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1. Purpose of consultancy

The main objective of this consultancy is to assess the methodology adopted by the countries in the Eastern Mediterranean Region for the development and adaptation of clinical practices and public health guidelines and identify the challenges and facilitators for adopting the robust methods for the guideline programs in the countries.

This consultancy will provide WHO with key recommendations to support the adaptation and development of the guidelines in the region through using the scientific and robust methods, and to ensure the quality of the final products while ensuring their implantability and uptake. This will support countries in enhancing the capacity for using robust recommendation based on evidence for policy-making and also WHO strategy in establishment of the national program for guideline development and adaptation at national level.

2. Background

WHO EMRO Department of Science, Information and Dissemination envisions a region where all health related policies, decisions on healthcare development and implementation, and innovations are informed by best available evidence from verifiable knowledge, research and reliable information. The programme’s mission is to strengthen the capacity of Member States to improve availability, quality and use of evidence from reliable information, research and other sources of knowledge, and to enhance effective innovations toward Universal Health Coverage and health related Sustainable Development Goals.

• Promoting the generation, sharing and use of high quality, evidence-based and timely health information to strengthen health systems through sound public health decision-making, resource allocation, monitoring and evaluation;
• Supporting capacities for research, innovations and the development of technology and biotechnology solutions which lead to improving the performance of health systems and population health outcomes;
• Promoting the monitoring of health system performance and progress on national health goals, including equity in health, through well-functioning national health information systems, which include population-based surveys, service delivery statistics and birth and death registration with a reliable cause of death;
• Monitoring the health situation and trends at regional level through the regional health observatory and promoting development of national health observatories and strengthening of health information systems;
• Strengthening national capacities in member states to undertake research on priority health issues and pursue innovation and development through the generation of knowledge and evidence;
• Producing information products in appropriate languages and formats to support dissemination and translation of evidence into policies and practices, and promoting the appropriate use of information and communication technologies, including the regional web site;
• Promoting health through the provision of valid up-to-date health information in Arabic and promotion of translation into national languages;
• Enabling sustainable access to up-to-date scientific and technical knowledge by WHO staff and national health care professionals, and managing and supporting knowledge networks.

3. Work to be performed

Output 1) Submission of an analytic report from findings of the scoping review about the methodologies adopted by the countries in the Eastern Mediterranean Region for development and adaptation of clinical practices and public health guidelines

Deliverable 1-1 Conduct a scoping review to identify the methods commonly used by the countries in the region for development of the guideline and challenges in using the GRADE methods. assess if the Evidence to Decision (EtD) Framework is being used by countries, as recommended by WHO, for decision making and defining final recommendations.

Deliverable 1-2 Identify the common methods, tools and framework were adopted for the development and adaptation of guidelines in case GRADE and EtD were not followed. And how the justification for the final decision was made.

Deliverable 1-3 Submit an analytical report including all findings from the review as per WHO request

Output 2) Draft a report for publication that include key recommendations to WHO to promote use of GRADE methodology for guideline program in the EM region

Deliverable 2-1 Conduct a few interviews with global and regional experts from the key stakeholders including MoH to identify the facilitators for promoting GRADE in the EM region for the national guideline program

Deliverable 2-2 Provide WHO with key recommendations for enhancing the use of GRADE methodology for development and adaptation of the guidelines by the countries

Deliverable 2-3 Draft a report for publication that includes the findings of the consultancy and recommendation and actionable massages to WHO and countries to strengthen the national programs on guideline for using the robust methods

4. Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Educational Qualifications:

Master or PhD university degree in health policy, public health, epidemiology, international health or a related field.

Experience:

5 to 10 years’ experience in the field of public health, health policy development and implementation.

Skills/Technical skills and knowledge:

Proven academic publications in areas relevant to evidence-informed health policy-making.

Languages and level required:
Expert knowledge of English (Read - Write - Speak)

5. Location

Cairo, Egypt (EMRO).

6. Planned timelines (Subject to confirmation)

Start date: 16th June 2024

End date: 15th December 2024

7. Medical clearance

The selected Consultant will be expected to provide a medical certificate of fitness for work.

Additional Information

• This vacancy notice may be used to identify candidates for other similar consultancies at the same level.

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• Consultants shall perform the work as independent contractors in a personal capacity, and not as a representative of any entity or authority.
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