CONSULTANT - Epidemiologist- Malaria Epidemic Prevention and Control

1. Purpose of the consultancy

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

Sub-Saharan Africa remains the home of malaria, and it is a significant health and development challenge. It accounts for an average annual reduction of 1.3% in economic growth in high endemic countries of Africa. Overall, the WHO African Region accounted for 95% of all malaria cases and 96% of all malaria deaths in 2021. During the period between 2000 – 2015, the WHO-AFRO region witnessed some progress in malaria control with a decline in mortality of 66% and a halving of malaria prevalence and incidence in children aged 2–10 years2. After this period of unprecedented success, progress in reducing the global malaria burden has stalled. In the African region, only 9 countries met the Global Technical Strategy (GTS) 2020 milestone, and we are not on track to meet milestones for Malaria mortality and morbidity for 2025 at global level.

Maintaining strong country program leadership, political commitment, technical capacity and engendering partnership and coordination including the private sector and community engagement continue to be critical to achieving set goals. WHO-AFRO with its partners in malaria has continued to work with countries to strengthen evidence-based malaria programme environment, in the face of ever-dwindling external resources that have hitherto, sustained the malaria control and elimination efforts.

It is against this backdrop the WHO regional office for Africa seeks to update its roster of international consultants with requisite skills in specific relevant technical areas to provide additional surge capacities as may be needed.

Several malaria epidemics have been reported in several countries over the past five years in the African region. In the past, malaria upsurges have been reported in six countries in East and Southern Africa (Madagascar, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Rwanda, Uganda and South Sudan); in six countries in Central Africa Angola, Burundi, Cameroun, Chad, DRC, and Sao Tome and Principe) and in 3 countries in West Africa (Cabo Verde, Mauritania and Mali). Un 2021, malaria outbreaks were recorded in Nigeria, Burundi, Ethiopia (Tigray) and Uganda. Some of these outbreaks occur in complex humanitarian crises such as floods, armed conflicts and massive displacement of populations.

The Consultancy roster provides a prequalified list of epidemiologists with relevant competencies and experience and provides the required flexibilities to support multiple streams of work being implemented under the supervision of the WHO–AFRO malaria team. The prequalification will also allow for rapid selection and deployment of a technical resource as required supporting activities related to Malaria Epidemic Prevention and Control.

Objectives

The overall objective is to ensure that member states are adequately supported to prevent and control malaria outbreaks and emergency situations and specifically:

The specific objectives are as follows:

1. To support the establishment of national coordinating mechanisms to respond to malaria outbreaks.
2. To support documentation of best practices/success stories in regard to malaria epidemic preparedness and response
3. To provide technical support to the management structures before, during and after the outbreak or epidemic.

Organizational Context

Under the overall supervision of the UHC/Communicable and Non-communicable Diseases (UCN) Director and in collaboration with the TVD Team Lead, designated WHO AFRO/ WCO staff members, The primary supervisor shall be the Malaria Multi-country Assignment Team (MCAT) focal point in the sub-region for activities carried out and a second contact point at AFRO office as designated by UCN Director and TVD Team Lead.

2. Description of duties

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.

Summary of Assigned Duties:

Under the overall supervision of the UHC/Communicable and Non-communicable Diseases (UCN) Director and in collaboration with the TVD Team Lead, designated WHO AFRO/ WCO staff members, The primary supervisor shall be the Malaria Multi-country Assignment Team (MCAT) focal point in the sub-region for activities carried out and a second contact point at AFRO office as designated by UCN Director and TVD Team Lead.

The consultant will perform the following tasks:

• Work with Malaria Technical Officers and MCATs to provide onsite technical assistance to the Ministries of health (MOHs) and Incident Management teams (IMT) in support to countries experiencing malaria outbreaks in the development and the implementation of malaria epidemic response plans.
• To support the conduct of emergency risk assessments and contingency planning.
• To provide technical assistance to the Incident Manager in coordination, resource mobilization, logistics management, data analysis and communication during Outbreaks
• To evaluate the levels of implementation of malaria epidemic response plans and the key outcomes and propose practical measures for improvement.
• Build local capacity of the IMT and Ministry of health field staff in areas related to the response

The scope of the work and deliverables

The work will encompass:

• Field visit to the affected district and interaction with the affected communities and health workers
• Conduct of emergency risk assessments, contingency planning and resource mobilization.
• Assessment of available and forecasted malaria commodities - Support the review of the epidemic prevention and response plan.
• Analysis of existing available data, by province and municipality in collaboration with

MOH.

• Technical assistance and training to health workers involved in the implementation of vector control activities, including integrated environmental sanitation actions as deemed appropriate
• Participation in advocacy meetings with national authorities, key partners and other stakeholders
• Engage national authorities and other stakeholders on key action points to be addressed for the containment of ongoing upsurge.

The deliverables will include:

• Minutes of meetings with national authorities, key partners and other stakeholders
• Reports of field visits to the affected district
• Regular updates on available and forecasted of malaria commodities - Country epidemic prevention and response plans.
• Weekly bulletins on malaria situation and status of implementation of malaria epidemic response plans

Timelines will be defined based on the scale and scope of each mission

3. Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

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

Educational Qualifications

• • Essential: University degree with a postgraduate degree in epidemiology or Public Health or health-related field.
  • Desirable: Diploma in malaria or communicable disease epidemiology.

Experiences

Essential:

• Seven years of experience in malaria or infectious disease surveillance, epidemic preparedness and response

Desirable:

• At least five years of working experience in malaria control programme or malaria prevention and control at national or international level especially resource challenged settings and in complex emergencies.
• Working experience with WHO will be an asset

Skills

• Strong knowledge of the principles and practices of communicable disease epidemiology with specific experience in malaria epidemiology;
• Proven experience in the development and evaluation of systems, policies, strategies, guidelines, and tools for malaria control and elimination;
• Proven experience in working on malaria Epidemics or malaria in complex emergencies
• Proven skills and knowledge in the development and evaluation of disease surveillance systems in a public health setting; and
• Presentation skills and competencies in communication

Competencies:

Candidate should be able to:

1. Produce results
2. Communicate in a credible and effective way
3. Ensure effective use of resources
4. Move forward in a changing environment
5. Respect and promote individual and cultural differences; building and promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond.

Languages and level required

• The with proficiency at expert level in either English, French or Portuguese
• Good working knowledge of the second international language considered an added advantage.

4. Travel - If travel is involved, full medical clearance is required

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.

Place of assignment

WHO Regional Office, Brazzaville, Republic of Congo

5. Remuneration and budget (travel costs excluded)

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

Proposed level: P4 based on qualification and experience.

Currency:

United States Dollars (USD)

Work schedule (if applicable) :

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