Purpose of the Consultancy
This consultancy will lead the consultation process and drafting of a guidance document on the engagement and coordination of Emergency Medical Teams and other forms of clinical response teams in armed conflict/complex emergency settings. The consultancy will be expected to build on the “Classification and Minimum Standards for Foreign Emergency Medical Teams (EMTs)”, also known as the “Blue Book”, and form a consensus among key stakeholders on the adaptation of the standards and coordination mechanisms for conflict scenarios into a separate but connected document “the red book”. It will also be expected to build on the experience and lessons identified in the response of clinical care teams in Mosul, Iraq (2016-17), Palestine (2018) and other settings. The subject matter is likely to be contentious, and senior high level engagement will be required at director and above level within agencies, international organizations and donors.
The consultant will be required to manage the consultation and convening process on behalf of WHO, in close collaboration with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), and other key actors and stakeholders with experience in the coordination and provision of clinical care to populations in armed conflict/complex emergency settings, including representatives from NGOs, member states (responding and affected), militaries and private providers. This work will include the preparation of literature reviews and if required, key informant interviews and facilitation of workshops, bilateral consultations with identified stakeholders and drafting of progress reports, including concept notes for discussion. The end product of the consultancy is expected to be an agreed guidance document, including technical minimum standards that need adaption from the blue book for this context and appropriate coordination mechanisms for the response of clinical care teams in armed conflict/complex emergency situations. The consultant should therefore bring a blend of field experience and technical EMT/medical team management and deployment experience as well as a high level knowledge of the political and humanitarian architectures involved in coordination of health response in humanitarian conflict/complex emergencies and have a proven track record of senior engagement in such responses.
Within WHO, the consultant will be supervised by the Manager, EMT Secretariat and will be required to work closely with other members of the EMT Secretariat as well as other WHO staff members including from the Global Health Cluster and other relevant departments. The consultant will also be required to travel to the WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean in Cairo, Egypt and ideally have Arabic language skills to consult with partners and countries in the middle east as relevant.
Background
The mission of the EMT initiative is to enhance preparedness and promote the rapid deployment and efficient coordination of Emergency Medical Teams adhering to minimum standards in order to reduce the loss of life, alleviate suffering, and prevent long-term disability as a result of disasters, outbreaks and/or other emergencies.
To achieve this mission, the EMT Initiative has five core objectives: supporting and implementing EMT capacity strengthening, preparedness and training activities; promoting and leading (or supporting, as relevant) EMT response coordination mechanisms; standard setting, collection/dissemination of best practices examples and creating a knowledge hub; managing the EMT mentorship and classification process; ensuring commitment and sustainability of the EMT Initiative through expanding global/regional coordination and partnerships.
Note: the term “EMT’s are groups of health professionals providing direct clinical care to populations affected by disasters or outbreaks and emergencies as surge capacity to support the local health system” and in this context it is used in its broadest sense to mean all clinical response teams from NGOs, international organizations, militaries and Member States, not only those that identify as “an EMT”.
In 2018, the EMT Strategic Advisory Group specifically endorsed the adaptation of existing standards and coordination mechanisms to armed conflict situations into the EMT Global Strategy.
Planned timelines (subject to confirmation)
Start date: 1 October 2018
End date: October 2019
Total amount of time: 150 days (or 7.5 months) over 12 months
Work to be performed
Output 1: To facilitate and manage the consultation process for the drafting of a guidance document on the engagement of Emergency Medical Teams/clinical response teams in armed conflict/complex emergencies settings
Deliverable 1.1: Concept note focusing on the key issues for discussion in the drafting of the guidance document on the engagement of EMTs in armed conflict/complex emergency settings and lead/facilitate a consultative workshop with the aim to delineate the scope of the planned guidance document. This work will include preparatory contacts and consultations with key stakeholders, revision of relevant peer-reviewed literature, humanitarian operations reviews, lessons learnt reports, and preparation of required background documentation, as well as a report of the discussions.
Deliverable 1.2: Prepare a draft guidance document to be shared for consultation.
Deliverable 1.3: Lead the consultation process with all key stakeholders. This may include face-to-face visits to WHO and partners for specific meetings and follow up discussions, online communication over email or other means including online surveys. This process may also require the preparation of presentations on key issues and updates to WHO senior management and the EMT Strategic Advisory Group as well as the EMT Regional Groups.
Deliverable 1.4: Consolidate all comments and contributions received to the draft guidance document and prepare a final document for review and endorsement.
Qualifications Required:
Essential: Advanced university degree (Masters level or above) in a related health or humanitarian discipline, social sciences, and proven experience in research and writing of publications in a related field. Emergency field courses in deployment of health assistance in emergency settings (e.g. EMT deployment, complex emergencies, health management, rapid assessment and response or emergency coordination training or equivalent courses from a recognized MoH or NGO/international organization etc).
Desirable: PhD in a relevant field, additional qualifications and experience in complex emergencies, mediation, research, teaching/training and/or facilitation.
Experience Required:
Essential: At least 15 years of senior experience within the humanitarian sector including in armed conflict/complex emergency settings, within the field of emergency health response or health operations management. Excellent knowledge of the Emergency Medical Teams (EMT) initiative. Excellent writing skills and senior experience in high level stakeholder engagement. Experience in program management, including concept development, coordination, document review, editing, reporting and implementation. Work experience in multi-stakeholder environments and working across multi-functional and dynamic teams. Demonstrated ability to produce high-quality written reports in English including published and/or scientific articles that can be referenced and provided as evidence to the selection panel.
Desirable: Experience in emergency preparedness and response. Previous experience in developing, reviewing and editing core reference documents. First-hand experience with an EMT organisation/ rapid response field hospital provider.
Language Requirements:
Essential: Expert knowledge of English and at least intermediate Arabic
Desirable: Knowledge of other UN languages an asset.
Skills and Competencies:
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work with professionals from a multitude of backgrounds
- Excellent analytical and research skills with the ability to focus on key issues without getting lost in detail
- Excellent skills in writing, editing, formatting in order to produce quality and user-friendly products of publishable standard
- Strong skills in negotiation, and excellent verbal and non-verbal communication skills
- Excellent ability to plan and organise tasks related to multiple projects and personnel with attention to detail
- Ability to network and develop effective working relationships with a range of stakeholders and partners
- Good project management skills with experience in leading a project from inception to delivery, including the ability to identify, pre-empt and manage programme challenges
- Excellent Microsoft word, excel and power point skills as well as skills in designing online surveys
Place of assignment
While the incumbent may be based in his/her recognized country of residence during the consultancy period, s/he will be requested to travel to Geneva on several occasions throughout the consultancy, including for periods that may be more than a week, and on an as needed basis.
Medical Clearance
The selected Consultant will be expected to provide a medical certificate of fitness for work.
Travel
The Consultant is expected to travel, including for taking up assignment, according to the itinerary and estimated schedule below:
- It is roughly expected that 5-6 travels to Geneva will be required. Please note that consultants are not entitled to office space on WHO premises.
How to apply:
Interested applicants may send their cover letter and CV to emteams@who.int on or before 26 September 2018 (23h:59 Geneva time)