Consultant – Technical support to develop National Hepatitis B and C elimination plans.

Purpose of consultancy

The purpose of the consultancy is to facilitate technical support to access to commodities for testing and treatment in AFR and EMR countries in the context of developing national hepatitis B and C elimination plans.

Background
The Global Hepatitis Programme (GHP) leads the implementation of the Global Health Sector Strategy (GHSSS) on Viral Hepatitis to achieve HBV and HCV Elimination by 2030. WHO’s work in elimination is conducted in the context of WHO’s General Programme of Work 13 and is centred around the concept of Universal Health Coverage (UHC). GHP’s work at WHO headquarters is focused on developing norms and standards for prevention, testing, and treatment as well as guidance on elimination. Together with the HIV and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) team, GHP also work on an integrated package for strategic information and on data systems to report on access to, and forecasting the need for, medicines, diagnostics and other commodities for HIV and Hepatitis and STI. This is conducted in close collaboration with other departments (e.g., with the Essential Medicines Policy department for medicine and diagnostics access). To achieve country impact, GHP works closely with the WHO regional and country offices. Headquarter’s input is required for technical assistance related to the capacity building on norms and standards and for issues of specialised nature.

Deliverables

Task 1\: Facilitate access to pre-qualified HCV and HBV commodities through (i) conduct a situation analysis in collaboration with EMP and WHO regional offices on current country use of pre-qualified diagnostics and medicines, and (ii) a survey of manufacturers interest and willingness to go through WHO’s pre-qualification process.

This would include\:

• Deliverable 1.1\: Survey report in collaboration with EMP team on current access in countries to pre-qualified commodities;
• Deliverable 1.2\: Survey report of manufacturers interest and willingness to go through WHO’s pre-qualification process for hepatitis diagnostics and medicines, and include number of manufacturers interested, pre-qualification plan or stages in the process, estimated production capacity, possible challenges, and priority actions.

Task 2\: Facilitate technical support related to procurement of quality ensured commodities for testing and treatment for viral hepatitis in the context of emerging initiatives to increase access, particularly in EMR and AFR countries. This should build on the recent good practices WHO work.

This would include\:

• Deliverable 2.1\: Draft country support quick reference guide (with a slide deck) that can be used by staff of the various WHO offices at headquarters, regional and country level to facilitate procurement and supply chain management of HBV and HBC commodities, with a reference to quality (e.g., prequalification) and quantity (forecasting, sourcing, procurement, including tender);
• Deliverable 2.2\: Finalised guidance and slide deck after pilot testing with WHO staff and national counterparts.

Task 3\: Assist GHP in the coordination of partner engagement with WHO to advance viral hepatitis elimination.

• Deliverable 3.1\: Minutes of meetings with partners on planned, ongoing and completed activities in the field of viral hepatitis;
• Deliverable 3.2\: Maintained dashboard of planned, ongoing and completed activities of partners in the field of viral hepatitis.

Task 4\: Provide assistance to the development of national costing tools for hepatitis elimination, focusing on costing of medicine and diagnostics.

• Deliverable 4.1\: The WHO OneHealth tool adapted to hepatitis to cost medicine and diagnostics and piloted in at least three national plans;
• Deliverable 4.2\: Guidance on the integration of HBV and HCV medicines and diagnostics in national procurement and supply system, including use of integrated diagnostic platforms such as Gene Expert.

Task 5 \:Provide assistance to the development of monitoring, evaluation and elimination validation tools\:

• Deliverable 5.1\: Technical input to and adaptation of the WHO DHIS2 tools to monitor and evaluate the cascade of care for hepatitis in view of validation of elimination;
• Deliverable 5.2\: Facilitate support to countries through regions on M&E validation and Procurement and Supply Management.

Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Educational Qualifications\:

Essential\: Master’s degree in Medicine, Pharmacy, or Public Health

Desirable\: A diploma or certificate in Health Information, Health Planning, or Health Economics would be an asset.

Experience

Essential\: At least, seven (7) years of public health work experience in communicable diseases, including\:
- experience in medicine and diagnostic forecasting and supply chain management; and
- at least two years in the field of Hepatitis

Desirable\: Experience of working in middle / low income countries would be an asset.

Skills/Knowledge

• Good analytical and presentation skills
• Demonstrated capacity to write and communicate in English
• Ability to work as part of a team, and high level of interpersonal skills to work with Ministry of Health, officials and partners
• Good organization skills

Languages and level required

Expert ability to read, write and speak in English

Location

The place of assignment will be WHO Headquarters, Geneva, Switzerland.

Travel (If travel is involved, a medical certificate of fitness for work will be required.)

• Some travel may be required during the consultancy assignment.
• All travel arrangements will be made by WHO – WHO will not be responsible for tickets purchased by the Consultant without the express, prior authorization of WHO. While on mission under the terms of this consultancy, the Consultant will receive subsistence allowance in line with the instructions applicable locally, or up to the maximum of the UN DSA. The Consultant shall apply for a UN Certificate prior to travelling. Visas requirements\: it is the Consultant’s responsibility to fulfil visa requirements and ask for visa support letter(s) if needed.

Remuneration and budget (travel costs excluded)

1. Remuneration\: Specialist level – USD 8,500 (monthly rate)
2. Living expenses (A living expense is payable to on-site consultants who are internationally recruited)\: CHF 3000, if applicable
3. Work schedule (if applicable)\: 100% - Duration of contract will be 12 months, tentatively January to December 2020.

Additional Information section\:

• 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's workforce adheres to the WHO Values Charter and is committed to put the WHO Values into practice.
• 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 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)