International PAHO Consultant - Wastewater Surveillance for Public Health

OBJECTIVE OF THE OFFICE/DEPARTMENT

This is a requisition for employment at the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)/Regional Office of the World Health Organization (WHO)

Contractual Agreement:

Non-Staff - International PAHO Consultant

Job Posting:

May 8, 2026

Closing Date:

May 18, 2026, 11:59 PM Eastern Time

Primary Location:

Off Site

Organization:

IHM Infectious Hazard Management

Schedule:

Full time

PURPOSE OF CONSULTANCY

Purpose of contract:
To support the assessment, strengthening, and strategic development of wastewater surveillance capacities in selected countries, including the design of implementation frameworks adapted to different epidemiological, laboratory, and infrastructure scenarios, aligned with integrated and One Health surveillance approaches.

Objectives of the Department:
The objective of the Health Emergencies Department (PHE) of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) is to increase health sector resilience to emergencies and disasters. PHE assists Member States to strengthen the health sector’s capacities in prevention, risk reduction, preparedness, surveillance, response, and early recovery for emergencies and disasters related to any hazards (natural, man-made, biological, chemical, radiological and others) and, when national capacities are overwhelmed, to lead and coordinate the international health response to contain disasters, including outbreaks, and to provide effective relief and recovery to affected populations. PHE is responsible for ensuring the implementation and updating of the PAHO/WHO Institutional Emergency and Disaster Response Policy.

1. Background:
Wastewater surveillance has emerged as a valuable tool for public health monitoring, enabling early detection of pathogens, trend analysis, and complementary surveillance where clinical testing is limited. It has proven particularly useful during the COVID-19 pandemic and is increasingly recognized as a strategic component of integrated surveillance systems for infectious diseases, including enteric viruses, antimicrobial resistance, and emerging zoonotic threats. Strengthening national and regional capacities for wastewater-based surveillance requires coordinated technical guidance, standardized methodologies, laboratory and data integration, and sustainable implementation models tailored to country contexts.

2. Purpose of the Consultancy:
To support the assessment, strengthening, and strategic development of wastewater surveillance capacities in selected countries, including the design of implementation frameworks adapted to different epidemiological, laboratory, and infrastructure scenarios, aligned with integrated and One Health surveillance approaches.

3. Objectives:
General Objective:
• Provide technical expertise for the evaluation, planning, and implementation support of wastewater surveillance systems for public health.

Specific Objectives:
• Assess existing national capacities for wastewater surveillance.
• Identify technical, laboratory, and operational gaps.
• Develop evidence-based recommendations for system strengthening.
• Design scalable surveillance models tailored to country contexts.
• Support integration of wastewater data into public health decision-making systems.

4. Scope of Work:
• Review existing documentation, policies, laboratory capacity, and surveillance frameworks.
• Conduct consultations with national authorities, laboratories, environmental agencies, and partners.
• Map current wastewater sampling, testing, and data analysis capacities.
• Assess diagnostic platforms, logistics, and data reporting systems.
• Identify priority pathogens and surveillance use-cases.
• Develop technical guidance for implementation and scale-up.
• Provide recommendations for integration with epidemiological and laboratory surveillance systems.
• Support development of monitoring indicators and evaluation frameworks.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES:

Deliverables and payment schedule:

Under the general supervision of the Infectious Hazard Management (IHM) Unit Chief and the direct supervision of the Advisor, Viral Diseases (IHM), the incumbent is responsible for the following deliverables:

 

Product 1 – Inception Report

Workplan, methodology, assessment tools, and timeline.

• Due date: 30 June 2026

• Remuneration: US$ 4,902.00

Product 2 – Capacity Assessment Report

Comprehensive evaluation of current wastewater surveillance capacities in selected countries, including laboratory and diagnostic capacity, sampling systems, data management, workforce needs, and governance frameworks.