World Health Organisation Tender

Background The Western Pacific Region Has One Of The Largest And Fastest-growing Ageing Populations In The World, With Over 240 Million Older People; This Number Is Growing, Particularly In Low- And Middle-income Countries. This Growth Is (in Part) Due To Increasing Life Expectancy And Decreasing Fertility Rates, With All Countries Across The Region Expected To Experience Ageing Over The Next Decade. While Longer Lives Bring Additional Opportunities To Both Individuals And Communities In The Western Pacific Region, Ensuring That Ageing Populations Are Living These Extra Years With Health And Well-being Is Increasingly Important. Evidence From 2016 Suggests That Healthy Life Expectancy In The Region Is Eight Years Shorter Than Life Expectancy. This Means That Although People Are Living Longer, They Are Not Necessarily Doing So In Good Health. As They Age, Older Adults May Live With Increased Comorbidities, Often Related To Noncommunicable Diseases And Mental Illnesses, Which Contribute To Their Risk Of Frailty, Disability And Death. Furthermore, Older Adults May Experience Other Inequities Such As Poverty, Ageism, Or Lack Of Secure Housing With Increased Urbanization. Since The Beginning Of The Covid-19 Pandemic, Countries Around The Region Have Taken Noteworthy Action To Protect Its Ageing Populations From Contracting And Spreading The Virus. For Instance, Many Leaders Have Put Public Health And Social Measures In Place, Such As Lock Downs, The Banning Of Large Gatherings, School Closures, Travel Restrictions, And Masking Requirements. More Recently, Covid-19 Vaccination Campaigns Have Been Rolled Out And Many Countries Have Prioritized Vaccine Uptake Among Older Adults. As A Result Of These Efforts, A Significant Number Of Countries Are Experiencing Decreases In Covid-19 Incidence And Hospitalization, As Well As In Mortality Rates Among Older Adults. Despite Efforts At The National Level, Data From Around The World Indicate That There Are Still Groups Of Older Adults Within Countries That Continue To Be At Increased Risk Of Contracting The Virus, Mortality As A Result Of Contracting The Virus, And Also Suffering From The Social And Economic Impacts Of The Pandemic.for Instance, Older Adults Living In Vulnerable Situations[i] Across The Globe Have A Higher Risk Of Infection And Mortality Due To Fewer Opportunities To Protect Themselves From The Virus, As Well As Increased Barriers To Seek Or Receive Care[ii]. Moreover, The Digital Divide, Which Has Been Exacerbated By Pandemic Response Measures, Is Largely Affecting Access To Information, Care, And Social Connection For Older Adults With Low Digital Literacy. What’s More, Due To Ageing Populations’ Existing Vulnerability To Financial Instability And Economic Exclusion, Older Persons Are At An Increased Risk Of Experiencing A Greater Burden Of The Economic Impacts Of Covid-19 And Joining The Category Of “new Poor.[iii]” To Support Who Member States And Who Country Offices In Developing Specific Strategies To Effectively Identify And Reach Older Adults Living In Vulnerable Situations –in The Context Of Covid-19 And Beyond – Sdh/vip Is Developing A Position Paper. The Purpose Of This Position Paper, Which Will Build On The Technical Brief Transforming Societies For Healthy Ageing: Using A Sdh And Life Course Approach, Is To Advocate For National And Local Health Authorities To Strategically Consider And Target Groups Of Older Adults Living In Vulnerable Situations Using Specific And Context-based Strategies. Specifically, The Position Paper Will Identify Groups Of Older Adults That Are Disproportionately Affected By Poor Health And Well-being In The Western Pacific Region, Both In The Context Of Covid-19 And Beyond, And Will Discuss Barriers To Health And Well-being Affecting These Groups. Lastly, The Position Paper Will Provide Practical Recommendations For Member States On How To Reach And Engage Older Adults Living In Vulnerable Situations In An Effort To Increase Health Equity.   Purpose/specific Objective Of The Activity To This End, Wpro Is Seeking A Consultant To The Support In The Development Of A Technical Brief On Ageing Unequally In The Western Pacific Region.   