International Consultant - Emergency Medical Teams (EMT) Logistics

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Purpose of consultancy
The purpose of this eleven-month consultancy is to provide logistics support to the Emergency Medical Teams (EMT) initiative in the Western Pacific Region (WPR).

Background

Over eight years, WHO/WPRO has invested in building Emergency Medical Team (EMT) capacity across the Pacific Island Countries and Areas (PICs). That investment has produced results: national EMTs with trained rosters, equipment, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and activation mechanisms now exist in countries that had none a decade ago. Pacific EMTs deploy routinely for emergencies and mass gatherings. Progress across the region is real but uneven. Three opportunities define the current moment. First, sustainability: guidance and support to transition EMT functions from donor-funded projects into national budgets and plans. Several PICs are reviewing public health legislation presenting a rare window to write emergency functions into law. Second, quality assurance: international EMT classification has, and the global framework for national EMT validation is under development. Third, interoperability: information management, logistics systems, and civil-military coordination require further development across the region.
The mission of WHO Health Emergencies (WHE) is to build the capacity of Member States to manage emergency risks and, when national capacities are overwhelmed, to lead and coordinate the international health response to provide effective relief and recovery to affected populations. In the Western Pacific Region, WHO/WPRO hosts the regional EMT Secretariat, manages the EMT classification system, and convenes the Regional EMT Working Group. WHO connects Pacific EMTs to the global EMT network, including the emerging national validation framework that will define quality standards for the next decade.
This consultancy supports the implementation of the WHO/WPRO Pacific EMT Program 2026–2028. The program shifts support from direct operational delivery toward national ownership, quality assurance, and technical stewardship. The consultant will provide remote and on-site logistics support across the Pacific EMT portfolio, with a particular focus on logistics training, cache management, institutionalization of supply planning, and coordination systems, contributing to program targets across the full 2026–2028 period. The consultant will provide technical expertise for broader regional and global initiatives and remain available to support the EMT initiative during emergency response.

Deliverables

The consultant will support the following outputs in support of Pacific EMT development:

Output 1: GEDSI-aligned Pacific EMT Logistics Training and Development

Deliverable 1: Update operations support, logistics and water/sanitation/hygiene (WASH) components of the Western Pacific Region EMT member training package factoring in Gender Equality, Disability, and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) and integration of EMTs into national emergency response systems. Update and strengthen training and guidance materials on EMT logistics, WASH and equipment maintenance for EMTs, including tailored training materials, activities and exercises to fit country contexts. Update and expand training activity guides and associated reference materials. Facilitate in-person and remote EMT technical support including logistics training with at least 8 EMTs before the end of the consultancy.

Deliverable 2: GEDSI-aligned EMT inventory management and readiness. Support EMTs to integrate warehousing requirements into national and regional warehousing and supply chain management projects where relevant. Support at least 12 EMTs to undertake and complete quarterly warehousing/storage readiness assessments and address critical cache or warehousing deficiencies, including EMT inventory management and deployment readiness. Ensure that quarterly assessments are being consistently done by supported EMTs by the end of this consultancy. Develop equipment maintenance schedules/plans with at least 12 national EMT counterparts and ensure that they are being consistently used by EMTs by the end of this consultancy.

Deliverable 3: Contribute to regional and/or global EMT activities including EMT verification visits during the consultancy period. Contribute to planning for EMT verification exercises in the Region and participate as EMT logistics focal point. Maintain a GEDSI lens through which any technical assistance and EMT verification is conducted.

Output 2: Integrate EMT logistics operations into emergency operations

Deliverable 4: Contribute to the development and updating of GEDSI-aligned EMT Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and associated reference materials, with a focus on integration of EMT logistics into national emergency operations, national logistics training and functions, cache warehousing and maintenance planning with at least 12 EMTs before the end of the consultancy.

