Consultants - Brain Health at World Health Organization (WHO)

Job ID: 2409137

Purpose of consultancy

• The Brain Health Unit (BRH) within the Department of Mental Health, Brain Health and Substance Use (MSD) is updating the roster of qualified consultants to conduct a variety of technical tasks with all levels of experience to actively contribute to specific elements of the Unit’s work on brain health and neurological conditions in line with line with the mandate of the Intersectoral global action plan on epilepsy and other neurological disorders (IGAP).
• There may be opportunities to participate in an array of brief and longer-term projects, meetings, research and/or public health initiatives.

Background 
The Brain Health Unit aims to promote optimal brain development, cognitive health and wellbeing and prevention and care for neurological conditions across the life course. BRH contributes to the overall mission of MSD through leadership and policy dialogue, development of technical and normative products and country capacity building in the following areas: 

• Child and adolescent brain health and neurodevelopment
• Maternal mental health
• Treatment and care for all neurological disorders (e.g. neurological infections, epilepsy, dementia,) and neurodevelopmental disabilities
• Medication and diagnostic access for neurological conditions
• Promotion of brain health and prevention of neurological disorders 
• Additionally, BRH promotes collaborations and synergies with other public health areas (i.e. facilitating linkages and integration at country-level with other public health programmes such as mental health, noncommunicable diseases, infections, child, adolescent and maternal health, ageing, disability and injury and violence prevention, etc.)
• This updated roster reflects the updated name of the department and includes brain health with an emphasis on neurological conditions across the life course in line with the mandate of IGAP. 

Deliverables
The consultant is expected to perform a variety of tasks, not limited to the following:

• Writing and editing technical documents and normative tools; including training materials and manuals
• Contributing to resource mobilization efforts by developing  results-focused proposals, donor agreements and other grant-related instruments ensuring quality and alignment with WHO policies, pertinent documents and other administrative provisions.
• Reviewing and preparing project documentation (e.g., logical frameworks, project strategies, operational/implementation plans, project reports, presentations)
• Organize peer review process and consultation with relevant stakeholders for technical products or global public health goods.
• Conduct literature and scientific reviews
• Facilitate field-testing, generation of evidence, and dissemination and implementation of WHO’s technical products at regional and country level  
• Specific deliverables will be pre-defined for each consultancy.

Qualifications, experience, skills and languages
Educational Qualifications:
Essential:

• For band level A: First university degree in psychology, medicine, social science or related health field
• For band level B: An advanced university degree in public health, child health, neuroscience, neurology, psychiatry/psychology, epidemiology, social science or related field 

Experience
Essential:

• For band level A:  
  • 2 to 5 years of relevant experience in the focus areas of the BRH unit. 
  • Experience working in low- and middle-income countries.
• For band level B:
  • At least 5 years of relevant experience in the focus areas of the BRH unit. 
  • Experience working in low- and middle-income countries. 

Desirable:

• Experience working with international organizations.
• A strong academic or publication record for consultancies involving research-related tasks. 

Skills/Knowledge:

• Demonstrated knowledge in the focus areas of the BRH unit (specific area depending on the task of the consultancy)
• Excellent communication, negotiation and interpersonal skills
• Excellent writing skills
• Excellent organizational and scheduling skills
• Self-discipline with the ability to work with autonomy and as part of a team
• Able to exercise mature judgment and sensitivity in dealing with complex situations and issues
• Depending on the type of consultancy, demonstrated expertise and knowledge will be required in the following areas of i) resource mobilization; and/or ii) project management; and/or iii) conduct desk/scientific reviews; and/or iv) normative work including developing training materials and conducting training workshops; and/or v) data management; and/or vi) supporting/advising on development of policies and services; vii) conducting large-scale research activities. 

Languages required:
Essential:  

• Expert knowledge of English 

Desirable:

• Intermediate knowledge of a second UN official language and other languages.