DirecciónPurpose of the consultancy
The general purpose of this consultancy is to support the Health Law and Ethics (HLE) unit to engage parliamentarians and other partners to strengthen legal and ethics frameworks for health in the Western Pacific Region. Specifically, the Consultant will support HLE in managing the Asia-Pacific Parliamentarian Forum on Global Health, including reporting on activities, preparing technical materials, liaising with participants and partners, and planning meetings.
Background
Legal frameworks, underpinned by sound ethical foundations, are essential for advancing universal health coverage and achieving health in the Sustainable Development Goals. The Western Pacific Regional Action Agenda on Strengthening Legal Frameworks for Health in the Sustainable Development Goals was endorsed by Member States at the 69th session of the Regional Committee Meeting for the Western Pacific in October 2018. The action agenda provides guidance to WHO and countries on prioritising action areas, improving processes, and enhancing capacities of stakeholders. The latter is a key priority for HLE, which engages partners and stakeholders within the health sector and beyond to support and build capacities to advance legal frameworks for health and achieve broader health priorities.
Parliamentarians, through their core functions of law-making, budgeting, and oversight, as well as their mandates to represent constituencies, foster multisectoral action, and engage in international partnerships, can play a critical role in advancing health. For these reasons, engaging with political leaders is a key strategy to address the region’s future health challenges, as articulated in WPRO’s For the Future vision.
The Asia-Pacific Parliamentarian Forum on Global Health (APPFGH) is a platform for parliamentarians to exchange ideas, build political will, strengthen capacities, and foster collaboration in driving sustainable action for health. The APPFGH aims to empower parliamentarians in shaping global health mandates to reflect regional and domestic priorities, and in ensuring national implementation of international health commitments. Participation in the APPFGH is open to the 30 countries comprising the Member States of the WHO Western Pacific Region and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Each country is represented by a parliamentary body designated for APPFGH engagement or a standing health committee.
The Forum has met in-person on six occasions, in the Republic of Korea, Japan, the Philippines, and Fiji. Meetings have addressed key priorities in global health, achieving high-level political commitment to action in areas such as global health security, Universal Health Coverage, noncommunicable diseases and healthy ageing, climate change and health, and health security. The seventh meeting will be held in 2023 in Mongolia on the theme of Primary Health Care.
HLE supports capacity building among Member States and other partners through a range of internal and external fora and support mechanisms. These include the Asia Pacific Network of National Ethics/Bioethics Committees, a platform to discuss priority issues in health ethics and promote partnerships for strengthening ethics capacities.
Deliverables
Output 1: To support WHO in its initial planning of the seventh meeting of the APPFGH
Deliverable 1.1: Develop a coordination structure, including the establishment of Secretariat Committee and Technical Working Group.
Deliverable 1.2: Support internal planning and briefing.
Deliverable 1.3: Support coordination and planning with the host institutions, APPFGH leadership and CO, including WPRO’s missions to the host country for introductory meetings and logistical arrangements.
Deliverable 1.4: Develop a detailed work plan including a timeline and responsible persons.
Output 2: To support WHO in preparing and implementing the seventh meeting of the APPFGH
Deliverable 2.1: Develop the concept note, programme, and other materials for the seventh meeting of the APPFGH Deliverable.
Deliverable 2.2: Support logistical arrangement and preparation, including budgeting and contracting professional conference organiser and forum venue.
Deliverable 2.3: Liaise and support coordination with APPFGH stakeholders in preparation for the seventh meeting of the APPFGH, including weekly Secretariat Committee meetings, monthly Technical Working Group meetings, and prep missions to the host country.
Deliverable 2.4: Support internal coordination and briefing.
Deliverable 2.5: Attend and support the running of the seventh meeting as part of the WHO secretariat.
Output 3: To support WHO in reporting the seventh meeting of the APPFGH
Deliverable 3.1: Support reporting on APPFGH activities.
Deliverable 3.2: Support follow-up actions requested by forum members and other APPFGH activities as required.
Qualifications, experience, skills and languages
Educational Qualifications:
Essential: University degree in law, politics, governance, or another relevant field.
Desirable: Master’s degree in law, politics, governance or another relevant field.
Experience
Essential: Minimum of five years’ experience working in project management, partnership building, and international meeting/event organization, in the areas of parliament and/or public health.
Desirable: Experience working in government or large intergovernmental organizations in the Western Pacific Region.
Skills/Knowledge:
Essential: Ability to develop quality technical materials; ability to organize and contribute to events involving government officials; and ability to work with high level stakeholders and effectively manage cultural and political sensitivities.
Desirable: Experience analyzing policy and/or legislation and providing policy and/or legal support to governments.
Languages and level required
Expert knowledge of English
Location
Home-based but with several trips to the location of the APPFGH and other travel as necessary.
Travel
The Consultant is expected to travel to the location of the 8th APPFGH in April, June and July 2024 for preliminary meetings and preparation for the 8th APPFGH in August 2024.
Remuneration and budget
Remuneration: TBD
Expected duration of contract: 11 months, estimated start date: 1 March 2024
Additional Information
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