Terms of Reference –

Ebola Vaccine Deployment Team

Consultancy

Surveillance, Monitoring and EVD vaccine Impact Evaluation Epidemiologist level P4-P3

Duty Station:WHO AFRO, Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo

Start date: as soon as possible, tentatively 15 May 2015

Duration: 6 months contract

Deadline for application: 30 April 2015

Epidemiologist P4 level

1. Background

The 2014 Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak has been declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern andrequires the setup of extraordinary measures and collaboration.

WHO is working with internationalpartners on a comprehensive Ebola research and development effort, which includes vaccine development. The most advanced Ebola vaccine candidates are now entering Phase 3 safety and efficacy clinical trials. Depending on the evolution of the epidemic, results from clinical trials and availability of vaccines, vaccination strategies will be considered as part of the measures to control the outbreak, with a range of approaches.

A Global Ebola Vaccine Implementation Team (GEVIT) has been created under WHO leadership in order to facilitate the collaborative planning for the potential introduction of Ebola vaccines. GEVIT currently associates countries most affected by the current EVD outbreak and key partners, who will be involved in procuring and introducing an Ebola vaccine (Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Gavi, UNICEF, USAID and WHO).

GEVIT is led by a Steering Group (SG) with a structure consisting of three Working Groups: Country Implementation; Monitoring, Surveillance and Impact Evaluation; and Vaccine Supply, Allocation and Procurement. The scope of work and objectives of GEVIT are to support affected countries in their efforts to coordinate potential vaccine introduction in accordance with WHO recommendations.

In order to support collaborative planning with GEVIT at regional and country level, epidemiologists (equivalent of P3 and P4) are to be recruited to support and contribute to the activities of the Surveillance, Monitoring and EVD vaccine Impact Evaluation Working Group and of the Country Implementation Working Group.

2. Objectives and Deliverables

Under the supervision of, and with guidance fromthe co-leads of the Surveillance, Monitoring and EVD vaccine Impact Evaluation team and in collaboration with the GEVIT teams, WHO Regional Office for Africa (AFRO) in Brazzaville, WHO HQ, regional and country colleagues, the incumbent will perform the following duties, in support of Ministries of Health:

  1. Surveillance
  2. Develop and support adaption oftools to assess the country capacity for Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) surveillance, including laboratory diagnostics and vaccine impact monitoring as appropriate
  3. Support preparation of nationalplans to build/strengthen Ebola vaccine impact monitoring capacity and to measure vaccine effectiveness in the target population, as and if appropriate
  4. Other duties as required by the supervisor
  1. Strengthening the national vaccine safety systemof the Ebola affected countries
  1. Coordinate and support the development of national AEFI surveillance guidelines
  2. Support the development and implementation of appropriate active surveillance studies for conditions of special interest identified during the development of Ebola vaccines
  1. Assessments to support readiness for vaccine implementation activities
  1. Supervision, Monitoring and Evaluation of Vaccination Campaigns

4. Required qualifications, skills and experience

Education and specialized training:

  1. Essential: Masters University degree in epidemiology, advanced degree in medicine or pharmaceutical sciences
  2. Desirable: Training in international public health, vaccinology or related fields.

Experience:

  1. Essential: At least 7 years’ experience with immunization programme, surveillance and vaccine safety related activitiesrelevant; experience including experience in epidemiology, disease surveillance and new vaccine impact evaluation.
  2. Desirable: Experience in research and development and vaccine trials, virology, and laboratory diagnostics.

Knowledge, abilities and skills:

  1. Essential: Knowledge of surveillance for infectious diseases and vaccines and laboratory procedures; excellent communication skills both written and oral
  2. Desirable: Previous experience working in an international environment.

Languages: Excellent knowledge of English and French would be desirable.

  • Remuneration

P4 position salary and remuneration is US$ XX /month

  • Application Process:

Qualified applicants should submit their CV along with a cover letter, in English, to XX by XX 2015.Applications that do not follow these guidelines may not be accepted.

Only successful candidates will be contacted. CVs received from this posting may be considered for other current and future openings requiring similar skills.