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Qualifications

Purpose of consultancy

This consultancy provides technical support to enhance the regional ICU/Critical care and clinical management capacity in managing critically ill patients with COVID-19. The identified Consultant supports WHO Regional Office for Africa (WHO AFRO) during the response and transition from a surge response to building a longer-term program for ICU/critical care in priority countries in the region. The Consultant is expected to coordinate the implementation of clinical management-related programs, provide technical support, conduct training as needed, engage in clinical management-related research, support optimal procurement of ICU supplies/equipment, and establish a robust regional network of critical care and clinical management for all the 47 countries of the Africa Region.

Background

The WHO Africa Region; and its 47 countries continue to be the hotspot for emerging and re-emerging diseases, including infectious disease outbreaks, which have a significant impact on health and economic development in the Region. Caring for critically ill patients is challenging in resource-limited settings in the region, where the burden of disease and mortality from potentially treatable illnesses is high. Since early 2020, COVID-19 has pressed the immediate need for action on this issue.  With a quick spread of this newly emerged virus globally, providing adequate treatment to severe/critical patients with COVID-19 has become a serious problem to many countries, and challenges of higher mortality and insufficient treatment in resource-limited settings still continue. Barriers to delivering quality critical care in these settings include lack of epidemiologic data and context-specific evidence for medical decision-making, deficiencies in health systems and resources, and institutional obstacles to implementing life-saving interventions. WHO Regional Office for Africa (WHO AFRO) aims to create a regional organization framework; development of intensive care educational programs for capacity building of health care professionals working in resource-limited settings; regional prioritization of epidemiologic and clinical research in resource-limited settings to conduct timely and ethical studies in response to emerging threats; adaptation of international guidelines to promote the implementation of evidence-based care; and strengthening of health systems that integrates these interventions.

Deliverables

Work to be performed:

OUTPUT 1: Surge deployment to countries for ICU/critical care and clinical management support and capacity building in national healthcare workers in the region.

• Deliverable 1.1: Short-term deployment as ICU/critical care expert for supporting healthcare professionals caring for critically ill patients in countries 
• Deliverable 1.2: Support designing a longer-term ICU/critical care training program for the region 
• Deliverable 1.3: Support capacity building to prepare and respond to treatment of critically ill patients, including delivery of training 

OUTPUT 2: A comprehensive report describing the need and gaps of enhancing national capacities for ICU/critical care and clinical management in the region

• Deliverables 2.1: Prepare a comprehensive report of the findings of the ICU/critical care capacities and operations in deployed countries. The report will be used by AFRO as well as by MSs to identify the gaps related to response capacities and will support information-based capacity building plans 
• Deliverable 2.2: Develop a scientific manuscript to be published. 

OUTPUT 3: Support WHO’s research in analyzing clinical and oxygen data and developing strategies for clinical preparedness in treating critically ill patients in the region.

• Deliverable 3.1: Support AFRO in collecting clinical and oxygen data and analyzing the collected data in the region. 
• Deliverable 3.2: Support AFRO in developing clinical management and oxygen scale-up strategies based on the findings from research data.

Educational Qualifications

Essential

ü  Essential:  A university degree in the Medicine.

Desirable:

ü  Qualification in specialized Medicine (critical care, pulmonary medicine, infectious disease, emergency medicine or other relevant areas), training and education, and/or other related areas.

Experience

Essential

ü  At least five years’ clinical experience working on the clinical management of respiratory diseases and critically ill patients. The incumbent is expected to advise countries and help design an ICU/critical care program for healthcare professionals.

Desirable:

ü  Relevant experience at the international levels, in the case management and clinical care activities/infectious diseases in an outbreak, disaster or humanitarian emergency. Working experience with WHO or UN agencies, sound knowledge in research and specialty in infectious diseases or respiratory diseases are assets.

Skills/Knowledge

ü  Proven understanding of the management of acute and urgent public health responses, including infectious disease outbreaks;

ü  Experience in the outbreak and emergency response;

ü  Experience in clinical management, building capacity, training, and deployment for ICU/critical care.

Languages required

Essential

ü  Expert knowledge of either English, French or Portuguese depending on the official language in the duty station where deployed

Desirable:

ü  Working knowledge of an additional UN language.

Location

On-site – Multiple duty stations within the African Region.

Travel

(If travel is involved, a medical certificate of fitness for work will be required.) 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 a mission under the terms of this consultancy, the Consultant will receive subsistence allowance.

Visa requirements

The Consultant’s responsibility is to fulfil visa requirements and ask for visa support letter(s) if needed.

Remuneration and budget (travel costs are excluded):

Remuneration:

USD 7,000 – 9,980 per month

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

A living expense is payable to on-site consultants

Expected duration of contract

Contract duration varies depending on needs.

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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For roster vacancy announcements:

• The purpose of this vacancy is to develop a list of qualified candidates for inclusion in the advertised roster. Successful candidates will be placed on the roster and subsequently may be selected for consultancy assignments; however, contracting of rostered candidates is not guaranteed.