- Purpose of the Consultancy
Under the WHO Health Emergencies Programme, the incumbent will provide technical support to enhance health emergency preparedness and response at the country level, ensuring compliance with the International Health Regulations (IHR). The role involves advising the WHO country office on health security issues, development of all-hazard health emergency plan and supporting the implementation of emergency preparedness and response plans. Besides, the incumbent will be deployed to emergency operations whenever required.
2. Background
Somalia has demonstrated incremental progress in strengthening its health emergency response capacities over recent years. Nevertheless, various external and internal factors continue to impede sustained development in this domain. The country remains vulnerable to a broad spectrum of health threats, including infectious disease outbreaks, natural disasters, and other public health emergencies, which can significantly undermine national and global health security.
Multiple evaluations have highlighted critical gaps in Somalia’s preparedness and response frameworks. The 2016 Joint External Evaluation (JEE) revealed limited capacity or complete lack of capacity across 44 out of 48 technical areas under the International Health Regulations (IHR). Key deficiencies include inadequate legislation and regulatory frameworks, weak surveillance systems, insufficient laboratory capacity—particularly for antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and zoonotic diseases—and fragmented coordination among stakeholders. The country’s health workforce faces challenges in hiring, training, and retaining qualified personnel, while existing protocols for disease notification and emergency response are either underdeveloped or not operational.
Cross-cutting issues such as limited legal authority, inadequate domestic funding, reliance on external support, and security concerns further hinder Somalia’s ability to develop robust health emergency preparedness and response mechanisms. The country’s capacity for real-time event-based surveillance, risk assessment, and multi-sectoral coordination remains insufficient, risking being a weak link that could compromise global health security.
In 2018, Somalia conducted a multi-hazard risk assessment using WHO’s STAR approach, which identified cholera, measles, polio, malnutrition, and dengue/chikungunya as key hazards. Persistent cholera outbreaks, diphtheria outbreaks, low vaccination coverage, inadequate access to safe water, recurrent droughts, floods, and ongoing conflict and displacement create a complex emergency environment that demands an integrated, multisectoral approach to preparedness and response.
Despite these challenges, Somalia’s IHR capacities stand at approximately 35%, well below the EMRO/ regional and global averages of 60% and 65%, respectively, underscoring the urgent need for targeted technical assistance. A dedicated WHO consultant is essential to support the Somali WHO country office and health authorities in addressing these gaps, strengthening emergency response capabilities, enhancing preparedness and response plan, and ensuring a coordinated approach to health security that aligns with international standards and best practices.
- Planned Timelines:
Start date: (TBD): 20th May 2026
End date: (TBD): 19th November 2026 - Expected Outputs and deliverables:
Output 1: Provide expert technical guidance to national authorities in strengthening health emergency preparedness and response capabilities, ensuring effective planning, risk assessment, and implementation of emergency measures.
Deliverable 1.1: Gather, consolidate data to develop technical reports and guidelines to support national authorities in emergency preparedness and response planning.
Deliverable 1.2: Develop comprehensive, operational all-hazard emergency response and contingency plans, tailored to the national context.”
Deliverable 1.3: Develop detailed hazard analyses and risk assessments to identify vulnerabilities and prioritize actions.
Deliverable 1.4: Support and coordinate the development of preparedness and response plans for all identified hazard risk.
Deliverable 1.5: Provide technical guidance to national authorities on operationalization of the emergency operation center to support in implementation of hazard preparedness efforts.
Output 2: Support capacity-building initiatives and provide workshops for national health authorities and partners on the multi-hazard preparedness and response plans.
Deliverable 2.1: Conduct workshops in collaboration with the national authorities for the development of the multi-hazard emergency response plan.
Deliverable 2.2: Produce Multi- Hazard Emergency preparedness and response plan.
Deliverable 2.3: Assess existing capabilities, identify gaps, and conduct capacity-building workshops and training sessions for national health authorities on multi-hazard emergency preparedness and response planning.
Output 3: Coordinate the operationalization of the public health emergency operation centers (PHEOCs) in collaboration with relevant stakeholders to ensure readiness and effective response capabilities.
Deliverable 3.1: Review the PHEOC standard operating procedures (SOPs) and protocols.
Deliverable 3.2: Establish communication and coordination mechanisms among PHEOCs and relevant partners.
Deliverable 3.3: Ensure integration of PHEOCs into the national emergency response framework.
Deliverable 3.4: Collaborate with the WHO M&E team to Monitor and evaluate the readiness and functionality of each PHEOC regularly.
Deliverable 3.5: Conduct capacity-building workshops and training sessions for PHEOC staff.
Output 4: Develop a National Cholera plan.
Deliverable 4.1: Conduct workshops in collaboration with the national authorities and other stakeholders for the development of the National Cholera plan.
Deliverable 4.2: Develop a National Cholera plan, tailored to the National context.
