International Consultant – NCD Surveillance (STEPS and P-COSI)

Purpose of consultancy

To strengthen national capacity for noncommunicable disease (NCD) surveillance in Pacific Island Countries and Areas (PICs) through the planning, implementation, analysis and reporting on WHO STEPwise approach to noncommunicable disease risk factor surveillance (STEPS) surveys and Pacific Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative (P-COSI), and through the development of analytical outputs to support policy and programme action.

Background

The World Health Organization (WHO) supports Member States in strengthening NCD surveillance through standardized tools and approaches such as the STEPwise approach to NCD risk factor surveillance (STEPS) and the Pacific Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative (P-COSI). Several Pacific countries are currently conducting or preparing for multiple rounds of STEPS surveys, while P-COSI is being introduced in selected countries.

Given limited national capacity and increasing demand for high-quality data to inform NCD prevention and control, WHO provides technical and strategic support across survey planning, implementation, data analysis, and reporting. This consultancy will contribute to ongoing regional efforts to improve the availability, quality, and use of NCD risk factor data in line with global standards and regional priorities.

Deliverables

The specific outputs under this consultancy include:

Objective 1: Strengthen planning, implementation and monitoring of STEPS surveys in selected PICs.

Output 1.1: STEPS survey implementation plans finalized.

Deliverable 1.1.1: Develop and finalize implementation plans, including sampling design, questionnaires, and costing, for at least three countries.

Output 1.2: Capacity-building on STEPS conducted.

Deliverable 1.2.1: Conduct at least one in-country training on STEPS protocols, data collection, and quality assurance.

Output 1.3: STEPS data prepared for analysis.

Deliverable 1.3.1: Compile required field data and prepare datasets for cleaning and analysis in at least one country.

Objective 2: Strengthen analysis, reporting, and use of STEPS survey data.

Output 2.1: STEPS datasets analysed.

Deliverable 2.1.1: Clean, validate, weight, and analyse datasets, including trend analysis where applicable, for at least two countries.

Output 2.2: STEPS analytical outputs developed.

Deliverable 2.2.1: Prepare draft tabulations, summary tables, preliminary analytical findings (e.g., fact sheet content), and draft survey reports where applicable.

Objective 3: Strengthen monitoring and reporting of STEPS implementation.

Output 3.1: Progress reporting completed.

Deliverable 3.1.1: Develop at least two progress reports summarizing implementation status, key issues, and actions.

Objective 4: Strengthen planning, implementation and monitoring of P-COSI surveys in selected PICs.

Output 4.1: P-COSI implementation plans finalized.

Deliverable 4.1.1: Develop and finalize implementation plans, including questionnaires and costing, for at least two countries.

Output 4.2: Capacity-building on P-COSI conducted.

Deliverable 4.2.1: Conduct at least one training (online or in-country) on P-COSI protocols, data collection, and data management.

Objective 5: Strengthen analysis, reporting, and regional collaboration for P-COSI data.

Output 5.1: P-COSI datasets analysed.

Deliverable 5.1.1: Clean, validate, and analyse datasets for participating countries.

Output 5.2: Analytical outputs and regional inputs developed.

Deliverable 5.2.1: Prepare preliminary analytical outputs and inputs for regional comparison where applicable.

Output 5.3: Regional data management discussions documented.

Deliverable 5.3.1: Coordinate and document discussions with regional partners on data storage and management approaches.

Objective 6: Support development of context-specific approaches to strengthen NCD policy implementation.

Output 6.1: Policy analysis and intervention framework developed.

Deliverable 6.1.1: Develop a report on identifying policy gaps, proposed context-specific interventions, stakeholder engagement approaches, and a draft monitoring and evaluation framework for at least one country.

Objective 7: Facilitate implementation of WHO Country Capacity Survey 2026 in PICs.

Output 7.1: Country Capacity Survey completed.

Deliverable 7.1.1: Compile and submit completed survey responses for at least 14 Member States.

Essential

• University degree in biostatistics, epidemiology, public health, health sciences, or a related field.

Desirable

• Advanced university degree (master’s) and/or training in noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), surveillance, epidemiology, biostatistics, or related public health disciplines.

Essential

• At least five years of professional experience in public health, epidemiology, disease surveillance, or NCD prevention and control.
• Experience supporting the planning, implementation, analysis and reporting of population-based health surveys/
• Experience designing and implementing multi-country surveys.

Desirable

• Experience supporting WHO STEPS surveys.
• Experience supporting childhood obesity or school-based surveillance initiatives such as P-COSI.
• Experience supporting data analysis, interpretation and reporting for NCD surveillance activities.
• Experience working with Ministries of Health, national counterparts, and international organizations, working in Pacific Island Countries and Areas.

Technical skills and knowledge

• Knowledge of NCD risk factor surveillance, including tobacco use, alcohol consumption, unhealthy diets and physical inactivity.
• Knowledge of epidemiology and statistical methods used for population-based surveys.
• Ability to analyse and interpret surveillance data and develop technical reports and analytical outputs.
• Familiarity with WHO standardized tools, methodologies, protocols and guidelines for NCD surveillance, particularly the WHO STEPS survey.
• Knowledge of survey design, sampling methodologies, data quality assurance, data management and validation processes.
• Knowledge of P-COSi methodologies and implementation approaches.
• Knowledge of monitoring and evaluation approaches for NCD policies and interventions.
• Knowledge of public health systems and NCD priorities in Pacific Island Countries and Areas.

Languages:

Essential: Fluency in the English Language.

Desirable: Intermediate or higher knowledge of French.

Competencies

• Technical Expertise

Teamwork

• Communication
• Producing results

Location

Home-based. The consultant will work remotely in support of activities coordinated by the WHO Division of Pacific Technical Support.

Travel

Travel may be required to support STEPS and P-COSI implementation activities, including country missions, technical meetings, training activities and stakeholder consultations in Pacific Island Countries and Areas. Travel requirements will be determined in accordance with programme needs and WHO travel polices.

Remuneration (travel costs are excluded)

• Remuneration: The remuneration for this international consultancy is estimated to be in the range of USD350 to USD499 per day (Band B), subject to qualifications and experience.
• Expected duration of contract: 6 to 11 months, starting 1 September 2026 (subject to completion of recruitment and selection formalities).

Additional Information:

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