CONSULTANT – Medical Officer, Disease Elimination

BACKGROUND

The Vaccine Preventable Diseases (VPD) Programme is part of and contributes to the work of the Universal Health Coverage/Communicable and Non-communicable diseases (UHC/UCN) cluster in the WHO African region. The strategic agenda of the cluster is to reduce disease burden in the WHO African Region, by guiding disease control agenda in Africa, and using analytics to inform strategic investments and tailored interventions for disease control.
The specific objectives of the UCN cluster to which the VPD programme contributes, are to: (i) provide leadership on disease control coordination, partnership and resource mobilization; (ii) contribute to the development of WHO disease-control technical products, services and tools including adoption of new technologies and innovations; (iii) support generation and use of strategic information for action and decision making including optimizing investment; and (iv) provide or facilitate provision of technical support in deployment of WHO technical products and services and institutional capacity building, including support to national disease programmes and regulatory authorities.

PURPOSE OF CONSULTANCY

The consultant will be the focal person for Accelerated Diseases control/Elimination within the Vaccine-Preventable Diseases (VPD) Programme at the IST/WA subregion, which supports the achievement of universal immunization coverage and VPDs control in the African Region, as part of broader efforts to strengthen primary health care and achieve universal health coverage, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Specifically, the consultant has first line responsibility for all aspects accelerated diseases control, guided by the Global Immunization Agenda 2030 (IA 2030), the Regional Strategic plan on Immunization (RSPI), the Addis Ababa Declaration on Immunization targets including but not limited to facilitating coordinated approaches; proactively contributing to the development & adaptation of WHO strategies and policies; reviewing and adapting existing guidelines; conducting and contributing to capacity building activities, support the coordination and contribution to provide transformational leadership in the implementation of the UCN/VPD programme.
This will include contributing to the development, implementation and monitoring of regional evidence-based policies and strategies; while overseeing the accelerated disease control within VPD programmes and activities in member states.  These activities will contribute to building and strengthening the capacity of countries to improve access to integrated health services for the population along the life course and achievement of targeted VPDs control, elimination, and eradication goals.  This will be achieved in a context of strengthened and resilient health systems, contributing to attaining UHC and other health related SDG targets through proactive contribution to supporting governing bodies, technical working groups and advisory bodies, coordination with member states and partners.
The consultant duties include supporting member states from West Africa and leading  the efforts but not limited to; facilitating development National surveillance  plans aligned with the Immunization Agenda 2030, Regional Strategic Plan on Immunization, specific vaccine preventable Diseases plans (Meningitis, Measles/Rubella, Hepatitis B, Yellow fever); monitoring implementation of annual operational plans, coordinating innovative approaches and strategies to control, eliminate and eradicate targeted VPDs; proactively contributing to the development of strategies and policies, including reviewing and adapting existing guidelines; supporting strengthening of governing bodies and disease control technical advisory groups, coordination with partners; conducting and contributing to capacity building activities.
Under the overall direction by the Director of the Universal Health Coverage-Communicable and Noncommunicable Diseases Cluster, and supervision by the VPD program team lead, the consultant is a Disease-control specialist who will lead, and facilitate the Accelerated disease control area including emerging and declared pandemics in the development, implementation, and monitoring of WHO AFRO’s regional immunization strategies, polices, plans, programmes, and interventions to reduce the burden of VPDs towards attainment of UHC and the SDGs  in the WHO African Region. The consultant will facilitate coordinated and integrated approaches contributing to the needs of the Member States of the Region. S/he will provide technical support to establish and accomplish work goals, identify problems, and provide broad guidance for resolving challenges and for possible redesign of existing policies and integration of such policies into other programme areas within the framework of WHO Staff Rules and Regulations, financial rules, and AFRO accepted procedures.

SCOPE OF WORK
The consultant contributes to the following:

• Coordinating and leading the support to the accelerated disease control initiatives in the IST WA sub-region through
• Facilitating alignment of the implementation of the Regional Strategic diseases-control plans with appropriate regional policy frameworks including the Immunization Agenda 2030, the Addis Ababa Declaration on Immunization, and the resolutions of the regional committee and World Health assembly;
• Proactively advising and guiding regional and national partners on disease control at the regional, sub regional and country levels;
• Technically supporting, liaising and working with other disease control programmes including during emergencies and pandemics
• Support the IST Team lead in the development of work plans and budgetary proposals, as required;
• Coordinating, elaboration and implementation of accelerated disease control, elimination and eradication resource mobilization and advocacy strategies;
• Monitoring and reporting on the implementation of recommendations of WHO governing bodies related to accelerated disease control;
• Updating existing guidelines, policies and standard procedures for implementation of accelerated disease control, elimination and eradication at the regional, sub-regional and national levels for Universal health coverage,
• Supporting the development and implementation of harmonized, costed, national strategic plans and protocols for accelerated disease control including ensuring forecasting and maintenance of vaccine stockpiles for emergency vaccination.
• Assessing periodically the accelerated disease control, elimination and eradication through
• Coordinating the mid-term and/or end-term evaluation of Strategic Disease Surveillance plans within member States and in the sub-region;
• Facilitating conduct of appropriate accelerated disease control monitoring and evaluation activities including periodic surveys, comprehensive disease surveillance programs reviews.
• Support the implementation of WHO technical products through
• Publication of periodic reports including: feedback bulletins in close collaboration with team members (at the regional, sub-regional and country levels); submission of information-sharing for annual global progress reports; and maintenance of updated regional and national databases on accelerated disease control;
• Facilitating and supporting deployment of innovations in accelerated disease control including innovations in disease surveillance data systems;
• Coordinating country support to member states including technical support as may be required and in pursuit of enhanced programme planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation; and institutional and human resource capacity building.
• Facilitating research, evidence for decision making on accelerated disease control elimination and eradication through
• Contributing to the development and implementation of regional immunization research agenda on accelerated disease control bottlenecks and deploying appropriate resolution strategies including strategies aimed at addressing the challenges.
• Building capacity for use of triangulated data (routine immunization, epidemiologic and laboratory surveillance data) in stratification of disease burden.

Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Educational Qualifications:
Essential: 
Degree in medicine with post-graduate degree/training in epidemiology, public health or health policy, infectious diseases or communicable diseases or related field.
Desirable: 
Specialization in vaccinology, immunology, clinical research, bacteriology, Parasitology, virology, or infectious diseases

Experience:
Essential: 

• A minimum of seven (7) years progressive experience in developing, designing, and implementing public health programmes, especially managing disease control and disease surveillance system especially planning, implementation and/or M&E of disease control, with a minimum of 3 years inclusive at the international level in low and/or middle-income countries.
• Experience in implementation of disease control programmes
• Experience in overseeing implementation, reviewing and updating existing policies, strategies and guidelines and recommending new initiatives and innovative approaches
• Experience in the development of capacity building tools and databases for monitoring and evaluation purposes, monitoring of disease control
• Experience in disease surveillance and health emergency logistics management,
• Experience in facilitating coordinated approaches to effective programme management, implementation; monitoring and evaluation, national strategic plan development.

Desirable: 

• Experience in policy formulation, quality management, strategic and policy planning as well as facilitating consultations.
• A track record of research, with publications at senior authorship level in peer reviewed journals would be an asset.
• Experience in resources mobilization and working with variety of partners coordination at international level.

Knowledge and Skills

• Within the context of the immunization agenda 2030 and the Regional Immunization Strategic Plans and specific diseases strategic plans (measles, meningitis, yellow fever, hepatitis) and other diseases including emerging and pandemic diseases, the candidate is expected to have demonstrated knowledge of disease control programmes, vaccine preventable diseases and global health.
• Proven ability to think independently and strategically plan, coordinate and implement disease control activities, including norms and standards for disease control and related capacity building; monitoring and reporting on results, progress, lessons learnt and obstacles.
• Proven track record in
• disease control as related VPDs including case-based surveillance, Integrated Disease surveillance (IDSR) and International Health Regulations (IHR), health emergencies as well as how to achieve universal Health coverage (UHC)
• the development and implementation of norms and standards and effective reporting mechanisms and systems, and M&E.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills with ability to write in a clear and concise manner and give technical advice and guidance taking into consideration the views of multiple stakeholders and partners in resource-limited contexts; and to participate in resource mobilization and advocacy activities.
•  Excellent interpersonal skills with ability to promote consensus,
• communicate progress and results, and resolve issues in a proactive manner, while ensuring effective work practices and ethics.
• Diplomacy, tact and courtesy.

Languages

Essential: Expert knowledge of English or French with Working knowledge of the other.

Desirable: Intermediate knowledge of Portuguese.

The above language requirements are interchangeable.

Location & Travel

On-site consultancy: IST West Africa, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. The consultant is expected to travel.

Remuneration

Band level B (P4 level) – USD 8,500 – 9,980 per month.

A living expense is payable to on-site consultants who are internationally recruited.

Duration of consultancy 

Three (3) months.

Additional Information:

• This vacancy notice may be used to identify candidates for other similar consultancies at the same level.
• Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.
• A written test may be used as a form of screening.
• If your candidature is retained for interview, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. WHO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed through the link: http://www.whed.net/. Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and will require individual review.
• For information on WHO’s operations please visit: http://www.who.int.
• WHO is committed to workforce diversity.
• WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.
• Applications from women and from nationals of non and underrepresented Member States are particularly encouraged.
• WHO prides itself on a workforce that adheres to the highest ethical and professional standards and that is committed to put the WHO Values Charter into practice.
• WHO has zero tolerance towards sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct (i.e., discrimination, abuse of authority and harassment). All members of the WHO workforce have a role to play in promoting a safe and respectful workplace and should report to WHO any actual or suspected cases of SEA, sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct. To ensure that individuals with a substantiated history of SEA, sexual harassment or other types of abusive conduct are not hired by the Organization, WHO will conduct a background verification of final candidates.
• Consultants shall perform the work as independent contractors in a personal capacity, and not as a representative of any entity or authority. The execution of the work under a consultant contract does not create an employer/employee relationship between WHO and the Consultant.
• WHO shall have no responsibility whatsoever for any taxes, duties, social security contributions or other contributions payable by the Consultant. The Consultant shall be solely responsible for withholding and paying any taxes, duties, social security contributions and any other contributions which are applicable to the Consultant in each location/jurisdiction in which the work hereunder is performed, and the Consultant shall not be entitled to any reimbursement thereof by WHO.

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