Consultant – Ethics of research priority setting in global health

Purpose of consultancy

To provide technical guidance and expertise to help develop an ethical framework for priority setting in health research.

Background

Health research is a vital component of the fight to improve health worldwide. But the available resources for research are far outstripped by the valuable research questions that need to be answered. Since which research is conducted affects which populations ultimately benefit from the knowledge generated by the research, the question of how to allocate limited health research resources is an ethical question, not just a technical one. This project focuses on developing a framework for setting priorities for health research that provides ethical guidance for each of the stakeholders involved in priority setting decision-making.

Deliverables

• Deliverable 1: Deliver a literature review which assesses and existing tools or frameworks. Expected by end June.
• Deliverable 2: Contribute to the preparations/development of agendas, background papers and reports for monthly expert meetings. Due monthly, starting July 2022.
• Deliverable 3: Contribute to the preparations/development of agendas, background papers and reports for stakeholder engagement consultations. For up to 4 consultations between July 2021 and October 2023.
• Deliverable 4: produce a draft of the ethics framework for priority setting in health research. Expected by December 2023.

Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Educational Qualifications:

Essential:

Advanced university degree in Ethics, Law, Philosophy, or Medicine.

Experience

Essential:

Over 10 years experience in public health, bioethics or research-related field.

Skills/Knowledge:

• Specialized knowledge of research priority setting, including evidence of publications in the field.
• Excellent communication, research, presentation and report-writing skills.
• Ability to work in multidisciplinary and multicultural settings.
• In depth knowledge of ethical issues in research.
• Prior expertise of developing background papers on ethical issues in research and/or global health.

Languages required:

Essential:

Expert knowledge of English

Location

Home based – Off-site.

Travel

Travel to the consultation meetings and potentially expert meetings (dependent on whether the consultation and expert meetings will be face to face meeting or online).

Remuneration and budget (travel costs are excluded):

Remuneration:

Pay Band level C - 500 - 625 USD per day.

Living expenses (A living expense is payable to on-site consultants who are internationally recruited):

N/A

Expected duration of contract:

11 months (total working days: 30 days).

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