Work To Be Performed • Conduct A Virtual Scoping Review Of Both Quantitative And Qualitative Information And Data To Identify And Describe The Characteristics And Situation Of Older Adults Who Are Disproportionately Affected By Poor Health In The Western Pacific Region, Discuss Barriers To Health Affecting These Groups, And Provide Practical Recommendations For Member States; • Based On Findings, Develop A Position Paper On “ageing Unequally In The Western Pacific Region”; • Participate In Weekly Meetings With Sdh/vip Team To Provide Project Updates. Method(s) To Carry Out The Activity: Output 1: Slide Deck Presenting Proposed Work Plan With An Accompanying Timeline; Structure And Outline Of Position Paper. Deliverable 1.1 • Develop A Slide Deck With Proposed Work Plan With An Accompanying Timeline; Structure And Outline Of Position Paper. • Present Slide-deck To Who Sdh/vip Team For Their Feedback. Output 1: Position Paper On “ageing Unequally In The Western Pacific Region”. Deliverable 1.1 • Upon Approval Of The Proposed Work Plan, Timeline, Structure And Outline Of Position Paper, Conduct A Virtual Scoping Review Of Both Quantitative And Qualitative Information And Data To Develop The Position Paper; • Based On Findings, Develop And Submit A Draft Of The Position Paper To The Regional Who Sdh/vip And The Healthy Ageing Team For Their Input And Feedback; • Based On Input And Feedback On Draft Paper, Revise And Finalize The Position Paper; Output 3: Slide-deck Presenting Findings Of The Position Paper On “ageing Unequally In The Western Pacific Region,” With Accompanying Speaking Notes. Deliverable 3.1 • Develop Set Of Slides, With Accompanying Speaking Notes, Based On Findings To Present To Stakeholders. Kindly Refer To The Attached Terms Of Reference (pp 2-3) For The Detailed, Expected Outputs/deliverables For This Project. Planned Project Timeline Contract Start Date: 1 Oct 2021 Contract End Date: 30 Nov 2021 (2 Months)   Qualifications And Experience Education Candidates Must Possess At Least A Master’s Degree In Public Health, Or A Master’s Degree In A Related Field Such As Social Work. Additional Education Is An Asset. Experience • At Least Two Years Of Practical Experience Working In Public Health, Particularly In The Field Of Healthy Ageing, Gender, Sdh/vip, Health Equity, And/or Community Engagement. • Ample Experience Collecting And Analysing Qualitative And Quantitative Data And Evidence, Summarizing Results Into A Report. • Experience Working In Multicultural And Multidisciplinary Settings, Preferably Within The United Nations System. Skills / Technical Skills And Knowledge A Thorough Knowledge Of Practical Approaches To Promote Gender Equality, Sdh/vip And Health Equity, As Well As Community Engagement Strategies To Reach And Engage Older Adults. Familiar With The Topics Of Healthy Ageing, Gender, Sdh/vip And Health Equity Related Issues, Preferably Within The Western Pacific Region. Excellent Writing And Communication Skills. Familiarity With The Goals And Procedures Of International Organizations (un System, Donors, Nongovernmental Organizations). Language Requirements Good Spoken And Written English. Competencies • Producing Results - Produces And Delivers Quality Results. Is Action-oriented And Committed To Achieving Results. • Moving Forward In A Changing Environment - Is Open To And Proposes New Approaches And Ideas. Adapts And Responds Positively To Change. • Fostering Integration And Teamwork - Develops And Promotes Effective Relationships With Colleagues And Team Members. Deals Constructively With Conflict. Functional Skills And Knowledge • Ability To Collect And Analyse Quantitative And Qualitative Data And Evidence. • Ability To Present And Describe Findings And Summarize Results In Written Reports And Presentations. • Ability To Work Independently And Deliver High Quality Work On Time. • Computer Proficiency In Outlook, Ms Word, Excel And Powerpoint .   Additional Information: Place Of Assignment The Consultant Will Undertake The Work In Their Own Workplace/country Of Residence, But Is Expected To Regularly Communicate With Regional Who Ger Team And Healthy Ageing Team (by Video Conference/teleconference Or Similar).   Applications Qualified And Interested Specialists (individual Contractor) Should Submit Their Cv And Cover Letter With Proposed Cost And Timeline To The Supply Officer Through Wp Ro Ungm At < Wproungm@who.int > By 24 September 2021 (1700 Gmt+8 Manila Time) Please Use Tender Notice No. 144693 As Subject To All Submission. Only Successful Candidates Will Be Contacted.   [i] Persons Living In Vulnerable Situations Include, But Is Not Limited To: People Experiencing Homelessness; People Living In Overcrowdeousing, Collective Sites And Slums; Migrant Workers; Refugees; People With Disabilities; People Living In Closed Facilities; People Living In Remote Locations; And People Living In Poverty And Extreme Poverty. [ii] World Health Organization. Actions For Consideration In The Care And Protection Of Vulnerable Population Groups For Covid-19. (2020). Https://www.who.int/westernpacific/internal-publications-detail/wpr-dse-2020-021-eng [iii] Https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/34496 3 Https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-09-29/covid-19-creates-new-poor-in-east-asia-and-pacific-world-bank