National Consultant - Project Coordinator (Influenza)

Purpose of consultancy

The purpose of this expression of interest is to hire a contractual partner to perform the role of Project Coordinator for the National Influenza Program at HPA, to perform a full range of tasks including and not limited to project management, administrative, coordination, monitoring and supervisory tasks to ensure smooth operation and management to implement these activities to support and strengthen Influenza surveillance in the Maldives, in line with the WHO Global Influenza Strategy.

Background

Influenza occurs all over the world, with an annual global attack rate estimated at 5%-10% in adults and 20%-30% in children. Whereas in temperate climates outbreaks are experienced mainly during the winter season. influenza occurs more unpredictably in tropical regions (WHO, 2022). Acute Respiratory infections (ARls) account for the highest infectious disease burden in the Maldives, with 2 outbreaks on average in each over the past few years.

Maldives being a popular tourist destination and having extensive international travel among Maldivians as well, is in a unique position as a human 'mixing bowl' for influenza viruses. About 8,000 Maldivians travel to Saudi Arabia each year for Hajj and Umra pilgrimage. Pilgrims spend about one month on average in Saudi Arabia. Although we do not routinely collect data on illnesses during pilgrimage, there are verbal reports that the majority of pilgrims develop some form of respiratory illness during the period of stay, and most are symptomatic even on return. Pilgrims travelling for Hajj and Umra from Maldives are required to be vaccinated for influenza.

Influenza surveillance in Maldives is embedded in the common surveillance system for ARl's. The surveillance of influenza is not yet well established and is a long-awaited requirement for the communicable disease surveillance system. Henceforth, it is extremely important to build our national capacity to strengthen Influenza surveillance in the Maldives.

This proposal aims to continue the support for the routine influenza surveillance work carried out by the Health Protection Agency in collaboration with the national influenza lab and WHO. Since the beginning of surveillance activities in the Maldives, this activity was supported by the CDC and has been crucial to maintaining testing, capacity building, and reporting on WHO's FluNet and FlulD.

The main component of this request is to build capacity and maintain the human resources support to carryout surveillance activities in line with the Global influenza strategy (2019-30) in SEA region.

Scope of Work

• Supervision of tasks carried out by the Influenza Project Officer and Sentinel Site Surveillance Focal Point under this project and ensure that objectives are met and regularly reported to WHO and HPA supervisor.
• Planning and monitoring the Influenza project and its implementation.
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• Provide project schedule to identify when each task will be performed and track progress and review project tasks to ensure certain deadlines are met appropriately.
• Management of the project budget: this includes draw down of funds to conduct capacity building training and to upgrade the web application and submission of quarterly financial report to the WHO.
• Maintained regular surveillance to detect and respond to outbreaks.
• Incorporated influenza testing into the Covid-19 web application.
• Planned and conducted/facilitated capacity building training for pandemic preparedness by implementing simulation exercises at 3 atolls.
• Contribute to all activities carried out Public Health Preparedness, Surveillance, and Epidemiology division.
• Submit track progress reports and financial reports as required to WHO and HPA every month.
• Regular reporting to WHO and CDC aligned with the requirements (Flunet, FluID, etc).

Deliverables:

• Maintained regular surveillance to detect and respond to outbreaks
• Incorporated influenza testing into the COVID-19 web application
• Conducted/facilitated capacity building training for pandemic preparedness by implementing simulation exercises at 3 atolls
• Submit track progress reports and financial reports as required
• Regular reporting to CDC and WHO aligned with the requirements

Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Educational Qualifications:

Essential: Bachelor’s degree in Management/Project Management, Public Health, Primary Health Care, or in a related interdisciplinary field of health.

Desirable: Master's Degree in Management/Project Management, Public Health or Public health related field with minimum 2 years of experience in the relevant field

Experience

Essential:

• Minimum of 2-3 years’ experience in documentation, project management, and training relevant to Public Health and/or related fields
• Experience working with government institutions and civil society organizations

Desirable:

• International experience in project management
• Experience or expertise in working at atoll and island level in coordination with HPA and WHO.

Skills/Knowledge:

• Fluent computer skills in MS Excel/MS Access/MS PowerPoint is a must.
• Familiarity with facilitating trainings and M&E is desirable.
• Ability to plan, prioritize and deliver of time along with excellent communication skills.

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

Excellent Fluency in spoken and written Dhivehi and English

Location

On site: Health Protection Agency, Ministry of Health Maldives

Preference will be given to individuals based in the Maldives as this is a local consultancy.

Travel

Travel maybe required as per the trainings and supervision and monitoring needs of the National Influenza Programme

Remuneration and budget (travel costs are excluded):

• Remuneration: MVR 30,840 per month for 11 months duration of consultancy
• Expected duration of contract: 11 months.

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.