Purpose of the Consultancy
WHO published the first-ever global report on the burden of foodborne diseases in 2015. In 2020, the Seventy-third World Health Assembly adopted the resolution (WHA73.5) which requests WHO to monitor regularly, and to report to Member States on, the global burden of foodborne and zoonotic diseases at national, regional and international levels, and in particular to prepare, by 2025, a new report on the global burden of foodborne diseases with up-to-date estimates of global foodborne disease incidence, mortality and disease burden in terms of disability-adjusted life years (DALYs). The purpose of the Consultancy is to support activities related to the WHO initiative to estimate the burden of foodborne diseases and the development of the food safety indicators.
Background
The Nutrition and Food Safety (NFS) Department, located within the WHO’s UHC/Healthier Populations Division, is addressing the burden of disease from physical, chemical and microbial hazards in food and unhealthy diets, maternal and child malnutrition, overweight and obesity. The Department aims to ensure universal access to safe, sufficient nutritious food and effective nutrition actions, through setting science-based international food standards, promoting nutrition action in health systems, fostering sustainable food production and consumption, improving food environments and empowering consumers in all situations, monitoring nutrition status, and managing food safety events at the international level, closely working with Member States, UN partner agencies and non-State actors.
NFS’ Multisectoral Actions in Food Systems (AFS) Unit defines implementation tools to strengthen food systems; support multisectoral policies to improve safety, quality and sustainability of food; engages with stakeholders in the food chain; and monitors policy implementation. The Unit provides support to WHO’s Member States in reducing the burden of diseases caused by unsafe food, unhealthy diets, and malnutrition in close collaboration with UN partner agencies, and other international organizations and stakeholders.
In 2015, WHO’s Foodborne Disease Burden Epidemiology Reference Group (FERG) published the Global Burden of Foodborne Diseases report based on 2010 data. In response to WHO’s Member States request to WHO to update these figures as part of the resolution, a call for experts was advertised in August 2020 to establish a new membership in FERG. The Terms of reference of the group are to:
- Advise WHO on the methodology to estimate the global burden of foodborne diseases
- Review epidemiological data on foodborne disease burden
- Identify technical gaps and priorities for research activities
- Make recommendations to WHO on the establishment of task forces and other means through which scientific and technical matters are addressed
- Advise WHO on the development of and the methodology to monitor food safety-related indicator(s)
Work to be performed
The consultant will:
- Support the activity to estimate the global burden of foodborne diseases
- Support the day-to-day coordination and communication among the expert group (FERG) members to ensure timely delivery of tasks
- Support the organization of and conducting the expert meetings
- Support the development of necessary internal and external documents related to the initiative
- Support country level activities to estimate the national burden of foodborne diseases as a result of rolling out the global public health goods
- Support the day-to-day coordination and communication among the expert group (FERG) members to ensure a timely delivery of tasks
- Assist the work to develop the global food safety indicators
- Support the day-to-day coordination and communication among the expert group (FERG) members to ensure a timely delivery of tasks
- Support the organization of a technical consultation on innovative approaches to accelerate data collection and analyses in this area.
Technical Supervision
The selected Consultant will work on the supervision of:
| Responsible Officer: | Yuki Minato, Project Officer, NFS/AFS | minatoy@who.int | |
| Unit Head or Team Lead: | Luz De Regil, Unit Head, NFS/AFS | deregillu@who.int |
Specific requirements
Qualifications required:
University degree in public health, life science, food safety or other related areas.
Experience required:
- 2 years’ experience in supporting advisory groups and estimate development
- Familiarity to work in a team environment and coordination of experts (required)
- Experience working in the field of food safety or public health (required)
- Experience working with international organization, including WHO (desirable)
- Experience working with expert groups
Skills / technical skills and knowledge:
- Familiarity with food safety issues and the burden of foodborne diseases
- Knowledge of WHO work in the area of food safety or related activities
- Ability to interact in a multidisciplinary and cross-cutting environment involving technical, cultural and political elements
- Sound analytical and organizational skills
- Excellent communication skills (in English)
- Proven ability to work and produce results under pressure in critical situations
- Ability to work harmoniously as a member of the team, adapt to diverse cultural and educational background and maintain a high standard of personal conduct
Language requirements:
Essential: Excellent English skills with writing skills
Dates and duty station
The consultant is intended to start on 1 May 2021 and will run through 31 December 2021. The consultant will perform his/her work remotely from the city of residence. No duty travel is envisaged as of today.
Medical clearance
The selected Consultant will be expected to provide a medical certificate of fitness for work.
How to apply
Interested applicants should prepare their CV and submit it to fbd-burden@who.int with a short cover letter
by 9 April 2021.