Roster of International Consultant - Tuberculosis (TB)

Purpose of consultancy

This Vacancy Notice is to establish a roster of qualified professionals and subject experts with relevant expertise to meet the surge needs in the field of TB in any or more than one technical areas such as – Active Drug Safety Monitoring and Management (aDSM), childhood TB, community engagement, drug-resistant-TB, epidemiology, HIV-TB co-infection, management of TB Infection, laboratory services strengthening including diagnostic technologies, multi-sectoral (including private sector) engagement, programme management, procurement and logistics management, high-level advocacy, health financing and budgeting, health systems strengthening, infection control, modelling including economic modelling, XX, proposal development and operational research that may be required from time to time in countries in the WHO South-East Asia Region.

Background

WHO South-East Asia Region (SEAR) consisting of Bangladesh, Bhutan, DPR Korea, India, Indonesia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Timor-Leste, bears disproportionate TB burden accounting for more than half TB deaths and more than 45% of TB incidence in 2021. COVID-19 pandemic has reversed the progress towards ending TB. There is a constant requirement to provide needs-based technical support through high-level expertise to countries of the Region. WHO Regional Office working with the WHO country office and partners are mandated to provide high quality technical support as per needs and as requested time-to-time by the national TB programmes and partners.

WHO SEAR Office intends to establish a roster of consultants to provide technical assistance and strategic recommendations for the accelerated implementation of TB programmes in the Region. The thematic areas include, but not limited to – Active Drug Safety Monitoring and Management (aDSM), childhood TB, community engagement, drug-resistant-TB, epidemiology, HIV-TB co-infection, management of TB Infection, laboratory services strengthening including diagnostic technologies, multi-sectoral (including private sector) engagement, programme management, procurement and logistics management, high-level advocacy, Management for co-morbidities and co-infections (HIV, DM, Mental Health, Hepatitis), health financing and budgeting, health systems strengthening, infection prevention and control, use of digital technologies in promoting health, modelling including economic modelling, proposal development and operational research.

Subject to availablity, WHO SEARO will preferentially hire subject experts from the established roster on short term basis for country support.

Deliverables

Under the direct supervision of the Regional Adviser and Medical/Technical Officers in the TB Unit and overall guidance of Director, Communicable Diseases, the technical expert(s) will be expected to fulfill TORs mentioned in the contract as exemplified below, and submit specified deliverables related to supporting countries and partners in the following areas:

• Review and update country guidelines as per WHO recommendations in the specific field
• Lead missions on behalf of the WHO at national and international level and participate in meetings and discussion on behalf of WHO.
• Conducting and leading technical reviews, evaluations and epidemiological analysis towards formulation of evidence for undertaking interventions
• Hold and facilitate consensus building workshops/meetings with in-country partners and stakeholders
• Support proposal development for donor funding including preparation of detailed costing and M&E framework in alignment with donor needs
• Assessment of laboratory and diagnostic capacity, and needs for expansion to meet the country and global goals of ending TB
• Health facility and laboratory site visits for assessment IPC practices and needs for improvement
• Assess existing multi-sectoral and community networks and its efficacy in country context and needs for further improvement
• Undertake modelling exercises and estimate corresponding funding needs for various implementation scenarios applicable to respective countries or the Region as a whole.
• Prepare and submit detailed reports that are acceptable to the national programme and WHO Technical Unit and adhering to the highest technical quality expected of a WHO report.

The hired consultant will be expected to submit the final assignment report along with other technical products as per the terms and conditions of the consultancy contract.

Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Educational Qualifications:

Essential: Medical degree/ Public Health degree/ relevant bachelor’s degree will be required for all levels in subject area for which enrollment is applied

For community engagement applicants, relevant experience in the field is enough

Desirable: Masters/MPH and higher qualifications in relevant field for Band B and C levels.

Experience

Essential:

• Band Level A: At least five years of relevant experience including some years of international experience
• Band Level B: At least seven years of relevant experience, some of which should have been obtained in an international context
• Band Level C: At least ten years of relevant experience including considerable experience obtained in an international context

Experience in monitoring and review of TB programmes/ projects in developing country.

Desirable:

1. Experience in the relevant field mentioned in the description of this position.
2. Experience as an Independent as well as joint international TA/ review mission in relevant field in country of the WHO South-East Asia Region;
3. Experience in monitoring progress of donor assisted projects/ programmes in countries
4. Experience in providing trainings and conduct workshop in relevant field – individually or as institutional arrangements

Skills/Knowledge:

1. Ability to work independently on MS Office applications and computer skills for making high quality technical presentations.
2. Analytical skills in review of available data and producing relevant reports with time-bound recommendations

Languages and level required (Basic/Intermediate/Advanced):

Knowledge of English with excellent written and verbal communication is essential.

Knowledge of regional language(s) would be an asset.

Location

Multiple, in the SEA Region

Travel

Both on-site and off-site support may be required based on country needs and specific ToRs of the consultancy.

Remuneration and budget (travel costs are excluded):

1. 1. Remuneration:

Band level A: monthly remuneration from USD 3,955 to USD 6,980

Band level B: monthly remuneration from USD 7,000 to USD 9,980

Band level C: monthly remuneration from USD 10,000 to USD 12,500

1. 2. Living expenses (A living expense is payable to on-site consultants who are internationally recruited): Per diem will be paid as per WHO rules applicable to international consultant for travel.
   3. Expected duration of contract: Variable

Additional information

• This vacancy notice is being issued for establishing Roster for International Consultants Tuberculosis (TB).
• 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) in English 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.