Consultant Respiratory Disease Surveillance - Band level B at World Health Organization

purpose of the post

The main purpose of the post is to support the Influenza Programme activities in the region, specifically the adaptation of key influenza surveillance documents to encompass other respiratory pathogens considering the post-COVID-19 pandemic landscape. Support will also be provided to enhance Member State capacities in the context of influenza laboratory and epidemiological surveillance activities.

Description of duties

Under the overall guidance of the Emergency Preparedness Programme Manager, and the technical guidance of the PIP Programme Manager, the incumbent will be expected to perform the following duties:

• Support the establishment of integrated influenza/SARS CoV-2 sentinel surveillance in countries;
• Update the National Sentinel Surveillance Protocol to reflect the expansion of GISRS activities and integration of other respiratory viruses into sentinel surveillance;
• Provide support and guidance to countries for the development of National Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Plans in the context of PRET Module 1;
• Contribute to peer review article(s) on any influenza related subject;
• Support the preparations for and the reporting from any influenza related meetings e.g. PRET, Module 1 workshops, National Vaccine Deployment Plan workshops and PIP Regional Co-ordination Meeting;
• Conduct any activities to support laboratory surveillance of respiratory viruses and capacity building in this context;
• Coordinate the development of best practices on influenza epidemiological surveillance and response in the African Region and ensure all relevant materials pertaining to influenza preparedness and response (reports, plans, SOPs and other information products) are available for Member States.
• Any other duties that may be assigned by the supervisor(s)

Expected outputs from his/her work include

• Updated integrated Protocol for Sentinel Surveillance for Respiratory Pathogens;
• Enhanced capacities of selected Member States on integrated influenza virological and epidemiological surveillance,
• Effective roll-out of relevant activities for PIP framework High Level Implementation Plan in the region.

Educational Qualifications

• An undergraduate degree with a post graduate degree or training in Public Health, Epidemiology or a related science from a recognized university.

Experience

• At least 5 years’ experience in surveillance, preparedness and response of infectious diseases.
• Laboratory experience related to pathogen detection and characterization using molecular methods.

Desirable

• Experience in WHO or the UN system.
• Experience in surveillance, either epidemiological or laboratory, of respiratory viruses.

Skills/Knowledge

• Good knowledge and technical expertise in infectious disease surveillance, control and prevention, in particular for influenza or other respiratory viruses.
• Excellent communication and facilitation skills.
• Excellent organizational and analytical skills, complemented by good interpersonal and presentation skills.
• Effective writing of technical documents and computer literacy.

Languages and level required

Excellent knowledge of English, French or Portuguese with a good working knowledge of one of the other languages.