Consultant - COVID-19 Vaccine Evidence Assessment

Purpose of consultancy

The consultant is expected to 1) review and synthesise the unpublished and published literature on clinical trials and observational studies on a variety of topics such as primary series efficacy, safety and effectiveness, booster dose needs, mix and match, co-administration, etc., and 2) to develop of the background documents needed for vaccines that newly receive emergency use listing.

Background

The World Health Organization (WHO), Immunization, Vaccines and Biologicals (IVB) Department is leading the process for developing policy recommendations for the use of COVID-19 vaccines. In order to carry out this activity, the IVB Vaccine Policy Team hosts the Executive secretariat of the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE). SAGE provides recommendations to the Director General on all immunization policy related issues, in particular in the area of COVID-19 vaccine use. At this time seven interim recommendations have been issued, and updates are being produced to respond to new data. Many questions about vaccine performance remain unanswered, and data are being generated at a rapid pace to address important knowledge gaps. WHO/IVB has already contracted services to review post-licensure evaluations, including vaccine effectiveness (VE) studies.

The new COVID-19 vaccines are rapidly being approved and added to immunization programmes in countries. Specific emerging literature related to the use of different vaccines must be monitored and easily available for further policy decision making. Given the different vaccines that are or will soon be authorized for use, global stakeholders need to understand where and when data might be available to inform future policy decisions as well as to understand where the gaps are to advocate for these to be filled. WHO/IVB is also in need of a provider to manage and synthesize this knowledge as it becomes available to help inform the SAGE expert working group to inform COVID-19 vaccine policy.

Deliverables

Setup and maintain a database on clinical trials and observational studies (peer review, preprints or unpublished data) on any COVID-19 vaccine covering clinical trials studying primary series efficacy, safety and effectiveness, booster dose needs, mix and match, co-administration, etc.

• Deliverable 1: Develop a searchable line listed database along with a Sharepoint ‘library’ of manuscripts and an Endnote reference managing (Endnote web) that is systematically updated on a weekly basis. Expected by: June 2022
• Deliverable 2: Develop three (3) background documents (see Bharat background document as example) for specific COVID-19 vaccines that receive WHO emergency use listing (EUL). Expected by: March, August, December 2022.

Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Educational Qualifications:

Essential:

Advanced University Degree (Masters or PhD in epidemiology, public health or related field)

Desirable:

Training in knowledge synthesis, risk of bias assessment and GRADE

Experience

Essential:

• At least five years of relevant combined national and international professional exposure to rapid or systematic literature reviews in the fields of public health, global health and/or international development.
• Experience in supporting data visualization, presentation and written communication.

Desirable:

• Experience of working with WHO or within UN environment.
• Experience with policy decision making, GRADE skills to assist immunization programmes in low and middle income countries.

Skills/Knowledge:

Essential:

• Knowledge of global health environment and vaccines in particular.
• Excellent organizational skills and very good skills in literature retrieval and knowledge synthesis.
• Ability to work independently under general guidance
• Good problem-solving skills and creative mindset to propose practical and innovative solutions.
• Ability to implement processes with strong attention to detail, quality of work and time management.
• Ability to work in a team and to coordinate with broad range of colleagues at different offices and locations.
• Skills in use of IT reference management tools (such as Endnote, Reference Manager, Zotero) and standards IT office tools.

Languages required:

Essential:

Expert knowledge of English

Desirable

Intermediate knowledge of French and/or another UN language

Location

Home based – Off-site

Travel

The consultant may be asked to travel for 1-2 SAGE meetings in Geneva in order to present relevant literature needed by SAGE for policy decision making

Remuneration and budget (travel costs are excluded):

Remuneration:

Payband level B
USD 7,000 – 9,980 - part-time at 75% and/or full-time 100%

Living expenses (A living expense is payable to on-site consultants who are internationally recruited):

N/A

Expected duration of contract:

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.
• For information on WHO's operations please visit: http://www.who.int.
• WHO is committed to workforce diversity.
• 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 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