Consultant Epidemiologist Respiratory Disease - Band level B, Brazzaville

Area of expertise

Consultant Epidemiologist Respiratory Disease

Purpose of consultancy

The main purpose of the post is to support the Influenza Programme activities in the region, specifically epidemiological aspects of integrated respiratory virus surveillance with the goal of enhancing Member State capacities in the context of influenza epidemiological outputs and surveillance in the African Region.

Background

Emerging and existing health threats pose continual risks to global health security, and this is no more evident than in the African region where infectious disease outbreaks occur frequently. Communication and collaboration among human health, animal health and the environmental sectors under One Health is essential for rapid and appropriate responses to outbreaks to achieve prompt containment. Additionally, early detection of infectious disease outbreaks relies on functional and sensitive indicator and event-based surveillance systems in human and animal populations and functional laboratory capacities. The Pandemic Influenza Preparedness (PIP) Framework, along with the US CDC Influenza Division Cooperative Agreements aim to strengthen global detection and response capacities of countries to influenza outbreaks and potential pandemics.

Influenza surveillance in the WHO African region is implemented through the Integrated Diseases Surveillance and Response (IDSR) system and contributes to the Global Influenza Program through the Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System, which has been in operation for 70 years. The objectives of Influenza Surveillance in the WHO African region are i) to monitor circulating influenza strains, ii) to identify the epidemiologic characteristics of influenza and other unusual respiratory disease events iii) to characterize and monitor trends in illnesses and deaths attributable to acute respiratory infections and iv) to detect new influenza strains capable of causing a pandemic. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic the objectives of GISRS and the regional programme have also expanded to surveillance of other respiratory diseases.

As the pandemic continues to impact populations the importance of respiratory disease surveillance and establishing robust surveillance systems in conjunction with epidemiological data analytics has been highlighted.

In this regard the Influenza Programme within the Infectious Hazard Preparedness area proposes the recruitment of a consultant at the regional level to support countries in the implementation of respiratory virus surveillance and analysis of epidemiological data as indicated below.

Deliverables

Under the technical guidance of the EMP Programme Manager, the PIP Programme Manager and overall supervision of the EPR Regional Emergencies Director, the incumbent will be expected to perform the following duties:

• Support the establishment of integrated influenza/SARS CoV-2 sentinel surveillance in last mile countries;
• Support the establishment or consolidation of RSV Surveillance in pilot and other countries;
• Support countries on implementing PIP PC regional activities including those focused on strengthening capacities for estimations of Burden of Disease etc;
• Analyze weekly FluNet and FluID data and produce a weekly regional bulletin and other external information products;
• Provide support and guidance to countries for the development of National Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Plans;
• Provide technical support to Member States for reporting virological and epidemiological data and developing bulletins/reports for public health information and advocacy at Regional and National level;
• Support the strengthening of influenza and RSV epidemiological surveillance in countries, including training activities, as needed;
• Update regional technical documents for Respiratory Disease Sentinel Surveillance;
• Any other duties that may be assigned by the supervisor(s).

Expected outputs from his/her work include

• Production of the regional weekly influenza bulletin;
• Update generic protocol for Integrated Respiratory Disease Surveillance in line with global guidance;
• Update the Influenza Sentinel Surveillance Training Programme in line with updated regional guidance for countries;
• Support countries to report FluNET and FluID data to global platforms (demonstrating an increase in the number of countries reporting is a long term goal).

Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Educational Qualifications

Essential

An undergraduate degree with a post graduate degree or training in Public Health, Epidemiology or a related science from a recognized university.

Experience

Essential

At least 5 years’ experience in surveillance, preparedness and response of infectious diseases.

Desirable

• Experience in WHO or the UN system.
• Experience in surveillance of respiratory viruses.
• Experience in reporting epidemiological and surveillance data for public health decision making.

Skills/Knowledge

• Good knowledge and technical expertise in infectious disease surveillance, control and prevention, in particular for influenza.
• Excellent communication and facilitation skills. Excellent organizational and analytical skills, complemented by good interpersonal and presentation skills.
• Effective writing of technical documents and computer literacy.

Languages and level required

Excellent knowledge of English or French or Portuguese and a good working knowledge of one of the other languages.

Location

On site in AFRO Regional Office (Brazzaville)

Travel

Travel may be required to support countries with the work outlined in the Terms of Reference i.e implementaiton of Influenza Sentinel Surveillance Training, Burden of Disease estimates workshop, implementation of PISA and development of Respiratory Pandemic Preparedness Plans.

Remuneration and budget

Remuneration

Band level B, USD 7,000/month

Living expenses

A living expense is payable to on-site consultants who are internationally recruited): currency and rate will be communicated in due course.

Expected duration of contract

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.
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