CONSULTANT - Malaria Surveillance, Monitoring and Evaluation across transmission settings

1. Purpose of the consultancy

   Please briefly describe why the work is needed and the context.

Sub-Saharan Africa remains the home of malaria, and it is a significant health and development challenge. It accounts for an average annual reduction of 1.3% in economic growth in high endemic countries of Africa . Overall, the WHO African Region accounted for 95% of all malaria cases and 96% of all malaria deaths in 2021. During the period between 2000 – 2015, the WHO-AFRO region witnessed some progress in malaria control with a decline in mortality of 66% and a halving of malaria prevalence and incidence in children aged 2–10 years2. After this period of unprecedented success, progress in reducing the global malaria burden has stalled. In the African region, only 9 countries met the Global Technical Strategy (GTS) 2020 milestone, and we are not on track to meet milestones for Malaria mortality and morbidity for 2025 at global level.

Maintaining strong country program leadership, political commitment, technical capacity and engendering partnership and coordination including the private sector and community engagement continue to be critical to achieving set goals. WHO-AFRO with its partners in malaria has continued to work with countries to strengthen evidence-based malaria programme environment, in the face of ever-dwindling external resources that have hitherto, sustained the malaria control and elimination efforts.

It is against this backdrop the WHO regional office for Africa seeks to update its roster of international consultants with requisite skills in specific relevant technical areas to provide additional surge capacities as may be needed.

The renewed emphasis on strengthening Malaria Surveillance Capacity across a broad spectrum of transmission settings (from high to very low) and health system context as a critical pathway to the attainment of malaria strategic goals as articulated in the 2021-30 Malaria GTS cannot be overemphasized. Practical and hands-on approach to capacity strengthening not only provide important feedback towards tailoring and assuring continuous improvement in existing surveillance systems (Passive and Active as may be relevant, informed by malaria transmission and health information systems context) but also ensures continued emphasis on data driven response actions.

The Consultancy roster provides a prequalified list of consultants with relevant competencies and experience in malaria surveillance (Active & Passive) and offers the required flexibilities to support multiple streams of work being implemented under the supervision of the WHO–AFRO malaria team. The prequalification will also allow for rapid selection and deployment of a technical resource as required supporting activities related to Malaria Surveillance across transmission settings, especially in moderate and low transmission settings.

The purpose of this consultancy is to ensure that member states are adequately supported, and also appropriate guidance provided for malaria Surveillance, Monitoring and Evaluation across transmission settings

Objectives

The overall objective is to ensure that member states are adequately supported, and also appropriate guidance provided for malaria Surveillance, Monitoring and Evaluation across transmission settings (High to very low) and specifically:

The specific objectives are as follows:

1. Elaborate and update national malaria surveillance manuals in line with the national IDSR systems and support the development of surveillance components in strategic documents (NSP, guidelines, SOPs…)
2. To strengthen the capacity of the MoH and national malaria programs in members states in the interpretation of disease trends and their determinants.
3. Improve on response strategies to malaria based on the risk stratification

Organizational Context

Under the overall supervision of the UCN Director and in collaboration with the TVD Team Leader, designated WHO AFRO/ WCO staff members, the primary supervisor shall be the TVD Multi country assignment team (MCAT) focal point in the sub-region for activities carried out and a second contact point at AFRO office as designated by UCN Director and TVD Team Leader.

2. Description of duties

   Outline clear tasks and deliverables, to be carried out in the framework of the background described above.

These need to be time-bound and specific.

Summary of Assigned Duties:

Under the overall supervision of the UCN Director and in collaboration with the TVD Team Leader, designated WHO AFRO/ WCO staff members, the primary supervisor shall be the TVD Multi country assignment team (MCAT) focal point in the sub-region for activities carried out and a second contact point at AFRO office as designated by UCN Director and TVD Team Leader.

The consultant will perform the following tasks:

• Work with Malaria Technical Officers and MCAT focal point to provide onsite technical assistance with the Ministries of health (MOHs) in support to countries in the update of surveillance guidelines, M&E plans.
• To undertake a rapid appraisal and system audits of national surveillance system(s) capacities as deemed necessary.
• Build local capacity of the ministry of health field staff in areas related to the response.
• Provide technical support in the development of risk stratification maps and evidence based subnational tailoring of interventions.
• Support the introduction and use of digitalized surveillance systems both for passive and active surveillance.
• Provide inputs as required into SOPs relating to Malaria Surveillance such as case and foci investigation as deemed relevant
• Support development of community based surveillance systems ;

Facilitate hands-on field exercises

Deliverables

The work will encompass:

• Participation in Malaria Surveillance and information system audits
• Field visits to districts and interaction with the affected communities and health workers - Analysis of existing available data in collaboration with MOH.
• Technical assistance and training to health workers involved in the implementation of malaria surveillance activities
• Participation in advocacy meetings with national authorities, key partners and other stakeholders
• Engage national authorities and other stakeholders on key action points to be addressed for the containment of ongoing upsurge.

The deliverables will include:

• Reports of field visits to the affected district and other activity reports

• Minutes of meetings with national authorities, key partners and other stakeholders

  3. Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

  Identify the educational qualifications and expertise needed for the terms of reference outlined above.

Educational Qualifications

• • Essential: University degree with a postgraduate degree in epidemiology or Public Health or health-related field.
  • Desirable: Diploma in Surveillance, Monitoring and Evaluation.

Experiences

• • Essential: Seven years of experience in malaria or infectious disease surveillance, epidemic preparedness and response .
  • Experience working with National Malaria Programmes

  Desirable: At least five years of working experience in design, implementation and evaluation of Malaria Surveillance, Monitoring and Evaluation interventions especially resource-challenged settings.

• • Working experience with WHO will be an asset

Skills

• • Strong knowledge of the principles and practices of communicable disease epidemiology with specific experience in malaria epidemiology;
  • Proven experience in the development and evaluation of active or passive malaria surveillance systems, policies, strategies, guidelines development;
  • Proven experience in working on malaria surveillance in moderate or low transmission settings
  • Proven skills and knowledge in the development and evaluation of disease surveillance systems in a public health setting;
  • Presentation skills and competencies in communication

Competencies:

Candidate should be able to:

1. Produce results
2. Communicate in a credible and effective way
3. Ensure effective use of resources
4. Move forward in a changing environment
5. Respect and promote individual and cultural differences; building and promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond.

Languages and level required

English/Expert or French/Expert or Portuguese/Expert

A good working knowledge of a second international language (English, French or Portuguese) would be an advantage.

4. Travel - If travel is involved, full medical clearance is required

   Please specify any expected travel(s): dates, location and purpose.

A living expense is payable to on-site consultants – please refer to Information Note 08/2019 for details on eligibility.

Place of assignment: WHO Regional Office, Brazzaville, Republic of Congo

5. Remuneration and budget (travel costs excluded)

Rate [daily or monthly or for language and publishing services by word count or number of pages]:

Proposed level: P4 based on qualification and experience.

Currency:

United States Dollars (USD)

Work schedule (if applicable) :

Please refer to Information Note 09/2021 for guidance on rates for consultants.