National Consultant - National laboratory policy

Purpose of the Consultancy

The development of a national laboratory policy for the strengthening of the medical biology laboratory system and reference laboratories under the one health approach.

Background

Laboratories continue to play a critical role in all disease control and prevention programs by providing timely and accurate information for use in patient management and disease surveillance. Laboratory diagnostic capacity is critical for reaching the SDG2030. In addition to the health and well-being of individuals, critical public health decisions concerning health security, national development, and meeting international obligations, such as the International Health Regulations 2005, all depend upon laboratory results. However, laboratory systems and services are often neglected in resource-poor settings.

COVID-19 had a large health, social and economic impact on Tunisia. WHO took action to support health authorities in developing and implementing a preparedness, prevention, and control strategic plan for the country, and according to the country support mission‘s recommendation, within the Laboratory pillar, It is advisable to Strengthen the national laboratory network by developing a national laboratory policy (NLP).

Enhancing laboratory strategic capacities will be essential for early detection, surveillance, prevention, and preparedness activities. The need of NLP was highlighted to maintain the functionality of laboratories and enhance national diagnostic capacities.

In support to the Ministry of Health, WHO recruit a national consultant to contribute to the elaboration of the Tunisian national laboratory policy in collaboration with the relevant stakeholders and under the supervision of the Unit of Biological Laboratories at the Ministry of Health. The consultant should also contribute to the preparation of regular progress reports on his/her activities in relation to his/her mandated tasks.

This consultation is part of the response to infectious diseases in Tunisia by establishing a national laboratory policy and establishing criteria for the designation of reference laboratories.

The aim of this consultation is to support the Unit of Biological Laboratories in establishing a national policy to strengthen and improve the capacities of genomic surveillance in Tunisia through one health approach, extend the multisectoral network and the link between individuals, animals, and the environment laboratories in order to guide the one health network to achieve better public health outcomes. Such a policy would contribute to the development and maintenance of a reliable, credible, and sustainable national laboratory system. This implementation should be associated jointly with the establishment of a National Laboratory Plan but also norms and standards of medical biology laboratories or others.

Work to be performed

Establish a national laboratory policy based on quality assurance and management tools and including the following axes:

1. The organization, management, and development of a legal and regulatory system for laboratories.

2. The setting of standards for the creation of public medical analysis laboratories (minimum surface area, equipment, infrastructure, compartmentalization, number of staff and competence, training, establishment of a job description, etc.).

3. Biosecurity and waste management.

4. The establishment of criteria for the appointment of a medical biology laboratory as a reference laboratory for a given pathology or infection.

5. The development and implementation of a plan to bring laboratories up to standard in terms of infrastructure, tests, techniques, and equipment,

6. Human resources management for available and competent laboratory staff.

7. Strengthening the quality assurance and control system for laboratory services.

8. The creation of a national one-health network of laboratories through the implementation of a multisectoral platform for exchanges in the fields of diagnosis, epidemiological surveillance, response to public health events, research on all pathogens, toxicological risks, residues animal health and environmental risks in a global "One Health" approach.

9. Improvement of the supply system for laboratory reagents and consumables.

10. Management of laboratory equipment and materials.

11. Laboratory information management.

12. Promotion of research in biology and health.

13. Funding for the laboratory sector partnership

Deliverables

· Develop a document of the national laboratory policy in Tunisia, considering possible axes aimed at strengthening the laboratory system in general.

· Review the draft according to the feedback and comments of the relevant stakeholders

· Defined list of criteria eligible for the designation of a medical biology laboratory as a reference laboratory through a benchmarking of what is done internationally.

· Present a draft regulation (together with the criteria) for the designation of a medical biology laboratory as a reference laboratory.

· Submit regular progress reports

Educational Qualifications

Essential: Master’s degree in Biological Sciences with a specialization in microbiology, with training in quality management.

Experience

Essential

· Minimum of 5 years of practical experience in the development of strategy guides and technical and administrative documents.

· Experience in setting up a laboratory or platform for diagnosing pathogens and monitoring the logistics of this implementation.

· Familiarity with international standards (ISO 17025 or ISO 15189) for quality management in medical laboratories.

· Participated in a project to develop national policy, preferably laboratories

Skills/Knowledge

· Excellent knowledge in setting up a diagnostic laboratory, technical conditions, compartmentalization, equipment, methods, equipment etc.

· Communication skills, ability to work in a team, and ability to write manuscripts, reports, etc.

Languages

· Fluency in French and English (spoken and written).

· Preferably, have a recognized French and English language test.

Location

Tunisia, Tunis

Travel

There is no need to travel either outside or out of the country.

Medical clearance

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

Remuneration and Expected duration of the contract (Maximum contract duration is 11 months per calendar year)

· Remuneration: at the national pay rate of NO-D

· Expected duration of the contract: 6 Months

· Department: CO Tunisia / Health System – Unit: PHL / DCD, EMRO-WHO

WHO Competencies

Enhanced WHO Global Competency Model: https://www.who.int/employment/WHO_competencies_EN.pdf?ua=

Interested candidates are strongly encouraged to apply on-line through Stellis. For assessment of your application, please ensure that:

a) Your profile on Stellis is properly completed and updated.

b) All required details regarding your qualifications, education and training are provided.

c) Your experience records are entered with elaboration on tasks performed at the time.

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 an 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 prides itself on a workforce that adheres to the highest ethical and professional standards and is committed to putting 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 each location/jurisdiction in which the work hereunder is performed, and the Consultant shall not be entitled to any reimbursement thereof by WHO.