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Qualifications

         1.     Purpose of consultancy:

WHO is supporting Member States to implement case-based sentinel surveillance to document the burden of Vaccine Preventable Diseases (VPD) targeted by new vaccines.  The data collected from the hospital sentinel surveillance has guided the introduction of Haemophilus influenzae type B vaccine, rotavirus vaccines and Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccines (PCV) in routine immunization. The same sentinel surveillance platform is being used to conduct vaccine effectiveness studies and to measure the impact of the newly introduced vaccines, PCV and rotavirus vaccines. Sentinel surveillance involves collection and collation of clinical, laboratory and vaccination data, among others for appropriate analysis to inform policy decision.

WHO/AFRO VPD program would like to develop a Rooster of consultant Data Managers to support VPD sentinel surveillance, analytics, and research needs.

Specifically, the consultants will support the VPD Program in the area of case-based rotavirus diarrhoea and other enteropathogens, meningitis and pneumococcal sentinel surveillance within the context of regional investment case for VPD surveillance and global strategy for comprehensive VPD surveillance.

The consultants will work across various WHO clusters/programs, closely with HQ, the WHO/AFRO Regional Office, IST and WHO country office VPD surveillance Officers and Regional Data Managers to efficiently the support VPD sentinel surveillance. Broadly, the scope of work includes co-ordination, planning, implementation of data management and analytics of sentinel surveillance and vaccine impact/effectiveness studies across WHO/AFRO countries

2.     Background

The Vaccine Preventable Diseases (VPD) Programme is part of and contributes to the work of the Universal health coverage/Communicable and non-communicable diseases (UHC/UCN) cluster in the WHO African region. The strategic agenda of the cluster is to reduce disease burden in the WHO African Region, by guiding disease control agenda in Africa, and using analytics to inform strategic investments and tailored interventions for disease control, thus contributing through its country support investments to 3 disease control outcomes at country-level: improved disease programme governance; improved interventions coverage; and improved services quality. Investments towards these outcomes are guided by comprehensive whole of society, people-centred, integrated approaches to disease control. The comprehensive whole of society approach entail investments around: (a) coherent implementation of triple response – technical response: implementing diseases specific normative guidance, promoting intervention mixes and deploying medical commodities; health systems response: building capacities of district service delivery systems in disease mapping and stratification, interventions tailoring, and sector/subsector planning; and multi-sectoral response: addressing socio-economic and environmental determinants of diseases through mobilizing non-health sectors, communities and stakeholders; (b) disease control partnership of public and private sectors, health and non-health sectors; and (c community involvement in targeted high risk communities, focused on managing determinants of diseases, health services demand creation and accountability by local health stewards. The people centred, integrated approaches to disease control involves investments around: (a) integrated guidance on disease control for each health service delivery platform, a move away from stand-alone disease specific guidance; and (b) integrated and efficient disease control investments in strengthening the capacity of appropriate health services delivery platforms through deployment of appropriate technologies and analytics to guide stratification of disease risks across population groups in order to develop and deploy comprehensive packages of interventions appropriate for each population group and health service delivery platform, as well as monitor population access, coverage and impact to leave no one behind. In addition to country support roles, UCN including PPHM office provides regional strategic leadership towards enhanced  disease control investment efficiency,  equity and impact with focus on the following objectives: (i) leadership in  coordination, partnerships and resource mobilization for  disease control; (ii) generation of analytics-driven strategic information to set  disease control agendas and guide investments; (iii) development of WHO disease control technical products, services, and tools; and (iv) facilitation of technical support and institutional  capacity building including support to national disease programmes and regulatory authorities.

Towards attainment of the 2030 SDGs targets for VPDs in the region, the consultants  will contribute to the data management component of VPD sentinel surveillance, new vaccines impact /effectiveness and intussusception monitoring.

        3.     Deliverables:

The consultant will work with the VPD team to accomplish the following deliverables to be achieved by the end of specified period:

·   Develop/refine data collection and analysis tools for the implementation and monitoring of VPD sentinel surveillance

·       Ensuring all countries conducting the VPD sentinel surveillance improve the quality of their data shared with the analysis and generation of reports and disease trends

·       Support countries and partners with implementation of standardized data management tools.

·       Coordination with data managers in each country / site to ensure data of high quality at all levels.

·       Maintain and curate a central database grouping data from several countries.

·       Support countries to implement and adhere to the WHO standard operating procedures and guidelines for VPD sentinel surveillance

·       Maintain real time epi, laboratory and vaccination linked data repository /warehouse

·       Monitor progress of surveillance using defined key performance indicators and provide

·       Any other support as required according to competence.

           4.     Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

   Éducation (Qualifications)

Essential:

First university degree in information or data management, computer sciences, statistics, applied math or public health, complemented by training in databases development and/or management from an accredited/recognized institute.

Desirable:  

Post graduate degree in Biostatistics or Bioinformatics and Data management, Public Health Informatics

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Experience

Essential: At least five (5) years ‘experience in data management, analysis and management of electronic information, statistics and/or information technology, identification of user requirements, system development and maintenance, ideally related to epidemiological data collection and management and/or knowledge of local public health practices with a minimum of 3 years inclusive at the international level in low and/or middle-income countries.

·       Knowledge of data analysis software tools

·       Knowledge in Public health, data science or surveillance /research

·       Proven experience working in multi-stakeholder settings

·       Demonstrated experience of working in collaboration with a wide range of stakeholders

           5.     Languages and level required

·       Working proficiency in English or French (written, presentation and verbal communication skills)

·       Working knowledge Portuguese or others is an asset.

6.     Location

·       Brazzaville

            7 .     Remuneration and budget

·       Band level: B (P3). Currency: US dollars (USD)

8.     Duration of work:

The duration of the position is expected for 6 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) 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.