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Qualifications

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

WHO’s global vision for immunization and vaccines is to support all countries in delivering quality immunization services as part of an integrated, people-centered platform for disease prevention that spans the human life-course. Within this vision, the objectives are to achieve the control, elimination or eradication of vaccine-preventable diseases as stated in the Immunization Agenda 2030, thus contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals.

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 the 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, health systems response and multi-sectoral response.

The people-centered, integrated approaches to disease control involve integrated guidance on disease control for each health service delivery platform, a move away from stand-alone disease specific guidance and integrated and efficient disease control investments in strengthening the capacity of appropriate health services delivery platforms.
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 building institutional capacity , including support to national disease programmes and regulatory authorities.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

The incumbent is assigned the following responsibilities:

1.   Leadership
•    Facilitate the acceleration of Oral Cholera vaccine rollout initiatives and vaccination in the development, implementation, and monitoring of WHO AFRO’s regional strategies, polices, plans, programmes, and interventions to achieve the SDGs in the WHO African Region.
•    Facilitate coordinated and integrated approaches contributing to the needs of the Member States of the Region.
•    Oversee capacity building and training based on technical norms, standards, best practices, and Standard Operating Procedures.
•    Collaborate with the UHC/LC, EPR and UHC/HP Clusters to build strong and resilient health systems for preventing and controlling vaccine preventable diseases by accelerating the introduction of Ebola vaccine in members states.
•    Promote cross-cutting activities and ensure full collaboration and coordination of activities.
•    Continue to collaborate in cross-Cluster work and task teams to achieve organizational results, including for resource mobilization and evidence guided advocacy.

2.   Generation of evidence, data & information products
•    Conduct analytical studies and implementation research as needed and collaboratively develops guidelines and recommend solutions for Oral Cholera vaccine rollout.
•    Facilitate the documentation of best practices and success factors within the countries in the Region.
•    Facilitate the development of progress monitoring tools and reports on Oral Cholera vaccine implementation.
•    Perform other related responsibilities as assigned, including replacing and backstopping for others as required,
•    Document authoritative reports on Oral Cholera vaccine rollout status in African region.

3.   Technical support to countries
•    Determine and set policies for the introduction of Oral Cholera vaccine, and related technologies, including strengthening country capacity to assess the burden of VPD.
•    Develop and implement harmonized protocols to facilitate policy decisions and organize regional training on new vaccine introduction.
•    Support WCO in the submission of applications to GAVI to receive financial support (for GAVI eligible countries),
•    Support planning, vaccine forecasting, country readiness, assessment on logistics, and training of immunization staff at all levels.
•    Develop work-plans and activities based on assessment of Oral Cholera vaccine roll out activities of the Member States,
•    Adapt and develop guidelines and training materials for Oral Cholera vaccine rollout for use in the African member states.
•    Support the verification and validation strategies for Oral Cholera vaccine rollout in member states.
•    Solicit feedback from countries technical experts on global and regional policies to strengthen recommendations made at the global and regional levels and ensure feasibility of implementation at the national level.

4.   Communications
•    Support advocacy, communication, development of key messages for social mobilization, launching of the vaccines and evaluation of the introductions.
•    Regularly conceive and publish bulletin/newsletter on Ebola vaccine roll out and vaccination data.
•    Develop and disseminate programme advocacy materials (Region, Sub-region & countries…) on Oral Cholera vaccine rollout.

5.   Partnership, resources mobilization, grant Management
•    Establish and strengthen communication and partnerships with national and regional officials, health professionals, representatives of multi- and bilateral agencies as required.
•    Identify problems and provide broad guidance for resolving challenges and for possible redesign of existing policies and integration of such policies into other programme areas within the framework of WHO Staff Rules and Regulations, financial rules, and AFRO accepted procedures.
•    Support WHO countries offices to collaborate with national immunization programme to include regional and global immunization policies and strategies in the Country Cooperation Strategy, through nationally relevant evidence and discussions with the National Regulatory Authority (NRA) and the National Immunization Technical Advisory Group (NITAG).

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: University Degree in medicine, epidemiology, public health or health policy, infectious diseases, or communicable diseases.

Desirable: Specialization in vaccinology, immunology, clinical research.
Post-graduate degree in epidemiology, public health or health policy, infectious diseases, or communicable diseases.

Experience

Essential: A minimum of five (5) years’ experience in developing, designing, and implementing public health programmes, especially implementation and/or M&E of vaccine preventable disease programmes in low and/or middle-income countries.

