National Short-term Consultant in Air Pollution

Call for Expressions of Interest

#051 - Job Title: A national Short-term Consultant to provide consulting service in strengthening local capacity in assessment and monitoring health impacts from air pollution; updating, finalizing and disseminating guidelines on health impacts from air pollution

1. Background:

Air pollutants are substances that exist in the air environment and have negative effects to human health and may be harmful to the environment and property. In Viet Nam, air pollution is one of the top five causes of disease burden and premature death, second only to hypertension, smoking, diabetes and the risk associated with nutritional factors. According to estimates of the Global Burden of Disease, Viet Nam has about 71.7 thousand premature deaths due to air pollution in general, of which there are about 37.5 thousand deaths premature death due to ambient PM2.5 dust pollution.

Declining air quality increases people's health risks. Therefore, in order to protect public health against air pollution episodes, it is necessary to assess the health impacts of air pollution, first of all, to strengthen the capacity of health workers, strengthen the propaganda and dissemination of instructions and warnings on measures to protect health against the impacts of air pollution

In 2021, the Viet Nam Health Environment Management Agency (VIHEMA) cooperated with WHO to develop guidelines to protect public health against the impact of air pollution. Due to Covid-19 and the lack of funding from WHO caused by the late approval of WHO PD 2022-2023, the draft guideline has not been finalized yet. In 2022, VIHEMA continued working with LIVE & LEARN, with the support of USAID, to develop a Guide to Air Pollution Assessment of Health Risks. Also in 2022, UNICEF and VIHEMA jointly developed a guidance on prevention of air pollution effects on maternal and child health.

In 2023, with the request from MoH leaders to raise public awareness on health impacts from air pollution (for public health, not just for maternal and child health), VIHEMA’s proposal for conducting the activity entitled "Strengthening local capacity in assessment and monitoring health impacts from air pollution (back-casting); updating, finalizing and disseminating guidelines on health impacts from air pollution" was approved by WHO Viet Nam to put into implementation. WHO is also supporting other related areas of work in relation to air pollution and its health impacts.

As part of its technical assistance to VIHEMA, WHO is recruiting 01 national expert to provide technical support to VIHEMA in conducting the above activity and linking with WHO’s other related areas of support.

2. Planned timelines:

Start date:      25 September 2023 (subject to confirmation)

End date:        31 December 2023

Number of working days as a consultant: 21 non-consecutive days

3. Work to be performed

Purpose of the consultancy

To provide consulting service in strengthening local capacity in assessment and monitoring health impacts from air pollution; updating, finalizing and disseminating guidelines on health impacts from air pollution

Method(s) to carry out the activity:

• In general, a selected national consultant in health impacts from air pollution will carry out his or her work based on this ToR, including linkage to other related areas of WHO support on the health impacts of air pollution.
• The selected national consultant will work closely with WHO Technical Officer in Environmental Health and VIHEMA focal points to conduct his or her work.The National Consultant’s task and responsibilities will include the following:   

Outputs

Output 1: The existing draft Guidelines on Health Impacts from Air Pollution to be reviewed, updated and revised.

• Deliverable: Guidelines on Health Impacts from Air Pollution to be finalized and submitted

Output 2:  Training materials and documents on assessment and monitoring health impacts from air pollution to be developed for local healthcare professionals/workers at CDCs, DoHs and hospitals based on the guideline.

• Deliverable: Training materials and power-point presentation to be submitted

Output 3:  Training workshop for disseminating the finalized guideline and strengthening local capacity of healthcare professionals/workers at local CDCs, DoHs and hospitals to be organized.

• Deliverable: Training workshop presentations on the guideline and the topic of health impacts from air pollution, workshop report to be submitted.
• Deliverable: Development of monitoring and evaluation component to assess the impact of training

4. Specific requirements

Educational Qualifications required:

At least Master's degree in public health, environmental health, environmental science or other relevant areas from a public health/medical recognized university.

Experience required:

• The consultant shall (a) have at least 7 years of experience in dealing with health impacts from air pollution, public health and environmental health issues
• Experience in conducting projects in air pollution, developing guidelines on air pollution and training on air pollution aspects

Skills / Technical skills and knowledge:

• Knowledge on air quality and health impact aspects in Viet Nam 
• Experience and skills in conducting assessment of health impacts from air pollution, developing training materials for capacity building and plan for reduction of health impacts from air pollution
• Working experience at community level
• Training and communication skills.
• Teamwork spirit, coordinating skills are needed for this post.

Language requirements:

Excellent in writing and speaking English. Fluency in Vietnamese as a mother tongue

5. Place of assignment

The selected Consultant is expected to work at his/her own places in Hanoi.

6. Medical clearance

The selected Consultant will be expected to provide a medical certificate of fitness for work.

7. Travel

The Consultant is not expected to travel according to the ToR.

8. Budget

Please take note of the following when submitting application:

- The contractor will be responsible for paying taxes, if any.

Application letters and updated CVs in English should be received on/or before 19 September 2023 and should be addressed to:

Administrative Officer

World Health Organization

UN Building, 304 Kim Ma Street,

Hanoi, Viet Nam

OR

[email protected]

For further information on this Call for Expressions of Interest, please contact: [email protected]

Schedule of work