Consultant to support the WHO Afro Regional Immunization Technical advisory Group (RITAG)

1. Background

Please briefly describe why the work is needed and the context.

The Vaccine Preventable Diseases Non-Communicable 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 World Health Organization 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, thus contributing through its country support investments to 3 disease control outcomes at country-level: improved disease programme governance; improved interventions coverage; and improved services quality. Investments towards these outcomes are guided by comprehensive whole of society, people-centred, integrated approaches to disease control. The comprehensive whole of society approach entail investments around: (a) coherent implementation of triple response – technical response: implementing diseases specific normative guidance, promoting intervention mixes and deploying medical commodities; health systems response: building capacities of district service delivery systems in disease mapping and stratification, interventions tailoring, and sector/subsector planning; and multi-sectoral response: addressing socio-economic and environmental determinants of diseases through mobilizing non-health sectors, communities and stakeholders; (b) disease control partnership of public and private sectors, health and non-health sectors; and (c) community involvement in targeted high risk communities, focused on managing determinants of diseases, health services demand creation and accountability by local health stewards. The people centred, integrated approaches to disease control involves investments around: (a) integrated guidance on disease control for each health service delivery platform, a move away from stand-alone disease specific guidance; and (b) integrated and efficient disease control investments in strengthening the capacity of appropriate health services delivery platforms through deployment of appropriate technologies and analytics to guide stratification of disease risks across population groups in order to develop and deploy comprehensive packages of interventions appropriate for each population group and health service delivery platform, as well as monitor population access, coverage and impact to leave no one behind.

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.

The RITAG serves as the principal advisory group to the WHO/AFRO for strategic guidance on vaccines and immunization. RITAG is charged with advising the WHO Regional Director on overall regional policies and strategies, ranging from vaccine and technology research and development to delivery of immunization services and linkages between immunization and other health interventions.

Towards attainment of the 2030 SDGs targets for VPDs, Immunization Agenda as well as Addis Ababa declaration on Immunization, the incumbent will contribute to the WHO AFRO Vaccine preventable Program within UCN cluster in supporting the work of the RITAG Chair and technical secretariat in the organization and coordination of RITAG activities for the optimal production of independent and high-quality advice on integrated immunization in Primary healthcare in the African region.

2. Deliverables

Outline clear tasks and deliverables, to be carried out in the framework of the background described above. These need to be time-bound and specific.

The consultant(s) will work with the VPD team at AFRO, IST and or countries level to support and perform the following tasks:

Objective 1: Contribute to the planning, coordination, and monitoring of the RITAG activities and its working groups for optimal functionality and for the timely delivery of independent evidence-based recommendations

• • Support and prepare, the RITAG annual work plan in collaboration with the RITAG chair, and the secretariat.
  • Facilitate the planning and preparations for the RITAG and working group meetings including agenda setting in collaboration with the secretariat and chairpersons.
  • Monitor/keep track, and archive all relevant documents for the RITAG and working group meetings
  • Document the declaration of interest of RITAG members including initial declaration and regular update and support their dissemination through the AFRO website
  • Document the RITAG meeting minutes and recommendation by drafting, circulating, integrating inputs, and disseminating the final endorsed version.
  • Create profiles for RITAG members as well as the working groups members and support dissemination of the RITAG profiles on the WHO AFRO website
• Objective 2: Ensure collaboration of RITAG with other expert bodies and advisory committees, NGOs involved in immunization and the PHC at regional, sub-regional and national level for evidence-based decision-making including core principles of the immunization agenda 2030.
  • Facilitate the establishment of a network consultation framework between RITAG and the other immunization advisory committees at the regional level through the participation of these committees in RITAG meetings and vice versa to create synergy of recommendations in the field of immunization
  • Facilitate the participation of the RITAG experts in other committees at regional, sub regional and country levels such as AACVS, Polio and measles committees, NITAGs; etc.
  • Map technical support needs of other immunization committees at regional (AACVS, Polio, Measles), sub-regional (Immunization working group) and country levels (NITAGs) to be addressed in collaboration with the technical secretariat and RITAG chairperson
  • Facilitate participation of NGOs, civil society, and other related organizations in the RITAG meetings to contribute to evidence-based recommendations with contribution from all immunization stakeholders

Objective 3: Ensure regular reporting on activities, identify challenges, and propose solutions for optimal support of the secretariat and proper functioning of RITAG

• • Track, monitor and document the status of implementation of RITAG recommendations
  • Draft quarterly progress report and submit to the VPD team lead on RITAG support activities
  • Document and support dissemination of best practices of the RITAG contribution in evidence-based decision making and related bodies in the African region

Deliverables

• • The annual RITAG workplan produced and implemented
  • Planned RITAG meetings conducted and meeting reports available
  • Profiles of RITAG and working group members available, updated and on the WHO AFRO website
  • A network of RITAG and the other regional immunization advisory committees established and functional
  • Quarterly report on the status of implementation of RITAG recommendations available
  • Quarterly activity progress reports available
  • Annual reports on the implementation of the RITAG work plan available

3. Qualifications, experience, skills, and languages

Identify the educational qualifications and expertise needed for the terms of reference outlined above.

Educational Qualifications: Medical Doctor/pharmacy with postgraduate degree in Public Health or related filed

Specialization in project management will be an asset.

Experience

• A minimum of at least 05 years’ experience in medicine or public health with at least 3 years’ experience in developing or supporting evidence-based Health and/ or immunization policies
• Work experience with UN agencis, NGOs or immunization related organizations

Skills/Knowledge

• Excellent organizational and analytical skills with the ability to multitask, identify and solve problems.
• Good understanding of public health systems, Immunization programs in low- and middle-income countries and primary health care system.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with ability to promote cohesive action and convince officials with tact and diplomacy.
• Excellent teamwork ability and working in a multicultural environment.
• Ability to write in a clear and concise manner and to present scientific information.

Languages and level required:

• Academic level speaking and writing in at least one of the following languages: French, English, Portuguese.
• Multilingual capacity will be an added value in supporting some countries with multiple official languages.

4. Technical Supervision

Indicate the name and title of the supervisor with email address.

The consultant(s) contracted will work at the WHO regional office for Africa under the VPD team lead from whom, he (she) will take guidance and report.

5. Location

Please specify where the consultant will work:

On site: Congo/Brazzaville (please indicate office and duty station)

Off site: ____________ (please indicate location/address).

On site for insurance purposes: Brazzaville Congo (please indicate location/address). (This is where a duty travel is planned during the assignment)

6. Travel - If travel is involved, full medical clearance is required Indicate here if the consultancy involves travel;

Please specify any expected travel(s): dates, location, and purpose.

A living expense is payable to on-site consultants – please refer to Information Note 08/2019 for details on eligibility. Travels will be guided as per needs to attend meetings in or out of Brazzaville, and support RITAG members’ missions. DSA will be paid as per the specific prevailing country rate.

7. Remuneration and budget (travel costs excluded)

Rate [daily or monthly or for language and publishing services by word count or number of pages]: Paid by the WHO AFR

CONSULTANTS’ PAY BAND – P3

Currency: USD 39,830

Work schedule (if applicable): from beginning up to 3 months

Please refer to Information Note 09/2021 for guidance on rates for consultants.

Consultant will have a P3 grade, depending on the type of complexity of the task and deliverables, and paid according to the scale of the United Nations system.