National Consultant - Public Health Intelligence (PHI)– Roster

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1. Area of expertise : National Consultant - Public Health Intelligence (PHI)– Roster

2. Purpose of consultancy

The purpose of this national consultant roster is to provide technical implementation, and surge support under WHO technical guidance for the implementation and strengthening of Public Health Intelligence (PHI) capacities in Member States of the Eastern Mediterranean Region. Consultants selected from the roster will provide technical support to PHI training, workshops, mentoring, and capacity-building activities; contribute to EIOS and other epidemic intelligence and event-based surveillance initiatives; provide technical assistance for the application of artificial intelligence and other innovative approaches to PHI; and support the development, adaptation, implementation, assessment, evaluation, and operationalization of PHI tools, guidance, frameworks, and systems at country and regional levels.

3. Background

Public Health Intelligence (PHI) is a core function of emergency preparedness, readiness, and response. WHO EMRO has been supporting Member States to strengthen PHI capacities through the implementation of Event-Based Surveillance (EBS), Indicator-Based Surveillance (IBS), Epidemic Intelligence from Open Sources (EIOS), rapid risk assessment methodologies, electronic Public Health Emergency Management (ePHEM) platforms, and other intelligence and surveillance initiatives.

Several countries across the Region have initiated PHI implementation activities, while additional countries continue to express interest in strengthening their epidemic intelligence and collaborative surveillance capacities. WHO EMRO is also supporting the establishment of regional networks and communities of practice to facilitate technical exchange, capacity building, knowledge sharing, and the dissemination of best practices.

To sustain these efforts and respond to increasing technical support needs, WHO EMRO seeks to establish a national consultant roster. The roster will enable timely deployment of qualified consultants to support the implementation and strengthening of PHI capacities, delivery of training and mentoring, EIOS and event-based surveillance activities, innovation and AI-related PHI work. It also provide technical assistance for the development and implementation of tools and frameworks, assessments and evaluations, the operationalization of country and regional PHI systems, and surge support during public health emergencies when additional PHI expertise is required.

4. Deliverables

Output 1: Provide technical support to the implementation and strengthening of PHI capacities in Member States

Deliverable 1.1: Provide technical support to PHI capacity assessment activities, gap analyses, stakeholder consultations, and country or regional implementation planning, and support the preparation of assessment reports, implementation plans, and technical recommendations.

Deliverable 1.2: Provide technical support for the implementation and strengthening of epidemic intelligence, event-based surveillance, EIOS, signal detection, verification, risk assessment inputs, documentation, and event management functions.

Deliverable 1.3: Support in the assessments, evaluations, operationalization, monitoring, and documentation of PHI systems at country and regional levels, including lessons learned, good practices, implementation progress, and recommendations.

Output 2: Provide technical support to the development, adaptation, and implementation of PHI tools, guidance, frameworks, and innovative approaches

Deliverable 2.1: Provide technical support to the development, adaptation, testing, implementation, and documentation of PHI tools, guidance, frameworks, standard operating procedures, templates, dashboards, reporting mechanisms, and user-support materials.

Deliverable 2.2: Provide technical assistance for the application of artificial intelligence and other innovative approaches to PHI, including practical use cases, implementation examples, validation support, and documentation.

Deliverable 2.3: Prepare or assist in the development of epidemic intelligence products, PHI analytical outputs, rapid risk assessment inputs, technical briefs, situation analyses, and other information products required for preparedness, readiness, and response.

Output 3: Provide technical support to PHI training, workshops, mentoring, capacity building, coordination, and surge support

Deliverable 3.1: Support in the development, update, and delivery of PHI training materials, learning resources, presentations, mentoring packages, workshop materials, and other capacity-building products.

Deliverable 3.2: Support in the planning, facilitation, mentoring, and documentation of PHI workshops, trainings, webinars, simulation exercises, technical meetings, communities of practice, and knowledge-sharing activities.

Deliverable 3.3: Provide technical support to the coordination, programme monitoring, progress reporting, and surge technical support during public health emergencies when additional PHI expertise is required, including preparation of workplans, concept notes, mission or activity reports, and end-of-assignment reports.

5. Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

- Qualifications required:

· First university degree in Health Science, Public Health, Epidemiology, or related field.

· Desirable: Advanced university degree (Master or higher) in Public Health, Epidemiology, or related field.

- Experience required:

· At least 2 years of relevant professional experience in public health, epidemiology, disease surveillance, epidemic intelligence, event-based surveillance, PHI implementation, or related areas.

· Demonstrated experience in supporting implementation, strengthening, assessment, evaluation, or operationalization of surveillance or PHI systems at national or subnational levels.

· Desirable: Experience with EIOS, event-based surveillance, PHI tools or frameworks, training and mentoring, digital health solutions, artificial intelligence or innovation in PHI, or emergency response support.

- Skills / Technical skills and knowledge:

· Strong knowledge of PHI, epidemic intelligence, event-based surveillance, EIOS, rapid risk assessment, disease surveillance frameworks, and WHO approaches for public health emergencies.

· Ability to support development, adaptation, implementation, testing, and documentation of PHI tools, guidance, frameworks, dashboards, analytical products, and innovative approaches, including AI-related applications where relevant.

· Strong technical writing, facilitation, mentoring, coordination, and stakeholder engagement skills, including preparation of reports, guidance documents, workplans, concept notes, and training materials.

· Ability to translate surveillance and PHI information into actionable products and to provide surge technical support during public health emergencies when required.

- Language requirements:

· Proficiency in English (Read - Write - Speak: Expert level) is required for effective communication, report writing, and training delivery.

· Proficiency in Arabic (Read - Write - Speak: Intermediate or higher) is desirable due to the potential regional application of EWARN systems in humanitarian settings.

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