Consultant - Infection Prevention and Control

Purpose of consultancy

The consultant will contribute to IPC activities and products needed in relation to the response for Monkey Pox Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC).

Background

Infection Prevention & Control (IPC) is central to the public health emergencies, including outbreak response and containment. IPC also constitutes the foundations of safe essential health services and resilient communities and health systems, ensuring quality care, and protecting against healthcare associated infections (HAIs) and anti-microbial resistance (AMR). The success of ensuring IPC measures are implemented for outbreak response, in health facilities and communities, is dependent upon maintaining IPC operational readiness to rapidly respond to cases and putting in place at least the IPC minimum requirements at the national and health care facility levels as soon as possible.

As such, IPC guidelines are a key component for countries in the context Monkeypox outbreak, with objectives:

• to prevent the spread of Monkeypox during healthcare delivery in order to prevent health care facilities from amplifying the disease, protect health workers, patients, visitors, and maintain safe essential health services;
• to prevent the spread of Monkeypox infections in public and private communal settings through a comprehensive package of infection prevention and control measures and community engagement strategies.

This consultant will be working with WHE IPC units at WHO headquarters in close engagement with colleagues in the WHO Regional Offices and WHO country offices.

Deliverables

• Deliverable 1: Provide technical expertise in the MPX IPC guideline development process including facilitating evidence reviews, planning, developing presentations and preparing the content for the GDG meetings in collaboration with the technical team, the Methodologist and the systematic review team, conducting Guideline Development Group (GDG) meetings, as well as documenting the decisions made by the GDG;
• Deliverable 2: In collaboration with the Clinical Management team provide technical expertise to the writing of the IPC recommendations developed by the GDG to formulate the guideline and supporting GRC and external review processes;
• Deliverable 3: Contribute to the development of derivative and dissemination tools such as posters, infographics, protocols for health care facilities and implementing partners to support the implementation of IPC guideline recommendations in health care and community settings;
• Deliverable 4: Provide technical expertise to develop training materials and packages to support the Monkeypox guideline recommendations;
• Deliverable 5: Provide technical expertise to identify the MPX IPC research and innovation agenda and protocol development;
• Deliverable 6: Develop a framework for evaluating the uptake and impact of the IPC MPX guidance;
• Deliverable 7: In collaboration with Surveillance and Clinical management teams, explore possible collection of data for HCAI of MPX using existing data platforms and tools.

All deliverables expected by 28 February 2023

Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Educational Qualifications:

Essential:

Advanced university degree in health sciences or in public health or infectious diseases with demonstrated training in Infection Prevention and Control.

Desirable:

Post graduate certification or degree in Infection Prevention and Control.

Experience

Essential:

• At least 7 years of relevant work experience in the areas of IPC and public health including some at international level.
• Experience working with or supporting low and/or middle-income countries.

Desirable:

• Experience in guideline development including use of GRADE methodology.
• Experience in the development of training materials.
• Previous experience with Monkeypox (or orthopox family viruses).
• Experience in the field of public health policy development and implementation.
• Experience in the development of high-level multi-sectoral partnerships towards a common goal.

Skills/Knowledge:

• Expert knowledge of IPC and application to ensure quality and safety for patient care delivery in a variety of development and emergency settings
• Knowledge of guideline development processes and principles including GRADE
• Knowledge of adult learning principles for development of training materials
• Knowledge of dissemination and implementation strategies for IPC materials.

Languages required:

Essential:

Expert knowledge of English

Desirable:

Intermediate knowledge of French or another UN language

Location

Off-site – Home based.

Travel

Travel may be required as part of the assignment.

Remuneration and budget (travel costs are excluded):

Remuneration:

Band Level B from 7000 USD to 9.980 USD per month, depending on the consultant’s education and years of experience.

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

N/A

Expected duration of contract (Maximum contract duration is 11 months per calendar year):

6 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