Roster of Consultants - Influenza surveillance, severity assessment, and disease burden estimation

Purpose of consultancy

The Global Influenza Programme is building a roster of consultants for project-based work in the areas of influenza disease burden (BoD) estimation, analysis of surveillance data, pandemic influenza severity assessment (PISA), and the integration of other respiratory pathogens into influenza surveillance platforms as described below.

Background

Influenza disease surveillance is an important component of pandemic preparedness. Influenza surveillance data are used to understand the severity of influenza seasons and to estimate influenza disease burden. The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 has highlighted the need to include other respiratory pathogens in influenza surveillance platforms.

Deliverables

The consultant will:

• Participate in and serve as a co-facilitator of a workshop on influenza surveillance data management and analysis with participants from targeted countries.
• Through field and home-based work, provide technical guidance to targeted countries in the following areas:

I) Influenza burden estimates:

1.1. Report on availability and quality of surveillance data.
1.2. Feasibility report of estimating national and/or sub-national influenza disease burden.
1.3. Influenza burden estimates.
1.4. Draft of results (national report and/or peer-reviewed publication).

II) Influenza surveillance assistance

2.1. Report on review of surveillance systems and data sources.
2.2. Assessment report of in-country surveillance and severity assessment needs.
2.3. Work plan with next steps for the generation and sharing of severity indicators and surveillance data.
2.4. Work plan for integration of other respiratory pathogens into existing influenza surveillance platforms.

Specific deliverables will be dependent on the activity(ies) that the consultant will be assisting. It will be indicated in the specific contract.

Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Educational Qualifications:

Essential:

Advanced university degree (Master’s level or above) from an accredited/recognized institute in epidemiology, statistics, public health, or a related field.

Desirable:

Specialized training in communicable diseases or infectious disease epidemiology.

Experience

Essential:

Band level B

• 5 to 10 years of combined national and international relevant experience in public health.
• Familiarity with influenza surveillance, disease burden estimation, or pandemic influenza severity assessment.

Pay band C

• Over 10 years of combined national and international professional experience in public health.
• Familiarity with influenza surveillance, burden estimation, or pandemic influenza severity assessment.

Desirable:

• Work experience with WHO or another UN agency.
• Familiarity with WHO Manual for Estimating Disease Burden Associated with Seasonal Influenza, the Pandemic influenza severity assessment approach (PISA), and End-to-end integration of SARS-CoV-2 and influenza sentinel surveillance: revised interim guidance.

Skills/Knowledge:

• Excellent writing and communications skills.
• Demonstrated skills in managing international projects.
• Strong analytical skills and ability to analyse and synthesize information from multiple sources.
• Proficiency in statistical packages for data-analysis (R, SAS, STATA, etc.)

Languages required:

Essential:

Expert knowledge of English

Desirable:

Intermediate knowledge of Arabic, French, Russian or Spanish.

Location

Off-site – Home based.

Travel

Travel may be required, depending on the activity(ies) that a consultant will be assisting with. It will be indicated in the specific contract.

Remuneration and budget (travel costs are excluded):

Remuneration:

Band level B - USD 7,000 – 9,980 per month or USD 350 - 499 per day.
Band level C - USD 10,000 – 12,500 per month or USD 500 - 625 per day.

Remuneration will be determined based on the level of expertise and tasks performed.

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

N/A

Expected duration of contract:

Duration of contracts will vary.

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 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
• The purpose of this vacancy is to develop a list of qualified candidates for inclusion in this advertised roster. All applicants will be notified in writing of the outcome of their application (whether successful or unsuccessful) upon conclusion of the selection process. Successful candidates will be placed on the roster and subsequently may be selected for consultancy assignments falling in this area of work or for similar requirements/tasks/deliverables. Inclusion in the Roster does not guarantee selection to a consultant contract. There is no commitment on either side.