Consultant - Oral health and diabetes

Purpose of consultancy

To develop the WHO technical brief on oral health for people living with diabetes to improve access to essential oral health care with a particular focus on resource-limited settings.

Background

The WHO Global oral health status report (2022) shows that oral diseases pose a significant global health burden, affecting 3.5 billion people globally. This causes physical symptoms, functional limitations, and detrimental impacts on emotional, mental, and social well-being. Evidence is growing regarding the bidirectional relationship between oral diseases and other noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). The strongest and most consistent evidence shows an association between severe periodontal disease and diabetes mellitus; clinical interventions to treat severe periodontal disease demonstrated improvements in diabetes status. Furthermore, oral diseases share common risk factors with other NCDs such as tobacco use, alcohol consumption, and an unhealthy diet high in free sugars. This suggests that there are co-benefits for a more collaborative effort between the two programmes towards an integrated approach to policy development and management of both oral diseases and diabetes.

Despite the strong association between oral diseases and diabetes, there is currently no recent WHO recommendations on the topic. This is particularly noteworthy, not only due to the strong association between severe periodontal disease and diabetes but also because of the high burden of both diseases and the health impact these conditions have on people. Oral diseases are the most prevalent NCDs, affecting 3.5 billion people, while diabetes affects more than 450 million people globally, with a substantial proportion in low- and middle-income countries. Developing a technical brief is essential to enhance access to oral health care for people living with diabetes.

The purpose of this contract is to develop the WHO technical brief on oral health for people living with diabetes, highlighting the effective intervention for preventing and managing oral diseases in this population. This involves conducting a review of evidence, consulting with experts, and drafting the technical brief on oral health and diabetes. In addition to addressing the different types of associations and relationships between severe periodontal disease and diabetes, this technical brief will explore the effectiveness of oral health interventions (both clinical and population-based) for people with diabetes, as well as the needs, challenges and opportunities for access to essential oral health care, with a particular focus on resource-limited settings.

Deliverables

Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Educational Qualifications:

Essential:

• First university degree in medicine, dentistry, or health-related field.

Desirable:

• Advanced university degree in public health, periodontology or related field.

Experience:

Essential:

• 5-10 years of relevant experience working in periodontology and public health with a history of engagement in academic research.

Desirable:

• Experience working in low- and middle-income countries.
• At least three peer-reviewed publications or book chapters.
• Experience with the intersect of oral health and diabetes will be an asset.

Skills:

• Strong organizational skills.
• Excellent analytical and presentation skills.
• Excellent communication, writing and editing skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to build strong relationships with a variety of stakeholders across different sectors.
• Self-discipline with the ability to work with autonomy and as part of a team.

Languages required:

Essential:

• Expert knowledge of English.

Desirable:

• Intermediate knowledge of an additional UN language.

Location

Off site: Home-based.

Travel

The consultant is not expected to travel.

Remuneration and budget (travel costs are excluded):

Remuneration:

Band level B - USD 350 - 499 per day.

Living expenses (A living expense is payable to on-site consultants who are internationally recruited):

N/A

Expected duration of contract:

4 months part-time (70 days of work during this period).

Additional Information

• This vacancy notice may be used to identify candidates for other similar consultancies at the same level.
• Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.
• A written test may be used as a form of screening.
• If your candidature is retained for interview, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. WHO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed through the link: http://www.whed.net/. Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and will require individual review.
• For information on WHO's operations please visit: http://www.who.int.
• WHO is committed to workforce diversity.
• WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.
• Applications from women and from nationals of non and underrepresented Member States are particularly encouraged.
• WHO prides itself on a workforce that adheres to the highest ethical and professional standards and that is committed to put the WHO Values Charter into practice.
• WHO has zero tolerance towards sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct (i.e., discrimination, abuse of authority and harassment). All members of the WHO workforce have a role to play in promoting a safe and respectful workplace and should report to WHO any actual or suspected cases of SEA, sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct. To ensure that individuals with a substantiated history of SEA, sexual harassment or other types of abusive conduct are not hired by the Organization, WHO will conduct a background verification of final candidates.
• Consultants shall perform the work as independent contractors in a personal capacity, and not as a representative of any entity or authority. The execution of the work under a consultant contract does not create an employer/employee relationship between WHO and the Consultant.
• WHO shall have no responsibility whatsoever for any taxes, duties, social security contributions or other contributions payable by the Consultant. The Consultant shall be solely responsible for withholding and paying any taxes, duties, social security contributions and any other contributions which are applicable to the Consultant in each location/jurisdiction in which the work hereunder is performed, and the Consultant shall not be entitled to any reimbursement thereof by WHO.
• Consultants working in Switzerland must register with the applicable Swiss cantonal tax authorities and social security authorities, within the prescribed timeframes (Guidelines issued by the Swiss Mission are available at: https://www.eda.admin.ch/missions/mission-onu-geneve/en/home/manual-regime-privileges-and-immunities/introduction/Manuel-personnes-sans-privileges-et-immunites-carte-H/Non fonctionnaires et stagiaires.html