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Qualifications

1.       Purpose of the consultancy

Provide technical support on issues relating to vaccine, immunization policy and strategic planning financing

2.       Background

The vaccine and immunization landscape is increasingly becoming more complex, with fewer resources. The WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region is made of 22 countries: 6 High income countries, 9 non-Gavi eligible Middle-Income countries and 7 Gavi eligible countries. This heterogeneity is further compounded by the fact that almost 50% of the countries in the region have a humanitarian crisis. Within this context, resource mobilisation is key, and any mobilised resources have to be managed with tact to yield the highest impact.

The presence of a health economist in the IVP team will increase the effectiveness of the Regional and Country offices in the area of vaccine and immunization. The candidate is expected to have demonstrated knowledge of health economics, health sector financing, routine immunization programmes, vaccine preventable diseases and the global health financing architecture, coupled with proven ability to think independently and strategically plan, coordinate, and support implementation of health programme interventions.

Immunization financing is important for ensuring supply chain sustainability and so, monitoring immunization financing trend especially by public funding is important. This person will help in collecting such data and analysis in collaboration with counterparts in WHO headquarters and partners. Increasing number of countries are requesting support for developing their National Immunization Strategy (NIS) which will be done in the next one – two years. Such an expert (health economist) will be quite handy in these exercises

3.       Planned timelines (6 months duration)

Start date:  01/10/2024

End date: 31/03/2025 with possibility of extension

4.       Work to be performed

Output 1: Provide support to National Immunization Technical Advisory Groups (NITAGs) to make evidence-based recommendations

·         Deliverable 1.1: Support the roll out of the health economics module developed by the Global NITAG Network (GNN)

·         Deliverable 1.2: Support NITAGs to gather economic evidence from literature and research institutes on any ongoing policy questions

·         Deliverable 1.3: Support NITAGs in collaboration with other partners/agencies to conduct cost effectiveness and impact analysis for any ongoing policy questions

Output 2: Finalize National Immunization Strategy (NIS) costing and budgeting

·         Deliverable 2.1: Support and complete cost and resource estimates and consequently budgeting for countries developing NIS using NIS.Cost/Integrated Health Tool (IHT)/other tools

·         Deliverable 2.2:  Support countries to organize and coordinate NIS budget dialogue and resource mapping

·         Deliverable 2.3: Support review of country-specific budget structure and public finance management (PFM) system to identify relevant budget lines for immunization specific expenditures and monitor possible PFM bottlenecks to financing of immunization

Output 3: Track and review expenditure on vaccine and immunization

·         Deliverable 3.1: Support expenditure on vaccine and immunization tracking to report to Joint Reporting Form (JRF)

·         Deliverable 3.2: For countries with recent health accounts, support engagement with health accounts team to review differences in reported expenditure data and improve reporting moving forward

·         Deliverable 3.3: Support improving how policy makers access and use immunization budget and expenditure data as evidence for decision-making and advocacy to support adequate budget allocations to immunization as per proposed strategy.

5.       Specific requirements

– Education qualification required:           

·         Essential:  Master’s degree in health economics

·         Desirable: post-graduate degree or studies in health economics and health care financing related to vaccines and immunization programmes.

 – Experience required:

·         Essential:

o   A minimum of seven (7) years’ experience in planning, costing of immunization and vaccine programmes, and economic analysis of public health programmes and interventions within broad health systems perspective

·         Desired:

o   Experience in policy formulation, strategic planning, and management, as well as facilitating consultations and skills transfer

o   Experience in implementation of national immunization programmes would be an asset.

– Skills and knowledge:

•         Understanding health sector development financing ecosystems, multi-lateral and bilateral funding mechanisms, and Development Financial institutions (DFI), Public Financial Management (PFM) and operational modalities of special financing vehicles for immunization and health.

•         Excellent communication and presentation skills with ability to write in a clear and concise manner and give 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 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.

•  Language requirements: 

·         Essential: Expert knowledge of English

·         Speaking and understanding Arabic will be an asset

6.       Place of assignment

EMRO premises, Cairo, Egypt. On-site consultant.

7.       Medical clearance

The selected consultant will be expected to provide a medical certificate of fitness.

8.       Travel

Consultant is expected to carry out country missions in his area of work as deemed necessary by the Regional Advisor on Immunization. Proposed travels will be scheduled in due course.

Medical clearance : The selected Consultant will be expected to provide a medical certificate of fitness for work.

Travel (If travel is involved, a medical certificate of fitness for work will be required.) All travel arrangements will be made by WHO – WHO will not be responsible for tickets purchased by the Consultant without the express, prior authorization of WHO. While on mission under the terms of this consultancy, the Consultant will receive subsistence allowance. Visas requirements: it is the consultant’s responsibility to fulfil visa requirements and ask for visa support letter(s) if needed.

 Additional Information section

·         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.

·         Remuneration is in line with WHO consultant established rates

·         Successful candidates will be included in the roster for consideration for future contractual engagement via a consultancy, as they become available. Inclusion in the roster does not guarantee any future contractual relationship with WHO

·         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’s workforce adheres to the WHO Values Charter and is committed to put the WHO Values into practice.

·         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.

·         Interested candidates are strongly encouraged to apply on-line through Stellis. For assessment of your application, please ensure that:
(a) Your profile on Stellis is properly completed and updated;
(b) All required details regarding your qualifications, education and training are provided;
(c) Your experience records are entered with elaboration on tasks performed at the time.