Consultant - Regional Coordination on Ethics, Intergenerational Justice, and Equity Perspectives for Climate Change and Health, Seoul

Purpose of the Consultancy

The consultant will support the development and coordination of the joint WHO ACE–HEG programme on climate change, health, equity, and ethics. This includes enabling the inclusion of First Nations voices, young leaders, and communities across the Asia-Pacific. The consultant will help ensure that intergenerational equity, Indigenous knowledge, and ethical frameworks are central to regional discussions and aligned with global processes.

The work will also reflect on the intrinsic connections between the health of people and the health of ecosystems.

Background

Climate change is not only a health crisis, but also a justice and equity challenge. It exacerbates existing health and social inequities and raises profound ethical questions about responsibility, and fairness.

In response, the WHO Asia-Pacific Centre for Environment and Health (WHO ACE) and the WHO Health Ethics and Governance Unit (HEG) are developing a joint programme of work to explore and elevate the ethical and equity dimensions of climate and health action. This work is anchored in Indigenous knowledge systems, intergenerational justice, and inclusive governance. It will contribute to key policy conversations at COP31 and align with parallel global efforts led by the HEG Technical Advisory Group (TAG) on Climate, Health and Ethics.

The programme also acknowledges the deep interdependence between human health and the natural world. In alignment with WHO’s mandate, it will consider the role of ecosystems and environmental degradation, including equity concerns around who benefits from or bears the cost of changes to nature as they relate to health equity and ethical decision-making.

A key milestone will be a regional technical meeting in March 2026, grounded in community engagement and regional perspectives from across the Western Pacific. The consultant will support this programme of work and ensure strong integration between regional and global efforts, including as they relate to COP31.

Deliverables

Method(s) to carry out the activity

• Programme Coordination: Coordinate and contribute to the development of the joint programme of work between WHO ACE and WHO HQ HEG Unit, incorporating ethics, equity, and intergenerational justice. Provide monthly written updates to project leads.
• Literature Review APW Support: Support the preparation and coordination of an Agreement for Performance of Work (APW) for a literature review examining ethics, equity, Indigenous perspectives, and climate-related health impacts in the Western Pacific Region.
• Working Group Coordination: Support the identification, coordination, and engagement of a small, informal working group of First Nations and Pacific scholars (both young and established), along with regional health and climate experts. Facilitate inclusive and culturally grounded discussions including yarning circles, interviews, and community-led dialogue.
• Regional Technical Meeting Preparation: Collaborate with WHO ACE, WHO HQ, and the working group to co-develop the agenda and background materials for a regional technical meeting on climate, health, ethics, and equity in March 2026. The meeting will feed into COP31 and elevate Indigenous and intergenerational perspectives.
• Global–Regional Alignment: Liaise regularly with the WHO HQ HEG Unit and its TAG on Climate, Health and Ethics to ensure that regional activities align with and contribute to global processes. Facilitate synergies and knowledge exchange across levels.

  Output/s

  📚 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗮 𝗝𝗼𝗯 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗡 𝗶𝗻 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯! 🌍🤝 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗡𝗘𝗪 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗿𝘂𝗶𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗚𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗡 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗨𝗡𝗛𝗖𝗥, 𝗪𝗙𝗣, 𝗨𝗡𝗜𝗖𝗘𝗙, 𝗨𝗡𝗗𝗦𝗦, 𝗨𝗡𝗙𝗣𝗔, 𝗜𝗢𝗠 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀! 🌐

  ⚠️ 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐍𝐨𝐰: 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐢𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐚 𝐣𝐨𝐛 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐍𝐎𝐖!

  1. Draft of workplan; prepare APW for literature review
      
  2. Draft agenda and materials for regional technical meeting; align with global TAG processes
      
  3. Deliver regional technical meeting; finalise coordination notes for HQ and regional follow-up
      
  4. Submit progress updates to WHO ACE and HEG leads; ensure alignment across programme streams

      

     Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

     Educational Qualifications:  

     Essential: First university degree in public health, ethics, environmental health, Indigenous studies, or a related field.
     Desirable: Advanced degree in public health, ethics, environmental health, Indigenous studies, or a related field.

     Experience

     Essential: Up to five years of relevant experience in climate change and health, public health, or health policy, including work on ethics, equity, or social justice.
     Desirable: Demonstrated experience engaging with or supporting First Nations or Indigenous communities, particularly within the Asia-Pacific region. Experience working with WHO, the United Nations, or in international development settings.

     Skills and Knowledge

     Demonstrated ability to draft technical documents, reports, and briefing materials.
     Excellent organizational, communication, and stakeholder engagement skills.
     Familiarity with WHO procedures, tools, and guidance in health and environment is an asset.

     Languages

     Expert knowledge of English (Read/Write/Speak)

     Location

     On-site in the ACE office in Seoul, with duty travel as required.

     Travel

     The consultant is expected to travel.  

     Remuneration and budget:

     Remuneration: Band level A: USD 4,500 - USD 5,000 (monthly)  
     Expected duration:  10 months, September 2025 to July 2026

     Additional Information:

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