Consultant - Enhancing hazard categorization for the Epidemic Intelligence from Open Sources (EIOS) initiative

Purpose of consultancy

The Information Systems and Data Management team is seeking to improve the categorization of content for the early detection and verification of potential health threats and risks in the context of the Epidemic Intelligence from Open Sources (EIOS) Initiative to improve the system and support expansion to and adoption across WHO, Member States and other organizations, especially in the context of the current COVID-19 situation.

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 threats and risks. This provides the opportunity to establish a framework that facilitates the implementation of a common approach to public health intelligence and event management across all levels of the organization. The EIOS initiative is a network of organizations with one common goal: to minimize the impact of emerging threats and risks to human health through quality and timely intelligence at the member state, regional and global levels. In doing so, it helps strengthen capacity for early detection and evidence-based decision making, aligning with IHR event-based surveillance capacity requirements. The EIOS Initiative is being led by the Information Systems and Data Management team at headquarters, in collaboration with various stakeholders. The EIOS system uses a broad range of publicly available information which is categorized based on pre-defined keyword combinations and exclusions. These category definitions directly affect the quality of the system, impacting the level of noise, the content seen by system users, how content is identified and the ability of users to build relevant and specific filters for the content most relevant to them. Categories need to be reviewed, re-thought and updated to help create a systematic and reliable way to identify and classify content. Priority categories identified by Member States also need to be reviewed, enhanced and, where required, added and/or translated to ensure that the EIOS system is correctly capturing and categorizing relevant content. These ongoing and evolving changes, enhancements and additions must be continually addressed to ensure relevance to and acceptance and adoption by Member States and other organizations. Much work has been done on COVID-19 related categories since early 2020, however given the ongoing evolution of the situation (e.g. vaccination campaigns, changing public health measures and the emergence of new variants), this work must be maintained and continued. In addition, over half a dozen new Member States joined the EIOS initiative over the past year, with each requiring reviews, updates, and, in some cases, translations to category definitions in the system. Over a dozen additional Member States are planned for EIOS expansion in 2021-22, also necessitating the ongoing review and improvement of category definitions as other solutions to link categories through the use of graph data models are also being explored. The work to be carried out under this contract aims to improve the categorization of content for the early detection and verification of potential health risks in the context of the EIOS Initiative and contribute to new methods and approaches to enhance the EIOS system and support requirements identified by stakeholders that have already adopted EIOS, as well as those identified for the current phase of EIOS expansion.

Deliverables

Output 1

Creation and enhancement of category definitions, especially as related to COVID-19, including public health and social measures, and as prioritized by WHO, EIOS Member States and other stakeholders.

1.1 Review of catalogued category definitions, ongoing identification and documentation of issues and priority ranking of categories to target for improvement, in collaboration with stakeholders (current EIOS communities and stakeholders targeted for expansion, including Member States) 1.2 Development of identified missing category definitions in collaboration with subject matter experts 1.3 Iterative modification, evaluation and improvement of prioritized category definitions (including removal and consolidation where appropriate).

Output 2

Creation of a new linked categories graph data model within the context of COVID-19 to explore augmentation and enhancement of current methodology

2.1 Contribute to the development of a graph data model for COVID-19 and other health threats as determined by the team 2.2 Document contributions, including methodology, findings, issues and recommendations for augmenting the current categorization methodology with a graph data model

Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Educational Qualifications

Advanced degree (Master’s or higher) in epidemiology, public health, international health, or related field.

Experience

Essential:

At least 7 years of experience in epidemiology and public health including at least 3 years of experience working with media monitoring systems for the early detection of public health risks and threats.

Desirable:

• Experience with the EIOS system and its functionality and a good understanding of open source information and main principles of public health intelligence are significant assets.
• Prior experience with graph data models and network analytics.

Skills/Knowledge

• Demonstrated ability to interact in complex situations involving technical, cultural and political elements.
• Sound analytical and organizational skills.
• Demonstrated knowledge of surveillance issues and emerging diseases in international context.

Languages and level required

Essential:

Expert knowledge of English.

Desirable:

Intermediate knowledge of another UN language.

Location

Offsite

However, the consultant is expected to liaise closely with the Information Systems and Data Management team in Geneva and other stakeholders, which will require the consultant to be reachable during normal business hours Geneva time.

Travel (If travel is involved, a medical certificate of fitness for work will be required.)

The consultant may be required to travel to meetings with stakeholders and collaborators. Travel and accommodation during official duty travels will be paid by WHO as per the prevailing rule and travel policy of WHO applicable for consultants.

Remuneration and budget (travel costs excluded)

Remuneration:

Band level B 7000 USD - 9,980 USD per month

Living expenses (A living expense is payable to on-site consultants who are internationally recruited):

Not applicable.

Work schedule (if applicable) / Duration of contract:

Start date: As soon as possible End date: Duration of 11 months with up to 11 additional months subject to funding and satisfactory performance.

Additional Information section:

• 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's workforce adheres to the WHO Values Charter and is committed to put the WHO Values into practice.
• 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.
• Consultants working in Switzerland must register with the applicable Swiss cantonal tax authorities and social security authorities, within the prescribed timeframes (Guidelines issued by the Swiss Mission are available at: https://www.eda.admin.ch/missions/mission-onu-geneve/en/home/manual-regime-privileges-and-immunities/introduction/Manuel-personnes-sans-privileges-et-immunites-carte-H/Non fonctionnaires et stagiaires.html