Consultant For The Initial Implementation Of The WHO EPR Flagship Roadmap

Organizational Context

South Africa is strengthening its public health emergency preparedness and response systems in line with International Health Regulations. The World Health Organization (WHO), in collaboration with the National Department of Health, is implementing an Emergency Preparedness and Response (EPR) Flagship Roadmap to enhance national and subnational capacities. This role supports the initial implementation of the roadmap, focusing on coordination, workforce development, and operational systems.

Job Purpose

The purpose of this assignment is to provide dedicated technical and operational support for the initial implementation of the South Africa EPR Flagship Roadmap. This involves coordinating priority preparedness and response activities, including the rollout of the African Volunteer Health Corps (AVoHC-SURGE) and Emergency Medical Teams (EMT), conducting staffing needs assessments, and supporting initiatives related to the International Health Regulations (IHR), operations support, logistics, and Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE). The role is crucial for enhancing South Africa's readiness and response capabilities for public health emergencies.

Responsibilities

Support the effective rollout of the South Africa EPR Flagship Roadmap through technical and operational assistance. Facilitate the implementation of SURGE-related initiatives, including operationalizing AVoHC-SURGE and EMTs, and conducting staffing needs assessments to bolster surge and routine operational capacity. Strengthen IHR-related capacities by contributing to aligned activities and enhancing compliance. Enhance operational support and logistics systems by assisting in planning, coordination, and resource management for emergency operations. Support RCCE initiatives by strengthening communication strategies and community engagement during emergencies. Deliver key outputs such as training manuals, simulation exercises, databases of trained personnel, assessment reports, and coordination documents.

Work Experience

Essential: At least five years of professional experience in public health, emergency preparedness/response, outbreak coordination, or health program implementation. Experience supporting EPR activities, working with WHO/UN agencies, and on the AVoHC-SURGE initiative is required. Desirable: Experience in coordinating training, working with government/international organizations, project coordination, stakeholder engagement, and supporting emergency response workforce systems.

Skills

Strong coordination and organizational skills. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills. Strong technical writing and reporting abilities. Ability to work effectively in multidisciplinary and multicultural environments. Good understanding of public health emergency preparedness and response systems. Ability to manage multiple tasks under tight deadlines. Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications.

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