Background
The World Health Organization’s (WHO) Updated road map for an enhanced global response to the adverse health effects of air pollution (EB156/24), adopted in May 2025, provides a range of actions and steps for the health sector to do as well as an overall target of reducing mortality from anthropogenic air pollution by 50% by 2040. The strategic framework of the WHO road map includes four areas of work: 1) knowledge and evidence, 2) measuring progress, 3) institutional capacity strengthening, and 4) global leadership and coordination.
In line with the above, a key activity is to inform policymakers and the broad public on the extent of population exposure to and burden of disease and health impacts from poor air quality. Since 2015, WHO is custodial agency for Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) indicators related to air pollution exposure and health, namely SDG 3.9.1, mortality from ambient and household air pollution, SDG 7.1.2, access to clean household energy and SDG 11.6.2, air quality in cities.
WHO is looking for a consultant to assist the team with activities related to SDG 3.9.1 and 11.6.2 and other health statistics, to interact with WHO Global Air Pollution and Health – Technical Advisory Group, as well as to contribute to the update of WHO tools for health impact assessment and burden calculation, such as AirQ+ and CLIMAQ-H.
Purpose of consultancy
To contribute to activities related to health impact assessment of air pollution and World Health Organization (WHO)’s custodial role in air pollution-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDG)'s indicators, namely 3.9.1 mortality from air pollution and - SDG 11.6.2 air quality in urban areas. The assigned duties include data analyses, monitoring and reporting activities, interacting with WHO expert groups on air pollution and health to develop evidence-based tools to support countries conducting health impact and burden calculation from air pollution.
Deliverables
Deliverable 1: Update and maintain the WHO databases on air quality for SDG 11.6.2. Expected by February 2027.
Deliverable 2: Finalize datasets, metadata and summaries for SDG 3.9.1. Expected by June 2026 and February 2027.
Deliverable 3: Finalize datasets, metadata and summaries for the WHO road map target of reducing by 50% the health impacts of air pollution by 2040. Expected by August 2026.
Deliverable 4: Finalize and format the estimates for SDG 3.9.1 for inclusion in the Global health Observatory, UN Statistical reporting, as well as UN statistical commission reporting. Expected by April and September 2026.
Deliverable 5: Liaise with experts on exposure response functions for health impact and burden analyses of air pollution. Expected by November 2026.
Deliverable 6: Contribute to the revision of methods for health impact and burden analyses of air pollution use in WHO tools, e.g. AirQ+, CLIMAQ-H. Expected by January 2027.
Deliverable 7: Facilitate technical responses on SDGs 3.9.1 and the WHO road map target and input data related queries. Expected on a monthly basis.
Deliverable 8: Assist the team with the capacity building activities related to health impact and burden assessments of air pollution, including on the WHO road map target of reducing by 50% the health impacts of air pollution by 2040. Expected by August 2026.
Deliverable 9: Advance integration of methods and knowledge for the fossil fuel and black carbon WHO projects. Expected by July 2026 and February 2027.
Deliverables 10: Provide technical assistance for WHO meetings or expert group meetings.
Qualifications, experience, skills and languages
Educational Qualifications
Essential: Minimum first university degree in public health, chemistry or atmospheric engineering, environmental or health science, or another relevant quantitative field.
Desirable: Advanced university degree - or training in environmental health or exposure assessment of air pollution
Experience
Essential:
- At least 9 years of practical work experience in air pollution exposure assessment, health impact assessment, data management and quantitative analyses of large datasets and data cleaning.
- Experience in data analysis and visualization
- Experience in capacity building and training activities
- Proven record of publications related to air pollution and health
Desirable:
- Experience working in a multicultural environment
- Experience working in the UN system, and possible WHO environment
- Experience working in low- and middle-income countries
Skills/Knowledge
Essential:
- Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including programming, Proficiency in Tableau, STATA or R; Shiny R and/or GIS.
- Excellent knowledge of air pollution data, or environmental statistics, as well as other health-related SDG indicators, and a good understanding of data quality and limitations.
- Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written.
- Scientific technical writing as well as synthesis documents.
- Ability to interact and maintain good working relationships with partners within and across organizations.
- Organizational and planning skills.
- Ability to work independently and in a proactive way.
Languages and level required (Basic/Intermediate/Expert)
Essential: Expert knowledge of English
Desirable: Expert or intermediate knowledge of another UN langugage
Location
Off site: Home-based
Travel
The consultant may be expected to travel to attend relevant meetings (e.g. ISEE August 2026). Dates to be confirmed as the workload evolves. Any travel costs would be funded outside of the renumeration described below.
Remuneration and budget (travel costs are excluded)
Remuneration: Payband level B - Remuneration currency in USD - Payband range between USD 350 – 499 per day and between USD 7,000 – 9,980 per month.
Duration
Expected duration of contract: 11 months
Application
If you are interested, please send your CV, cover letter and a proven record of publications related to air pollution and health by 19 March 2026 to airpollution@who.int and add "Consultancy – Air pollution burden of disease, health statistics and epidemiology" to the email's subject.