Consultant – Immunization Devices (IMD) assessment
( 2302746 )
Contractual Arrangement : External consultant
Contract Duration (Years, Months, Days) : 11 months (60 days during 11 months)
Job Posting: Mar 30, 2023, 11:37:44 AM
Purpose of consultancy
To contribute to the key activities contributing to the evaluation of products for Prequalification (PQ) and post-PQ monitoring activities of IMD, in accordance with the World Health Organization (WHO) IMD Performance, Quality and Safety (PQS) 2019-2023 Strategy.
To provide technical expertise to the Post-market Monitoring (PMM) PQ Cold Chain Equipment (CCE) monitoring activities.
Background
The Prequalification Unit (PQT), within the Regulation and Prequalification (RPQ) department, promotes and facilitates access to safe and appropriate diagnostics/medical devices, medicines and vaccines of assured quality through advocacy and policy, prequalification, quality assurance systems and strengthening national regulatory and laboratory programmes. PQT’s global activities aim to ensure health products are accessible, available at reasonable cost, used appropriately and are provided within an adequate regulatory framework and a sustainable health care system.
Embedded within PQT/VAX, the IMD team is the global norms and standards setter for the quality, safety, performance and programmatic suitability of devices for Low-and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs). The IMD team specifies and prequalifies all the equipment and devices required for the transport, storage and monitoring of a vaccine.
The objective of the WHO RPQ Department is to contribute to saving lives and improving health by developing global guidance, and by collaborating with countries to provide:
- Equity of access to essential medicines and health products.
- Rational use of medicines and health products.
- Medicines and health products quality, safety and efficacy/performance.
There is currently no systematic and central PMM mechanism for CCE deployed. There are several ad-hoc channels and some formal mechanisms, such as UNICEF Supply Division Complaints reporting and WHO PQS annual review. However, only a limited amount of actionable information on equipment performance is successfully collected and shared across all stakeholders.
Following a successful CCE PMM pilot, the VAX IMD team plans to expand the initiative to three to five countries in 2023.
Deliverables
- Deliverable 1: PMM initiative implementation in three to five countries, according to the WHO PMM guidance.Expected by: June 2023
- Work with WHO HQ and Regional/Country Offices to identify three to five target countries and implementers for PMM in 2023.
- Once identified, share guidance documentation and conduct information/training sessions with country implementers.
- Schedule monthly coordination/supportive supervision calls with country implementers.
- Deliverable 2: PMM data tracking and reporting system in the selected countries, according to the WHO PMM guidance.Expected by: May 2023 to December 2023
- Ensure countries manage, review and report the PMM data generated by the initiative.
- Ensure countries are set up to report PMM data to WHO PQS on a monthly basis through the ODK-X data collection application.
- Review the data for completeness and provide monthly feedback to countries.
- Deliverable 3: PMM Annual Report & Lessons Learned.Expected by: November 2023
- Prepare and provide a template to implementing countries for an end-of-year report, capturing key findings and lessons learned.
- Collect and summarize lessons learned from across all implementing countries and reflect these lessons in an updated version of the WHO PMM guidance.
- Deliverable 4: IT Strategic document and roadmap for target countries.Expected by: April 2023 to December 2023
- Liaise with PMM IT technical support group for the target countries.
- Identify IT support needs for countries to set up and use the ODK-X data collection tool and ensure the necessary IT support is available in a timely manner.
- Schedule regular coordination calls with IRD.
- Deliverable 5: Strategy and Implementation report summary for NGO engagement.
- Reach out to Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs) / Not-for-profits that use prequalified vaccine refrigerators to solicit their participation in PMM.
- Provide guidance to five NGOs on implementing and reporting PMM.
Qualifications, experience, skills and languages
Educational Qualifications:
Essential:
- Advanced degree in public health.
Experience
- Over 10 years of relevant experience in public health.
- Experience with immunization project management at the global level.
Desirable:
- Experience working in an international environment with collaborators/partners from multiple countries, disciplines and cultures.
- Grant management experience/supporting projects in LMICs.
- Experience in producing operational tools and guidelines.
Skills/Knowledge:
Essential:
- Deliver clear, concise and coherent messages – written and verbally – which are adapted to the intended audience.
- Strong time management and project management skills.
- Ability to multitask and work efficiently to meet programme needs.
- Ability to work as a team member, while managing competing interests and priorities.
- Project/Programme management skills.
- Knowledge of WHO immunization equipment Prequalification.
Languages required:
Essential:
- Expert knowledge of English.
Location
Off-site – Home based.
Travel
The consultant is expected to travel.
Remuneration and budget (travel costs are excluded):
Remuneration:
Band level C
USD 500
625 per day.
Living expenses (A living expense is payable to on-site consultants who are internationally recruited):
N/A
Expected duration of contract:
11 months (part-time, 60 days during 11 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 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.
- Consultants working in Switzerland must register with the applicable Swiss cantonal tax authorities and social security authorities, within the prescribed timeframes (Guidelines issued by the Swiss Mission are available at: https://www.eda.admin.ch/missions/mission-onu-geneve/en/home/manual-regime-privileges-and-immunities/introduction/Manuel-personnes-sans-privileges-et-immunites-carte-H/Non fonctionnaires et stagiaires.html
