Consultants 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:

• Provide on-site and remote technical support and mentoring for influenza and SARS-CoV-2 detection and sequencing to National Influenza Laboratories and other network laboratories in the Region.
• 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;
• Support countries on the implementation of influenza/respiratory disease surveillance using the updated national sentinel surveillance protocol;
• Conduct any activities to support capacity building for laboratory detection of pathogens in the context of respiratory viruses;
• Support the establishment of integrated influenza/SARS CoV-2 sentinel surveillance in countries;
• Provide support and guidance to countries for the development of National Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Plans in the context of PRET Module 1;
• 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) in line with the implementation of influenza activities in the region.

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;
• Development of viral sequencing capacity in selected countries and follow up to ensure sustainability of capacities;
• Effective roll-out of relevant activities for PIP framework High Level Implementation Plan and US CDC projects in the region.

Educational Qualifications

• An undergraduate degree with a post graduate training in virology, molecular biology or microbiology or a related science from a recognized university.

Experience

• At least 5 years’ experience on working in a virology laboratory and be familiar with molecular techniques and cell culture.
• Documented experience with Next generation sequencing (NGS) platform sequencing using Nanopore and/or Illumina platforms including bioinformatic analysis of data generated.

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.
• Demonstrated knowledge in virology, specifically influenza/SARS-CoV2;
• Sound knowledge of biosafety standards, techniques in molecular biology laboratories;
• Sound knowledge in Quality Management Systems for laboratories;
• Basic knowledge of GISAID;
• Writing of technical documents for varied audiences and good communication skills;
• Computer skills appropriate to the task, i.e data analysis and word processing;
• Demonstrated ability to deliver results.

Languages and level required

• Excellent command of English or French and a working knowledge of the alternative

go to method of application »

Purpose of the post

The main purpose of the post is to support the Influenza Programme activities in the region, specifically epidemiological aspects of integrated respiratory virus surveillance with the goal of enhancing Member State capacities in the context of influenza epidemiological outputs and surveillance in the African Region.

Description of duties

Under the technical guidance of the EMP Programme Manager, the PIP Programme Manager and overall supervision of the EPR Regional Emergencies Director, the incumbent will be expected to perform the following duties:

• Support the establishment of integrated influenza/SARS CoV-2 sentinel surveillance in countries;
• Support countries on implementing PIP PC regional activities to strengthen capacities for estimations of Burden of Disease, PISA and epidemic threshold measurements;
• Provide support and guidance to countries for the development of National Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Plans;
• Provide technical support to Member States for reporting virological and epidemiological data and developing bulletins/reports for public health information and advocacy at Regional and National level;
• Support the strengthening of influenza epidemiological surveillance in countries, including training activities, as needed.
• 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

• Enhanced capacities of selected Member States on integrated influenza virological and epidemiological surveillance,
• Availability of all influenza materials and information products to Member States,
• Additional countries are regularly reporting influenza virological and epidemiological data including PISA and Burden of Disease estimates
• 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.

Desirable

• Experience in WHO or the UN system.
• Experience in surveillance of respiratory viruses.
• Experience in reporting epidemiological and surveillance data for public health decision making.

Skills/Knowledge

• Good knowledge and technical expertise in infectious disease surveillance, control and prevention, in particular for influenza.
• 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 or French or Portuguese and a good working knowledge of one of the other languages.

go to method of application »

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.