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Qualifications

Purpose of consultancy

To facilitate and coordinate epidemiological technical support to countries for Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) surveillance and disease burden estimation.

Background

The WHO RSV surveillance project leverages the capacities of the Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System (GISRS) to monitor the geographic spread, seasonality, disease burden and genetic evolution of the RSV. With the licensure of RSV prevention products by regulatory authorities, WHO intends to strengthen capacities for integrated surveillance and RSV disease burden estimation in low- and lower-middle income countries in Sub-Saharan Africa and South/Southeast Asia to better inform the development and introduction of RSV prevention products as they become widely available and affordable in the coming years.

Deliverables

• Deliverable 1: Finalize RSV surveillance dashboard.
• Deliverable 2: Finalize list of participating countries.
• Deliverable 3: Finalize RSV data management plan.
• Deliverable 4: Organize project orientation workshop for countries.
• Deliverable 5: Develop RSV disease burden estimation training materials.
• Deliverable 6: Integrate RSV in weekly monitoring reports of respiratory activity.
• Deliverable 7: Develop RSV integrated surveillance protocols.
• Deliverable 8: Develop RSV disease burden estimation protocols.
• Deliverable 9: Develop and test RSV sentinel site scoping, assessment tools.
• Deliverable 10: Finalize RSV fact sheets for 6 countries.
• Deliverable 11: Finalize RSV fact sheets for 19 countries.
• Deliverable 12: Develop RSV draft manuscripts.
• Deliverable 13: Finalize RSV manuscripts.

Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Educational Qualifications

Essential:

• Advanced University degree in epidemiology, statistics, public health.

Experience

Essential:

• At least 8 years of work experience in disease surveillance, disease burden preferably for RSV, influenza, or other respiratory viruses.

Desirable:

• Work experiences with GISRS at national level.

Skills/Knowledge

Essential:

• Excellent skills in epidemiological surveillance, statistics, writing and communication.

Desirable:

• Excellent skills in monitoring, evaluation of surveillance programs.

Languages and level required

Essential:

• Expert knowledge of English

Desirable:

• Intermediate knowledge of French

Location

Offsite: 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

9.5 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.
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• 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 short-listed candidates.
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• Consultants shall perform the work as independent contractors in a personal capacity, and not as a representative of any entity or authority.
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Level of Education: Bachelor Degree

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: No requirements