JOB DESCRIPTION

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

The incumbent will be expected to perform the following duties:•Provide specialized technical assistance on integrating COVID 19 vaccine into routine immunization and planning the delivery of integrated immunization services.•Coordinate with partners to improve coverage, monitor the implementation of activities and ensure equity of covid 19 vaccination.•Support the implementation of high-impact COVID 19 vaccination of priority target groups and identify appropriate strategies to reach underserved populations.•Support the organization of an IntraAction Review of covid immunization at national and regional levels.•Develop and update norms and standards related to new vaccines, with attention to information-sharing, education, and communication, toward a good understanding of their benefits and acceptance by communities, health workers and families.•Provide expertise and develop/revise guidelines and proactively facilitate their implementation to enable.•Develop and implement capacity building for the identification of adverse events to align strategies.•Coordinate the provision of guidance and technical support to countries in:-determining and setting policies for the introduction of new vaccines and related technologies, including strengthening country capacity to assess the burden of preventable diseases;- developing and implementing harmonized protocols to facilitate policy decisions and organize regional training on new vaccine introduction;-in the submission of applications to GAVI to receive financial support (for GAVI eligible countries), planning, vaccine forecast, country readiness, assessment on logistics, training of immunization staff at all levels, advocacy, development of key messages for social mobilization, launching of the vaccines and evaluation of the introductions;•Develop partnerships with maternal, child and adolescent health departments (within WHO and other organizations) to tackle vaccine-preventable diseases in addition to other interventions, e.g. Pneumonia, diarrhoea, liver cancer, cervical cancer; and in providing support to countries for the integration of adolescent health interventions with HPV vaccination which target 9-14 year old girls.•Support the coordination and monitoring of the RTSS, Malaria Vaccine roll-out, Typhoid Conjugate Vaccine and other new vaccines as may arise. •Support the development of related work-plans and budgetary proposals as required within the framework of WHO staff Rules and Regulations, financial rules and AFRO accepted procedures.•Contribute to resource mobilization for the Cluster’s programmes, in collaboration with EPG, ORD and WCOSs.•Perform other related responsibilities as assigned, including replacing and backstopping for others as required.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
Education

Essential: Medical degree with post-graduate degree/training in public health, epidemiology or infectious or communicable diseases.
Desirable: Post-graduate training in vaccinology, immunology.

Experience

Essential: A minimum of seven (07) years of practical national and international experience in new vaccines introduction, vaccine logistics management and related activities;•Eexperience in project management, analysis and development of capacity building tools and databases for monitoring and evaluation purposes.
Desirable: Diverse work experience incorporating private sector, NGOs, other UN, or governmental Health related agencies will be an advantage.•Experience in policy formulation and strategic planning •A track record of research, with publications at senior authorship level in peer reviewed journals, would be an asset.

Skills

Demonstrated knowledge of the introduction of new vaccines projects.•Proven ability to think independently and strategically, plan, coordinate and implement strategies, activities, and capacity building together with monitoring and reporting on results, progress, lessons learnt and obstacles;•Proven skills in the surveillance of adverse events complemented by track record in the development and implementation of norms and standards and effective reporting mechanisms and systems, and M&E;•Demonstrated ability to strengthen partnerships and resource mobilization.•Proven writing and communication skills.

WHO Competencies

Teamwork
Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
Communication
Producing results
Ensuring the effective use of resources

Use of Language Skills

Essential: Expert knowledge of French.
Desirable: Intermediate knowledge of English.

Level of Education: Bachelor Degree

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: No requirements