Consultant - Medical epidemiologist - (Global Arbovirus Initiative)

Purpose of consultancy

The consultant will contribute to the implementation of the Global Arbovirus Initiative, in collaboration with WHO HQ, regional, and country offices and other public health partners. The consultant will contribute to the development and integration of surveillance to detect Zika, dengue, yellow fever, and chikungunya virus transmission.

The consultant will prepare reports and manuscripts documenting the findings of the global Arboviral Surveillance and Response Capacity Survey conducted in 2021 and continue to collate and summarize epidemiologic data on Zika virus disease. Activities will include finalization of an arbovirus surveillance toolkit, review of use cases for arbovirus testing, and support of consultants preparing and implementing region-specific adaptations of the Global Arbovirus initiative and the consultant reviewing arbovirus drivers of transmission and developing an arboviral hotspot map.

The consultant will also complete a multi-country arbovirus surveillance evaluation, ensuring completion of reference testing and supporting country-led publication of findings.

Background

Epidemics due to mosquito-borne viruses have escalated globally over the past two decades, with expansion of their frequency, intensity, and geographic footprint. Viruses transmitted primarily by Aedes mosquitoes include dengue, Zika, yellow fever, and chikungunya viruses and cause a wide spectrum of clinical manifestations from asymptomatic and mild infections to lethal and debilitating disease. In addition, Zika virus infection during pregnancy or chikungunya virus perinatally can cause significant adverse fetal and neonatal outcomes.

The World Health Organization is launching a Global Arbovirus Initiative that will strengthen the coordination, communication, capacity-building, research, preparedness, and response necessary to mitigate the growing risk of epidemics due to arboviral diseases.

Deliverables

• Deliverable 1: Contribute to GLAI dissemination and regional adaptation by preparation of the report on the global arbovirus surveillance and response capacity survey, and orientation of regional arbovirus consultants. Expected by 30 June 2022
• Deliverable 2: Prepare lists of databases to be incorporated into the global arbovirus dashboard in collaboration with regional consultants and prepare review and protocol for establishment/strengthening of regional arbovirus networks through review of existing collaborations and planning for regional meetings to engage partners. Expected by 30 July 2022
• Deliverable 3: Prepare summary report incorporating findings of the expert meeting, a list of key drivers of transmission, and a manuscript for submission to a peer reviewed publication in an open access journal. Expected by 28 July 2022
• Deliverable 4: Establish requirements for data sharing for the proposed global arbovirus dashboard in collaboration with regional consultants and the scoping review of the drivers of transmission of arboviruses globally including vector, pathogen, environmental (climatic variables, seasonality) and human behavioral and socioeconomic variables. Expected by 15 September 2022
• Deliverable 5: Contribute to the development of country workplans for GLAI priority projects in collaboration with the regional consultants and propose/review methodology for development of a global, regional and national baseline and dashboard covering multiple arboviruses. Expected by 15 October 2022
• Deliverable 6: Facilitate the discussion of the TAG- arbovirus and collaborating centres about the drivers of transmission and coauthor transmission risk findings for publication. Expected by 15 November 2022
• Deliverable 7: Propose structural organization of the global arbovirus network with interregional collaborations and circulate Zika epidemiology update to multiagency partners for review. Expected by 15 December 2022
• Deliverable 8: Review and update guidance documents for arboviral surveillance and response activities (including planning clearance, where required) and prepare methodology to develop guidance for epidemiologic investigations for arboviruses to be presented to the TAG-arbovirus. Expected by 28 February 2023
• Deliverable 9: Contribute to developing and reviewing guidance documents and supporting materials and finalize guidance documents incorporating feedback from TAG/expert panel. Expected by 28 March 2023
• Deliverable 10: Provide guidance documents and supporting materials for e-clearance as well as for journal publication and conclude response to reviewers. Expected by 28 April 2023

Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Educational Qualifications:

Essential:
Advanced university degree in medicine, public health, infectious diseases, or epidemiology.

Desirable:
Post graduate training in epidemiology.

Experience:

Essential:
Over 10 years of relevant experience in arboviral disease epidemiology, arboviral disease surveillance systems, and guideline development.

Desirable:

• Experience in applied research, research methods and evaluating and analyzing surveillance data;
• Experience working with regional/local stakeholders and partners;
• Experience in applied epidemiology of infectious diseases and ideally arboviruses;
• Experience in collaborating with laboratory networks and integrating laboratory and epidemiology team activities.

Skills/Knowledge:

• Technical expertise in preparedness, and response planning for arboviruses, and epidemiology of arboviruses;
• Documented knowledge in compiling public health technical reports and preparing manuscripts for peer-reviewed publication;
• Documented ability in conducting, compiling, and summarizing research data;
• Documented skills in conducting scoping or systematic reviews or meta-analyses;
• Excellent communication skills in English, written and oral;
• Strong organizational skills;
• High level of professionalism with the ability to work in a diverse work environment, including with high-level partners from governmental and non-governmental organizations; and
• Ability to work well as part of a team.

Languages required:

Essential:
Expert knowledge of English.

Location:

Off-site – Home-based.

Travel:

The Consultant is expected to travel abroad to WHO-HQ, Geneva for meetings related to the projects.

Remuneration and budget (travel costs are excluded):

Remuneration:

Band level C: USD 10 000 – 12 500 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