Consultant at World Health Organization (WHO)

World Health Organization (WHO) is the directing and coordinating authority for health within the United Nations system. It is responsible for providing leadership on global health matters, shaping the health research agenda, setting norms and standards, articulating evidence-based policy options, providing technical support to countries and monitoring and assessing health trends.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Consultant – Provide technical expertise to WHO HQ for influenza & other respiratory pathogens epidemic and pandemic preparedness

Job ID: 2408700
Location: Anywhere
Job type: Full-time
Contractual Arrangement: External consultant
Contract Duration: 11 months
Organization: HQ/GIP Global Influenza Programme WHE

Purpose of consultancy

• To coordinate implementation of initiatives related to integrated global respiratory disease surveillance, pandemic surveillance, and the implementation of standardized study protocols for respiratory viruses of epidemic and pandemic potential.  
• The consultant will coordinate tasks of high complexity including the development and implementation of the WHO Mosaic Respiratory Surveillance Framework and its associated tools; contribute influenza-specific subject matter expertise to materials on pandemic preparedness; and support development of global networks prepared to rapidly conduct epidemiologic investigations in the event of a pandemic.

Background

• Influenza and other respiratory virus epidemics occur each year and having systems in place to monitor and characterize epidemics are essential to inform prevention and control measures every year, and during pandemics.
• Following the COVID-19 pandemic, Member States requested to rapidly put in place a coordinated approach for sustainable surveillance of respiratory pathogens and this requires that multiple fit-for-purpose systems and complementary investigations & studies to work together to address early warning and routine monitoring surveillance objectives. E-GISRS is a cornerstone of such systems and fits within the WHO Mosaic framework that maps surveillance approaches to the objectives that they are best intended to meet.
• There is a current need to finalize stand-alone tools and materials from the 2023 pilot of the Mosaic Framework to allow countries in all regions to develop priority integrated surveillance workplans; to develop updated pandemic surveillance guidance for influenza and other respiratory pathogens that builds upon the Mosaic Framework; and to assure that standardized response and study protocols will produce needed high-quality data in future emergencies.
• This consultant will work closely with Global Influenza Programme (GIP) and Pandemic preparedness Global Platform (PGP) leadership to coordinate and implement these priority activities.

Deliverables
Task 1: Lead assessment of all findings from the 2023 Mosaic Framework pilot programs and coordinate development of stand-alone national Mosaic Framework workshop tools, and associated learning aids.

• Establish and coordinate an expert working group that will obtain secretariat, external partner, and regional office input into lessons learned from the 2023 Mosaic Framework pilot activities. 
• Deliverable: Finalization of all Mosaic Framework materials and tools:
• Presentation materials
• Tabletop scenarios
• Technical facilitator guides
• Implementation process guides
• Lead establishment of a Mosaic Community of Practice to link participating countries together on discussions of Mosaic surveillance best practices, the integration of workshop findings into existing work plans and funding proposals; and on discussions of monitoring and evaluation.
• Deliverable: Operational online Community of Practice
• Lead implementation of 3-5 Mosaic train-the-trainer (TOT) workshops, and established a roster of regional Mosaic Framework workshop facilitators in participating regions.
• Deliverable: Workshop reports and roster by end of the consultancy
• Develop materials to incorporate pandemic scenarios into Mosaic framework implementation workshops and trainings, aligned with updated guidance for surveillance during an influenza pandemic.
• Deliverable: Pilot training materials
• Prepare publication(s) on Mosaic Framework best practices and lessons learned.
• Deliverable: Draft paper(s) by end of the consultancy

Task 2: Provide influenza expertise to development and implementation of pandemic preparedness guidance, materials and trainings. 

• Serve as the influenza-specific focal point to PGP on matters of influenza pandemic preparedness.
• Deliverable: Monthly reports to GIP on relevant activities and outputs from PGP (for the duration of consultancy)
• Provide technical expertise into the development or adaptation of influenza specific pandemic preparedness guidance, training modules, simulation exercises or other materials to enable effective implementation of operational respiratory pathogen pandemic plans in countries.
• Deliverable: Influenza-specific materials (as agreed)
• As required, lead trainings and provide technical assistance for effective implementation and development of robust global and/or national pandemic surveillance plans that could be effective during an influenza pandemic.
• Deliverable: Training materials, reports of meetings and trainings (as agreed)
• Task 3: Coordinate and support the development and operations of a global network of sites that are prepared to conduct rapid investigations and studies to understand epidemics and pandemics of influenza, and other respiratory pathogens as applicable. This work will be done in collaboration with WHO staff within GIP, EPM, and with WHO Regional Offices. A suite of standardized protocols for rapid epidemiologic investigation and specialized studies exist, called the Unity Studies, and a network of sites that are able to do these studies is being formed. This task will coordinate aspects of the Unity Studies network at the global level and support regional chapters.
• Develop a strategy to monitor site capacity and readiness to conduct Unity Studies.
• Deliverable: Monitoring strategy
• Support a global meeting launching the Unity Studies network and coordinate aspects of the global meeting agenda.
• Deliverable: Secure speakers, draft agenda and facilitate sessions
• As required, collaborate with regional and country partners and provide technical expertise on development and modification of workplans, protocols, toolkits, and other materials to support Unity Studies implementation.
• Deliverable: Unity implementation materials (as agreed)

Qualifications, experience, skills and languages
Educational Qualifications
Essential:

• Advanced university degree (Master or equivalent) in Public Health or Epidemiology.

Desirable:

• Field Epidemiological Training Program (FETP) graduate. 
• First university degree in Biology or Microbiology.

Experience
Essential:

• At least 10 years of relevant experience in epidemic and pandemic preparedness, surveillance and response including to influenza and COVID-19, including at least 5 years at the international level.

Desirable:

• Experience working with WHO, including at WHO country offices, or Regional Offices.
• Experience working in countries on respiratory pathogen epidemic and pandemic response, including for Influenza and COVID-19.
• Experience advising on surveillance approaches for influenza and other respiratory pathogens.
• Experience developing, implementing, or advising on rapid investigations of respiratory pathogens during an epidemic or pandemic.
• Experience synthesizing complex technical and political public health information into systematic review/meta-analysis or succinct, user-friendly resources.

Skills/Knowledge
Essential:

• Strong interpersonal communications
• Strong writing skills

Languages and level required
Essential:

• Expert knowledge of English.

Remuneration

• Band level C: USD 10,000 - 12,500 per month.

Application Closing Date
31st January, 2025.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online