Roster of consultants - Epidemiology and biostatistics, perinatal research

Purpose of consultancy

To provide technical expertise to the Department of Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health and Ageing (MCA) in data management and monitoring linked to a large research multicounty project in the area of maternal and newborn health.

Background

Preterm and low birth weight are large contributors to neonatal and under 5 mortality. 60-80% of newborns who die in the neonatal period are born either preterm or low birth weight. The WHO MCA department is coordinating a large project looking into implementation research in countries on the strengthening health systems to deliver good quality care to women at risk of preterm birth and optimising care for the preterm newborn, in line with WHO guidelines.

Deliverables

• To provide technical and statistical expertise to each country team with regard to training for data entry, data management, statistical analysis, monitoring and follow up. The consultant will be expected to draw up statistical progress reports for each country featuring:
  • (a) a data review on data collection processes at the site
  • (b) project outcome against project interventions in each site.
• To contribute to setting up new databases for different sub-studies within the project.
• To draw up a report on:
  • (a) a data review on data collection processes at the site
  • (b) project outcome against project interventions in each site provided at month 3,6, 9 and 11.

Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Educational Qualifications:

Essential:

• For band level A: A first university degree in medicine, public health epidemiology, statistics, or research methods.
• For band level B: A first university degree for lower end of range, and an advanced university degree for mid and high end of range, in medicine, public health epidemiology, statistics, or research methods.

Desirable:

• For band level A: Masters or higher qualification in medicine, public health epidemiology, statistics, or research methods.
• For band level B: Masters or higher qualification in medicine, public health epidemiology, statistics, or research methods.

Experience

Essential:

• For band level A:
  • At least 3 years of demonstrable research experience in the field of maternal/child health research, in LMIC settings.
  • Experience using R or Stata statistical software in the context of research projects.
  • Proof of research publications - two or more international peer reviewed publications in the area of maternal/child health.
• For band level B:
  
  • At least 5 years of demonstrable research experience in the field of maternal/child health research, in LMIC settings.
  • Experience using R or Stata statistical software in the context of research projects.
  • Proof of research publications - two or more international peer reviewed publications in the area of maternal/child health.

Desirable:

• For band level A: Previous experience with WHO-coordinated multicentre studies.
• For band level B: Previous experience with WHO-coordinated multicentre studies.

Skills:

• Knowledge of R or Stata statistical software.
• Excellent skills in computer applications such as Microsoft Word, Power Point advance Excel.
• Strong written and oral communication skills in English.

Languages required:

Essential:

• Expert knowledge of English.

Location

Off site: Home-based.

Travel

The consultant is expected to travel.

Remuneration and budget (travel costs are excluded):

Remuneration:

Band level A - USD 3,955 - 6,980 per month.
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:

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.
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• 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.
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• Consultants shall perform the work as independent contractors in a personal capacity, and not as a representative of any entity or authority.
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For roster VNs:

The purpose of this vacancy is to develop a list of qualified candidates for inclusion in this advertised roster. All applicants will be notified in writing of the outcome of their application (whether successful or unsuccessful) upon conclusion of the selection process. Successful candidates will be placed on the roster and subsequently may be selected for consultancy assignments falling in this area of work or for similar requirements/tasks/deliverables. Inclusion in the Roster does not guarantee selection to a consultant contract. There is no commitment on either side.