Consultant – Epidemiology and Surveillance for Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)

Purpose of consultancy

To facilitate and coordinate epidemiology, data and analysis related activities of the WHO RSV surveillance project.

Background

The Department of Immunization, Vaccines and Biologicals (IVB) is responsible for targeting vaccine-preventable diseases, vaccines, immunization policy and research. This includes preparing for policymaking around RSV immunization products, and IVB is organizing a series of regional workshops to raise awareness of RSV disease burden and prevention. The Global Influenza Programme (GIP) coordinates the WHO global RSV surveillance project that leverages the capacities of the Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System (GISRS) in 25 low- and middle-income countries and more, in all the six WHO regions. The project aims to develop epidemiological and virologic standards for RSV surveillance, monitor the geographic spread, seasonality, disease burden and genetic evolution of the RSV to better inform the development and introduction of vaccines and monoclonal antibodies. The project is implemented in coordination with the WHO regional and country offices, national public health laboratories, and ministries of health to build capacities and develop standards and norms for global RSV surveillance and contributes to the development of operational models of integrated surveillance of GISRS.

Deliverables

Output 1: Analysis to better understand RSV epidemiology including seasonality, disease burden, high risk groups before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Activity 1.1: Using epidemiological methods and software, contribute to the epidemiological analysis of surveillance data for RSV prevalence and RSV-associated hospitalization burden in sentinel surveillance populations, as well as support analyses on seasonality, high risk groups as possible.
• Activity 1.2: Using data from the global RSV surveillance project, contribute to the development of communication and background materials such as fact sheets or briefing notes to inform national level stakeholders/policymakers and support planned regional RSV awareness raising workshops.
• Activity 1.3: Contribute to the preparation of manuscripts, project reports and other information products.
• Activity 1.4: Liaise with the WHO regional and country offices through email communication and teleconferences as needed in the implementation of above activities.

Output 2: Analysis to estimate RSV burden based on surveillance using the tiered approach.

• Activity 2.1: Provide technical support for collection and analysis of RSV-associated hospitalization burden based on surveillance data.
• Activity 2.2: Liaise with the WHO regional and country offices through email communication and teleconferences as needed in the implementation of above activities.

Output 3: Chapter on RSV in the Vaccine Preventable Disease (VPD) surveillance manual.

• Activity 3.1: In collaboration with WHO focal points and based on existing materials, contribute to the drafting of a chapter on RSV surveillance as part of the broader WHO VPD manual: www.who.int/teams/immunization-vaccines-and-biologicals/immunization-analysis-and-insights/surveillance/surveillance-for-vpds/vpd-surveillance-standards. This should include surveillance through the GISRS platform and through sentinel hospital-based surveillance.

Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Educational Qualifications:

Essential:

Advanced university degree preferably in epidemiology, statistics, public health.

Experience

Essential:

At least five years of work experience with disease surveillance, disease burden, preferably influenza, RSV or other respiratory diseases.

Desirable:

Experience with WHO or another UN or international public health agency.

Skills/Knowledge:

Excellent statistical analytic skills, writing and communication skills.

Languages required:

Essential:

Expert knowledge of English.

Desirable:

Working knowledge of another WHO official language.

Location

Off-site – Home based.

Travel

No travel is expected.

Remuneration and budget (travel costs are excluded):

Remuneration:

Band level B - USD 7,000 – 9,980 per month.

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

N/A

Expected duration of contract:

11 months.

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