Consultant - Epidemiology and Risk Analysis of Yellow Fever at World Health Organization (WHO)

Job ID: 2407255

Purpose of Consultancy

• To define the risk level for countries endemic for yellow fever using standardized methodologies.

Background

• To respond to the increased risk of large urban yellow fever outbreaks with international spread that could threaten global health security, the comprehensive, multicomponent Global Eliminate Yellow Fever Epidemics (EYE) strategy was developed by EYE partners. The EYE Strategy endorses a continuum of preventive activities, ranging from preventive vaccination activities with implementation tiered according to risk, to rapid detection and response to outbreaks. The EYE vaccine delivery working group (VDWG) is one of the four technical working groups of the EYE Strategy that provides technical guidance on vaccination.  
• Since 2020, a resurgence of yellow fever (YF) outbreaks in Africa has caused concerns about the sustainable elimination of these epidemics. Since late 2020, 15 countries have reported confirmed and probable YF cases, with 30 outbreaks recorded, of which 12 were disruptive. A large-scale investment has been made under the EYE Strategy. Since the Strategy’s inception, mass vaccination campaigns have protected around 264 million African people against yellow fever. This investment risks being jeopardized in 10-15 years unless a targeted policy is operationalized.
• This consultancy aims to support yellow fever risk assessment initiatives. The consultant will provide direct assistance to the EYE Strategy secretariat and the EYE Risk Analysis Working Group (EYE-RAWG), helping with national and subnational risk analysis assessments in countries across the African, Eastern Mediterranean, Latin American, and Caribbean regions. They will also develop and adapt tools and resources for these purposes.
• The consultant will prepare background documents and outputs for the annual risk assessment for vaccine allocation and support workshops to discuss methodologies for national and subnational risk assessments. Additionally, the consultant will assist with a risk prioritization exercise in urban centers in countries with high to moderate yellow fever risk.

Deliverables
Output 1: To enhance risk assessment for endemic and epidemic yellow fever in high-risk countries by optimizing data, standards, and sources:

• Output 1.1.: Identify additional data sources that more accurately reflect the risk of yellow fever.
• Expected by: end of the consultancy.
• Output 1.2.: Utilize these identified data sources to update the national and the subnational risk assessment tools. 
• Expected by: end of the consultancy.

Output 2: To assess sub-national yellow fever risk in African countries:

• Output 2.1.: Gather subnational data for high-risk yellow fever countries in Africa. 
• Expected by: end of the consultancy.
• Output 2.2.: Output 2.2.: Evaluate subnational risk using the assessment tool and collected data, in collaboration with country stakeholders and EYE partners. 
• Expected by: end of the consultancy.
• Output 2.3.: Validate or modify the subnational risk assessment tool based on evaluations from the high-risk countries, in collaboration with country stakeholders and EYE partners. 
• Expected by: end of the consultancy.

Output 3: To contribute to the work of the EYE-RAWG acting as member of the secretariat:

• Output 3.1.: Prepare the meeting agenda, slide deck and meeting minutes of the EYE-RAWG. 
• Expected by: end of the consultancy.
• Output 3.2.: Document the work of the EYE-RAWG in the format of a scientific publication containing, for each one of its major tasks, a list of the related “activities”, “achievements”, “challenges” and “moving forward”. 
• Expected by: end of the consultancy.

Output 4: To contribute to the work of the yellow fever surveillance:

• Output 4.1.: Conduct activities related to the data collection, data analysis and data dissemination of yellow fever cases in the African Region. 
• Expected by: end of the consultancy.
• Output 4.2.: Produce a bimonthly epidemiological update of yellow fever in the African Region. 
• Expected by: end of the consultancy.

Qualifications, Experience, Skills and Languages
Educational Qualifications:    

Essential:

• Advanced University Level Degree in Public Health, Epidemiology, or similar field.

Desirable:

• A PhD in epidemiology, public health, or other relevant disciplines.

Experience:
Essential:

• At least seven years of relevant experience combined at the national and international levels, in the areas of epidemiology, field epidemiology, public health risk analysis, public health needs assessments, health emergencies or health response support.  
• Field experience in the African, Eastern Mediterranean, Latin American, or the Caribbean regions.

Desirable:

• Experience in operational research, implementation research, data analysis.
• Experience with the United Nations agencies, such as the World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US CDC), Médecins sans Frontières (MSF), or a health cluster member organization.

Skills/Knowledge:  

Essential:

• Proven ability in managing and analysing public health data sets, including large databank sets.
• Ability to work with governments to implement immunization initiatives.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills.
• Ability to work as a team with a variety of stakeholders and meet deadlines.
• Proficiency in the Microsoft office suite of applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, SharePoint) and remote working technologies.
• Proficiency in  interactive data visualization software packages, including Tableau and Mocrosoft Power BI.
• Proficiency in geographic information system software, such  ArcGIS®.

Desirable:

• Expertise in risk analysis tools and modelling of communicable diseases.  
• Background/familiarity with emergency settings.
• Sound knowledge of yellow fever surveillance.
• Languages and level required (Basic/Intermediate/Expert):

Essential:

• Expert knowledge of English
• Expert knowledge of French

Desirable:

• Intermediate knowledge of Spanish or any other UN official language  

Travel:

• The consultant is expected to travel.

Remuneration

• Remuneration and budget (travel costs are excluded)
• Band level B: USD7,000 - USD 9,980 per month.