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Qualifications

Area of expertise

Health Emergencies Officer (Immunization)

Purpose of consultancy

WHO has a strong mandate to work with Member States on immunization and the response to outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases. Detecting, preventing and responding to these outbreaks are part of the core capacities required by the IHR (2005), and key to achieving global health security.

The purpose of this consultancy is to provide technical support to immunization interventions during new and ongoing emergencies, including, but not limited to coordination, planning, monitoring and evaluation, and early recovery of routine vaccination services. This includes risk assessments to determine the rationale for vaccination; review of vaccine options based on contextual considerations; ensuring effective and inclusive coordination mechanisms for planning and implementation of vaccination activities; facilitation of partnerships and cross border collaboration when required; establishing a monitoring framework and sharing of information timely; facilitation of re-establishment or maintenance of routine immunization in the emergency context.

The incumbent undertakes coordinated, transparent and collaborative assessment, planning and implementation of vaccination response approaches for WHO to engage as a trusted partner in outbreaks and health emergencies, providing unique and valued capacities.

Background

The mission of WHO’s Emergency Preparedness and Response (EPR) Cluster is to build the capacity of Member States to manage health emergency risks and, when national capacities are overwhelmed, to lead and coordinate the international health response to contain outbreaks and to provide effective relief and recovery to affected populations. The EPR Cluster is responsible for identifying gaps and strengthening national capacities in preparedness and response to respond effectively to emergencies while ensuring resilience of health systems during these emergencies

Deliverables

Description of duties

Under the direct supervision of the EMR team lead at the hub and with technical support from the emergencies immunization officer at AFRO, the incumbent is responsible for, but not necessarily limited to the following assigned duties.

• In collaboration with the Emergencies Immunization officer, coordinate WHO support for vaccination in emergency context by ensuring regional coordination and guide decision making on vaccination interventions immediately after the onset or during planning in anticipation of a likely acute emergency.
• Support the implementation of the global roadmap to end cholera under the direction of the Global Taskforce for Cholera Control
• Providing guidance and technical support to countries in determining and setting policies and use OCV in outbreak and in preventive settings
• Support planning and coordination of the implementation of oral cholera vaccine strategies in member states with active cholera outbreaks
• Support member states to develop multi-year plans of action for oral cholera vaccine use
• Participate in the incident management structure at the regional level
• Support member states to plan and implement reactive vaccination activities during outbreaks and emergencies
• Provide technical guidance in the development of oral cholera vaccine monitoring and evaluation tools
• Supporting WCO in the submission of applications to GAVI to receive financial support (for GAVI eligible countries)
• Lead the development of annual regional progress reports on oral cholera vaccine introduction
• Perform other related responsibilities as assigned, including replacing and backstopping for others as required.

Deliverables

• Weekly briefs on the vaccination response for ongoing incidents (e.g., cholera)
• Representation of the vaccines pillar at the weekly event coordination meetings
• Support countries with active outbreaks to implement vaccination activities
• Contribute to development of tools and technical guidance documents on vaccination. response and strategies to ongoing vaccine-preventable disease outbreaks.
• Minutes of agency or interagency meetings.

Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Educational Qualifications:

Essential

First university degree in degree in public health or related field of health science or relevant field.

Desirable

• Specialized training in field epidemiology.
• Specialized training in emergency/humanitarian response.

 Experience

Essential

•  At least five (05) years experience in emergency response vaccination or supporting reactive vaccination campaigns and programmes.
• Experienced with the design, planning and implementation of vaccination campaigns in developing countries.
• Experience in the development of capacity building tools for monitoring and evaluation purposes, introduction process of new vaccines, monitoring of VPD programmes including demand generation.

Desirable

• Relevant work experience in WHO or UN agencies or humanitarian organizations.
• Field experience in public health programmes or emergency response programmes in developing countries.
• Experience with cholera programs and oral cholera vaccine campaigns.

 Skills/Knowledge

•  Ability to coordinate vaccination interventions including mass campaigns.
• Demonstrated managerial skills in international and multi-cultural settings combined with proven ability to successfully coordinate and manage projects and build partnerships with multiple partners in the context of health emergencies.
• Sound strategic and tactical thinking with ability to formulate clear comprehensive policies, strategies, and plans.
• Excellent interpersonal with proven ability to communicate in a clear and effective way, with tact, diplomacy, and courtesy.

Other Skills

Proven ability to use standard office software packages, conversant with common IT software including eHealth tools.

Languages and level required

Expert level of English and intermediate level of French.

The two languages are interchangeable.

Location

On site: Nairobi or Dakar

Travel

The consultant is expected to travel to Nairobi or Dakar

 Remuneration and budget (travel costs are excluded):

Remuneration

Band level B : USD 7000 – 8480 per month

 Living expenses

A living expense is payable to on-site consultants who are internationally recruited: currency and rate will be communicated in due course

Expected duration of contract

3 months FTE

 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.
• The WHO is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The WHO recruits workforce regardless of disability status, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, language, race, marital status, religious, cultural, ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds, or any other personal characteristics.
• The WHO is committed to achieving gender parity and geographical diversity in its workforce. Women, persons with disabilities, and nationals of unrepresented and underrepresented Member States (https://www.who.int/careers/diversity-equity-and-inclusion) are strongly encouraged to apply for WHO jobs.
• Persons with disabilities can request reasonable accommodations to enable participation in the recruitment process. Requests for reasonable accommodation should be sent through an email to  [email protected]
•  An impeccable record for integrity and professional ethical standards is essential. 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 (https://www.who.int/about/who-we-are/our-values) 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 short-listed candidates.
• WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.
• Consultants shall perform the work as independent contractors in a personal capacity, and not as a representative of any entity or authority.
• WHO shall have no responsibility 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.
• Please note that WHO’s contracts are conditional on members of the workforce confirming that they are vaccinated as required by WHO before undertaking a WHO assignment, except where a medical condition does not allow such vaccination, as certified by the WHO Staff Health and Wellbeing Services (SHW). The successful candidate will be asked to provide relevant evidence related to this condition. A copy of the updated vaccination card must be shared with WHO medical service in the medical clearance process. Please note that certain countries require proof of specific vaccinations for entry or exit. For example, official proof /certification of yellow fever vaccination is required to enter many countries. Country-specific vaccine recommendations can be found on the WHO international travel and Staff Health and Wellbeing website. For vaccination-related queries please directly contact SHW directly at [email protected].
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