CONSULTANT Technical Officer, Vaccine Safety

BACKGROUND
The Vaccine Preventable Diseases (VPD) Programme is part of and contributes to the work of the Universal Health Coverage/Communicable and Non-communicable diseases (UHC/UCN) cluster in the WHO African region. The strategic agenda of the cluster is to reduce disease burden in the WHO African Region, by guiding disease control agenda in Africa, and using analytics to inform strategic investments and tailored interventions for disease control.
The specific objectives of the UCN cluster to which the VPD programme contributes, are to: (i) provide leadership on disease control coordination, partnership and resource mobilization; (ii) contribute to the development of WHO disease-control technical products, services and tools including adoption of new technologies and innovations; (iii) support generation and use of strategic information for action and decision making including optimizing investment; and (iv) provide or facilitate provision of technical support in deployment of WHO technical products and services and institutional capacity building, including support to national disease programmes and regulatory authorities.

PURPOSE OF CONSULTANCY
Access to vaccines is critical to the control of communicable and non-communicable diseases. Clinical development and the introduction of new vaccines has increased significantly in the African region. The region has seen an increased in clinical development of new vaccines as well as introduction of several new vaccines into routine immunization in many countries. Additionally, several vaccines still under clinical development are being used routinely to protect against outbreaks, epidemics and pandemics. The monitoring of safety and pharmacovigilance of these vaccines is critical and must be undertaken throughout their live cycles. Countries are developing roadmaps for vaccine safety and pharmacovigilance strengthening in line with the National Health Strategic Plans, Institutional Development Plans of National Regulatory Authorities and the Global Vaccine Safety Blueprint. In Addition, the GACVS manual for COVID-19 vaccine safety monitoring is also being implemented in all countries. As such, the purpose of this post is to provide technical advice on all issues pertaining to regulation of vaccines and support Member States to develop, establish and implement new and existing WHO recommendations/guidelines for vaccine regulation, including production, quality control, safety, and evaluation of selected vaccines and other biologicals in line with their plans.
Under the guidance and overall supervision of the VDP Team Leader and in consultation with the Unit Lead of the Vaccine Research and Innovation, the individual will provide advice and guidance on all aspects of vaccine safety matters in the WHO African Region. Guided by the IA2030, the RSPI, GVSB 2.0, Global and regional guidelines, recommendations of the GACVS, AACVS, programmes objectives, regional strategies, and policy guidelines; The individual will specifically support member states of the region to develop a framework for assessment of their performance, provide technical support for implementation of activities to improve pharmacovigilance and safety monitoring of vaccines. Within this context, the individual will facilitate a coordinated approach with the sub regions, contributing to the development of strategies and policies; reviewing and adapting existing guidelines; conducting and contributing to capacity building activities to facilitate the implementation of vaccine safety activities by Member States; and developing and managing work plans within the framework of WHO Staff Rules and Regulations, financial rules and AFRO accepted procedures. The work of the individual will contribute to the Vaccine research and innovation unit, the VPD team objectives and the UCN goals by ensuring that pharmacovigilance and vaccine safety surveillance is implemented for vaccines in routine use, emergency response, pilots and clinical trials and ultimately to building confidence in vaccines and improving coverage.
Under the guidance and overall supervision of the VPD Team Leader and within the scope defined by the Global and Regional Vaccine Action Plans, regional policy guidelines and programmes objectives, regional strategies, policy guidelines and programmes objectives, the consultant has first line responsibility and is an authoritative specialist for all aspects of vaccine safety matters including but not limited to: facilitating coordinated approaches and cross-cutting activities; proactively contributing to the development of strategies and policies; reviewing and adapting existing guidelines; conducting and contributing to capacity building activities to facilitate the implementation of vaccine safety activities by Member States; and developing and managing work plans within the framework of WHO Staff Rules and Regulations, financial rules and AFRO accepted procedures;

SCOPE OF WORK

The consultant will perform the following duties consistent with the work of Vaccine Research and Innovation and the VPD workplan:

• Provide expert advice on development of a regional framework to guide member states in the implementation of their workplans.
• Support the assessment of performance of national vaccine safety and pharmacovigilance
• Monitor the performance of workplan implementations and provide guidance and support for quality management systems for vaccine safety.
• Provide expert advice on the implementation of vaccine-pharmacovigilance activities in the region: AEFI review committee, national AEFI surveillance guidelines, AEFI investigation, causality assessment of an AEFI.
• Plan/organize regional trainings/workshops on technical topics relevant to the region in collaboration with SAV/RPQT and the ISTs.
• Provide guidance and technical support for Support countries in serious AEFI case investigations in cases of serious AEFIs, and causality assessments, when desired in close cooperation with other IVD staff and other clusters, and external experts as appropriate.
• Provide guidance and support for detection, reporting and management of AEFIs in mass vaccination campaigns, pilot implementation programs and use of experimental vaccines, including training materials.
• Provide alert to AFRO and HQ on anti-vaccine sentiments in the region.
• Provide periodic summaries and data on vaccine safety reporting and performance in the region.

Qualifications, experience, skills and languages
Educational Qualifications:
Essential:
Advanced university degree in medicine, veterinary medicine or pharmaceutical sciences or related field from an internationally recognized university.

Desirable:
Advanced degree in public health, immunology, microbiology or epidemiology.

Experience:
Essential:

• A minimum of seven (7) years’ relevant experience in public health with demonstrated experience working in vaccine safety related activities.
• At least Three (3) years of experience in working in immunization programmes and in working with national regulatory authorities and pharmacovigilance centers at international level.
• Proven experience of working with a diverse range of stakeholders to meet deadlines and within budgets.

Desirable:

• International experience with WHO in Africa and developing countries would be an asset
• Experience in policy formulation and strategic planning.

Knowledge and Skills

• Demonstrated track record in knowledge of immunization programmes complemented by basic vaccinology, and an in-depth knowledge of vaccine pharmacovigilance.
• Knowledge and skills in research, strategic thinking, program assessment, monitoring and evaluation will be key in discharging these duties.
• Knowledge of regulatory systems and policies will also be required.
• Excellent writing skills and publication track record, communication, and presentation skills with ability to write in a clear and concise manner
• Ability engage and provide technical advice and guidance to stakeholders and partners taking into account the vaccine safety surveillance infrastructure and capacity of the countries of the African Region.
• Track record in resource mobilization as well as diplomacy, tact and courtesy.
• Strong interpersonal skills with ability to promote consensus, communicate progress and results, and/or take remedial action in a proactive manner, while ensuring effective work practices and ethics

Languages

Essential: Expert knowledge of English or French with Working knowledge of the other.

Desirable: Intermediate knowledge of Portuguese.

The above language requirements are interchangeable.

Location & Travel

On-site consultancy: WHO Regional Office for Africa, Brazzaville, Congo. The consultant is expected to travel.

Remuneration

Band level B (P4 level) - USD 8,500 - 9,980 per month.

A living expense is payable to on-site consultants who are internationally recruited.

Duration of consultancy

Three (3) 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 each location/jurisdiction in which the work hereunder is performed, and the Consultant shall not be entitled to any reimbursement thereof by WHO.