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Qualifications

Purpose of consultancy

To provide technical expertise to the Local Production & Assistance (LPA) Unit with programme activities in strengthening sustainable local production and technology transfer to improve access of quality-assured, safe and effective health products.

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic has shown a concentration of global production capacity of essential health products in a few regions/countries and vulnerabilities in global supply chains. For low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) that rely largely on importation of medical products to meet public health demands, they are at greater risk for lack of access to quality-assured medical products. The LPA Unit has been receiving requests from Member States for support in strengthening quality local production and technology transfer as many LMICs look to technology transfer and strengthening local manufacturing capacity to improve timely access and strengthen national health security, particularly during emergencies such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Local Production and Assistance (LPA) Unit in the Regulation and Prequalification (RPQ) Department is responsible for supporting Member States in strengthening local production and technology transfer of quality-assured essential health products to improve access under the context of WHA74.6 on Strengthening local production of medicines and other health technologies to improve access and other WHA resolutions and decisions related to local production and access to health products. The focus of work is on promoting sustainable quality local production and technology transfer in a holistic manner, such as conducting feasibility assessments for sustainable local production, developing strategies, roadmaps and tools, providing capacity building and specialized technical assistance and facilitating technology transfer.

Deliverables

The Consultant will perform the following.

• Conduct research and gather intelligence on aspects of the ecosystem for sustainable quality local production of four countries and provide relevant documents (e.g., report, etc.) with intel on the ecosystems.
• Conduct research to identify and analyze the market aspects of manufacturing ecosystems that impact on quality and sustainability of local production of health products (pharmaceuticals, vaccines, diagnostics, etc.) and provide a report(s) of the research findings with supportive documents.
• Contribute to the organization and/or conduct of capacity building, technical assistance and fora to relevant stakeholders in strengthening quality and sustainability of local production with preparation of relevant documents (e.g., concept note, agenda, report).
• Contribute to the development of global resources and technical products for relevant stakeholders to achieve sustainable quality local production and technology transfer (e.g., conducive ecosystems, market intelligence, etc.).

Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Educational Qualifications:

Essential:

• First level university degree in a field related to pharmacy, sciences, life sciences or other health or science-related fields.

Desirable:

• Advanced university degree in a field related to pharmacy, sciences, life sciences or other health or science-related fields.

Experience

Essential:

• At least five years of professional experience in a field related to pharmacy, sciences, life sciences or other health or science-related fields.
• Experience in conducting market research and analyses, particularly related to health products.

Desirable:

• Relevant working experience in the health product manufacturing industry, particularly in business development (e.g. new products, product life cycle management, company strategies) and/or market analyses.
• Relevant working experience with national policies related to local production and access of health products, such as those in the health sector, industry sector, etc.
• Experience in technology transfers for health product manufacturing.
• Experience in, or in collaboration with, a United Nations entity or an international organization.
• Experience working in LMICs.

Skills/Knowledge:

Essential:

• Knowledge of national and/or regional market dynamics for health products, such as market demand and procurement of health products.
• Excellent writing skills.
• Good communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work in a multicultural team and maintain effective working relationships with recognized experts and stakeholders.
• Strong methodological and analytical skills.
• Ability to conduct research, identify and analyse literature relevant to the programme area.
• Good planning and organizational skills with attention to detail.
• Ability to multi-task and work under pressure.
• Strong IT skills: Word, Excel, presentation software, databases and web navigators.
• Knowledge of national policies and/or legislative instruments in various sectors related to local production, such as health policies, economic policies, trade policies, etc.
• Knowledge of procurement of required materials (e.g., active/inactive ingredients, packaging materials, equipment, etc.) for local manufacturing of health products.
• Knowledge in the business or legal aspects of transferring technology.
• Knowledge of the regulations and WHO/international standards of quality, safety or efficacy of health products.
• Knowledge of the requirements for WHO Prequalification and/or Emergency Use Listing of health products.

Languages required:

Essential:

• Expert knowledge of English.

Desirable:

• Working knowledge of another WHO official language.

Location

Off-site – Home based.

Travel

The consultant is expected to travel.

Remuneration and budget (travel costs are excluded):

Remuneration:

Band level B – USD 7,000 – 9,980 per month.

Living expenses (A living expense is payable to on-site consultants who are internationally recruited):

N/A

Expected duration of contract:

2 to 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) 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 each location/jurisdiction in which the work hereunder is performed, and the Consultant shall not be entitled to any reimbursement thereof by WHO.
• Consultants working in Switzerland must register with the applicable Swiss cantonal tax authorities and social security authorities, within the prescribed timeframes (Guidelines issued by the Swiss Mission are available at: https://www.eda.admin.ch/missions/mission-onu-geneve/en/home/manual-regime-privileges-and-immunities/introduction/Manuel-personnes-sans-privileges-et-immunites-carte-H/Non fonctionnaires et stagiaires.html