JOB DETAILS:

World Health Organization Consultant – WHO Cholera Laboratory Diagnostics Training Switzerland WHO Jobs 2024

World Health Organization looking for “Consultant – WHO Cholera Laboratory Diagnostics Training”. Applicants with an Advanced degree may apply on or before 22-Jul-24.

The World Health Organization has published a job vacancy announcement on 08/07/2024 for qualified applicants to fill in the vacant post of Consultant – WHO Cholera Laboratory Diagnostics Training to be based in , Switzerland. For more jobs, please visit https://unjoblink.org

Company Name: World Health Organization

Job Title: Consultant – WHO Cholera Laboratory Diagnostics Training

Duty Station: , Switzerland

Country: Switzerland

Application Deadline: 22-Jul-24

Responsibilities:

..

Qualifications

Purpose of consultancy

To develop and finalize a comprehensive and adaptive cholera diagnostics training plan and package including all necessary training materials, tools and checklists with focus on culture and PCR methods of confirmation cholera as well as use of Rapid Diagnostic Tests, and to deliver training of trainers in high priority countries.

Background

For a long time, the objective of cholera surveillance was limited to responding to and mitigating major epidemics. Cholera surveillance has remained mostly based on the reporting of clinically suspected cases and deaths with no or limited laboratory confirmation. As a result, currently available cholera surveillance data are insufficient to effectively progress towards cholera control and elimination along the objectives of the Global Taskforce on Cholera Control (GTFCC) Global Roadmap to end cholera by 2030. Additionally, since 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically affected all countries and in particular the resource-limited countries. The necessary repurposing of staff and resources to cope with this public health emergency has affected all sectors but in particular the already limited laboratory diagnosis capacities. If all countries are now able to efficiently diagnose COVID-19, most cholera affected countries still lack sufficient capacity to adequately diagnose cholera.

One of the objectives of the WHO cholera programme is to strengthen and maintain national and sub-national capacities to test and confirm samples in a timely manner in order to rapidly guide response and surveillance actions. While laboratory capacity assessments are underway to better define existing laboratory capacities and needs, the need for training to capacitate laboratory personnel has been identified as critical in several high priority countries. These countries generally lack qualified personnel to perform testing and the situation is worsened with rapid turnover of laboratory personnel. Strengthening laboratory diagnostics for early detection of outbreaks and to improve monitoring of trends and spread is also a priority highlighted within the GTFCC Roadmap to ending cholera by 2030. The GTFCC partners have recently published updated surveillance guidance for cholera and developed specific recommendations for use of Rapid Diagnostic Tests (RDT), culture methods and antimicrobial susceptibility testing. Implementing training that is in keeping with these recommendations will be essential to ensure their application.

Deliverables

• Deliverable 1 – Finalize GTFCC job aids on stool sample collection and long-term preservation of isolates.
  Expected by Month 1
  • Consolidate feedback and corrections to technical content provided the LWG.
  • Work with document designer to finalize layout.
  • Coordinate translation of job aids to other GTFCC languages.
• Deliverable 2 – Execute the training of trainers on laboratory diagnostics for cholera in a priority country.
  Expected by end of Month 2
  • Develop training plan and agenda in coordination with national partners.
  • Training of trainers should focus on tier 1 level training and are to include topics such as use of RDT, sample collection and transport, culture of Vibrio cholerae, Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing, reporting, biosafety, and quality assurance/quality control.
• Deliverable 3 – Design, prepare and perform a regional training of trainers on laboratory cholera diagnostics for up to 8 countries of the Eastern Mediterranean Region.
  Expected by end of Month 3
  • Develop training plan and agenda in coordination with regional and national partners.
  • Execute training.
• Deliverable 4 – Collaborate with OpenWHO platform to publish GTFCC laboratory training packages.
  Expected by Month 4
• Deliverable 5 – Initiate revision of existing guidance on genomics/sequencing and cholera.
  Expected by end of Month 5
  • Coordinate and facilitate GTFCC LWG expert review and update of existing guidance on genomics/sequencing and cholera.
• Deliverable 6 – Execute the training of trainers on use of RDT for cholera in a priority country.
  Expected by end of Month 6
  • Develop training plan and agenda in coordination with national partners.
  • Execute training.

Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Educational Qualifications:

Essential:

• Advanced university degree in clinical laboratory sciences.

Desirable:

• Degree in microbiological clinical laboratory sciences.

Experience:

Essential:

• At least 5 years of relevant experience in clinical laboratory diagnostics for communicable diseases.
• Documented experience performing laboratory trainings or providing instruction within the clinical laboratory.
• Field experience in laboratory services in resource limited countries with focus on capacity building, monitoring and evaluation, technical advisory services or other relevant fields.
• Documented experience in working with multiple partners.

Desirable:

• Extensive experience in culture methods applied to the diagnosis of cholera.
• Experience in training design and development.

Skills:

Essential:

• Excellent effective communication and presentation skills. Ability to transfer knowledge and skills, to adapt to learner’s needs and to evaluate learning.
• Ability to work with individuals one-on-one (mentoring) or teach as a group and ability to support e-learning as needed.
• Knowledge of field needs for laboratory capacity and diagnosis in underserved settings with demonstrated ability to promote pragmatic, field-oriented approaches.
• Strong organizational and time management skills with ability to plan ahead and execute a program from start to end.
• Strong computer skills (Microsoft Office, Power Point, Word) and ability to design training materials.
• Proven ability to interact well in laboratory environments involving technical, cultural and political elements.

Languages required:

Essential:

• Expert knowledge of English.
• Intermediate knowledge of French.

Location

Off site: Home-based.

Travel

The consultant is expected to travel.

Remuneration and budget (travel costs are excluded):

Remuneration:

Band level B – USD 7,000 – 9,980 per month.

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

N/A

Expected duration of contract:

6 Months.

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.
• 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