Consultant
International law and national legislation
( 2300508 )
Contractual Arrangement : External consultant
Contract Duration (Years, Months, Days) : 6 months
Job Posting: Mar 8, 2023, 7:12:51 AM
Purpose of consultancy
To provide legal advice to the Working Group on Amendments to the IHR, including through an IHR Review Committee, and upon request, legislative guidance to IHR States Parties to strengthen existing normative frameworks for IHR implementation.
The consultant will be in charge of mapping legislation specifically related to multisectoral coordination between the public health sector and other non-health sectors for health emergency preparedness and response at the local/communal level, development of legislation/policy writing workshop and webinar series.
Background
The International Health Regulations (2005) are an instrument of international law that is binding on 196 countries across the globe. An important aspect of IHR implementation is to ensure that every country has an adequate legal framework to exercise their rights and meet their obligations under the Regulations. In this connection, many IHR States Parties have identified implementation in national legislation as a key priority and have requested WHO advice and guidance in this area. Moreover, the COVID-19 pandemic has shown the value and importance of up-to-date legislative tools to rapidly respond to the health emergency in an effective and efficient manner. This was recognized in the recommendations of the Review Committee on the Functioning of the International Health Regulations (2005) during the COVID-19 Response in relation to legal preparedness. Through decision WHA75(9), the World Health Assembly established a Working Group on Amendments to the International Health Regulations (2005) and further requested WHO Director-General to convene a Review Committee on the International Health Regulations (2005) (IHR Review Committee) to make technical recommendations on any proposed amendments received by 30 September 2022. The Review Committee is currently scheduled to complete it work ahead of the 152nd Executive Board and that Working Group will run until the 77th World Health Assembly.
Deliverables:
Output 1: Contribute to the work of the Working Group on Amendments to the IHR, including in relation to the Review Committee on the IHR established by the above-referenced Health Assembly decision WHA75(9).
- Deliverable 1.1 Prepare and research topics and respond to queries of a legal nature relating to proposed IHR amendments as requested by the Working Group and/or the IHR Review Committee.Expected Delivery date: February-March 2023.
Output 2: Provide guidance to countries on the utilization of national legislation to implement the IHR, including through legislative missions requested by IHR States Parties and the piloting of new legislative tools.
- Deliverable 2.1: Work closely with regional and country offices to conduct legislative missions to implement the IHR in national legislation.Expected delivery date: May-June 2023.
- Deliverable 2.2: Contribute to the pilot testing of the new/revised guidance and tools in countries in consultation with relevant ROs and COs, as requested.Expected delivery date: April 2023.
Output 3: Map legislation specifically related to multisectoral coordination between the public health sector and other non-health sectors for health emergency preparedness and response at the local/communal level in two pilot countries.
- Deliverable 3.1 Request and review relevant documentation in advance of mapping for pilot countries.Expected delivery date: September – December 2023.
- Deliverable 3.2 Draft reports on outcomes of mapping at the local level and impact on this reflects the respective legislation at the national, i.e. IHR implementation.Expected delivery date: September – December 2023.
- Deliverable 3.3 Work closely with WHO regional, WHO country offices and partners to conduct this mapping of legislation.Expected delivery date: March
December 2023.
- Deliverable 3.4 Draft an article for publication in a peer reviewed journal on the mapping of legislation specifically related to multisectoral coordination between the public health sector and other non-health sectors for health emergency preparedness and response at the local/communal level.Expected delivery date: July – December 2023.
Output 4: Provide advice to two pilot countries in the WHO African region in implementing the outcomes of the WHO African parliamentarian summit.
- Deliverable 4.1 Develop and implement a legislation and/or policy writing workshop methodology related to multisectoral coordination for health emergency preparedness and the IHR (2005).Expected delivery date: March -September 2023.
- Deliverable 4.2 Work closely with WHO regional, WHO country and partners to implement a legislation and/or policy writing workshop methodology related to multisectoral coordination for health emergency preparedness and the IHR (2005).Expected delivery date: March
December 2023.
Output 5: Develop a webinar series related to the WHO-IPU handbook for parliamentarians.
- Deliverable 5.1 Provide guidance on the organization of a webinar series related to the WHO-IPU handbook parliamentarians.Expected delivery date: March
August 2023.
- Deliverable 5.2 Work closely with IPU, WHO regional and WHO country offices for the implementation of the webinar/series.Expected delivery date: March
August 2023.
Qualifications, experience, skills and languages.
Educational Qualifications:
Essential:
- University degree in law (e.g., LL. B, J.D. or equivalent in non-Anglo-American educational systems).
- Master’s degree in comparative and/or international law.
Desirable:
- Training in legislative drafting.
Experience
Essential:
- At least seven (7) years of relevant experience as a legal adviser to public and/or private sector clients who are international, national and regional governmental and non-governmental organizations.
- Proven experience in assessing, reviewing, drafting, implementing local, national and/or international legislation.
Skills
Essential:
- Strong drafting and research skills.
- Good analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills
- Proven ability to synthesize and summarize findings and produce clear and concise reports.
- Proven ability to work harmoniously as a member of a team, adapt to diverse educational and cultural backgrounds and maintain high standards of personal conduct.
Languages required:
Essential:
- Expert knowledge in English.
Desirable:
- Basic knowledge of French.
Location
Off-site: Home based.
Travel
The consultant is expected to travel.
Remuneration and budget (travel costs are excluded):
Remuneration:
Band level B-USD USD 7,000
9,980 per month.
Living expenses (A living expense is payable to on-site consultants who are internationally recruited):
N/A
Expected duration of contract:
6 months.
Additional Information
- This vacancy notice may be used to identify candidates for other similar consultancies at the same level.
- Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.
- A written test 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.
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- WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.
- Applications from women and from nationals of non and underrepresented Member States are particularly encouraged.
- 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 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 final candidates.
- Consultants shall perform the work as independent contractors in a personal capacity, and not as a representative of any entity or authority. The execution of the work under a consultant contract does not create an employer/employee relationship between WHO and the Consultant.
- WHO shall have no responsibility whatsoever for any taxes, duties, social security contributions or other contributions payable by the Consultant. The Consultant shall be solely responsible for withholding and paying any taxes, duties, social security contributions and any other contributions which are applicable to the Consultant in each location/jurisdiction in which the work hereunder is performed, and the Consultant shall not be entitled to any reimbursement thereof by WHO.
- Consultants working in Switzerland must register with the applicable Swiss cantonal tax authorities and social security authorities, within the prescribed timeframes (Guidelines issued by the Swiss Mission are available at: https://www.eda.admin.ch/missions/mission-onu-geneve/en/home/manual-regime-privileges-and-immunities/introduction/Manuel-personnes-sans-privileges-et-immunites-carte-H/Non fonctionnaires et stagiaires.html