International Consultant on Air Pollution

Call for Expressions of Interest

#021 - Job Title: The International Consultant on Air Pollution

1. Background:

Air pollution is one of the leading causes of disease and premature death in the world. Around the world an average of 6.5 million deaths per year related to air pollution, of which 3 million from outdoor air pollution, 2/3 of the deaths are in Southeast Asia and In the Western Pacific, 94% of air pollution deaths are related to cardiovascular disease, stroke, chronic obstructive pneumonia, and lung cancer. PM2.5 is considered the most dangerous air pollutant to health.

Ambient air pollution has become a major threat to public health in Viet Nam. Public awareness of the detrimental effects of air pollution on health is increasing. WHO estimated that air pollution is accountable to around 60,000 deaths each year are air pollution-related in Viet Nam. Dust pollution level in urban areas remains high. The concentration of NO2, CO tends to increase in some traffic hot spots.

The Government of Viet Nam approved the national action plan on controlling air quality in 2016. Further to this national action plan, in early 2021, the Government of Viet Nam issued the Directive No 03 for controlling air pollution which assigned the Ministry of Health (MoH) to conduct assessment of health impact of air pollution and propose solutions.

In March 2021, the WHO Country Office in Viet Nam received a letter from the Health Environment Management Agency (VIHEMA) of MoH seeking WHO’s technical and financial supports to develop (1) a set of advisories/alerts on health preventive measures during peaks of air pollution for communities and (2) mechanisms to disseminate advisories/alerts through appropriate channels.

Currently Vietnamese people have access to daily weather forecast programs and air quality news on mass medial channels, social media network Zalo and the website of Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MoNRE) with a brief explanation on the value of AQI and possible health impacts. However, these messages are too general. Sensitive groups may need to know more details on what they should do to actively prevent health impacts during air pollution peaks.

As part of its technical assistance responding to this request, WHO is recruiting an international consultant to conduct a study for analysing experience and practice on health preventive measures against air pollution and a delivery system to disseminate advisories/alerts messages during peaks of air pollution to the public from selected countries in the world and in the region and draw lessons learnt and recommendations for Viet Nam.

2. Planned timelines Part time for 3 months (14 non-consecutive days/month x 3 months = 42 days)

Start date: 10 June 2021 End date: 10 September 2021

3. Work to be performed

Purpose of the consultancy

To conduct a study for analysing experience and practice on health preventive measures against air pollution and a delivery system to disseminate advisories/alerts messages during peaks of air pollution to the public from selected countries in the world and in the region and draw lessons learnt and recommendations for Viet Nam

Method(s) to carry out the activity

The contractor is expected to work in his/her home country.

Though most of the work of the consultant will be conducted independently, it is recommended to keep close communication channel with WHO responsible officers at WHO Country Office in Viet Nam based in Hanoi, Viet Nam as well as WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific based in Manila, Philippines.

Output/s

Output 1: A desk review on experience and practice on health preventive measures against air pollution and a delivery system to disseminate advisories/alerts messages during peaks of air pollution to the public in from selected countries in the world and in the region

Horizon scan of countries in the world and in the region
Select a few countries for further in-depth study (including China and the Republic of Korea) in consultation with WHO responsible officers
Scope of desk review should include the followings but not limited: (1) existing guidelines and advisory messages, (2) systems and methodologies for developing guidelines advisory messages, (3) the target groups/audiences of these guidelines, (4) systems and mechanisms in delivering advisory/alert messages to intended, (5) data base for health impacts from air pollution and linkage with the guidelines and advisory messages, (6) studies showing the impact of advisory messages. Deliverable 1.1: Interim report of desk review (by 5 August 2021)

Output 2: Drawing lessons learnt and recommendations for Viet Nam

At this stage, the contractor is expected to participate in several rounds of virtual consultation meetings with WHO responsible officers, responsible officers at VIHEMA and Vietnamese experts recommended by VIHEMA.
WHO Country Office in Viet Nam and VIHEMA will organize these consultation meetings Deliverable 2.1: Final consultancy report (by 5 September 2021) Deliverable 2.2: A set of accompanying materials helpful for Viet Nam to follow / adopt (by 5 September 2021)

4. Specific requirements

Qualifications required:

A postgraduate degree in public health, environmental health, environmental science, communication or other relevant areas from a recognized university

Experience required:

Minimum 7 of years’ experience in research in relevant areas including public health, environmental health, air pollution management or policy, communication for health etc
Research experience on air pollution in developing countries is an asset

Skills / Technical skills and knowledge:

Research and analysis skills on environmental health issues, air pollution and health impacts.
Knowledge on air pollution aspects, air quality in the countries in the world or in the region.
Experience and skills in multi-country comparison study
Communication skills.

Language requirements: