Consultant- Surveillance and strategic information

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1. Purpose of the consultancy

Surveillance and strategic information (SI) is a key to immunization activities. Strong SI systems should collect, manage and analyze data to turn them into information that can be used by decision makers for action. Strategic information can address incidence, prevalence, mortality, vaccine coverage and risk factors; and their variation by geographical area or over time. The information generated should be used to develop policy and plans for accelerated vaccine preventable disease control and address the needs of those affected. In the context of Polio transition, the key public health functions currently run by the Global Polio Eradication Initiative [GPEI] in six non-endemic polio priority countries in EMR need to be transferred to the national Vaccine Preventable Diseases (VPD) surveillance systems. The COVID-19 pandemic also brough the opportunity to build an integrated vaccine preventable disease surveillance system within the broader scope of communicable diseases surveillance in all countries in EMR The IVP unit of the DCD is hiring an international consultant to lead in this area. This consultancy is intended to support integration of AFP surveillance system into national VPD surveillance system in six polio priority countries and support member states in EMR to build an integrated VPD surveillance system within the broader scope of communicable disease surveillance system using the opportunity of COVID-19 pandemic.

2. Background

Within the framework of Universal Health Coverage (UHC), the objective of the Department of Communicable Diseases in the WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMRO), is to assist Member States in strengthening the health sector response for achieving the Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG3). For this purpose, Member States are supported to develop appropriate national policies, guidelines and strategies for implementation of comprehensive programmes for prevention and control of communicable diseases based on country health situation, trends of disease burden estimates, surveillance data (including entomological surveillance when applicable), monitoring and evaluation. The current polio transition initiative means that we need to progress towards integrating AFP surveillance into the national VPD surveillance system. The COVID-19 pandemic took many countries off guard and challenged case detection and confirmation. But the pandemic also brough opportunity by creating awareness and mobilizing resource to build a robust communicable disease surveillance system including for vaccine preventable diseases.

3. Planned timelines (subject to confirmation)

Start date: 01 Sep 2021

End date: 28 Feb 2022 with possibility of extension subject to satisfactory performance and availability of fund.

4. Work to be performed

The consultant will work closely with IVP/DCD responsible officer(s) and the national programme(s) to achieve the following:

Output 1: Review and assess surveillance systems for vaccine preventable diseases in place in the country/region in the broader context of communicable disease surveillance.

• Deliverable 1.1: Analyse and review the vaccine preventable disease strategies, objectives and targets.
• Deliverable 1.2: Conduct a desk review of the available data and data sources relevant to the objectives of vaccine preventable disease strategies.
• Deliverable 1.3: Carry out field visits (or virtual meetings) with relevant national programme surveillance focal person and WHO Country Office staff to assess data collection system and tools, reporting, management and analysis activities.
• Deliverable 1.4: Prepare a description of the surveillance system, including implementation and organization of the information system, data sources available and used, organizational structure for each data collection/analysis activity, feedback for policy makers and partners and key technical and ethical issues that require strengthening.

Output 2: Provide strategic recommendations and develop operational plan for integrating AFP surveillance system in to the national VPD surveillance system

• Deliverable 2.1: Evaluate the surveillance system in Gavi eligible countries and in non-endemic polio priority countries in reference to the objectives to identify strengths and areas for improvement.
• Deliverable 2.2: Develop strategic recommendations to strengthen surveillance, including identifying additional surveillance data needs and priorities, possible sources of information, data collection methods, case definitions, periodicity and opportunities for integration / synergies in Gavi eligible countries and in non-endemic polio priority countries.
• Deliverable 2.3: Develop operational plan for continuing AFP surveillance integrated into the national VPD surveillance system.

Output 3: Develop/update a national vaccine preventable diseases surveillance in targeted countries.

• Deliverable 3.1: Convene and facilitate a stakeholder meeting to present the analysis of the surveillance activities in the country, identify needs for improvement and prioritize future activities.
• Deliverable 3.2: Develop and circulate a national vaccine preventable diseases surveillance plan for feedback and consensus of stakeholders.
• Deliverable 3.3: Finalize the national vaccine preventable diseases surveillance plan taking into consideration all the input from stakeholders.

Output 4: Lead on the prioritization, development, and design of vaccination coverage evaluation surveys/operational research activities.

• Deliverable 4.1: Provide strategic leadership to identify country research and data priorities aligned with vaccine preventable diseases
• Deliverable 4.2: Develop a vaccination coverage evaluation survey/operational research protocol, including operational guide and data collection tools, considering all the technical and ethical considerations (including WHO templates and guidance).
• Deliverable 4.3: Support the process to comply with ethical requirement by seeking ethical clearance from the concerned authorities if applicable.
• Deliverable 4.4: Train local survey/operational research team on all topics included in the operational guide
• Deliverable 4.5: Conduct visits to the field sites for general evaluation and troubleshooting early in the process of implementation.
• Deliverable 4.6: Provide technical advice for quality assurance throughout implementation
• Deliverable 4.7: Provide technical support for data analysis and report writing

Output 5: Submission of the final report.

• Deliverable 5.1: Prepare an executive briefing to the decision makers and present the key findings recommendations to national authorities as required
• Deliverable 5.2: Submit a final report of the assignment to relevant unit, including an executive summary, recommendations and plan of action, with soft copies of deliverables.

Required Qualifications

Education:

• Essential: Master’s degree in epidemiology
• Desirable: University degree/advanced training in communicable diseases.

Experience: At least 10 years’ experience in epidemiological surveillance of communicable diseases and public health, with especial experience in management of vaccine preventable diseases.

• Familiarity with health policies and strategies in the Region related to vaccine preventable diseases.
• International experience is mandatory

Skills/ Technical knowledge

1. Reviewing and technical analysis
2. Data collection, management and analysis
3. Analytical writing
4. Communication skills
5. MS office and data analysis packages

Language

• Essential: Advanced knowledge on English.
• Desirable: Knowledge on Arabic or French.

Location:

• EMRO, Cairo

Medical clearance : The selected Consultant will be expected to provide a medical certificate of fitness for work.

Travel (If travel is involved, a medical certificate of fitness for work will be required.) 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. Visas requirements: it is the consultant’s responsibility to fulfil visa requirements and ask for visa support letter(s) if needed.

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.
• Remuneration is in line with WHO consultant established rates
• Successful candidates will be included in the roster for consideration for future contractual engagement via a consultancy, as they become available. Inclusion in the roster does not guarantee any future contractual relationship with WHO
• 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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• Interested candidates are strongly encouraged to apply on-line through Stellis. For assessment of your application, please ensure that:
  (a) Your profile on Stellis is properly completed and updated;
  (b) All required details regarding your qualifications, education and training are provided;
  (c) Your experience records are entered with elaboration on tasks performed at the time.