Deliverable 5: Provide remote and on-site logistics support to at least 12 EMTs, particularly in integration of EMT logistics and supply chain into national annual budgets, workplans and, where relevant, the National Action Plan for Health Security and other key planning documents. Facilitate sustainable cache planning and replenishment, warehousing, and inventory management during this consultancy.

Deliverable 6: Facilitate the procurement of GEDSI-aligned cache for EMTs in the Western Pacific Region, including supplemental or replacement items. In consultation with EMTs and relevant experts, identify priority items for EMT cache procurement and provide technical specifications and minimum requirements in accordance with global EMT standards in support of WHO procurement team members.

Output 3: Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting on EMT initiative

Deliverable 7: Update relevant indicators in M&E plans, track progress of EMTs in the field of logistics, and support knowledge management and sharing of EMT challenges and solutions for the wider EMT and emergency operations audience. Provide regular reports on key achievements and ongoing needs related to logistics support provided in line with the EMT initiative in Region. Produce high quality documents and reports on achievements and findings, along with proposed solutions to priority issues. Contribute to internal and external reporting on the EMT initiative in the Region. Ensure all data tracking and reporting incorporates GEDSI concepts.

Output 4: Emergency Response and additional duties as required

Deliverable 8: In the event of an EMT activation, the consultant may support the establishment and operations of an Emergency Medical Team Coordination Cell (EMTCC) within national emergency response structures in the affected country.

Deliverable 9: Provide technical assistance in Operational Support and Logistics including facilitating contracts, procurement, warehousing, emergency operations as aligned with WHO’s Emergency Response Framework. Provide technical assistance for the development, improvement and sustainability of Public Health Emergency Operations Centres in PICs.

Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Education

Essential: A first degree (bachelor’s level) in international relations, humanitarian logistics or a closely related field.

Desirable: Specialised training/certification in national/international health emergency response, health emergency logistics, emergency water/sanitation or a related field is desirable.

Work Experience

Essential: At least 5 years relevant professional experience at national and international level with a focus on health emergency logistics, and experience developing and/or deploying as part of an EMT in a logistics leadership role. Candidates must have demonstrated experience in developing and delivering training for health emergency response, including training for Emergency Medical Teams.

Desirable: Experience or good understanding of the IASC/UN emergency response system, WHO, ICRC, IFRC, MSF or national emergency response systems. Experience working in national health or emergency management systems. Experience in strengthening and/or developing national and international rapid response teams. Experience in training and/or mentoring formal Emergency Medical Teams in the Western Pacific is highly desirable.

Technical Skills and Knowledge

• Excellent communication skills and proven writing skills in English.
• Capacity to collaborate and coordinate across multiple agencies and countries.
• Ability to work in multi-cultural and multi-disciplinary environments, and with a wide range of stakeholders.
• Strong organizational skills, including managing shared calendars, file management, version control and project management.
• Strong data management skills, including expertise in Microsoft Excel and similar programmes.
• Strong presentation and public speaking skills.

Language:

Excellent written and spoken communication skills in English.

Location

The consultant will be working remotely with some terms of reference, around 40-50%, to be accomplished on site in relevant duty stations in the Western Pacific Region.

Travel

The Consultant may be based in Manila, Philippines; Suva, Fiji or within the Western Pacific Region and is expected to travel according to the itinerary and estimated schedule below:

1 July 2026- 30 May 2027 - Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Federated States of Micronesia, Republic of the Marshall Islands, New Zealand, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Vanuatu, and others based on programmatic need.

Purpose: To deliver training workshops; to provide on-site mentoring support to EMTs; and to participate in meetings, workshops, simulation and verification exercises.

All travel arrangements will be made by WHO – WHO will not be responsible for tickets purchased by the Consultant without the express, prior authorization of WHO. While on mission under the terms of this consultancy, the Consultant will receive a subsistence allowance.

Remuneration and budget (travel costs are excluded)

• Monthly salary of 7,500 USD per month (Payband B)
• Expected duration of contract: 11 months

Additional Information:

• This vacancy notice may be used to identify candidates for other similar consultancies at the same level.
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