Desirable: Experience in epidemiological field, quality management, strategic and policy planning as well as facilitating consultations.
•    Experience in resources mobilization and partners coordination.
•    A track record of research, with publications at senior authorship level in peer reviewed journals, would be an asset.
•    Experience in implementation of accelerate disease control initiatives.
•    Experience in overseeing implementation, reviewing, and updating existing policies, strategies and guidelines and recommending new initiatives and innovative approaches.
•    Experience in the development of capacity building tools and databases for monitoring and evaluation purposes, introduction process of new vaccines, monitoring of VPD programme including demand generation through inclusive community engagement approach and vaccines management.
•    Experience in facilitating coordinated and integrated approaches to effective programme management and implementation; monitoring and evaluation; national strategic plan development.

Skills

•    Demonstrated in-depth knowledge of principles, practices, methodology and techniques of immunization programmes.
•    Excellent capacity in analyzing vaccine-preventable diseases and EPI-related data, synthesizing information, and presenting clear and concise conclusions to foster decision-making,
•    Monitor and reporting on results, progress, lessons learnt and obstacles,
•    Proven track record in the development and implementation of norms, standards, monitoring and evaluation,
•    Excellent communication and presentation skills with the ability to write in a clear and concise manner and provide technical advice and guidance taking into consideration the views of multiple stakeholders and partners in resource-limited contexts; and to participate in resource mobilization and advocacy activities,
•    Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to promote consensus, communicate progress and results, and resolve issues in a proactive manner, while ensuring effective work practices and ethics, diplomacy, tact, and courtesy.
•    Familiarity with the UN system, including knowledge of WHO country, regional and global functions. Ability to work as a team member, and sensitivity to working in a multi-cultural environment.

WHO Competencies

•    Teamwork
•    Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
•    Communication
•    Producing results

•    Ensuring effective use of resources

Use of Language Skills

Essential: Expert knowledge of English or French.
Desirable: Working knowledge of other UN official languages.

REMUNERATION

WHO salaries for staff in the Professional category are calculated in US dollars. The remuneration for the above position comprises an annual base salary starting at USD 64,121 (subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance, as applicable), a variable post adjustment, which reflects the cost of living in a particular duty station, and currently amounts to USD 2095 per month for the duty station indicated above. Other benefits include 30 days of annual leave, allowances for dependent family members, home leave, and an education grant for dependent children.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

•    This vacancy notice may be used to fill other similar positions at the same grade level
•    Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.
•    A written test and/or an asynchronous video assessment may be used as a form of screening.
•    If your candidature is retained for an 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.
•    According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible.
•    Any appointment/extension of appointment is subject to WHO Staff Regulations, Staff Rules and Manual.
•    Staff members in other duty stations are encouraged to apply.
•    The WHO is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The WHO recruits and employs staff regardless of disability status, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, language, race, marital status, religious, cultural, ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds, or any other personal characteristics.
•    The WHO is committed to achieving gender parity and geographical diversity in its staff. Women, persons with disabilities, and nationals of unrepresented and underrepresented Member States (https://www.who.int/careers/diversity-equity-and-inclusion) are strongly encouraged to apply.
•    Persons with disabilities can request reasonable accommodations to enable participation in the recruitment process. Requests for reasonable accommodation should be sent through an email to reasonableaccommodation@who.int
•    An impeccable record for integrity and professional ethical standards is essential. 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.
•    Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with WHO and an underlying premise of the international civil service. Candidates appointed to an international post with WHO are subject to mobility and may be assigned to any activity or duty station of the Organization throughout the world.
•    WHO also offers wide range of benefits to staff, including parental leave and attractive flexible work arrangements to help promote a healthy work-life balance and to allow all staff members to express and develop their talents fully.
•    The statutory retirement age for staff appointments is 65 years. For external applicants, only those who are expected to complete the term of appointment will normally be considered.
•    Please note that WHO’s contracts are conditional on members of the workforce confirming that they are vaccinated as required by WHO before undertaking a WHO assignment, except where a medical condition does not allow such vaccination, as certified by the WHO Staff Health and Wellbeing Services (SHW). The successful candidate will be asked to provide relevant evidence related to this condition. A copy of the updated vaccination card must be shared with WHO medical service in the medical clearance process. Please note that certain countries require proof of specific vaccinations for entry or exit. For example, official proof /certification of yellow fever vaccination is required to enter many countries. Country-specific vaccine recommendations can be found on the WHO international travel and Staff Health and Wellbeing website. For vaccination-related queries please directly contact SHW directly at shws@who.int.
•    WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.
•    For information on WHO’s operations please visit: http://www.who.int.
•    *For WHO General Service staff who do not meet the minimum educational qualifications, please see e-Manual III.4.1, para 220.
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