Ethics Governance Consultant

1. Purpose of consultancy

WHO EMRO's Science Information and Dissemination (SID) department will identify consultant(s) to undertake the initiative. This project will involve a comprehensive mapping and assessment of research governance structures and the status of Ethics Review Committees (ERCs) across selected Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) countries. The initiative will leverage the WHO Benchmarking Tool for research ethics oversight, providing valuable insights into organizational structures and responsible bodies. This approach will not only identify existing strengths within these countries' research ethics systems but also highlight any areas for improvement.

2. Background

Health research governance establishes a framework for ethical conduct in biomedical research. This framework safeguards the rights and well-being of research participants, promotes high research quality, and ensures the research addresses the needs of the community. SID works in the EMR with its partners and Collaborating Centres to ensure that ethics governance receives the necessary attention in the countries.

SID is looking for a consultant (or consultants) to help strengthen research governance and leverage the WHO Benchmarking Tool for research ethics oversight. This will improve capacity building across the region.

3. Work to be performed

The SID consultant will act as a facilitator, bringing together research governance, research ethics, policy, and practice to improve collaboration. They will work hand-in-hand with the SID Research Promotion and Governance (RPG) unit and relevant WHO Country Offices (WCOs) to streamline research governance.

The proposed activities are:

· Conduct a systematic mapping of research governance mechanisms at key public and private research institutions in selected EMR countries.

· Provide detailed insights into national and subnational-level processes, reviewing National Bioethics Committees (NBC)/Research Ethics Committees (RECs)/Ethics Review Committees (ERC) for their strengths, weaknesses, and overlaps.

· Build national capacities in research governance and ethics.

This work will be performed through a set of activities in collaboration with SID and the relevant WCO outlined below:

TOR 1: To systematically map research governance mechanisms at key public and private research institutions in selected EMR countries.

Deliverable 1.1 Provide a detailed analysis of responses along with country-specific research governance profile.

Deliverable 1.2 Develop a manuscript with the SID team and submit it to peer-reviewed journals.

Deliverable 1.3 Use the data and draft a regional health research governance profile.

Deliverable 1.4 Develop draft recommendations for a national accreditation system for local ERCs.

TOR 2: To Implement the WHO Benchmarking Tool for the oversight of the research ethics system, evaluating existing capacity to provide appropriate ethical oversight of research involving human subjects.

Deliverable 2.1 A detailed report evaluating the country’s capacity to provide appropriate ethical oversight of research involving humans.

Deliverable 2.2 Identifying strengths and limitations in the laws and organizational structures and policies of bodies responsible for research ethics oversight.

Deliverable 2.3 Plan a regional seminar on ethics governance with the SID team.

Deliverable 2.4 Develop a manuscript on ethics governance in the EMR with the SID team and submit it to peer-reviewed journals.

4. Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Educational Qualifications:

· A degree in medical, social sciences, or a related field with a Mater’s degree in social sciences or a related field..

· Demonstrated ability to communicate to multiple audiences, including donors and academics

Experience: Essential:

· Seven plus years of relevant experience conducting independent research, analysis and publishing health-related issues in low-income countries

· Documented field-based experience and exposure to fieldwork in low-income countries

· Experience with quantitative and/or qualitative research methodologies and experience applying them in the public health context

· Experience in supporting organizational and capacity development of national actors in an international context

· Practical experience in working in support of national partner organizations, establishing and developing partnerships

· Demonstrated experience in working in multi-partner programmes

Desirable: Experience in working in government, the UN, or the WHO

Skills/Technical skills and knowledge:

• Excellent technical writing skills with a focus on research
• Good communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work in a multicultural team and maintain effective working relationships with recognized experts and stakeholders.
• Solid track record of work in ethics, research ethics, policy, and ethics governance.
• Publication related to ethics, research ethics, policy and governance, Strong commitment and ability to deliver work on time under tight deadlines
• Strong methodological and analytical skills, with the ability to conduct research, identify and analyze literature relevant to the programme area

• Good planning and organizational skills, attention to detail and the ability to multi-task and work under pressure

• Strong IT skills: MS Word, Excel, PPT presentation software, web search engines

  Languages and level required:

Essential: Expert knowledge of English

Desirable: French or Arabic

5. Location

Cairo, Egypt

6. Planned timelines (Subject to confirmation)

Start date: 15 September 2024

End date: 18 December 2024

Duration of the consultancy: 40 days

7. Medical clearance

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

8. Travel

Travel is expected within EMR.

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.

· The WHO is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The WHO recruits workforce regardless of disability status, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, language, race, marital status, religious, cultural, ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds, or any other personal characteristics.

The WHO is committed to achieving gender parity and geographical diversity in its workforce. Women, persons with disabilities, and nationals of unrepresented and underrepresented Member States (https://www.who.int/careers/diversity-equity-and-inclusion) are strongly encouraged to apply for WHO jobs.

Persons with disabilities can request reasonable accommodations to enable participation in the recruitment process. Requests for reasonable accommodation should be sent through an email to reasonableaccommodation@who.int

· An impeccable record for integrity and professional ethical standards is essential. 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 (https://www.who.int/about/who-we-are/our-values) into practice.

• WHO has zero tolerance towards sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct (i.e., discrimination, abuse of authority and harassment). All members of the WHO workforce have a role to play in promoting a safe and respectful workplace and should report to WHO any actual or suspected cases of SEA, sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct. To ensure that individuals with a substantiated history of SEA, sexual harassment or other types of abusive conduct are not hired by the Organization, WHO will conduct a background verification of short-listed candidates.
• WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.
• Consultants shall perform the work as independent contractors in a personal capacity, and not as a representative of any entity or authority.
• WHO shall have no responsibility 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 each location/jurisdiction in which the work hereunder is performed, and the Consultant shall not be entitled to any reimbursement thereof by WHO.
• Please note that WHO’s contracts are conditional on members of the workforce confirming that they are vaccinated as required by WHO before undertaking a WHO assignment, except where a medical condition does not allow such vaccination, as certified by the WHO Staff Health and Wellbeing Services (SHW). The successful candidate will be asked to provide relevant evidence related to this condition. A copy of the updated vaccination card must be shared with WHO medical service in the medical clearance process. Please note that certain countries require proof of specific vaccinations for entry or exit. For example, official proof /certification of yellow fever vaccination is required to enter many countries. Country-specific vaccine recommendations can be found on the WHO international travel and Staff Health and Wellbeing website. For vaccination-related queries please directly contact SHW directly at [email protected].
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Added 4 hours ago - Updated 4 hours ago - Source: who.int