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Qualifications

Purpose of consultancy

To contribute to the Local Production & Assistance (LPA) Unit activities in strengthening local production and technology transfer for improving access to quality-assured, safe, and effective health products (pharmaceuticals, vaccines, biologics, diagnostics, etc.), including for emergency preparedness.

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic has shown a concentration of global production capacity of essential health products in a few regions/countries and vulnerabilities in global supply chains.  For low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) that rely largely on importation of medical products to meet public health demands, they are at greater risk for lack of access to quality-assured medical products.  The Local Production and Assistance (LPA) Unit has been receiving an increasing number of requests from Member States for support in strengthening quality local production and technology transfer as many LMICs look to technology transfer and strengthening local manufacturing capacity to improve timely access and strengthen national health security, particularly during emergencies such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Local Production and Assistance (LPA) Unit in the Innovation and Emerging Technologies (IET) Department, Access to Medicines and Health Products (MHP) Division is responsible for supporting Member States in strengthening local production and technology transfer of quality-assured essential health products (medicines, vaccines, biologics, device, diagnostics, etc.) to improve access under the context of WHA74.6 on Strengthening local production of medicines and other health technologies to improve access and other World Health Assembly resolutions and decisions related to local production and access to health products.

The focus of work is on promoting sustainable quality local production and technology transfer in a holistic manner, such as conducting feasibility assessments for sustainable local production, developing strategies, roadmaps, and tools, providing capacity building and specialized technical assistance, and facilitating technology transfer.

Deliverables

Under the supervision and overall guidance of the Unit Head, Local Production and Assistance (LPA) Unit, the consultant will work with relevant colleagues to:

• Perform comprehensive research and analyses of markets and economies for determining feasibility and readiness of countries/regions to strengthen and sustain local production and technology transfer of health products and prepare the relevant comprehensive reports of market and economic analyses of at least 8 countries.
• Perform research and analyses on the needs of local manufacturers of health products to develop bankable business models, investment cases, etc. for sustainable quality local production and technology transfer. This may include, but is not limited to, analyses of policies, production capacities and costs, supply chains of raw materials & equipment, incentives, infrastructure, human capital, etc. and prepare detailed report(s) of the needs of local manufacturers to develop bankable models, investment cases, etc.
• Provide technical expertise in supporting Member States and relevant stakeholders in building conducive business and/or investment ecosystems for sustainable quality local production and technology transfer of health products, including for emergency preparedness. This may include, but is not limited to, assisting with ecosystem assessments and/or strategy setting, organizing capacity building, facilitating technology transfers, developing global resources, etc. and prepare technical materials for supporting Member States and up to two capacity building or technical assistance activities are organized.

Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Educational Qualifications:

Essential:

• Advanced level university degree in a field related to public health, life sciences, business administration or other health or economic-related fields.

Desirable:

• PhD degree in a field related to public health, life sciences, or other health or economic-related fields.

Experience

Essential:

• At least ten years of professional experience in developing business models, plans, cases, etc. for local production and technology transfer of health products (pharmaceuticals, vaccines, biologics, diagnostics, etc.)
• Demonstrated experience in conducting business, market and economic analyses and developing evidence-based action plans
• Demonstrated experience in analyzing and developing investment cases, preferably in the health and/or industrial sector, with experience from within an internationally recognized investment/financial institution being an asset
• Demonstrated experience in developing investment plans for local production and technology transfer of health products, preferably with manufacturers in LMICs
• Demonstrated experience working with public and/or private stakeholders in LMICs, preferably in the health sector

Desirable:

• Experience in the development and/or production of health products (pharmaceuticals, vaccines, biologics, diagnostics, etc.) in the private sector
• Experience in conducting due diligence of companies, preferably health product manufacturing companies and related to business development
• Experience in the transfer and absorption of technologies of health products for local production
• Experience in conducting business and market analyses of the health sector for health emergency response and preparedness
• Experience in organizing meetings/workshops and providing training

Skills/Knowledge:

Essential:

• Direct knowledge in business, market and economics of local production and technology transfer of health products (pharmaceuticals, vaccines, biologics, diagnostics, etc.)
• Knowledge in the development and/or production of health products
• Capability to conduct due diligence of companies for business development strategies
• Excellent technical writing skills
• Good communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to work in a multicultural team and maintain effective working relationships with recognized experts and stakeholders
• Strong methodological and analytical skills with the ability to conduct research, identify and analyse literature relevant to the programme area
• Good planning and organizational skills with attention to detail and with the ability to multi-task and work under pressure
• Strong IT skills: Word, Excel, presentation, and other office software

Desirable:

• Technical knowledge in the transfer and/or absorption of health products (pharmaceuticals, vaccines, biologics, diagnostics, etc.)
• Direct knowledge of national policies of the health, industrial, economic, market and other sectors for local production and technology transfer, preferably of LMICs

Languages required:

Essential:

• Expert knowledge of English.

Desirable:

• Intermediate knowledge of another WHO official language.

Location

Home based – Off-site

Travel

The consultant may be expected to travel.

Remuneration and budget (travel costs are excluded):

Remuneration:

Pay band level C – USD 10,000 – 12,500 per month

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

N/A

Expected duration of contract:

2-11 months. Additional contracts may be offered depending on programme needs and availability of funds.

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