International Consultant - Oral Health & Surveillance

Purpose of consultancy

This consultancy will develop national oral health policies for Pacific Island Countries (PICs), integrate oral health into primary health care and noncommunicable disease (NCD) programmes, and establish oral health indicators and monitoring systems aligned with WHO’s Global Oral Health Strategy.

Background

Oral diseases affect over 800 million people across the Western Pacific Region, and most Pacific Island Countries currently have no national oral health policy. WHO’s Western Pacific Regional Implementation Plan for the Global Strategy and Action Plan on Oral Health (2026) sets out five acceleration areas for strengthening oral health in the region. This consultancy continues WHO’s technical support to PICs under the Pacific NCD and Health through the Life Course Programme (PNH), focusing on national policy development, oral health indicators and data systems, and the integration of oral health into primary health care and NCD prevention.

Deliverables

The specific outputs under this consultancy include:

Objective 1: Develop national oral health policies

Output 1.1: Develop or update a national oral health plan (or integrate oral health into NCD strategies) using multisectoral platforms for coordination and implementation.

Deliverable 1.1: Draft national oral health policy and/or plan, (or integrate oral health into NCD strategies) developed in at least 3 countries (FJI, NRU, WSM targeted).

Output 1.2: Support the countries to leverage existing data sources (e.g., WHO STEPS and NCD capacity surveys etc.), with reviews involving governments, stakeholders and WHO to support accountability and shared learning.

Deliverable 1.2: Population-based and/or facility-based oral health surveillance data reviewed, analysed and identified the gaps for improving oral health delivery services and policies conducted with country profiling reports. Countries with oral health data targeted (NRU, KIR, FJI, TUV, NIU etc.).

Output1.3: Assist the PICs in enhancing the monitoring and accountability processes for oral health initiatives.

Deliverable 1.3: Technical meetings with WHO HQ, Regional Offices, WCOs, OPIA Secretariat, and key partners (SPC, PIHOA, UNICEF, Academia, WHO Collaborating Center, etc.) to adapt key oral health indicators for alignment with WHO Global Oral Health Key Indicators and integration into the MANA Dashboard M&E framework.

Output 1.4: Assist countries to select regional milestones/indicator targets by 2030

Deliverable 1.4: Selected countries adapted/adopted one of the following key milestones/indicators in their national health service/oral health/NCDs policies. These are: workforce policy, service availability in PHC, essential dental medicines, fluoride delivery guidance, free-sugar policy measures, and national policy + dedicated staff.

Output 1.5: Support advocacy and accelerate actions derived from Suva Declaration (2022/2024)

Deliverable 1.5: Technical meetings/discussions with OPIA Secretariat and technical and policy guidance provided.

Objective 2: Integrate oral health into NCD prevention programmes (tobacco, alcohol, nutrition)

Output 2.1: Use shared-risk-factor approaches: integrate oral health messages into tobacco control, alcohol harm-reduction, and sugar-reduction policies (including sugar-sweetened beverage taxation).

Deliverable 2.1: Oral health messages/indicators/measures integrated into tobacco control, alcohol harm-reduction, and sugar-reduction policies (including sugar-sweetened beverage taxation) in at least 3 countries.

Output 2.2: Link oral health into “Healthy Villages, Healthy Islands” policies and community programmes to support prevention, early detection and long-term care for all.

Deliverable 2.2: Evidence-based key messages and advocacy on linking oral health into NCD prevention programme delivered through Pacific Region-wide network (Pacific NCD Alliance)

Objective 3: Integrate basic oral health prevention and management services into PHC and UHC

Output 3.1: Assist countries to expand UHC benefit packages to include essential oral health services (prevention and basic management based on country needs/capacity), and if available, a potential surveillance model specifically or periodontal diseases for integration with NCD platforms.

Deliverable 3.1: At least two countries included essential oral health services as part of the national UHC benefit packages.

Output 3.2: Assist countries to promote an essential package spanning: supervised toothbrushing and fluoride toothpaste (1000–1500 ppm), fluoride varnish, sealants; and basic PHC treatments (e.g., silver diamine fluoride, glass ionomer fillings using hand instruments, emergency extractions).

Deliverable 3.2: At least two countries promoted an essential package that includes one of the WHO recommended milestones/indicator target.

Output 3.3: Select one country experiencing population ageing in the PICs and assist to integrate oral health into older-person assessments (e.g., intrinsic capacity approaches such as ICOPE). Countries targeted are FJI, KIR, NRU, PLW, TON, TUV, WSM, COK.

Deliverable 3.3: Assessment report developed with recommendations for policy options.

Objective 4: Include oral health prevention in Healthy Settings initiatives

Output 4.1: A consultant will deliver technical assistance to effectively promote Objective 4, ensuring it is thoroughly integrated within Objectives 1 through 3.

Deliverable 3.1: Embed oral health in schools, workplaces and communities through health education, preventive programmes, screening and referral pathways.

Deliverable 3.2: Health Promoting Schools actions include supervised toothbrushing with fluoride toothpaste, fluoride varnish, sealants, screenings, and teacher training.

Deliverable 3.3: Healthy workplaces add oral health to wellness programmes, with targeted support for pregnant women and people living with NCDs.

Objective 5: Build capacity for essential oral health interventions among the health and community workforce

Output 5.1: A consultant will deliver technical assistance to effectively promote Objective 4, ensuring it is thoroughly integrated within Objectives 1 through 3.

Deliverable 5.1: Integrate oral health workforce planning into broader national health workforce strategies (via existing NCD/PHC/UHC platforms).

Deliverable 5.2: Expand capacity-building for PHC/community providers (including task-sharing/task-shifting), including pre-service and in-service training supported by national guidance.

Educational Qualifications

Essential: University degree in dentistry or a related field.

Desirable: Advanced university degree (master's) in public health or a related field.

Experience

Essential: At least five or more years of experience in clinical oral health.

Desirable

• Demonstrated professional experience in public health is preferred.
• Relevant experience working with ministries of health, WHO/UN Agencies, regional organizations, and development partners.
• Experience working in or with Pacific Island Countries or similar contexts.

Technical skills and knowledge

• Knowledge of clinical oral health and public health interventions to improve oral health in resource-limited countries, particularly in the Pacific region.
• Ability to work effectively in teams and adapt to varied educational, professional, and cultural backgrounds while upholding high personal standards.

Languages:

Essential: Fluency in the English Language.

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

The consultant may be expected to travel if the need arises. 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:

• This vacancy notice may be used to identify candidates for other similar consultancies at the same level.
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