Job Description
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Qualifications
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Organizational Setting
To ensure compliance of all activities carried out by the World Health Organization (WHO) and/or its partners with the principles and safeguard standards established in the WHO’s Environmental and Social Safeguards Framework (ESSF). The project management tool, the Environmental and Social Management System (ESMS), is critical for managing environmental and social risks associated with project activities. The ESMS will be developed through a structured process that includes risk identification, categorization, mitigation planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation, thereby promoting responsible management of environmental and social risks throughout the project lifecycle.
Major Duties and Responsibilities
1. Risk Identification and Analysis
a) The consultant will assess environmental and social risks for proposed project/programme activities with support from the WHO Environment and Social Safeguard Team (WESST), using the ESSF and corresponding screening checklist.
b) Conduct stakeholder consultations to gather input on potential risks.
c) Utilize the Environmental and Social Risk Assessment (ESSRA) tool for initial risk screening.
d) Analyze screening results to categorize and prioritize identified risks as very low, low, moderate, or high based on the WHO risk matrix.
e) Create a comprehensive risk register documenting all identified risks. This will include assessing WASH-related risks at healthcare facilities and challenges in maintaining IPC standards.
2. Risk Mitigation Planning
a) Based on the results of the risk assessment, the consultant, with support from WESST, will develop a proportionate environmental and social risk response plan to avoid, mitigate, or offset adverse impacts.
b) Develop detailed mitigation strategies using insights from the ESSRA tool.
c) Assign responsibilities for implementing mitigation measures.
d) Estimate resources required for effective implementation of strategies.
f) The plan will focus on healthcare facilities by ensuring safe water supply, sanitation, waste management, and handwashing stations to support IPC.
3. Implementation
a) Integrate risk mitigation plans into overall project planning.
b) Ensure effective communication with stakeholders regarding risk management strategies.
c) Implement preventive measures and response plans as necessary.
d) The risk response plan will inform the environmental and social information sheet submitted by the consultant to WESST for review.
e) Healthcare facility interventions will involve upgrading water systems, ensuring safe sanitation and waste disposal, and training staff to reduce infection risks.
4. Monitoring and Control
a) Regularly update the risk register to reflect new information or changes in project scope.
b) Track identified risks continuously and reassess their status.
c) Evaluate the effectiveness of implemented mitigation measures.
d) WESST will decide if additional information is needed for high-risk projects/ activities via an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA).
e) Monitoring activities will evaluate the effectiveness of WASH systems and IPC compliance in healthcare facilities.
5. Evaluation and Improvement
a) Document lessons learned throughout the project lifecycle.
b) Update risk management procedures based on evaluations to improve future practices.
c) Development of Key Documents
6. Risk Reporting
a) Risk reporting ensures that relevant risk information relating to the project is available in a timely manner to inform decision-making. Project risk reporting will be included in project progress reports by the consultant as per the project reporting cycle. At a minimum, these reports must include the status of identified mitigating actions and any emerging risks to the project.
b) The assessment should be completed at the onset of the programme/project to facilitate the integration of specific environmental and social safeguards and mitigation measures into the design. Risk assessments must be updated whenever there are changes in the scope of work that may impact related factors or when changes to programme/project activities are anticipated.
c) In graded emergencies, key performance indicators in the incident management system and updated emergency frameworks provide requirements for completing ESS risk assessments.
7. Develop essential documents:
a) Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP): Guides stakeholder interactions throughout the project lifecycle.
b) Labour Management Procedures (LMP): Ensures fair treatment of project workers.
c) Indigenous Peoples’ Plan (IPP): Addresses specific needs related to Indigenous communities affected by the project.
d) Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM): Establishes a system for addressing stakeholder complaints.
e) Environmental and Social Commitment Plan (ESCP): Outlines commitments to address environmental and social risks.
Work Relations and Partnerships
The mission of WHO’s Health Emergencies Programme (The Programme) is to help countries, and to coordinate international action, to prevent, prepare for, detect, rapidly respond to, and recover from outbreaks and emergencies.
The incumbent is expected to work with other technical units from WCO, including Health Cluster team, ERM field coordinators and Event Based Surveillance officers, as well as with other UN Agencies, National and International NGOs working on the field of WASH and environmental health, to build and sustain close working partnerships with d/f government counterparts and national stakeholders through active sharing of information and knowledge to facilitate programme implementation and build capacity of stakeholders to achieve WASH output results .in both routine and acute onset emergencies with a WASH and environmental health component, the incumbent will also regularly engage with the Health and WASH clusters as required.
Impact of functions
The primary objective of this consultancy is to develop an ESMS that effectively integrates WHO standards and principles outlined in the ESSF. The consultant will facilitate the identification and management of environmental and social risks throughout the project lifecycle.
Qualifications
Educational background
University (first) degree in public health, health sciences, behavior change communication, sanitary engineering or other specialist field related to WASH is required.
Professional experience and knowledge
o Extensive experience in WASH, environmental, and social management systems, particularly in health-related projects.
o Familiarity with WHO guidelines and international best practices in environmental safeguards.
o Strong analytical skills for risk assessment and management.
o Excellent communication skills for stakeholder engagement.
Language Skills
High level of proficiency in English
Competencies
· Team work
· Communication
· Producing results
· Respecting and Promoting Individual and Cultural Differences
Additional information
· This Vacancy Notice may be used to fill similar positions at the same level.
· Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.
· A written test and interviews may be used as a form of screening.
· If your candidature is retained for interview, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position.
· WHO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed through the link: http://www.whed.net/.
· Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and will require individual review. For information on WHO’s operations please visit: http://www.who.int.
· The WHO is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect.
· The WHO recruits workforce regardless of disability status, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, language, race, marital status, religious, cultural, ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds, or any other personal characteristics.
· The WHO is committed to achieving gender parity and geographical diversity in its workforce. Women, persons with disabilities, and nationals of unrepresented and underrepresented Member States (https://www.who.int/careers/diversity-equity-and-inclusion) are strongly encouraged to apply for WHO jobs.
· Persons with disabilities can request reasonable accommodations to enable participation in the recruitment process.
· Requests for reasonable accommodation should be sent through an email to reasonableaccommodation@who.int An impeccable record for integrity and professional ethical standards is essential.
· WHO prides itself on a workforce that adheres to the highest ethical and professional standards and that is committed to put the WHO Values Charter (https://www.who.int/about/who-we-are/our-values) into practice.
· WHO has zero tolerance towards sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct (i.e., discrimination, abuse of authority and harassment).
· All members of the WHO workforce have a role to play in promoting a safe and respectful workplace and should report to WHO any actual or suspected cases of SEA, sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct.
· To ensure that individuals with a substantiated history of SEA, sexual harassment or other types of abusive conduct are not hired by the Organization, WHO will conduct a background verification of short-listed candidates.
· WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.
· Please note that WHO’s contracts are conditional on members of the workforce confirming that they are vaccinated as required by WHO before undertaking a WHO assignment, except where a medical condition does not allow such vaccination, as certified by the WHO Staff Health and Wellbeing Services (SHW).
· The successful candidate will be asked to provide relevant evidence related to this condition.
· A copy of the updated vaccination card must be shared with WHO medical service in the medical clearance process.
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· This post is subject to local recruitment and will be filled by persons recruited in the local commuting area of the duty station.
· Any extension of appointment would be subject to programmatic requirements, performance of the incumbent and availability of funds.
· Qualified female candidates are encouraged to apply.
· Salary will be paid with MMK Converted in local currency at the official prevailing exchange rate at the time