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 Research and Development, Regulation and Safety of vaccines within the Vaccine-Preventable Diseases (VPD) Programme at the WHO Regional Office for Africa, which supports the achievement of universal immunization coverage in the African Region, 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 research and development of vaccines, regulation and safety activities, guided by the Global Immunization Agenda 2030 (IA 2030), the Regional Strategic plan on Immunization (RSPI), the Addis Ababa Deceleration on Immunization targets including but not limited to facilitating coordinated approaches; proactively contributing to the development & adaptation of WHO strategies and policies; reviewing and adapting existing guidelines; conducting and contributing to capacity building activities, support the coordination and contribution to provide transformational leadership in the implementation of the UCN/VPD programme.
The consultant’s duties include but not limited to; supporting member states and leading the efforts to build capacities of National regulatory authorities (NRAs) to achieve Maturity Level 3 (WHO Listed); facilitating development of Guidelines for clinical trials, product registration, and pharmacovigilance. These activities will be strategically 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; proactively contributing to the development of strategies and policies, including reviewing and adapting existing guidelines ; supporting strengthening of governing bodies and technical advisory groups, coordination with partners; conducting and contributing to capacity building activities.
Within the scope defined by the Global and Regional Vaccine Action Plans, regional strategies, policy guidelines, and programmes objectives, and under the overall direction by the Director of the Universal Health Coverage-Communicable and Noncommunicable Diseases Cluster, and supervision by the VPD program team leader, the consultant is a seasoned Scientist and Vaccines expert who will lead and  facilitate the Vaccine Regulation and Safety area in the development, implementation, and monitoring of WHO AFRO’s regional vaccine regulation and safety strategies, polices, plans, programmes, and interventions to reduce the burden of VPDs  towards  attainment of UHC and the SDGs  in the WHO African Region.

SCOPE OF WORK

The consultant is assigned the following responsibilities:

• To provide authoritative advice on R&D innovations for priority vaccines and support Member States regarding vaccine preventable diseases, providing technical and scientific guidance on vaccine safety and regulation, including building the capacity of National Regulatory Authorities for registration of vaccines.
• To strengthen the regulatory oversight of clinical trials conducted in the Region, including the facilitation of joint reviews for clinical trial applications.
• To coordinate and implement activities related to vaccine quality, safety, and standards in collaboration with WHO HQ RSS, Safety, PQ, the Blueprint Team, and other WHO entities and partners.
• To develop work plans for vaccine regulation for the Region, including formulation of milestones to evaluate the performance of vaccine regulation activities.
• To provide technical guidance for consolidation and implementation of the

AVAREF platform, including developing, implementing, coordinating, and providing timely reports.

• To undertake resource mobilization for activities related to vaccine regulation, norms, and standards.
• To liaise with AFRO and/or AFRO legal bodies to ensure consistency in the interpretation of legal instruments within the framework of WHO Constitution and AFRO Rules and Regulations, with emphasis on bringing to light and supporting the implementation of regulatory activities in the African Region.
• To collaborate and coordinate activities with other clusters and departments at AFRO to ensure joint planning of vaccine and medicines’ regulation activities.
• To support the implementation of WHO plans and recommendations pertaining to the Global and Regional Advisory groups (GACVS, RITAG, and AACVS).

Monitoring and reporting on the implementation of recommendations of WHO governing bodies;

• Facilitating coordination with AACVS, RITAG, NITAGs, and partners;
• Facilitating alignment of the support to NRAs of the AFR Region with appropriate regional policy frameworks and the resolutions of the Regional Committee and World Health Assembly; proactively advising and guiding regional and national partners on vaccine safety at the regional and country levels;
• Coordinating and implementing resource mobilization and advocacy strategies;
• Updating existing guidelines, policies and standard procedures for implementation of regulatory functions and frameworks at the regional, sub-regional and national levels.
• Supporting the development and implementation of harmonized regulatory pathways, and strategic plans and guidelines for emergency response.

