA (International Air Transport Association) recommendations and IMO (International Maritime Organization) technical guidance.
2. Development of public health contingency plan and Identify key challenges and ways forward to promote a sustainable implementation of public health-related procedures.

Target:

1. Assessment of Points of Entries (3 airports, 3 seaports and 3 crossing points)
2. Public Health Emergency Plan for Airports, Sea Ports and Land Crossing Points. Identifying key challenges and ways forward regarding triggering emergency plans and notifying public health authorities to ensure contact tracing of travellers.
3. Standard Operating Procedures for all the interventions mentioned in the International Health Regulation
4. Training curriculum including practical exercises for the aviation sector, the maritime sector, and land borders.
5. Develop master trainers for capacity building of staff from the aviation sector, the maritime sector, and land borders
6. IOM Project to which the Consultancy is contributing: EU Funded “Supporting Libyan authorities to address COVID-19 related challenges and providing assistance to vulnerable groups in Libya”.

3. Tasks to be preformed under this contract:

1. Assessment of Points of Entries (3 airports, 3seaports and 3 crossing points)
2. Develop Public Health Contingency Plan for Airports, Sea Ports and Land Crossing Points. Identifying key challenges and ways forward regarding triggering emergency plans and notifying public health authorities to ensure contact tracing of travellers.
3. Develop Standard Operating Procedures for all the interventions mentioned in the International Health Regulation
4. Develop training curriculum including practical exercises for the aviation sector, the maritime sector, and land borders.
5. Develop master trainers for capacity building of staff from the aviation sector, the maritime sector, and land borders.
6. Tangible and measurable output of the work assignment.
7. Assessment of Points of Entries (3 airports, 3 seaports and 3 crossing points)
8. Approved Public Health Contingency Plan
9. Approved Standard Operating Procedures for all the interventions mentioned in IHR
10. Training curricula in English and Arabic for aviation sector, maritime sector and land borders.
11. 60 staff capacity built on emergency preparedness and response with 10 staff identified as master trainers.
12. Realistic delivery dates and details as to how the work must be delivered.

Approved Standard Operating Procedures for all the interventions mentioned in IHR

1. Performance indicators for evaluation of results (value of services rendered in relation to their cost).

Key Performance Indicators (KPI)

From 16 to 22 May

Development of training curricula in English to be taught and explained both in English and Arabic whenever it is needed

Availability of the all training material including presentations, written simulation exercises, written and ready-to-use emergency plans template and SoPs templates

23 May: Travel arrangement

In-person Workshops in Libya including presentations, tabletop exercises, scenario discussion, templates of points of entry emergency plans to be fulfilled during the workshops, templates of SoPs to be tailored according to the Libyan idiosyncrasies and particularities

In-person delivery of the presentations, facilitation of the simulation exercises, in-depth explanation and hand-on training on how to establish a public health emergency plan at borders, how to activate it, and how to develop the relevant SoPs.

From 31May to 6 June

On-site assessment visits to 9 Libyan PoEs (3 airports, 3 ports and 3 land borders)

On-site evaluation of the capacities of the PoEs selected followed by a report on the strengths and gaps found out according to the IHR provisions and the JEE’s requirements

07 June: Travel arrangement

8 June 29 June

Finalization of Assessment reports, training reports, public health emergency plan and all Standard Operation Procedures,

Final Report of Public health emergency plan for POEs.

Final Report of Trainings

Final Standard Operating Procedures for POEs.

Required Qualifications and Experience

• Master’s degree in Public Health or a related field from an accredited academic institution with six years of relevant professional experience; or
• University degree in the above fields with eight years of relevant professional experience.
• University degree in Medicine would be considered as an added advantage.
• At least five years of professional experience in the domain of global public health and migration health related issues, including in the context of humanitarian situations
• Experience in development and management of a large and complex health programme
• Prior work experience with an international organization in Africa and/or in the Middle East is an advantage;
• Strong understanding of the Libyan and African context and mixed migration flows along Central Migration Route;
• Good writing, communication, negotiation and analytical skills;
• Ability to prepare clear and concise reports in both English and Arabic;

· Strong creative and strategic thinking;

· Excellent ability to prioritize tasks and strong organizational skills;

Languages

Fluency in English is required (oral and written).

Required Competencies

Values

• Inclusion and respect for diversity: respects and promotes individual and cultural differences; encourages diversity and inclusion wherever possible.
• Integrity and transparency: maintain high ethical standards and acts in a manner consistent with organizational principles/rules and standards of conduct.
• Professionalism: demonstrates ability to work in a composed, competent and committed manner and exercises careful judgment in meeting day-to-day challenges.

Core Competencies – behavioural indicators *level 1**

• Teamwork: develops and promotes effective collaboration within and across units to achieve shared goals and optimize results.
• Delivering results: produces and delivers quality results in a service-oriented and timely manner; is action oriented and committed to achieving agreed outcomes.
• Managing and sharing knowledge: continuously seeks to learn, share knowledge and innovate.
• Accountability: takes ownership for achieving the Organization’s priorities and assumes responsibility for own action and delegated work.
• Communication: encourages and contributes to clear and open communication; explains complex matters in an informative, inspiring and motivational way.

Other

Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment and verification of residency, visa and authorizations by the concerned Government, where applicable.

The consultant must adhere to the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Data Protection Principles (IN/138) and maintain confidentiality.