Consultant - HIV strategic information, modeling, and digital health data

Purpose of consultancy

To contribute to the development of the WHO SMART Guidelines initiatives in HIV, digital products, modeling and for the implementation of strategic information guidelines in countries.

Background

In 2022 WHO released Consolidated guidelines on person-centred HIV strategic information: strengthening routine data for impact to strengthen the collection and use of person-centred data in routine systems at country level. There is now an opportunity to more effectively define the technical and functional relationships between patient-level and aggregate data and related data use cases. The guidelines define what data should be recorded and reported (recommended data elements and indicators) and how this information could be used to build stronger, more efficient, and more effective health information systems in support of the HIV response.

In addition to the guidelines, digital tools are being developed to support guideline implementation as digital systems and products that are key for effective monitoring. To ensure countries can effectively benefit from digital health investments, WHO’s SMART Guidelines initiative are designed to facilitate the accurate reflection of WHO’s clinical, public health and data use guidelines within the digital systems that countries are adopting. Operational outputs, such as spreadsheets of the data dictionary with core data elements, are included as practical resources that implementers can use as starting points when developing digital systems. Other digital tools, such as the DHIS2 HIV case surveillance tracker and HIV prevention tracker, are also being supported.

As countries approach or reach the global 95-95-95 targets, an increased focus on accelerating reductions in HIV incidence are needed. A mathematical modeling project aims to understand the epidemiologic impact, effectiveness, and costing of various combinations of approaches to HIV testing, prevention, and treatment to rapidly achieve and sustain the greatest and most durable reduction in new HIV infections. This information will be used to guide the prioritization of interventions across different programmatic areas, approaches to HIV service delivery, population groups, and geographical units in high-burden settings and populations.

Deliverables

Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Educational Qualifications:

Essential:

• Advanced degree in epidemiology, biostatistics, public health, or another quantitative field.

Desirable:

• PhD in epidemiology, biostatistics, public health, or another quantitative field.

Experience:

Essential:

• At least 5 years of demonstrated experience in data analysis, epidemiology, or mathematical modeling.

Desirable:

• Experience in low- or middle-income settings with HIV programs, epidemiologic studies or with the development and implementation of digital tools in health information systems.

Skills:

• Knowledge in the use of statistical software to be able to conduct analyses of multi-country data (e.g. Stata, R, Python).

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 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.
• 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 that is committed to put 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.
• Consultants working in Switzerland must register with the applicable Swiss cantonal tax authorities and social security authorities, within the prescribed timeframes (Guidelines issued by the Swiss Mission are available at: https://www.eda.admin.ch/missions/mission-onu-geneve/en/home/manual-regime-privileges-and-immunities/introduction/Manuel-personnes-sans-privileges-et-immunites-carte-H/Non fonctionnaires et stagiaires.html