Consultant (EIOS), HIM/WHE/WPRO

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Purpose of the Consultancy

• To act as the focal point for rollout, training and enhanced use of the Epidemic Intelligence from Open Sources (EIOS) initiative;
• To enhance EIOS system use for COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 components of the Regional Surveillance System to enhance event-based surveillance and risk assessment of potential public health threats in Western Pacific countries;
• To support Member State capacity strengthening for public health intelligence including event-based surveillance and risk assessment and promote the use of EIOS as a module for event-based surveillance from publicly available sources of information.

Background

The WHO Health Emergencies Programme (WHE) is mandated to enhance WHO’s capacity for the rapid detection, assessment and follow up of all public health risks. One of the key tools to meet this mandate is the Epidemic Intelligence from Open Sources (EIOS) initiative. The EIOS initiative is a unique collaboration between organizations involved in epidemic intelligence that is building a network for minimizing the impact of emerging risks to human health through their timely detection, assessment, and rapid reporting at the Member State, regional and global levels. The network is supported by the EIOS system, which allows users to collect and filter publicly available information to facilitate these activities. The EIOS Initiative is a cornerstone of the new WHO Hub for Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence and helps strengthen Member State capacity for early detection and evidence-based decision making as required by the International Health Regulations (IHR) (2005).

The EIOS Initiative is growing under an Expansion Strategy which provides a framework for its incremental growth through the inclusion of new stakeholders. It guides the processes for the identification, selection and addition of new participants. Key among these participants are the Member States and Regional public health stakeholders.

The enhanced use of EIOS within WPRO as well as amongst Member States in the Region and other key public health partners will support ongoing EBS efforts.

Work to be performed

Under the guidance of Programme Area Manager, Health Emergency Information and Risk Assessment (HIM) and working with WHO Country Offices, the consultant will be responsible for delivering the following:

Output 1: Support EIOS adoption and system use in WPRO, select Member States or Regional public health Partners.

Deliverable 1.1: Maintenance and active engagement and follow up of existing Member State EIOS communities in the region;

Deliverable 1.2: Ongoing follow-up from the administrative side to engage with identified Member States for new roll-out of EIOS;

Deliverable 1.3: Management of communities on the EIOS system where appropriate;

Deliverable 1.4: Providing tailored support to established and future communities, including for addition and review of sources, priority disease, translation, etc.;

Deliverable 1.5: Training of EIOS communities in WPRO, Member State and Regional public health partners, as appropriate;

Deliverable 1.6: Adapting communication materials to the Regional or country context that demonstrate the basic functions and interface of EIOS that can be shared with MS, WHO Country Offices and partners to demonstrate EIOS initiative;

Deliverable 1.7: Engaging with the EIOS Core Team hosted by the Intelligence Innovation and Integration Unit of the Health Emergency Intelligence and Surveillance Systems division at HQ for remote trainings and ongoing adaptation of EIOS materials.

Output 2: Support development and use of EIOS boards for priority public health threats, including for COVID-19 monitoring in close collaboration with the Information and Planning pillar of the WPRO COVID-19 IMST.

Deliverable 2.1: Liaising with the EIOS Core Team and other Regional Offices to identify best practices for use of EIOS, particularly for COVID-19 including through participation in COVID-19 EBS working group;

Deliverable 2.2: Identifying sources and potential categories to enhance usefulness of EIOS for COVID-19 monitoring based on the surveillance objectives. This may include monitoring of specific variants of concern, vaccination rollout, mass-gathering events, and high-risk settings;

Deliverable 2.3: Based on needs of WHE/HIM and WPRO IMST, supporting development and troubleshooting of EIOS boards to support monitoring of priority public health threats, including COVID-19;

Deliverable 2.4: Conducting periodic evaluations of the capture of data within the boards to assess sensitivity and specificity of the board(s) and filters;

Deliverable 2.5: Participating in routine HIM event-based surveillance, including through EIOS, and risk assessment tasks;

Deliverable 2.6: Providing feedback to the EIOS Core Team about any bugs or requirements, as needed.

Output 3: Provide an end of assignment report prior to departure

Output 4: Carry out other activities as requested by the Programme Area Manager, Health Emergency Information and Risk Assessment.

Qualifications, Experience and Skills

Education

• Essential: First university degree in in epidemiology, public health, communicable diseases control and prevention or a related discipline from a recognized university.

• Desirable: Advanced university degree in public health, epidemiology, quantitative methods and/or medicine from an accredited/recognized institute.

Experience Required

• Essential: Minimum five years’ relevant work experience as an epidemiologist, with experience in event-based surveillance.

• Desirable: Experience working in the Western Pacific Region. Working knowledge of the EIOS platform.

Skills / Technical Skills and Knowledge

• Competent in written and verbal English
• Demonstrated ability to interact in complex situations involving technical, cultural and political elements
• Sound analytical and organizational skills
• Excellent oral and written English communication skills
• Good interpersonal skills and ability to work remotely

Competencies

• Building and promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond
• Communication
• Ensuring the effective use of resources
• Creating an empowering and motivating environment
• Teamwork
• Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences

Place of assignment

The consultancy will initially take place remotely with travel to Manila, Philippines, if conditions allow.

Medical clearance

The selected Consultant will be expected to provide a medical certificate of fitness for work.

Travel

Depending on the situation, travel to countries in the Region may be arranged as necessary.

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******.
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• 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.
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• 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 in each location/jurisdiction in which the work hereunder is performed, and the Consultant shall not be entitled to any reimbursement thereof by WHO.