International Consultant - Public Health Laboratory (PHL)

Purpose of consultancy

In the context of the WHO Health Emergencies department (WHE), at the regional level, the consultant will provide technical expertise and operational support to the Public Health Laboratory scientist (PHL) of the Regional Office for the South-East Asia in operationalizing the South-East Asia roadmap for Diagnostic preparedness, integrated laboratory network and genomic surveillance.

Background

Reliable laboratory services play a critical role in ensuring efficiency and effectiveness of surveillance and prevention of major emerging, re-emerging and endemic communicable and noncommunicable diseases, including diagnosis, prevention, treatment, research and health promotion. Within the WHO South-East Asia Region there has been accelerated progress towards strengthening laboratory systems and diagnostic capacity during the COVID19 pandemic.

In 2022, the WHO South-East Asia Regional Roadmap for diagnostic preparedness, integrated laboratory networking and genomic surveillance (2023–2027) was adopted by Member States. The roadmap provides strategic technical guidance to increase political commitment, investments and high-level partnerships to modernize diagnostics, laboratory and surveillance systems with strong early warning functions.

The Consultant will facilitate the operationalization of the regional roadmap to strengthen genomic surveillance and public health laboratory capacities within the region. This work will require strong collaboration with key technical partners, developing regional guidelines and setting priorities to enhance laboratory capacities to provide high quality laboratory data to support public health surveillance.

Deliverables

1.Provide technical expertise and operational support for the development of the regional reference laboratory network for public health emergencies

• Activity 1.1: Conduct situational assessments to identify gaps and challenges for laboratory diagnosis and characterization of pathogens of epidemic and pandemic potential
• Activity 1.2: Organize periodic review meetings to monitor / evaluate activities as per the operational plan indicators.
• Activity 1.3: Support WHO secretariat in the convening of network steering committee and working group meetings through the preparation of relevant documentation.

2.Contribute to the strengthening of public health laboratory systems in the region

• Activity 2.1: Provide technical expertise and support laboratory strengthening and networking in the region for the detection of pathogens of epidemic and pandemic potential

3.Contribute to the strengthening of the genomic surveillance and support in country assessments

• Activity 3.1: Provide technical advice regarding sampling strategy shifts related to the transition to endemic COVID-19, potential regression to epidemic response due to case surges, and the detection and genomic characterization of SARS-CoV-2 variants.
• Activity 3.2: Contribute to genomic surveillance assessments and provide technical expertise to develop national genomic surveillance plans
• Activity 3.3: Support WHO secretariat in the convening of network steering committee and working group meetings through the preparation of relevant documentation.

4.Perform any other related incident-specific duties, as required by the functional supervisor

Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Educational Qualifications:

Essential: Advanced university degree in the area of health laboratory sciences or related field.

Desirable: Advanced degree or training in public health, epidemiology, infectious diseases or molecular biology.

Experience:

Essential:

• Minimum seven years of demonstrated experience working in public health or clinical laboratories including exposure at the national and international levels.
• Relevant experience in outbreaks and/or health emergency response in the context of COVID-19.

Desirable:

• Experience in planning and conducting training activities.
• Experience in developing country setting in the area of surveillance and response to emerging and/or re-emerging diseases.
• Previous relevant international experience in working for WHO or any other UN Agency in a developing country context.
• Previous work experience in Asia is an asset.

Skills/Knowledge:

• Ability to establish collaborations and mobilize partnerships to strengthen and expand networks, including the regional genomic surveillance network.
• Knowledge and skills in providing technical support to WCOs, MOHs and technical partners.
• Excellent abilities in overall planning, management, organization and coordination of technical workstream.
• Ability to assess laboratory capacity and to find solutions to fill gaps.
• Ability to work flexibly, autonomously and efficiently, in a fast-paced environment, with the ability to adapt to shifting priorities.
• Strong writing skills including for presentations, proposals, concept notes, reports and other documents.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal and diplomatic skills.
• Experience synthesizing information and communicating effectively in a timely manner to broad and diverse audiences.
• Ability to work harmoniously as a member of a team, adapt to diverse

Languages and level required (Basic/Intermediate/Advanced):

Excellent written and spoken fluency in English is essential.

Location

On site: The consultant is expected to perform his/her work from the physical location of WHO Regional Office for South-East Asia located in New Delhi, India.

Travel

The Consultant is expected to undertake travel, including for taking up assignment.

Remuneration and budget (travel costs are excluded):

• Remuneration: BAND LEVEL-B at USD 7,500 per month
• Living expenses: Per diem will be paid as per WHO rules applicable to international consultant for travel.
• Expected duration of contract: 6 months. (There is no assurance of any further extension. Any extension will be subject to the programmatic requirements and the performance of the candidate.)

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) in English 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 prides itself on a workforce that adheres to the highest ethical and professional standards and that is committed to put the WHO Values Charter 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 final candidates.
• 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.