Consultant - Vaccine Manufacturing and Market Shaping at World Health Organization (WHO)

Purpose of consultancy

To develop coherent regional plans which will take into consideration industrial and health policies is needed.

Background  

The mRNA vaccine Technology Transfer Hub was established in response of the flagrant inequities in access to COVID-19 vaccines in low- and middle-income countries, especially in Africa. Formally established in July 2021, the purpose of the hub is to increase access to mRNA vaccines made closer to home by establishing manufacturing capacity using a technology transfer hub model to ensure sustainable vaccine security in future pandemics. The Hub will be a mRNA training facility where the technology is established at industrial scale and clinical development is performed. Interested manufacturers from low- and middle-income countries can receive training and any necessary licenses to the technology. WHO and partners will bring in the production know-how, quality control and necessary licenses to a single entity to facilitate a broad and rapid technology transfer to multiple recipients around the world.

In support of the above activity WHO needs to ensure that there are coherent regional plans established for vaccine and biological production, including vaccines against Covid and other pandemic diseases, but also routine vaccines, and biologicals such as monoclonal antibodies for the treatment of covid and other infectious diseases, and monoclonals for the treatment of non-infectious diseases.

Deliverables

• Output 1:
  To draft a menu of options for countries wishing to establish mRNA vaccine manufacturing facilities on their soil taking into account the Capex, and the Opex, by size of different facility, an estimate of the number of staff required to maintain readiness. The menu should offer a range of options from small pilot facilities, through small production facilities to large production facilities, and taking into account how these facilities would be able to respond to future outbreaks, but also what the cost of maintaining these facilities will be.
• Output 2:
  Prepare an analysis on how the costs of maintenance can be offset by concomitant production of other biologicals such as biotherapeutics, veterinary vaccines, or human vaccines, including an analysis of cost-savings. The analysis should look at potential market demand and access barriers in selected AFRO and EMRO countries for the other biologicals.
• Output 3:
  Participate in the WHO mRNA Working Group on sustainability by ensuring that outputs from other entities working on local production and vaccine sustainability are incorporated into the discussions. This will be done by participation in the meetings of PAVM and other groups to be identified by the consultant through a mapping exercise. 

Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Educational Qualifications:

Essential: 
Advanced degree in Public Health, Pharmacy, Science or related field.

Desirable: 
PhD degree in medical science (pharmacy, microbiology, biochemistry, etc).

Experience:

Essential: 

• ­Over 10 years of relevant experience in developing national or regional plans for local production of medical products. 
• Demonstrated experience in developing plans for production of vaccines in Africa.
• Demonstrated experience and technical command of pharmaceutical and vaccines production, including from LMICs country-level perspective.  
• Experience working in, or in collaboration with, intergovernmental organizations.
• Experience working with manufactures in LMICs and evaluation of business/investment plans.

Skills/Knowledge:

• Expert technical knowledge in the interface between industrial policy and public health.
• Excellent technical knowledge of market shaping opportunities.
• Technical knowledge in the manufacturing and approval of vaccines and biologicals.
• Excellent technical writing and communication skills.
• Ability to work in a multicultural team and maintain effective working relationships with recognized experts and stakeholders.
• Excellent planning and organizational skills with attention to detail and with the ability to multi-task and work under pressure.
• Strong IT skills: Word, Excel, presentation software, databases and web navigators.

Languages required:

Essential:  
Expert knowledge of English. 

Desirable:
Expert knowledge of French or any other WHO official language.

Location:

Home based – Off-site. 

Travel: 

The Consultant may be expected to travel during the assignment for site visits and attend the workshop(s).

Remuneration and budget (travel costs are excluded):

Remuneration:

Band level C: USD 10,000 - 12,500 per month, depending on the consultant’s experience and educational background.

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

N/A

Expected duration of contract: 

6 months. Additional contracts may be offered based on funding availability and satisfactory performance. 

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