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Qualifications

Justification 

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. This approach is underpinned by the guiding principles of comprehensive whole of society, people-centered, integrated approaches to disease control. The comprehensive whole of society approaches to disease control involves: (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 centered, integrated approaches to disease control involves: (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 to develop and deploy comprehensive  packages of interventions appropriate to each targeted 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 .

Purpose of the Post: 

The Malaria Vaccines Introduction and Rollout is an integral part of and contributes to the efforts of the Universal Health Coverage/Communicable and Non-communicable Diseases (UHC/UCN) cluster in the WHO African region. The cluster’s strategic agenda aims to reduce the burden of diseases in the WHO African Region by guiding disease control initiatives, leveraging analytics for strategic investments, and tailoring interventions for disease control. The guiding principles include comprehensive whole-of-society, people-centred, and integrated approaches to disease control.

Role of the Demand Generation Expert for Malaria Vaccines Introduction

The Roster of data science experts in Malaria Vaccines Introduction is primarily intended to serve as a deployable capacity for WHO to augment existing support to countries.  Therefore, officers provide technical support capacity for activities concerning Introduction of Malaria Vaccines from Application Development, budget Development, Planning, Implementing, Monitoring and Evaluating post Introduction.  Candidate who are successful with this call of interest will receive a pre-deployment briefing to prepare them for any potential operational deployment in the 19 countries of the Region. 

Time Management and duty station

In the event of a field deployment, data science experts will fall under usual reporting structures for VPD/field missions to RO, and CO respectively.  The UCN Cluster shall determine and coordinate overarching strategy and policy, such as principles guiding the organization, development, and deployment of the data science experts for Malaria Vaccines Introduction.

Summary of duties

Within the framework of the Accelerated Malaria Vaccine Introduction and Roll-out Initiative in Africa, the Data Science Expert will work with the AFRO Regional Office, ISTs and individual countries to support and perform the following tasks:

•  Finalize the MVI preparedness dashboard and build EPI capacities to maintain and update the dashboard.
• Conduct a rapid analysis of strengths and weaknesses of the system in place for data and information management.
• Formulate recommendations for ensuring effectiveness of the information system and support the implementation of the said recommendations.
•  Develop an automated daily/weekly data pack related to the MVI
• Coordinate the development of a dynamic dashboard that will help to monitor the performance of teams and vaccination sites at all levels.
•  Develop tools to harmonize data collection and processes across WCO and field offices to facilitate consolidation of information. Respond to specific information requests from the technical teams and partners, ensure dissemination of information and knowledge sharing with all partners.
•  Provide country-specific and aggregate intercountry information to the relevant WCO websites, manage email boxes and share points, as required.
• Provide technical expertise during interagency initiatives, related to information and data management, seeking to improve information sharing between institutions, to strengthen access to information from other organizations and clusters, and to contribute to intersectoral dashboards and reports.
• Verify data quality (completeness, timeliness), identify gaps in health information management, recommend corrective actions and prepare relevant documents to include in project proposals, internal and external situation reports.
•  Participate in any other activity that may be required in connection with the incident data management and
• Perform any other incident-specific related duties, as required by the supervisor.

Deliverables

• Preparedness dashboard finalized and deployed.
• Report and rapid analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of the existing data system.
• Daily/Weekly Data pack
• Dynamic dashboard for monitoring the performance of vaccine rollout as well as those of teams at all levels developed and deployed.
• Daily data reports submitted to WR and AFRO
•  Assess country capacities in Data management (Malaria).
•  End of mission report. 

Skills and qualifications 

• Expert knowledge of at least one WHO official language (other languages at national levels desirable where applicable). 
• Excellent analysis and problem-solving skills 
• Excellent diplomatic skills when engaging with internal and external interlocutors  
• Excellent interpersonal skills and a proven ability to work within and lead a team with respect of cultural diversity 
• A demonstrated ability to establish effective working relationships at all levels both internally and externally 
• Strong representation, communication, and negotiation skills 
• Excellent organisational skills and the ability to coordinate multiple activities 
• Innovative, creative, and proactive with an analytical and solution-focused approach for achieving mission objectives  
• Ability to exercise sound judgement and make independent decisions as appropriate  
• Ability to meet deadlines and work collaboratively under pressure. 

Required profile 

• Interest in Malaria Vaccines Introduction
• Willingness to be deployed in any of the 19 countries in needs of immediate technical support. 

Education (Qualifications):

·         Essential: First university degree in information or data management, computer sciences, statistics, applied math or public health, complemented by training in databases development and/or management from an accredited/recognized institute

·         Desirable: Post graduate degree in public health, qualitative surveillance or statistics. Training or university degree on Mastering R for Epidemiologic Research.

At least 2 publications in peer-review journals with use of R for data analysis

Experience:

Essential

• 5 years of experience in information management, including experience in emergency operations or humanitarian context.

Desirable

• Excellent knowledge of Microsoft Office applications.
• Working knowledge of online data collection applications, statistical analysis packages (Stata, SPSS, etc).
• Good knowledge of database and GIS programmes (e.g. ArcView)

Languages requirements

Essential: Excellent knowledge of English, or French or Portuguese. 

Desirable: Working knowledge of another WHO official language. 

Desirable

• Prior experience at field level, with WHO/UN agencies, health cluster partners or with an international nongovernmental organization.
• Proven experience in epidemiological data analysis and programming using R including the development of dashboards using R Shiny.

Other Skills

• Proven ability to use standard office software packages, Conversant with common IT software including eHealth tools.

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.

For roster VNs:

The purpose of this vacancy is to develop a list of qualified candidates for inclusion in this advertised roster. All applicants will be notified in writing of the outcome of their application (whether successful or unsuccessful) upon conclusion of the selection process. Successful candidates will be placed on the roster and subsequently may be selected for consultancy assignments falling in this area of work or for similar requirements/tasks/deliverables. Inclusion in the Roster does not guarantee selection to a consultant contract. There is no commitment on either side.