Planetary Health assessment for Doctors Without Borders- Consultant

The assessment has the main objective of analysing the health risks related to planetary health, environmental health and environmental degradation in Central America, in order to support MSF CAMINO (CENTRAL AMERICA AND MEXICO INTEGRATED OFFICES) in the development of an operational support strategy.

TERMS OF REFERENCE

Doctors without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an international medical humanitarian organization determined to bring quality medical care to people in crises around the world, when and where they need regardless of religion, ethnical background, or political view. Our fundamental principles are neutrality, impartiality, independence, medical ethics, bearing witness and accountability.

The Mexico and Central America Integrated office (CAMINO), based in Mexico, is one of MSF branch office. It integrates institutional and operational responsibilities (for OCG mission) for the Central America region.

Starting date:

End of May 2021

Duration:

Final report to be submitted by latest September 15^th, 2021 or after 3 months from the beginning of the assessment in case the starting date is delayed

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

The impact of climate change on health is already evident in many of the contexts where MSF provides medical care including in Mexico and Central American region. Climate change and environmental degradation are directly impacting human health through injuries, malnutrition, the spread of diseases such as malaria, dengue and diarrheal diseases, and respiratory and cardiovascular illness.

Furthermore, as an emergency medical organization, MSF aims today at addressing some of the direct (natural disasters), ecosystem mediated (diseases & malnutrition) and indirect (migration & conflicts) impacts of anthropogenic environmental changes on human suffering, including economy-generated environmental disasters.

CAMINO (Central America and Mexico Integrated Office), as the rest of the MSF movement, recognizes that climate changes and environmental degradation impacts health and humanitarian crisis and commits to take action to ensure its operations and action are responsible and responsive.

PURPOSE

CAMINO aims to do a review to map and understand stakeholders, risks and opportunities on climate, environment and health and apply a Planetary Health lens to its work in the region and depending on results, contribute to an initial draft strategy and action plan.

The Planetary Health consultant is responsible for helping research, seek strategic inputs and define a Planetary Health operational support strategy. It will enable solid ground on which to further build collaboration and will give further coherence between future ambitions and ongoing activities in the region. The assessment ultimately helps foster coordination between all relevant actors and identifies what expertise/knowledge/partnership MSF could build in CAMINO to support the development of an adapted and impactful regional operational strategy.

In order to operationalize the assessment and promote a cross-fertilization of MSF personnel, the consultant will be working with an MSF staff with operational profile.

OBJECTIVES

Review existing MSF initiatives,projects and emerging context analyses concerning Planetary Health in and outside the region, including interviews with main MSF stakeholders, in order to identify key lessons learned from MSF’s current and previous operational activities relevant to PltH, including, but not necessarily limited to: CKDnt in Guatemala, arboviruses outbreak and response, extreme weather events response (e.g. post-hurricane Honduras health, mental health and GBV interventions).

Map and interview key external stakeholders (governments, academics, UN, NGOs, community-based environmental groups, Indigenous groups etc.), activities and initiatives, including in the fields of research, policy and advocacy on PltH, to describe the landscape of work of PltH in the region, build a network to share information and create potential for new partnerships.

Analyse the current and forecast main health risks in the Mexico and Central America linked with environmental degradation, environmental health and climate changes (air pollution, water contamination, food insecurity/malnutrition and re-emerging diseases) with review of the existing literature and examples of concrete models, which could help operationalize the needs. Define populations and areas concerned by specific health risks linked to planetary health.

Explore** new areas of potential need for MSF intervention relevant to PltH (e.g. food insecurity in Honduras, air pollution in urban areas, localized flooding, multiple drivers of migration) and note the key health and humanitarian impacts forecast

Identify relevant regional humanitarian debates and initiatives on planetary health concerns eg food insecurity, water and sanitation, re-emerging diseases, air and water pollution and contamination. Map advocacy initiatives carried out in the region, including main stakeholders and objective. Evaluate possible MSF contribution.

Propose further support to be developed in the region to serve MSF operations and the whole MSF movement more broadly.

MSF project coordinator will work in close collaboration with the consultant to achieve the objectives. In particular to facilitate internal MSF operational and institutional contacts and access to documentation. Furthermore, MSF project coordinator will support for the operationalization of the objectives and the analysis of current and future operational challenges in the region linked to Planetary Health.

EXPECTED DELIVERABLES

The consultant will be responsible for the elaboration and finalization of the deliverables. The MSF project coordinator will work in close collaboration with the consultant in order to provide the MSF operational perspective to integrate recommendation and action plan.

1. Inception Report

After conducting initial document review and preliminary interviews. It will include a detailed assessment proposal, including a chronogram.

2. Draft Assessment Report

It should include:

· Planetary Health Regional Strategy (including vision, objectives, research projects and indicators). The objectives should contain recommendations on concrete implementation of operational models and highlight potential advocacy files.

· An estimation of resources required to implement the strategy and a profile (knowledge, competencies, timeline) needed to implement the strategy

· A regional mapping of actors and initiatives related to Planetary Health network in the region

3. Working Session

Presentation of findings prior to the finalization of the report to the management team of CAMINO, mission management, planetary health working group.**

1. Presentation of the finalized assessment and recommendations

DOCUMENTATION

• CAMINO strategic plan 2020

• Mission annual plans and project documents

• OCG Planetary Health strategic documents

• MSF guidance on how to operationalise Planetary Health

• HACE initiatives documents

• Climate Smart MSF TIC

  PROFILE/REQUIREMENTS

  Requirements:

  Technical competencies:

  · Strong writing and analysis skills both for medical/health and general audiences

  · Analysis skills of direct and indirect impacts of climate and environmental changes

  · Demonstrable experience in designing of public or humanitarian health responses to identified challenges linked to climate and environmental change

  Core competencies:

  · Genuine interest in and commitment to humanitarian principles and MSF’s social mission

  · Demonstrated experience in research, literature review, data analysis and development of reports

  · Excellent prioritization and time-management skills with the ability to deliver in a dynamic environment with multiple competing deadlines

  · Initiative, sound judgment and decision-making abilities, with the resourcefulness to tackle complex challenges, developing trends, and areas of possible concerns

  · Experience working with diverse and cross-disciplinary teams

  · Experience building and managing successful relationships with internal and external stakeholders and diverse actors

  · Experience engaging NGOs, community and/or multi‐lateral organizations

  · Creative and ‘out of the box’ thinker

  Knowledge and Experience:

  · At least 5 years’ experience working on environmental health/degradation/climate changes dossiers preferably linked to consequences on vulnerable populations.

  · Prior experience working with international or national organizations on global health issues is an asset

  · Understanding of climate change and environmental degradation impact on health and how this connects to MSF’s social mission and population vulnerabilities

  Education, Certifications and Languages

  · Fluency in written and spoken English and Spanish (B2 level at least)

  · Master Degree in Public Health or PHD linked to public health, occupational or environmental health