Vaccine-Preventable Diseases VPD Consultant

1. Purpose of the Consultancy

Provide technical support to the WCO/CD team, for activities and products primarily focused on the COVID-19 response and routine immunization. This will require working across technical units at WHO country office Iran, along with close engagement with national counterparts including MOHME and colleagues in the WHO regional offices and other key external stakeholders.

Planning activities and prepare tools to

1. Organize background documents and assist documentation needed for EPI review in the post COVID-19 Era
2. Monitoring COVID19 and other routine vaccination data, proving feedback to the national program

3- Support MoH in conducting EVM assessment

2. Background

After More than 2 years of first cases of COVID-19 and mass vaccination of people, the COVID-19 still remains a global problem in terms of time to time resurge of the disease and problems caused by the outbreak.

By the introduction of the vaccines in January 2021, countries started mass vaccinations to reach a desirable population wide immunity. Many of the vaccines were approved in emergency situations to fasten the control of Covid-19 and their safety is still being studied.

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the significant health system weaknesses and vulnerabilities specially regarding Immunization plan. It is evident that the COVID-19 pandemic has also caused disruptions in the routine immunizations resulting in the resurgence of vaccine-preventable diseases.

On the other hand, The Vaccine-preventable diseases and immunization programme entered a new decade with the “Immunization Agenda 2030 - A Global Strategy to Leave No One Behind” (IA 2030) addressing key challenges in immunization for the coming years. So, revising the immunization road map to align it with IA 2030 and strengthening the national immunization program is needed.

To increase vaccine coverage, and to ensure maintaining coverage of Covid-19 and other EPI vaccines WHO is planning to support National Programme of Immunization in:

1. conduct a comprehensive assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of an immunization programme at national, subnational, and service-delivery levels, through An EPI Review.
2. conduct a systematic assessment of vaccine management procedures including supply chain, good storage, and distribution practices through an EVM Assessment.

This consultancy is to support EPI program in monitoring and documentation of the above activities

3. Planned timelines:

Start date 1 January 2023

End date: 31 Nov 2023

4. Work to be performed

1. Output 1: Organize background documents and assist documentation needed for EPI review in the post COVID-19 Era

Deliverable 1.1 : provide technical support in organizing and documentation of EPI program

Deliverable 1.2: Translate and adapt tools and guidelines as needed.

Deliverable 1.3 : provide support to organize field visits.

Deliverable 1.4: work in close coordination with different internal and external stakeholders at HQ, regional review team, national team, province, and district levels to ensure that the program is implemented as planned

Output 2****: Monitoring COVID19 and other routine vaccination data, providing feedback to the national program.

Deliverable 2.1: Collect data and compile information of COVID-19 vaccination coverage especially for the high priority groups, and social listening on COVID-19 and other EPI vaccines in Iran especially among some key populations (migrants, refugees and those hard to reach).

Deliverable 2.2: Actively engage with MoHME partners and other UN agencies in increasing vaccine coverage and VPD diseases outbreak mitigation among some key populations (migrants, refugees and those hard to reach).

Deliverable 2.3: Participate in webinars and virtual meetings of the World Health Organization and global partners on COVID-19 and other vaccination, and provide summary recommendation to the national program.

Deliverable 2.4: Support integration of COVID-19 vaccination in EPI and other PHC programmes.

Output 3: support EVM Assessment

Deliverable 3.1: Identify/list relevant background documents and assist the MoH and country partners in conducting a desktop review of these documents

Deliverable 3.2: Prepare training materials for an EVM assessment workshop (in coordination with the international consultant for this training)

Deliverable 3.2: Assist MoH in report writing of EVM assessment

5. Specific requirements

Education:

Essential: First University degree in medicine (M.D.) or MSc in relevant area

Desirable: Postgraduate degree in Public Health e.g. MPH or PhD in relevant fields

- Experience required:

Up to 5 years of relevant experience in working with health data management or literature review. Desirable: -Work experience in vaccination, surveillance and/or health network

- Work experience with WHO

- Skills / Technical skills and knowledge:

Demonstrated ability to work in a multicultural environment and establish harmonious and effective working relationships, within and outside the organization;

Excellent knowledge of technical advisory services in program related areas and the health systems;

Proven knowledge in project planning, design, monitoring and evaluation and management; Excellent presentation and negotiation skills;

Excellent analytical skills

- Language requirements:

Excellent knowledge of English and local language

6. Place of assignment

Tehran, Iran. The consultant is supposed to work at both WCO office as instructed by the Responsible Officer. Frequently work from home or other modalities may be applied as per business continuity plans regarding COVID-19 epidemic situation in the country or other emergencies.

7. Medical clearance

The selected Consultant will be expected to provide a medical certificate of fitness for work. 9. 8.Travel

The Consultant is not expected to travel unless coordinated by WCO.

All travel arrangements will be made by WHO – WHO will not be responsible for tickets purchased by the Consultant without the express, prior authorization of WHO. While on mission under the terms of this consultancy, the Consultant will receive subsistence allowance.

Visas requirements: it is the consultant’s responsibility to fulfil visa requirements and ask for visa support letter(s) if needed.

Additional Information section

• 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.
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• Applications from women and from nationals of non and underrepresented Member States are particularly encouraged.
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• 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.
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• 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.
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