External Roster of Consultants - Data Science Experts to Support Malaria Vaccines Introduction and Rollout at World Health Organization

Purpose Of The Post

• The Malaria Vaccines Introduction and Rollout is an integral part of and contributes to the efforts of the Universal Health Coverage/Communicable and Non-communicable Diseases (UHC/UCN) cluster in the WHO African region. The cluster's strategic agenda aims to reduce the burden of diseases in the WHO African Region by guiding disease control initiatives, leveraging analytics for strategic investments, and tailoring interventions for disease control. The guiding principles include comprehensive whole-of-society, people-centred, and integrated approaches to disease control.

Role of the Demand Generation Expert for Malaria Vaccines Introduction

• The Roster of data science experts in Malaria Vaccines Introduction is primarily intended to serve as a deployable capacity for WHO to augment existing support to countries. Therefore, officers provide technical support capacity for activities concerning Introduction of Malaria Vaccines from Application Development, budget Development, Planning, Implementing, Monitoring and Evaluating post Introduction. Candidate who are successful with this call of interest will receive a pre-deployment briefing to prepare them for any potential operational deployment in the 19 countries of the Region.

Time Management and duty station

• In the event of a field deployment, data science experts will fall under usual reporting structures for VPD/field missions to RO, and CO respectively. The UCN Cluster shall determine and coordinate overarching strategy and policy, such as principles guiding the organization, development, and deployment of the data science experts for Malaria Vaccines Introduction.

Summary Of Duties
Within the framework of the Accelerated Malaria Vaccine Introduction and Roll-out Initiative in Africa, the Data Science Expert will work with the AFRO Regional Office, ISTs and individual countries to support and perform the following tasks:

• Finalize the MVI preparedness dashboard and build EPI capacities to maintain and update the dashboard.
• Conduct a rapid analysis of strengths and weaknesses of the system in place for data and information management.
• Formulate recommendations for ensuring effectiveness of the information system and support the implementation of the said recommendations.
• Develop an automated daily/weekly data pack related to the MVI
• Coordinate the development of a dynamic dashboard that will help to monitor the performance of teams and vaccination sites at all levels.
• Develop tools to harmonize data collection and processes across WCO and field offices to facilitate consolidation of information. Respond to specific information requests from the technical teams and partners, ensure dissemination of information and knowledge sharing with all partners.
• Provide country-specific and aggregate intercountry information to the relevant WCO websites, manage email boxes and share points, as required.
• Provide technical expertise during interagency initiatives, related to information and data management, seeking to improve information sharing between institutions, to strengthen access to information from other organizations and clusters, and to contribute to intersectoral dashboards and reports.
• Verify data quality (completeness, timeliness), identify gaps in health information management, recommend corrective actions and prepare relevant documents to include in project proposals, internal and external situation reports.
• Participate in any other activity that may be required in connection with the incident data management and
• Perform any other incident-specific related duties, as required by the supervisor.

Deliverables

• Preparedness dashboard finalized and deployed.
• Report and rapid analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of the existing data system.
• Daily/Weekly Data pack
• Dynamic dashboard for monitoring the performance of vaccine rollout as well as those of teams at all levels developed and deployed.
• Daily data reports submitted to WR and AFRO
• Assess country capacities in Data management (Malaria).
• End of mission report.

Skills And Qualifications

• Expert knowledge of at least one WHO official language (other languages at national levels desirable where applicable).
• Excellent analysis and problem-solving skills
• Excellent diplomatic skills when engaging with internal and external interlocutors
• Excellent interpersonal skills and a proven ability to work within and lead a team with respect of cultural diversity
• A demonstrated ability to establish effective working relationships at all levels both internally and externally
• Strong representation, communication, and negotiation skills
• Excellent organisational skills and the ability to coordinate multiple activities
• Innovative, creative, and proactive with an analytical and solution-focused approach for achieving mission objectives
• Ability to exercise sound judgement and make independent decisions as appropriate
• Ability to meet deadlines and work collaboratively under pressure.

Required Profile

• Interest in Malaria Vaccines Introduction
• Willingness to be deployed in any of the 19 countries in needs of immediate technical support.

Education (Qualifications)

• Essential: First university degree in information or data management, computer sciences, statistics, applied math or public health, complemented by training in databases development and/or management from an accredited/recognized institute
• Desirable: Post graduate degree in public health, qualitative surveillance or statistics. Training or university degree on Mastering R for Epidemiologic Research.
• At least 2 publications in peer-review journals with use of R for data analysis

Experience
Essential

• 5 years of experience in information management, including experience in emergency operations or humanitarian context.

Desirable

• Excellent knowledge of Microsoft Office applications.
• Working knowledge of online data collection applications, statistical analysis packages (Stata, SPSS, etc).
• Good knowledge of database and GIS programmes (e.g. ArcView)

Languages requirements

• Essential: Excellent knowledge of English, or French or Portuguese.
• Desirable: Working knowledge of another WHO official language.

Desirable

• Prior experience at field level, with WHO/UN agencies, health cluster partners or with an international nongovernmental organization.
• Proven experience in epidemiological data analysis and programming using R including the development of dashboards using R Shiny.

Other Skills

• Proven ability to use standard office software packages, Conversant with common IT software including eHealth tools.