Consultant IHP- Seasonal Influenza Program

Contract

This is a No grade contract. More about No grade contracts.

.

1. Purpose of the Consultancy

The WHO Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office supports and coordinates closely with 22 countries and territories in the Region to reduce the burden of seasonal influenza nationally and regionally by promoting research and innovation, strengthening influenza surveillance, monitoring and utilizing data and expanding seasonal influenza prevention and control policies and programs to protect the vulnerable. Technical assistance is also being provided to countries to prioritize the introduction of seasonal influenza vaccines, develop vaccine policies and programmes and monitor/evaluate the seasonal influenza vaccine programmes. As such, Infectious Hazard Preparedness unit, in collaboration with the Immunization, Vaccine Preventable Diseases unit, are seeking a consultant to support introduction, strategizing seasonal influenza vaccination policies, programmes and related evidence and advocacy in countries of the Region.

2. Background

In the last decade, countries in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) have invested in the establishment and strengthening of epidemiological and virological surveillance of influenza for determining the seasonality, severity and characteristics of virus circulation in the countries. With the support of WHO/EMRO, some countries in the region conducted studies that document the disease burden of annual influenza epidemics, while calculating the baseline/threshold values to aid in early detection of pandemic influenza. It is expected that the findings and recommendations from these studies will support the development and implementation of seasonal influenza introduction policies and programmes within the context of national health priorities in EMR countries.

A sustainable seasonal influenza program not only reduces disease burden, but also strengthens health systems and leads to better pandemic preparedness. Since it is conducted annually, seasonal influenza vaccination allows for countries to develop, practice and refine vaccine approval, distribution and delivery plans each year. Increasing national, regional, and global efforts to expand the use of seasonal vaccines provides economic and public health benefits today while developing the systems for pandemic response in the future.

There has been growing interest among EMR countries in defining seasonal influenza vaccination policy and establishing programme to increase the uptake and coverage of seasonal influenza vaccine among high-risk groups such as pregnant women, children, health care workers, chronically ill individuals, and elderly adults. In November 2019, WHO/EMRO in collaboration with US-CDC and Task Force for Global Health, organized a one-day consultative meeting to discuss ways to promote the use of seasonal influenza vaccine among high-risk groups in the EMR, and identified priority activities. The priority activities proposed are directly linked to the Global Influenza Strategy (2019-2030) and the outcomes of the above consultation meeting with partners and stakeholders in addition to the specific needs expressed by the countries. It is expected that implementation of these activities will be crucial to the successful introduction of seasonal influenza vaccination programs in the Region.

3. Planned timelines (subject to confirmation)

Start date: 15/06/2021

End date: 14/12/2021

4. Work to be performed

Output 1: Document an operational approach on introduction and integration of seasonal influenza vaccination in national immunization programmes

Deliverable1.1 Update the WHO/EMRO survey on seasonal influenza vaccination policies and practices in EMR countries and produce a report which details the national level policies and approaches being applied in EMR countries including background, available data, different aspects of seasonal influenza vaccination policies and analysis of a way forward”.

Deliverable 1.2 Develop action plan, together with Immunization program, on feasibility of introducing (in priority countries) and strategizing (in selected countries) seasonal influenza vaccination for vulnerable population groups

Output 2: Document successful introduction of seasonal influenza vaccination policies and lessons learned in selected EMR countries

Deliverable 2.1: Develop a comprehensive standardized tool to assess the influenza vaccination policy in place, integration of influenza vaccination policy in the national immunization policy (especially into the policy for adult vaccination), the system components (including supply chain, delivery strategy and information management regarding influenza vaccination), how challenges were mitigated and how uptake rates were increased for the lessons learned study

Deliverable 2.2: Conduct a desk review and interviews with relevant national stakeholders utilizing the developed tool in selected countries

Deliverable 2.3: Produce 3 reports summarizing findings of the reviews conducted, documenting successful introductions of vaccination policies and lessons learned

Output 3: Support selected countries in EMR in developing policy briefs for introducing seasonal influenza vaccination policies/programs

Deliverable 3.1: Jointly with an academic and research institution, conduct literature review of available global, regional, and national evidence for introducing seasonal influenza vaccination policy/program (e.g. vaccine effectiveness, disease/economic burden, etc)

Deliverable 3.2: As facilitator, design and conduct national workshops in selected countries as an extended meeting of the National Immunization Technical Advisory Group (NITAG) to seek advice and draft policy brief recommendations

5. Technical Supervision

The selected Consultant will work on the supervision of:

Wasiq Khan (First level)

Team Lead, Influenza and Emerging Respiratory Diseases

Infectious Hazard Preparedness Unit, Health Emergencies Department

Abdinasir Abubakar (Second level)

Manager, Infectious Hazard Preparedness Unit, Health Emergencies Department

6. Specific requirements

- Qualifications required:

Essential: University degree in Medicine with Master's degree in public health, epidemiology or related discipline

Desirable: Training in communicable diseases or health policy, systems

- Experience required:

Essential: At least 7 years of progressive experience in public health program implementation at national and international level with experience in drafting, implementing, analysing, researching, and developing health care policies and programs

Desirable: Prior experience in immunization and vaccine-preventable diseases control program.

- Skills / Technical skills and knowledge:

Excellent oral and written communication skills

Organization and efficiency skills

Data handling and analysis skills

Interpersonal and collaboration skills

- Language requirements:

English expert level required, intermediate level of French or Arabic is desired.

7. Place of assignment

Cairo, Egypt

8. Medical clearance

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

9. Travel

The selected Consultant may be expected to travel to countries of the Region upon request.

All travel arrangements will be made by WHO – WHO will not be responsible for tickets purchased by the Consultant without the express, prior authorization of WHO. While on mission under the terms of this consultancy, the Consultant will receive subsistence allowance.

Visas requirements: it is the consultant’s responsibility to fulfil visa requirements and ask for visa support letter(s) if needed.

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's workforce adheres to the WHO Values Charter and is committed to put the WHO Values into practice - https://www.who.int/about/who-we-are/our-values
• 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.