Periodic assessment of NRAs through:

• WHO benchmarking and Partners Results Framework;
• Coordinating the collection of Clinical Trial Review timelines within member States for performance evaluation;
• Facilitating monitoring and evaluation of pipelines of vaccines in clinical development

Development and implementation of WHO technical products through:

• Publication of periodic reports, including feedback bulletins in close collaboration with team members (at the regional, sub-regional and country levels); submission of
• information-sharing for annual global progress reports; and maintenance of AVAREF Website and up-to-date regional and national databases on clinical trials and safety;
• Facilitating innovations in electronic clinical trial submission and review processes as well as the tracking of safety data.
• Coordinating country support to members states, including technical support as required and in pursuit of enhanced programme planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation; and institutional and human resource capacity building.

Research, evidence, and data for decision making on vaccine development, regulation and safety through:

• Facilitating development and implementation of vaccine research and innovation agenda with focus on understanding regulatory bottlenecks and deploying appropriate resolution strategies.
• Building capacity of NRAs and Ethics Committees.

Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Educational Qualifications:

Essential:

Post graduate degree in Vaccinology, Immunology, Medical Microbiology, Infectious Diseases and Public Health or related field from a recognized University.

Desirable:

PhD in Immunology, Vaccinology, or Medical Microbiology

Experience:

Essential:

A minimum of seven (7) years’ progressive experience at the national and international levels in clinical research, including biological standardization, regulatory evaluation, and capacity building, with at least 3 years at the international level in low and/or middle-income countries.

• Experience in overseeing implementation, reviewing, and updating existing policies, strategies and guidelines and recommending new initiatives and innovative approaches
• Experience in the development of capacity building tools and databases for monitoring and evaluation purposes, regulatory pathways, vaccine approvals, and safety monitoring through the life cycle approach.
• Experience in clinical research and innovation
• Experience in facilitating coordinated approaches to effective programme management, implementation; monitoring and evaluation, and strategic plan development.

Desirable:

• Experience in regulatory policy formulation and working with regulatory authorities, preferably in a resource-limited environment.
• Experience in resource mobilization and coordination of partner support at the international level
• A track record of research, with publications at senior authorship level in peer reviewed journals.

Knowledge and Skills

Within the context of the priorities of the Communicable and Non-communicable Disease Control cluster, the VPD program, the IA2030, AFR Regional Immunization Strategic Plans, and the Regional Research Priorities, the consultant is expected to have demonstrated track record in global public health, research, and development of vaccines against priority diseases, complemented by in-depth knowledge of regulatory systems strengthening, including norms and standards for vaccines, and related capacity building for product development, including their regulatory approvals and implementation, in particular for emergencies caused by epidemics and pandemics. The assignment requires proven strategic planning as related to vaccines, immunization, and disease prevention and control, with strong monitoring and reporting skills on results, progress, and application of lessons learnt; preferably with some experience of coordinating and implementing such activities at the country and/or regional level.

The consultant has excellent communication and presentation skills with the ability to write in a clear and concise manner, with a strong track record of research and publications in peer-reviewed journals; and to provide technical advice and guidance to stakeholders and partners taking into account the research infrastructure and capacity of the countries of the African Region.

The consultant also has demonstrated strong advocacy skills, and ability to mobilize and manage resources for successful implementation of projects. Strong interpersonal skills with ability to promote consensus, communicate progress and results, and take remedial action in a proactive manner, while ensuring effective work practices and ethics. The consultant displays diplomacy, tact and courtesy in all professional settings.

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.

Location & Travel

On-site consultancy: WHO Regional Office for Africa, Brazzaville, Congo. The consultant is expected to travel.

Remuneration

Band level B (P4 level) – USD 8,500 – 9,980 per month.

A living expense is payable to on-site consultants who are internationally recruited.

Duration of consultancy 

Three (3) 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.