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Qualifications

Purpose of consultancy

Technical support for VerifiNG self-benchmarking reports of Tunisian Pharmacy and Medicine Directorate (DPM)

Background  

The World Health Organization (WHO) plays a pivotal role in supporting countries in strengthening their regulatory systems and promoting equitable access to quality, safe, efficacious, and affordable medical products and health products.  The WHO constitution affirms that the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health is one of the fundamental rights of every human being.  Towards the achievement of such a noble objective, the WHO constitution states the functions of WHO, which include among others, assisting governments, upon request, in strengthening health services.  Various World Health Assembly (WHA) resolutions encompass aspects of the need to promote the afore mentioned WHO role.  It should be noted that regulators are an essential part of the health workforce and effective regulatory systems are an essential component of health systems and contribute to better public health outcomes.  On the contrary, inefficient regulatory systems themselves can be a barrier to accessing safe, effective, and quality medical products.

WHO mandated by resolution WHA 67.20, supports countries to strengthen regulatory systems by:

• Building regulatory capacity in member states consistent with good regulatory practices, and

• Promoting regulatory cooperation, convergence, and transparency through networking, work-sharing, and reliance.

Benchmarking activities involve the evaluation of the medical products’ national regulatory system using the WHO Global Benchmarking Tool (GBT), generating and analyzing evidence of regulatory systems performance, and facilitating the formulation of Institutional Development Plans (IDPs) as a set of recommendations for the National Regulatory Authorities (NRAs) of member states.  The consultant would assist in the verification of self-NRA benchmarking tool filled in by the different departments and institutions involved in the different regulatory functions in the WHO NRA GBT.

Deliverables

Output 1:  Verification of the NRA inputs in the filled NRA global benchmarking tool related to the NRA self-evaluation

Deliverable 1.0: Review the NRA inputs for each sub-indicator and each indicator of each regulatory function in the self-NRA benchmarking tool that was filled out by the different departments in charge of the different regulatory functions of medicines and vaccines.

Output 2:  Submit a verification report

Deliverable 2.0: Elaborate and submit a report that includes the comments on each NRA input in all sub-indicators/indicators of all regulatory functions and recommendations for improving the self-NRA benchmarking exercise.

Education

Essential: University degree in pharmacy, medicine, pharmacology, chemistry, biochemistry, microbiology, or other health-related sciences.

Desirable: Postgraduate degree in pharmacy, medicine, public health, or any of the above sciences or management.

Experience

Essential: At least 5 years of national, regional, or international professional experience working in the area of regulation of medical products within the national or regional regulatory authority.

Good overall knowledge of regulatory systems strengthening and in-depth knowledge of the WHO global benchmarking tool, methodology of benchmarking and related WHO guidelines.

Experience as an assessor in participating in or conducting NRA benchmarking missions. 

Experience working in collaboration with the World Health Organization is essential in order to understand WHO’s roles and core functions.

International experience is mandatory.

Skills/Knowledge

·       Extensive knowledge of regulatory systems strengthening for medical products in the regulatory authority or related fields. 

·       Excellent ability to communicate and work in diverse cultural settings. 

·       Advanced computer literacy and knowledge of regulatory IT systems and databases. 

·       Good professional drafting and communication skills. 

·       Experience related to benchmarking of regulatory authorities in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

Languages 

Essential: Expert knowledge of English and French language.

Location

Remote assignment (Off-site: Home based)

Travel

Not required

Remuneration and Expected duration of the contract (Maximum contract duration is 11 months per calendar year)

·       Remuneration: at Band level “B”

·       Expected duration of the contract: 10 days – Start date: 11/09/2023

WHO Competencies

Enhanced WHO Global Competency Model: https://www.who.int/employment/WHO_competencies_EN.pdf?ua=

Interested candidates are strongly encouraged to apply online through Stellis. For assessment of your application, please ensure that:

a)     Your profile on Stellis is properly completed and updated.

b)    All required details regarding your qualifications, education, and training are provided.

c)     Your experience records are entered with elaboration on tasks performed at the time.

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.
• In the event your candidature is retained for an 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 is committed to putting 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.