Technical Advisor - Covid 19 - COVAX (Temporary)

Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance is a public-private partnership committed to saving children's lives and protecting people's health by increasing equitable use of vaccines in lower-income countries. The Vaccine Alliance brings together implementing country and donor governments, the World Health Organisation, UNICEF, the World Bank, the vaccine industry, technical agencies, civil society, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and other private sector partners. Gavi uses innovative finance mechanisms, including co-financing by recipient countries, to secure sustainable funding and adequate supply of quality vaccines. Since 2000, Gavi has contributed to the immunisation of more than 822 million children and the prevention of more than 14 million future deaths.

The COVAX Facility (“COVAX”) provides a global solution to the equitable distribution of vaccines to the 190 participating countries and economies. The COVAX Advance Market Commitment (AMC) is an innovative financing instrument that supports the participation of the 92 low and lower-middle income economies in COVAX. Self-financing participants (SFPs) have entered COVAX either as Optional (having the possibility to opt-out of a particular vaccine) or Committed Purchasers. Guided by the WHO fair allocation framework, COVAX will equitably distribute doses to help protect the most at-risk groups. Gavi is working with Alliance partners UNICEF and WHO to ensure that the infrastructure is in place, and the technical support available, for COVID-19 vaccines to be safely delivered to all those who need them.

BACKGROUND

The Design & Operationalisation (D&O) Team within the newly established Office of the COVAX Facility designs policies and mechanisms to deliver on the Facility mandate, manages the Facility’s preparations for implementation, and coordinates across the Facility, Gavi Secretariat, and the Vaccine Pillar of the Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator. The D&O team also hosts the Secretariat for the COVAX Independent Product Group to provide independent technical advice on the prioritisation and inclusion of suitable vaccines and the status of the COVAX portfolio of vaccine candidates, based on information related to clinical development, manufacturing and supply. 

The appointed individual will work closely with COVAX Pillar Partners who are leading on the R&D, technical and policy guidance to track the evolving vaccine policy landscape, consider implications (e.g. future investment decision making, country communication) for the Office of the COVAX Facility and support operationally focused teams’ assessment of emerging issues so that these can be incorporated in forward planning and risk management.

• Lead internal monitoring of the COVID-19 vaccine policy landscape and act as a focal point for teams across the COVAX Facility on priority technical questions relating to COVID-19 vaccine policy;
• Taking into consideration the changing landscape, regularly analyse the wider implications for the COVAX Facility to inform engagement with partners providing technical and vaccine policy guidance;
• Collaborating with multiple teams and colleagues across Gavi/ Office of the COVAX Facility, conduct horizon scanning and identify emerging vaccine policy issues in order to inform strategic planning, assess critical risks to Gavi and the COVAX Facility, and develop mitigation plans with relevant teams and senior leadership, including defining roles and responsibilities;
• Liaise with partners to collate, synthesise and present internal-facing analysis on relevant technical and policy topics and, as needed, develop materials related to COVID-19 vaccines portfolio and policy for use by colleagues across the Office of the COVAX Facility;
• Lead, scope and contribute to relevant cross-cutting work streams including ensuring effective coordination with COVAX pillar and Alliance partners. 

Note: The essential functions listed in this section are not limited only to the tasks listed and may include other duties as assigned.

If you wish to apply, please provide a cover letter and resume through our Careers webpage and apply by clicking on “Technical Advisor - Covid 19 - COVAX (Temporary).” Deadline for applications is 30 September 2021.

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