CONSULTANCY
Initial Terms of Reference: Estimating the health impacts
from water, sanitation and hygiene
This consultancy is requested by:
Unit:
EPE
Department:
PHE
1. Purpose of the Consultancy
As part of its work on assessing health impacts from environmental risks, the consultant will support the
work of the Department of Public Health, Environmental and Social Determinants of Health on estimating
the health impacts from water, sanitation and hygiene. The work will cover the following specific aims:
1. Model selected exposures to WASH for specific country-years, using multilevel and other techniques
as appropriate.
2. Address specific issues of the evidence on WASH and various health outcomes for the purpose of
burden of disease estimation.
3. Assist in the estimation of disease burden calculations from WASH.
4. Extract and synthesise WASH data on burden of disease from larger environmental health databases.
5. Integrate the WASH disease burden estimates into various information products.
2. Background
One of WHO’s functions is to monitor major risks to health in order to support evidence-based policy
making. WHO is also the custodian agency for monitoring the Sustainable Development Goal’s Indicator
3.9.2, “Mortality rate attributed to unsafe water, sanitation and lack of hygiene”. Monitoring of the
mortality related to WASH raises awareness on the issue, provides information to national governments on
the health gains that can be made by improving the WASH situation in the country, and informs international
priority setting.
WHO has been regularly monitoring the mortality and burden of disease these last few years. The
continuous development of these data require (a) regular updating, including expert consultation, of the
methods used, and (b) implementation of the calculations.
3. Planned timelines (subject to confirmation)
Start date:
01/03/2017
End date:
28/02/2018
Percentage:
50%
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4. Work to be performed
Output 1: Model key exposures for WASH for specific country-years.
Deliverable 1.1: Format datasets, and review and adjust methods for producing exposure for WASH
parameters relevant to disease burden estimation, with focus on multilevel techniques. The relevant
datasets may for example include: time to water; household water treatment practice, etc.
Deliverable 1.2: Provide country-year dataset for relevant WASH indicators, with confidence intervals,
description of methods and programme file.
Output 2: Synthesise evidence on specific aspects of the evidence linking WASH interventions to selected
health outcomes, for the specific purposes of disease burden calculations.
Output 3: Contribute to disease burden estimates from WASH.
Deliverable 3.1: Contribute to updating the calculation sheets for the estimation of mortality and burden of
disease from WASH.
Deliverable 3.2: Estimate mortality and burden of disease estimates for various WASH scenarios.
Output 4: Extract, synthesise and document WASH data on burden of disease from larger environmental
health databases.
Output 5: Include WASH evidence, WASH mortality and burden of disease estimates in relevant PHE
publications.
5. Technical Supervision
The selected Consultant will work under the supervision of:
Responsible Officer:
Annette Prüss-Ustün, EPE
Email:
[email protected]
6. Specific requirements
- Qualifications required:
Postgraduate education (i.e. Master’s level education or higher)
- Experience required:
5 years of experience in with a minimum of 3 at the international level
- Skills / Technical skills and knowledge:
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Sound understanding of the health impacts of WASH on health,
Solid understanding of the tools, methods, existing databases, statistics and types of survey data
available related to WASH;
Specific expertise on meta-regression techniques;
Specific experience with the application of multilevel modelling techniques on environmental
datasets;
Ability to develop estimates of health impacts from environmental risks (e.g. WASH);
Competency in understanding and interpreting reviews, reports and expert opinions on science as
they relate to WASH and health;
Strong communication skills in English, both written and oral;
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Proficient with statistical software, including STATA, and various approaches of data analysis of large
datasets;
- Language requirements:
Fluent in English (reading, writing and speaking)
7. Place of assignment
No specified place of assignment. The incumbent can work remotely.
8. Medical clearance
The selected Consultant will be expected to provide a medical certificate of fitness for work.
9. Travel
The Consultant may be expected to travel, upon request.
10. Expressions of Interest
If you are interested in supporting these activities, please email the Responsible Officer (listed
under item 5) your CV together with an expression of interest highlighting:
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a summary statement of the expertise and experience relevant for the role
time availability
the daily or monthly rates for professional fees
All travel arrangements will be made by WHO – WHO will not be responsible for tickets purchased by the Consultant without the
express, prior authorization of WHO. While on mission under the terms of this consultancy, the Consultant will receive subsistence
allowance.
Visas requirements: it is the consultant’s responsibility to fulfil visa requirements and ask for visa support letter(s) if needed.
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