Purpose of consultancy
The objective of the proposed consultancy is to support the work of WHO to advance activities of the Commission on Sea Level Rise, Health, and Justice, in particular in setting operational structure and thematic Working Groups and preparing for the second meeting planned in 2026.
Background
Sea level rise (SLR) poses an urgent, escalating threat to health and ecosystems worldwide. The urgency of addressing sea-level rise has never been greater. Global mean sea levels have risen significantly since 1901, with an accelerated rate of 4.62 mm per year between 2013 and 2022. The impacts are severe, particularly for low-lying and coastal communities that face heightened risks to their health, security, and wellbeing. Nearly 11% of the global population lives in these at-risk areas. Current estimates suggest that up to 630 million people could be at risk of annual flooding under high emissions scenarios by 2100.
The sea level rise exacerbates coastal flooding, saltwater intrusion, food insecurity, shifts in infectious disease patterns, and mental health challenges, disproportionately affecting low-lying regions and marginalized communities. Infectious diseases like cholera and dengue fever are spreading due to changing climate conditions, and non-infectious risks from pollutants as well as changing dietary priorities. Displacement due to sea-level rise could affect up to 1.2 billion people by 2050, threatening cultural heritage and social cohesion.
The Implementation of the Global Action Plan on Climate Change and Health in the Western Pacific Region (2025) emphasized WHO’s role to support the establishment of a global research commission on sea-level rise and health, providing technical expertise, evidence synthesis and policy recommendations to inform decision-making nationally and globally. With the renewed and expanded mandate, the WHO Asia-Pacific Centre for Environment and Health operates as a centre of scientific and technical excellence in the Western Pacific Region supporting the Member States in tackling threats posed by sea level rise to health and in operationalization of the global and regional commitments.
Deliverables
Under the strategic guidance and close consultation with the ACE Director and responsible technical unit, the consultant is required to deliver the following tasks:
Output 1: Working Group establishment, refinement, and coordination
Deliverables:
1.1 Establish operational structure and support system for five Working Groups, including expectations, timelines, communication channels, and shared documentation
1.2 Facilitate regular calls (potentially monthly) across each of the groups, ensuring coordinated progress and alignment with Commission vision
1.3 Provide ongoing technical, editorial, and conceptual input to Working Groups, supporting outline work plans
1.4 Maintain regular liaison with Co-Chairs and WHO, with a regular progress update schedule
1.5 Integrate ethics and values framework into Working Group planning, in collaboration with HQ ethics consultant
Output 2: Early planning of second Commission Meeting
Deliverables:
2.1 Draft initial outline for concept note for September meeting, including preliminary agenda and cross-group narrative structure in consultation with Co-Chairs and WHO.
Output 3: Review progress on work strands, refine goals, ensure collaborative working patterns.
Deliverables:
3.1: Arrange calls with working groups and funders, offer support and steer them in early working patterns
3.2: Develop and start process to support the initial writing, structure and streamlining of central arguments and narrative in a dynamic document, and overall framework of the early structured draft Commission as it takes shape, with oversight function for consistency and sense.
3.3 Provide strategic and editorial oversight for website content, working with secretariat and technical colleagues to include new and additional information as appropriate.
3.4 Provide technical support additional work requested by WHO technical unit (within any remaining days).
Qualifications, experience, skills and languages
Educational Qualifications
Essential: Master’s degree in environmental health, ecology, natural science, or political studies or a related field
Experience
Essential: Minimum 7 years' experience in development of interdisciplinary research on climate change and health at national and international level;
Minimum 7 years' experience of convening international and interdisciplinary teams, leading, developing, and critically supporting visions, steering, and contributing to scientific output;
Experience of delivering successful Lancet Commissions in health and climate change.
Desirable: Experience of work at the national level and with international organizations on climate change and health;
Experience of working with high level leadership at thinktanks, health organisations, UN agencies, and with political Heads of State.
Skills / Technical Skills and Knowledge:
Proven knowledge and expertise of critically leading research on climate and health, and publishing the results in peer reviewed journals.
Good communication, team work and interpersonal skills
Language:
Essential: Expert knowledge of English (reading, writing, and speaking).
Location
Off site: Home-based
Travel
The Consultant may be required to travel to the 2nd Sea-Level Rise Meeting in Australia, and elsewhere, at the request of the ACE Director and Responsible Officer to discuss technical details, review progress of work, participate in meetings.
Remuneration and budget
Remuneration: Pay band level B - USD 8,000 - 9,000 (monthly)
Duration: 5.5 months, February to July 2026
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.
• The WHO is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The WHO recruits workforce regardless of disability status, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, language, race, marital status, religious, cultural, ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds, or any other personal characteristics.
The WHO is committed to achieving gender parity and geographical diversity in its workforce. Women, persons with disabilities, and nationals of unrepresented and underrepresented Member States (https://www.who.int/careers/diversity-equity-and-inclusion) are strongly encouraged to apply for WHO jobs.
Persons with disabilities can request reasonable accommodations to enable participation in the recruitment process. Requests for reasonable accommodation should be sent through an email to reasonableaccommodation@who.int
• An impeccable record for integrity and professional ethical standards is essential. 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 (https://www.who.int/about/who-we-are/our-values) 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 re-port 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 short-listed candidates.
• WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.
• Consultants shall perform the work as independent contractors in a personal capacity, and not as a representative of any entity or authority.
• WHO shall have no responsibility 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.
• Please note that WHO’s contracts are conditional on members of the workforce confirming that they are vaccinated as required by WHO before undertaking a WHO assignment, except where a medical condition does not allow such vaccination, as certified by the WHO Staff Health and Wellbeing Services (SHW). The successful candidate will be asked to provide relevant evidence related to this condition. A copy of the updated vaccination card must be shared with WHO medical service in the medical clearance process. Please note that certain countries require proof of specific vaccinations for entry or exit. For example, official proof /certification of yellow fever vaccination is required to enter many countries. Country-specific vaccine recommendations can be found on the WHO inter-national travel and Staff Health and Wellbeing website. For vaccination-related queries please directly contact SHW directly at shws@who.int.
• In case the recruitment website does not display properly, please retry by: (i) checking that you have the latest version of the browser installed (Chrome, Edge or Firefox); (ii) clearing your browser history and opening the site in a new browser (not a new tab within the same browser); or (iii) retry accessing the website using Mozilla Firefox browser or using another device. Click the link for detailed guidance on completing job applications: Instructions for candidates.
