Indirizzo..
Purpose of consultancy
The consultant will support the Implementation of Palau National Policy on Care for the Aging and the Regional Action Plan on Healthy Ageing in the Western Pacific, focusing on understanding the needs of older people in Palau and supporting the Palau government with designing and initiating healthy ageing strategy and programmes, recovery from COVID-19 pandemic. This consultancy will be based in Koror, Palau.
Background
Over 240 million older adults (aged 65 and above) live in the Western Pacific Region (WPR). By 2050, this number is projected to double. People are living longer while fertility rate is declining. Opportunity for population ageing can be seized with early preparations. As part of this effort, WHO WPR Member States adopted the Regional Action Plan (RAP) on Healthy Ageing in 2020. The plan adopts a comprehensive, lifelong approach that prioritizes equity and utilizes existing resources. Its goal is to have "healthier older adults in the Western Pacific Region thriving and contributing in society". The RAP encompasses five objectives: promoting social engagement, supporting healthy aging, conducting research, monitoring, and evaluation. It emphasizes early preparedness for countries with a low percentage of older adults and a multi-sectoral approach for those with a high percentage. The plan provides actionable recommendations for each objective.
Older people are often more vulnerable to new infectious diseases based on past outbreaks such as 2009 H1N1 influenza, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), etc. Many older people experienced a worse prognosis when infected with COVID-19 and the case fatality rate for people over 80 years of age is over 4.4% in Australia, Japan and the Republic of Korea, while the rate for those under 80 is less than 0.2% [1,2,3]. Long-lasting public health and social measures also impacted some older people’s, especially those who has difficulty connecting online mental health. Emerging research shows worsened social isolation and loneliness among older people. The COVID-19 pandemic has given rise to interest in health at individual and community levels and a growing awareness of the need to better support older people. Different sectors need to work together to improve health and livelihoods so in preparation for the post-COVID-19 pandemic, new normal.
The Healthy Ageing unit (AGE) at WHO WPR Office is hiring a consultant to support the Palau Ministry of Health and Human Services with implementing the Palau National Policy on Care for the Aging and the Regional Action Plan on Healthy Ageing in the Western Pacific. The selected consultant will work closely with the Ministry and relevant stakeholders, including older people, in Palau.
Deliverables
The consultant is expected to work on literature review, stakeholder engagement, meeting preparations, and report writing. Specifically, the consultant is assigned to:
Output 1: Support Palau Ministry of Health and Human Service and the AGE with implementing the Palau National Policy on Care for the Aging and the Regional Action Plan on Healthy Ageing in the Western Pacific.
Deliverable 1.1 – Support organizing Coordinating Committee on Care for the Aging meetings and prepared, agenda, invitations, meeting minutes, and other written and verbal communication for each meeting; (to be completed August 2024)
Deliverable 1.2 – Support coordinating Committee on Care for the Aging members with developing a strategy and/or action plan, one document, for Implementation of the national policy including arranging consultations with multiple sectors and stakeholders at national, state and community levels; (to be completed August 2024)
Deliverable 1.3 – Assist with coordinating Committee on Care for the Aging and Division of Human Services with designing health and social programmes by supporting Implementation of pilot programmes and producing reports on challenges and opportunities identified during piloting; (to be completed September 2024)
Deliverable 1.4 – Support the Division of Human Services with piloting of the transitional facility/centre and with writing an operationalization plan for the transitional facility/center; (to be completed August 2024)
Deliverable 1.5 – Any other work requested by Division of Human Services for healthy ageing initiatives (to be completed September 2024)
Output 2: Support Palau Ministry of Health and Human Service and the AGE with aligning healthy ageing initiatives with the work of other international agencies.
Deliverable 2.1 – Support coordination of workplan, under Ministry of Health and Human Services’ guidance, among different international agencies (including ADB, PIHOA, CDC, JICA, etc.) assisting with NCD prevention and healthy ageing work; Provide written and verbal communication to facilitate this. (to be completed September 2024)
Deliverable 2.2 – Final report and presentation slides to be submitted summarizing the work during contract duration and next steps for healthy ageing work based on discussion with the Ministry. (to be completed September 2024)
Qualifications, experience, skills and languages
Educational Qualifications:
Essential: College/university degree in public health, medicine, nursing or social sciences
Desirable: Advanced university degree (Master’s / PhD) in public health, medicine, nursing or social sciences
Experience
Essential: At least 3 years of work experience in the public sector, public health and/or community development.
Desirable: International experience within WHO or other UN Organizations at multiple geographical locations; demonstrated experience in evidence generation and knowledge sharing for public health (e.g. academic articles, presentation at international conferences, field projects); experience in producing technical reports, frameworks, action plans at WHO or other UN organizations.
Skills/Knowledge:
• Outstanding ability to understand and support healthy ageing work in Palau
• Demonstrated project management skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Good knowledge of the dynamics of the international public health work
• Ability to plan, design and implement a systematic approach to problem solving
• Ability to work harmoniously as a member of the team, adapt to diverse cultural and educational backgrounds and maintain a high standard of personal conduct
Language
Essential: English (Read - Write - Speak / Expert-level)
Desirable: Palauan (Read - Write - Speak / Expert-level)
Location
• The Consultant will be offered an on-site contract and will be working remotely in Palau.
• The Consultant is expected to participate in teleconference meetings and provide frequent updates on work progress to the team.
Travel
The Consultant is expected to undertake travel/s (mission/s) as part of this assignment.
Travel dates: 18 March 2024 - 17 September 2024
Location: Koror, Palau
Purpose: Onsite consultancy contract
Remuneration and budget
Remuneration: Payband level A - USD 4,000
Expected duration of contract: 6 months, 18 March 2024 to 17 September 2024 (full-time work; onsite)
Additional Information
• This vacancy notice may be used to identify candidates for other similar consultancies at the same level.
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• A written test may be used as a form of screening.
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