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 11.6.2 and associated health statistics, to interact with WHO Global Air Pollution and Health – Technical Advisory Group, as well as to contribute to the development of resources and tools for the implementation of WHO air quality guidelines, including the development and dissemination of interactive tools and training to support the use of health impact assessments to evaluate the health, economic, social and climate costs of sectoral interventions, for example, AirQ+; Benefits of Action to Reduce Household Air Pollution (BAR- HAP); Clean Household Energy Solutions Toolkit (CHEST); and Climate Change Mitigation, Air Quality and Health (CLIMAQ-H). This support helps countries to identify best buys for NCD prevention, improving child health and well-being, and mitigating climate change with health co- benefits.
Purpose of consultancy
To contribute to activities related to the implementation of the World Health Organization (WHO) road map to address the health impacts of air pollution. The assigned duties include data analyses, monitoring and reporting activities on exposure to air pollution, including in conjunction with climate-related impacts, interacting with WHO expert groups on air pollution and health to develop “best buys” for air pollution related to transport and waste, and supporting Member States in strengthening institutional capacity.
Deliverables
Deliverable 1: Coordinate with the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) for the development of chemical composition of SDG 11.6.2 (Air quality in cites) estimates to contribute to the roadmap targets. Expected by August 2026.
Deliverable 2: Liaise with academic institutions, such as the University of Manchester and with WHO experts for the advancement of SDG 11.6.2 (Air quality in cites) at higher resolutions. Expected by July 2026 and February 2027.
Deliverable 3: Finalize and format the estimates for SDG 11.6.2 for inclusion in the Global Health Observatory, UN Statistical reporting, as well as UN statistical commission reporting. Expected by April and September 2026.
Deliverable 4: Facilitate technical activities – including meetings preparation - and collaborations with key stakeholders (e.g. UNEP, WMO, UN HABITAT, C40, etc) around SDG 11.6.2, including input data related queries and tracking progress. Expected by May 2026 and February 2027.
Deliverable 5: Contribute to activities related to linkages between air pollution, climate change and health (e.g. heatwaves, wildfire smoke sand and dust storms and health). Expected by June and December 2026.
Deliverable 6: Provide technical inputs for communication and advocacy activities related to air pollution, climate change and health. Expected by July, October 2026 and January 2027.
Deliverable 7: Contribute to the design and development of “Best Buys” application for the transport sector (e.g. methods, tools and applications). Expected by June, November 2026 and February 2027.
Deliverable 8: Contribute to the design and development of “Best Buys” application for the waste sector (e.g. machine learning applications for scoping reviews). Expected by December 2026.
Deliverable 9: Contribute to the assessment and evaluation of WHO tools (e.g. AirQ+, CLIMAQ-H. Expected by August 2026 and January 2027.
Deliverable 10: Assist with the capacity building activities related to health impacts from air pollution (e.g. health impact assessments from sectoral interventions, health sector trainings etc). Expected by September 2026.
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 the UN system, and ideally WHO environment
- Experience working in a multicultural environment
- Experience working in low- and middle-income countries
- Experience with machine learning methods
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.