Consultancy – Cholera Country Support Platform (CSP)/ Epidemiologist

Terms of reference for consultancy

Purpose of Project and Background

In 2021, according to the Global Task Force on Cholera Control (GTFCC) around 50 countries are still affected by cholera. The number of people living in cholera hotspot is estimated to be between 40 to 80 million. The burden of diseases remains extremely high with 1.3 to 4 million cases every year, including 21 000 to 143 000 deaths globally.

The GTFCC is a partnership of more than 50 institutions, including NGOs, academic institutions, and UN agencies, with a secretariat hosted by the World Health Organization (WHO).

In 2017, the GTFCC launched the Global Roadmap to 2030 which aims to eliminate cholera in 20 countries and reduce the number of cholera deaths reported every year by 90%.

In 2019, Cholera-affected countries have called for additional technical support from the GTFCC in the development and implementation of their multisectoral National Cholera Plans for control or elimination (NCPs). In response to countries’ needs, the GTFCC has established a Country Support Platform (CSP) that will support efforts – primarily at national level – to control and eliminate cholera.

The CSP was launched in 2020 and it is hosted by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).

The CSP is supporting cholera-affected countries by working towards the following outcomes:

• Cholera-affected countries have an NCP and a multisectoral coordination mechanism to align government, national actors, GTFCC partners and key stakeholders towards a shared strategy.
• With the support of the CSP, the cholera-affected countries have mobilized resources toward the funding needs identified in their NCPs
• The cholera-affected countries receive multisectoral technical support and capacity building for the formulation and the implementation of their NCPs.

The first outcome requires a consultancy to support the cholera-affected countries around the six pillars for cholera preparedness and control, especially for:

• Additional practical guidance on the NCP development process and an NCP generic template
• Independent Review Panel (IRP) process and criteria
• Cholera situation analysis’s (for all cholera pillars) tool
• Advise the GTFCC in the development of an actionable strategy for regional and global cholera (e)surveillance.

Alignment to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) objectives and strategy

Strategic Priority 3: Growing gaps in health and well-being

IFRC’s Strategy 2020: The IFRC supports National Societies to work with vulnerable communities to achieve better health and reduced vulnerabilities as well as to improve water and sanitation conditions in chronic and acute contexts during emergencies.

The IFRC was appointed in 2020 to be the operational arm of the GTFCC for the CSP project. This positions the IFRC and the network at the heart of global and regional partnerships for inter-agency coordination for eventual cholera elimination.

Global Flagship Initiatives: Reduce cholera related deaths by 50%. Cholera continues to threaten the lives of millions of people and yet with the provision of safe water and sanitation so many lives can be saved. The IFRC’s Global Water and Sanitation Initiative (including OneWASH) will be expanded to ensure equitable, sustainable and affordable access to water and sanitation to reduce cholera related deaths by 50% by 2025.

Objectives

The overall objective of the deployment is to:

• Support the design of the NCP process and an NCP generic template
• Support the design the Independent Review Panel (IRP) process and criteria to assess the completeness and content of NCPs in alignment with existing GTFCC guidance
• Support the design of guidance and tools for the NCP situational analysis for all cholera pillars
• Advise the GTFCC in the development of an actionable strategy for regional and global cholera (e)surveillance

Desired outcomes

Outcome 1: A final draft NCP template should be proposed to the CSP and the GTFCC secretariat, based on inputs on the first draft already developed

Outcome 2: Key (epidemiological and microbiological) data requirements for regional and global cholera surveillance should be proposed to the GTFCC supranational surveillance sub-working group

Outcome 3: An IRP process and an IRP evaluation form should be proposed to the CSP and the GTFCC secretariat based on existing documents and processes already drafted

Outcome 4: A mapping of the situational analysis process (objectives, articulation with overall NCP development, steps, indicators/criteria) and supporting tool and template for the NCPs should be proposed to the CSP and the GTFCC secretariat

Outcome 5: Governance mechanisms for regional and global cholera (e)surveillance should be recommended to the GTFCC supranational surveillance sub-working group and data sharing agreement templates should be proposed

Outcome 6: Functional requirements for regional and global cholera (e)surveillance should be proposed to the GTFCC Secretariat

Support to be provided to the consultant

IFRC WASH team in Geneva / IFRC regional office / GTFCC / CSP team will brief and support the consultant

Timelines

• Expected start date: 01 October 2022
• Location: example: Remote location with possibility to travel
• Time allocation: around: 70 Days

Management of consultancy

The consultant will be managed by the CSP coordinator based in Geneva.

This consultancy will be conducted remotely and perhaps a trip to Africa and/or another international travel will be required to collect data for various WASH- cholera projects.

Requirements:

Education Required

Relevant university degree in Public Health or similar fields.

Education Preferred

Epidemiology in Rapid Response /Emergency Response Unit (ERU) specialized training.

Field epidemiology training programme (e.g. EPIET or EUPHEM)

Experience Required

Five years of experience in communicable diseases surveillance or early detection

Field experience in cholera outbreak and response

Experience Preferred

Experience in developing NCP tools

Experience in GTFCC surveillance

Epidemiology consultancy experience in low-income country.

Knowledge and Skills Required

Good knowledge of cholera multisectoral control strategy, as well as mechanisms, tools and guidelines for programming and coordination at different levels.

Good analytical thinking skills.

Skills in developing and facilitating training, as well as, in preparing and delivering presentations.

Languages

English required and French as second language preferred.

Notes

The consultant will be contracted by the IFRC and the standard contractual terms will apply.

Agreed travel expenses will be reimbursed at a cost in accordance with the IFRC’s relevant regulations