Purpose of consultancy   

The purpose of this consultancy is to support the Division of Healthy Environments and Populations (DHP) in the implementation of health-enabling society initiatives, specifically on the following programmes: Social Determinants of Health and Health Equity; Healthy Settings, including Health Promoting Schools, Healthy Cities and Healthy Islands; Gender Equity and Human Rights, including community engagement, indigenous health, migrant and refugee health; and Gender Based Violence, including Violence Against Children and Women.

Background  

Health inequities in the Western Pacific Region are largely influenced by social determinants of health (SDH), such as education, income, employment, housing, and access to clean water and sanitation. Vulnerable groups—including low-income families, people with disabilities, and those experiencing discrimination—are disproportionately impacted by insufficient investment in these areas. Despite some progress, many countries in the region still face challenges in addressing SDH, hindered by limited data, lack of gender-responsive policies, and insufficient collaboration across sectors. As a result, these populations continue to encounter significant barriers to accessing equitable health and social services, perpetuating cycles of disadvantage.

To tackle these persistent inequities, the World Health Organization (WHO) supports countries in mapping and monitoring health disparities to inform inclusive policies that integrate gender, equity, and human rights. It also promotes multisectoral collaboration and community engagement through initiatives like Healthy Cities, Healthy Islands, and Health Promoting Schools. The WHO's vision for the region emphasizes fostering societies that enable health and well-being for all through equitable healthcare access, health literacy, and empowered community participation. Creating supportive environments—particularly in cities and schools—and fostering healthy behaviors across all age groups are essential for achieving sustainable health outcomes and universal health coverage (UHC).

Deliverables

Under the supervision of the DHP Director, the consultant will perform the following activities: 

• Provide strategic and technical advisory on key programmes: health equity, healthy settings (Health Promoting Schools, Healthy Cities, Healthy Islands), gender equity, human rights, GBV/VAW/VAC, and Indigenous Health. 
• Advise Member States on implementing equity-driven policies aligned with the regional strategy “Weaving health for families, communities and societies of the Western Pacific.” 
• Strengthen internal and national capacity to apply equity-focused, gender-responsive, and human rights-based approaches across HES programme areas. 
• Foster strategic partnerships with Member States, regional/international counterparts, and internal WHO units to expand healthy settings networks. 
• Support regional networks of Healthy Cities and Health Promoting Schools with technical input and guidance on monitoring and evaluation frameworks. 

Output 1: Provide strategic and technical guidance across HES programme areas to advance action on social determinants of health, improving health equity, gender equality, and human rights-based approaches in the Western Pacific Region through strategic planning and action.

Deliverable 1.1: A Western Pacific Region roadmap (with accompanying materials) to disseminate data related to the status of VAC prevention and VAW prevalence estimates.

Methods:

• Develop a regional dissemination strategy and presentation toolkit.
• Coordinate high-level advocacy briefings with Member States
• Facilitate high-level dialogue to advocate for action.
• Support follow-up engagement to translate data into action.

Deliverable 1.2: Strategic and technical guidance to support country-level implementation of social determinants of health approaches.

Methods: 

• Review and provide feedback on national policy, programme, and operational documents to ensure the systematic integration of social determinants of health, health equity monitoring, gender equality, and human rights. 
• Develop tailored guidance and planning tools to support WHO Country Offices in mainstreaming gender equality, health equity, and human rights into their PB 2026–2027 workplans. 
• Participate in strategic consultations and technical briefings to guide Member States and WHO teams in applying social determinants of health approaches across key thematic areas, gender-based violence, Indigenous health, migration, NCD prevention, and healthy settings. 
• Strengthen coordination across sectors, particularly health, education, social services, and local government, to prevent and respond to gender-based violence, with a focus on leveraging settings-based approaches such as Health Promoting Schools, Healthy Cities, and communities. 
• Support WHO Country Offices in the development and implementation of proposals and action plans under the Spotlight Initiative, with particular attention to advocating for healthy system leadership, community engagement, and evidence-based strategies.

Output 2: Expand and strengthen regional networks and partnerships for Healthy Settings and other HES flagship programmes.

Deliverable 2.1: Enhanced collaboration and partnership development to support regional and national implementation of Healthy Cities, Health Promoting Schools, and Healthy Islands initiatives.

Methods: 

• Foster and maintain strategic partnerships with Member States, relevant UN agencies, civil society, academic institutions, and other stakeholders to advance healthy settings initiatives. 
• Provide technical input into regional meetings, consultations, and dialogue platforms to promote cross-country learning and scaling of successful models. 
• Support the organization and delivery of regional coordination mechanisms or communities of practice for Healthy Cities, Health Promoting Schools, and related networks, while documenting good practices.

Deliverable 2.2: Strengthened monitoring and evaluation frameworks for Healthy Settings programmes in the Western Pacific Region.

Methods:

• Provide expert guidance in the development and refinement of M&E frameworks and indicators tailored to Healthy Cities and Health Promoting Schools. 
• Review existing national M&E tools and provide recommendations for alignment with regional guidance. 
• Contribute to the synthesis of regional progress reports, lessons learned, and good practices across healthy settings initiatives.

Output 3: Support HES-related workstreams and regional priorities.

Deliverable 3.1: Technical contributions to HES priority initiatives, cross-cutting strategies, and inter-programmatic collaboration.

Methods: 

• Participate in DHP planning and coordination meetings to identify areas for support across the HES portfolio. 
• Provide technical and strategic input on emerging issues or initiatives.  
• Contribute to documentation, reporting, and communications materials to highlight HES achievements and support advocacy efforts.
• Meetings and consultations with HES team, WCO teams, and RO teams to support PB 2026–2027 workplanning and implementation, identifying technical needs and gaps in GER/SDH/HES integration across PB planning processes. 

Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Educational Qualifications:   

Essential: An advanced university degree in public health, social sciences, gender and development studies, human rights, political sciences or related field from a recognized university  
Desirable: A master’s level or higher in a public health, social sciences, or a related field

Experience:  

Essential: Minimum of 10 years of relevant work experience in the field of social sciences, public health, social and commercial determinants of health, gender, equity, health equity monitoring at national and international level.
Desirable: Relevant experience in WHO or within the UN system. Experience in working on the development and roll-out of cross-cutting initiatives and programmes across multilevel organizations as well as across different stakeholder groups 

Skills/Knowledge: 

Essential: Demonstrated knowledge of public health and relevant technical areas (inlcuding, but not limited to heath equity and the SDH, Settings-based approaches to public health, gender equity and human rights)
Proven experience in health planning at operational, subnational, and national levels, including both political and technical dimensions
Extensive experience in leading capacity-building initiatives using diverse methods, including training, mentoring, and on-the-job support
Strong ability to foster effective working relationships within multidisciplinary teams and adapt to diverse cultural contexts, while maintaining high standards of professionalism
Committed to promoting gender equity and ensuring cultural appropriateness in the design and delivery of services to Member States

Languages and level required:

Essential: Expert knowledge of written and spoken in English

Location 

On site: WPRO, Manila, Philippines 

Travel 

The consultant is expected to travel to sites for relevant activities (consultations, information gathering, programme reviews, training etc,). 

Remuneration and budget

Remuneration: Band level C, USD 10,000 (monthly)    
Expected duration of contract: 5 months, July to November 2025

Additional Information

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