This consultancy aims to support the WHO Representative Office for Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam, and Singapore in addressing country-specific and regional priorities related to violence and injury prevention in Malaysia and Brunei Darussalam. The consultant will coordinate key stakeholders in road safety and other violence and injury prevention activities including supporting situation analysis, develop national road safety and other injury prevention resources, support implementation of interventions, and respond to Member State requests.
Violence and Injury Prevention
In the Western Pacific Region, nearly one million people die annually from injuries, with major causes including road traffic injuries, falls, drowning, poisoning, and burns. A significant 85% of fatal injuries occur in low- and middle-income countries. Alcohol consumption notably increases the risk of injury.
WHO aims to reduce injuries in the region through primary prevention and by addressing the social and commercial determinants of health that increase injury risks, including alcohol use. This involves collaboration with various sectors and stakeholders to create environments conducive to long, healthy, and productive lives.
To support this mission in Malaysia, the consultant will assist in adopting evidence-based strategies to reduce harm associated with injury and alcohol use, engage multisectoral stakeholders, and recommend interventions based on identified priorities.
Road Safety
Equitable access to safe and reliable transportation is critical for health and well-being, facilitating access to employment, education, healthcare, and social connections. As vehicle ownership and infrastructure expand, so do fatal and non-fatal road traffic injuries. Malaysia ranks third in road traffic mortality within the WHO Western Pacific Region, with 23.6 deaths per 100,000 population.
Road traffic injuries are the leading cause of child mortality in Malaysia, representing 14% of deaths among children aged 5-14 years. In response, the Malaysian government has publicly committed to addressing road traffic injuries. A scoping exercise conducted in Q4 2021 identified key stakeholders and current priorities, and a road safety workplan for 2022 and onwards with planning for updates as needed was developed by WHO, SafeKids, the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (MIROS), Johns Hopkins University, and the Global Road Safety Partnership. The WHO seeks a consultant to support the implementation of identified interventions for Injury prevention for 2025.
By working closely with the WCO and WPRO technical units, the consultant will provide high quality technical support to the Ministry of Health (MOH) and other partners, to achieve the following outputs:
Output 1: Strengthen the capacity of the key stakeholders in Malaysia to address violence and injury prevention:
Deliverable 1.1: Facilitate situation analysis for violence and injuries including road safety and innovative approaches to design and recommend for impact focused preventive strategies.
Deliverable 1.2: Identify key stakeholders for training in violence and injury prevention, including road safety, and facilitate their engagement.
Deliverable 1.3: Support capacity building for community-based awareness, through media, in which networking with journalists and media professionals focusing on violence and injury prevention, particularly on road safety.
Deliverable 1.4: Provide technical inputs to develop advocacy materials on violence and injury prevention.
Output 2: Strengthen the implementation of road safety legislation in Malaysia:
Deliverable 2.1: Collect and facilitate requests from the relevant governmental agencies for technical assistance to support road safety legislation and provide technical inputs as requested.
Output 3: Strengthen the regional and global coordination around violence and injury prevention:
Deliverable 3.1: Regular engagement with WHO Regional office and with Head Quarters for regular updates for effective implementation of the violence and injury prevention align with the Regional and Global strategies for violence and injury prevention.
Deliverable 3.2: Provide inputs and regular updates through partner engagement in the area of violence and injury prevention, including road safety.
Deliverable 3.3: Complete reports on progress in activities in violence and injury prevention activities, including road safety.
Method(s) to carry out the activity.
Support implementation of the relevant violence and injury prevention including road safety activities.
Support process documentation, such as drafting notes for the record, progress reports on violence and injury prevention, including road safety.
Conduct literature searches, gather data, analyze it and draft technical briefs, presentations and talking points on violence and injury prevention .
Coordinate with stakeholders with and outside the organization and facilitate discussions related to the focus areas.
Maintain communication through emails, video calls, face-to-face meetings.
Provide technical support under the supervision of technical leads in the WHO Country Office (WCO) and WHO Regional Office (WPRO).
Essential: First university degree in social or behavioural sciences or a related field from an accredited university.
Desirable: Master's degree in public health.
Experience: At least five years of experience working in public health, favorably in violence, injury, road safety and alcohol harm reduction.
Desirable: Experience working with the MOH Malaysia at the national or State level on violence and injury prevention as well as road safety programme(s); relevant work experience in WHO, other UN agencies, and relevant non-governmental organizations.
A thorough knowledge of violence, injury, and alcohol harm prevention measures, particularly those related to road safety
Ability to lead policy and practice implementation work within violence, injury, and alcohol harm reduction
Excellent inter-personal skills with the demonstrated ability to work effectively with government officials as well as with national and international organizations
Demonstrated ability to build partnerships and work in multicultural and multidisciplinary settings
Good communication skills and a teamwork spirit
Strong writing skills and good attention to detail
Persistence in follow-up, tact, and diplomacy in working with diverse stakeholders
English and Bahasa Melayu (Read - Write - Speak / Expert Level)
WHO Country office in Malaysia
The selected Consultant may be required to travel locally and/or internationally, to meet with the Ministry of Health, (MOH) and other stakeholders.
Remuneration: TBD
Expected duration of contract: 10 months, February to December 2025
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