BACKGROUND

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 disease control agenda in Africa, and using analytics to inform strategic investments and tailored interventions for disease control.

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 institutional capacity building, including support to national disease programmes and regulatory authorities.

PURPOSE OF CONSULTANCY

The consultant will be the focal person for VPD surveillance within the Vaccine-Preventable Diseases (VPD) Programme at the IST West Africa, which supports the achievement of universal immunization coverage in the African Region, accelerated disease control and integrated disease surveillance, as part of broader efforts to strengthen primary health care and achieve universal health coverage, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Specifically, the consultant has first line responsibility for all aspects of vaccine preventable disease surveillance, guided by the Global Immunization Agenda 2030 (IA 2030), the Regional Strategic plans, the Addis Ababa Deceleration on Immunization targets contributing to provide transformational leadership in the implementation of the UCN/VPD programme. These This will be achieved in a context of strengthened and resilient health systems, contributing to attaining UHC and other health related SDG targets through proactive contribution to supporting governing bodies, technical working groups and advisory bodies, coordination with member states and partners. 

Under the overall direction by the Director of the Universal Health Coverage-Communicable and Noncommunicable Diseases Cluster, and supervision by the VPD IST WA team leader, the consultant is will lead the integrate vaccine preventable disease surveillance contributing in  the development, implementation and monitoring of WHO AFRO’s regional integrate VPD surveillance strategies, polices, plans, programmes and interventions to detect VPDs outbreaks timely and respond promptly to minimize the impact of VPDs outbreaks in Central African countries. The consultant duties include supporting member states on efforts in development of VPD surveillance plans aligned with the Immunization Agenda 2030 and the Regional Strategic Plan on Immunization, monitoring implementation of annual operational plans, coordinating innovative approaches and strategies to control, eliminate and eradicate targeted VPDs; coordination with partners, conducting and contributing to capacity building activities. The consultant will facilitate coordinated approaches to VPD surveillance, contributing to the needs of the Member States in the WA sub-Region. S/he will oversee capacity building and training based on technical norms, standards, best practices and Standard Operating Procedures. 

SCOPE OF WORK 

The consultant will Coordinate integrated vaccine preventable diseases surveillance and support to the immunization programmes through the following: 

• Provide technical support to update/review Country VPD surveillance guidelines and disseminate updated WHO guidances, norm and standards, tools and Standard Operating procedures;
• Support the capacity building of health workforce in sentinel surveillance sites as per the Standard guidelines in response to country requests; 
• Contribute in supportive supervision of the sentinel surveillance sites for improvement as per norms, standards and SOPs; 
• Support countries in the preparation, implementation and evaluation of quarterly Surveillance review meetings to assess performance and address (Measles/ Rubella, MNT, YF, hepatitis B, Enhanced Meningitis surveillance, sentinel surveillance for new vaccines such as IBD, Rota, CRS, AEFI and other health emergencies surveillance); 
• Provide technical support in the implementation of desk review or in-depth surveillance review for VPDs as applicable; 
• Support the validation of control/ elimination of VPDs (MNT, hepatitis B measles/rubella, Yellow fever and other health emergencies)
• Facilitate and support capacity building of countries surveillance staff on VPD surveillance, preparedness and response;   
• Support the documentation and dissemination of best practices to share documents on performance;  
• To contribute and support countries national surveillance planning, implementation, reviews and assessment;
• Support monitoring of implementation of recommendations of surveillance reviews provide feedback; 
• To contribute new vaccine surveillance (IBD and Rotavirus/diarrhea surveillance) by: 
• Providing technical support to countries to develop new vaccine surveillance plans;
• Coordinating capacity building of sentinel surveillance staff; 
• Providing technical assistance to quantify and secure the reagents and supplies required by the sentinel laboratories.  
• Monitor new vaccine surveillance performance and provide regular feedback;
• Coordinate participation of countries in External Quality Assurance (EQA) (Proficiency testing);
• Support countries to generate evidence of impact of new vaccines;
• Review shipment of samples from countries to the Regional Reference Laboratories (RRL) for genotyping and serotyping tests to ensure that results from RRL can be updated or linked to the clinical information in countries database; 
• Support the development/updating of SOPs and case investigation forms for the expanded enteropathogens surveillance;
• Support expanded enteropathogens surveillance in selected countries for evidence generation of causative organisms for severe gastroenteritis beyond Rota virus;
• Collaborate with other programmes to promote and support the adoption of innovations, particularly in the optimization and digitalization surveillance system;
• Developing/collaborating on the development and maintenance of up-to-date sub regional and national databases for VPD surveillance as part of the development on new/improved tools and strategies.

Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Educational Qualifications:

Essential: 

• Degree in medical sciences with post-graduate degree/training in epidemiology, public health or health policy, infectious diseases or communicable diseases or related field.

Desirable: 

• Specialization in social science, infection diseases, anthropology, bacteriology, virology, parasitology, technical expertise in disease control and immunization.

Experience:

Essential: 

• A minimum of Seven (07) years progressive practical experience in developing, designing, and implementing public health programmes, especially managing disease surveillance, outbreak investigation and response as well as setting up sentinel surveillance. Planning, implementation and/or M&E of immunization surveillance programmes, with a minimum of three (3) years inclusive at the international level in low and/or middle-income countries. 
• Experience in overseeing implementation, review and updating existing surveillance and laboratory guidelines and recommending new initiatives and innovative approaches 
• Experience in capacity building, producing surveillance tools and databases for monitoring and evaluation purposes, experience in surveillance of new vaccines, monitoring of impact of new vaccines;
• Experience in working with a variety of international partners.

Desirable: 

• International experience in disease surveillance and outbreak response. Experience in implementation of national immunization and surveillance programme would be an asset.
• A track record of research, with publications in peer reviewed journals.

Knowledge and Skills

• Within the context of the immunization agenda 2030 and the Regional strategic plans, the consultant is expected to have demonstrated knowledge of surveillance of vaccine preventable diseases and global health security. Proven ability to think independently and strategically, plan, coordinate and implement disease surveillance activities, including norms and standards for surveillance of priority diseases and related capacity building; coordination of the data management activities. Proven understanding of VPD surveillance as related to preventable diseases including case-based surveillance, Integrated Disease surveillance (IDSR) and International Health Regulations (IHR) as well as how to achieve universal Health coverage (UHC). Proven track record in the development and implementation of surveillance norms and standards and effective disease reporting mechanisms and systems, and M&E. 
• 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.

Languages

• Essential: Expert knowledge of English or French with Working knowledge of the other.
• Desirable: Intermediate knowledge of Portuguese.
• The above language requirements are interchangeable.

Source: https://careers.who.int/careersection/ex/jobdetail.ftl?job=2300198&tz=GMT%2B05%3A30&tzname=Asia%2FCalcutta