Malaria Diagnostics (Roster Consultant)

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

Sub-Saharan Africa remains the home of malaria, and it is a significant health and development challenge. It accounts for an average annual reduction of 1.3% in economic growth in high endemic countries of Africa[1]. Overall, the WHO African Region accounted for 90% of all malaria cases and 91% of all malaria deaths in 2017. The last two decades have witnessed some progress in malaria control efforts within the WHO-AFRO region, with the period between2000 and 2015 seeing a decline in mortality of 66% and a halving of malaria prevalence and incidence in children aged 2–10 years[2]. After this period of unprecedented success, in more recent years, progress in reducing the global malaria burden may have stalled. Globally, we are not on track to meet the Global Technical Strategy (GTS) for Malaria mortality and morbidity milestones for 2020.

Maintaining strong country program leadership, political commitment, technical capacity and engendering partnership and coordination including the private sector and community engagement continue to be critical to achieving set goals. WHO-AFRO with its partners in malaria has continued to work with countries to strengthen evidence-based malaria programme environment, in the face of ever-dwindling external resources that have hitherto, sustained the malaria control and elimination efforts.

It is against this backdrop the WHO regional office for Africa seeks to update its roster of international consultants with requisite skills in specific relevant technical areas to provide additional surge capacities as may be needed.

Prompt and appropriate malaria parasite based diagnosis is essential to appropriate case management and effective disease surveillance. Case detection and classification presents the entry point for effective disease surveillance. Strengthening requisite capacities to appropriately diagnose the disease improves overall health outcomes, health system efficiencies and assures effective targeting of interventions to prevent malaria.Availability of requisite technical capacities through a skilled work force on appropriate diagnosis, laboratory strengthening and quality assurance measures are essential elements of a functional malaria programme.

Technical support to strengthen capacity on Malaria laboratory diagnosis capacity across transmission settings (from high to very low) and health system context are critical to the attainment of the malaria strategic goals articulated in the 2015-30 Malaria GTS. Practical and hands-on approaches to capacity strengthening also provide important feedback towards adapting and assuring continuous improvement in service delivery.

The Consultancy roster provides a prequalified list of laboratory capacity strengthening consultant(s) with relevant competencies and experience in malaria parasite based diagnosis to support multiple streams of work being implemented under the supervision of the WHO–AFRO malaria team. The prequalification will also allow for rapid selection and deployment of a technical resource as required supporting activities related to lab system strengthening.

PURPOSE OF THE POSITION

Under the overall supervision of the Communicable Diseases (CDS) Director and the Regional Malaria Adviser, the primary contact point shall be the Malaria Inter-Country Support Teams (ISTs) focal point in the sub-region for activities carried out within respective sub-regions and the second contact point at AFRO office as designated by Communicable Diseases Director and Regional Malaria Adviser.

The consultant will perform the following tasks\:

i.Work with CDS Malaria and ISTs to provide onsite technical assistance with the Ministries of health (MOHs) in support to countries in the development and updating of Malaria laboratory diagnostic and quality assurance guidelines and SOPs.

ii.To conduct malaria microscopy refresher trainings and QA/QC trainings for front line health workers

iii.Assist countries in coming up with work plans that will address shortfalls in QA/QC implementation identified during trainings and on site supportive supervision

iv.Build local capacity of the ministry of health workers on appropriate laboratory diagnosis and lab QC/QA.

v.Assist countries in developing and strengthening national malaria reference laboratories, national malaria slide banks and Proficiency Testing Provider facilities

vi.Facilitate hands-on field exercises as required

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

The work will encompass\:

-Field visits to districts and interactions with the health workers

-Technical assistance and training to health workers involved in the implementation of malaria laboratory diagnosis activities

-Engage national authorities and other stakeholders on key action points to be addressed.

The deliverables will include\:

-Reports of field visits to the affected district and other activity reports

-Training reports from training activities

-Minutes of meetings with national authorities, key partners and other stakeholders.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential\: University degree in laboratory sciences and knowledge of ISO 17025/ISO 15189 and ISO 17043.

Desirable\: Diploma in Malaria or infectious diseases diagnosis, WHO certification on malaria microscopy.

Experience

Essential\: Seven years of experience in Parasitology, Malaria diagnostics and at least five years inclusive working experience facilitating capacity building efforts of laboratory health workers.

Experience working with National Malaria Programmes

Desirable\: Experience supporting laboratory QA and therapeutic efficacy studies.

Working experience with WHO will be an asset

Skills

-WHO certified competency in Malaria microscopist

-Strong knowledge of laboratory management, up-to-date in underlying principles and tools for parasite based diagnosis ;

-Proven experience in the malaria policies, strategies, guidelines development;

-Proven skills and knowledge in the development and evaluation of laboratory quality of care;

-Presentation skills and competencies in communication

-Interpersonal communication skills

Use of Language Skills

- Essential\: Expert Knowledge of English.

- Desirable\: Good working knowledge of the second international language considered an added advantage.

REMUNERATION

WHO offers staff in the Professional Category an attractive remuneration package, which for the above position includes an annual net base salary starting at 70,647 USD (subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance, as applicable) and 30 days of annual leave.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

·This vacancy notice may be used to fill other similar positions at the same grade level

·Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.

·A written test may be used as a form of screening.

·In the event that 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.

·Any appointment/extension of appointment is subject to WHO Staff Regulations, Staff Rules and Manual.

·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.

·WHO has a mobility policy which can be found at the following link\: http\://www.who.int/employment/en/. Candidates appointed to an international post with WHO are subject to mobility and may be assigned to any activity or duty station of the Organization throughout the world.

·Applications from women and from nationals of non and underrepresented Member States are particularly encouraged.