Purpose of consultancy

The consultant will contribute to the implementation of the Global Platform for Access to Childhood Cancer Medicines (GPACCM or Global Platform), through WHO’s strategic three-level operating model.

Background

Each year, approximately 400,000 children are diagnosed with cancer, and the vast majority live in low- and middle-income countries where survival can be low as 30%. This compares to survival for children with cancer in high-income countries reaching 80-90%, creating one of the most severe inequalities in health. Building on successful implementation of the Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer launched in 2018 and active in almost 80 countries, GPACCM was announced by St Jude Children’s Research Hospital and the World Health Organization in December 2021 and is founded on the commitment by St Jude Children’s Research Hospital to support the Platform with US$ 200 million. The Global Platform is a recognition of continued limitations in access to cancer medicines and delivers on mandates by WHO (in line with the World Health Assembly resolution 70.12) and St Jude Children’s Research Hospital and also leverages the procurement leadership roles of UNICEF and Pan-American Health Organization Strategic Fund.

The Global Platform is bringing together partners across sectors – governments, the pharmaceutical industry, non-governmental organizations – to provide quality-assured, affordable medicines are available to treat childhood cancer; increasing global visibility and predictability of the market for childhood cancer medicines. Within the next five years, the GPACCM expects to provide medicines and benefit approximately 120,000 children in 50 low- and middle- income countries.

National stakeholders in participating countries are invited into a co-design process for a customized approach to implementing and managing the Global Platform and for leading the successful delivery of the essential medicines for children with cancer in their countries.

Deliverables

• Output 1: Perform and facilitate assessment for countries participating in the Global Platform for Access to Childhood Cancer Medicines.
  Expected by: 28 February 2025.
  • Deliverable 1.1: organize, convene and document initial set of national stakeholder meetings to orient national stakeholders in a co-design process.
  • Deliverable 1.2: contribute to national stakeholder consultations including mapping of relevant organizations, hospital focal persons and national governance mechanism.
  • Deliverable 1.3: orient national stakeholders and oversee process of self- and/or external assessments in current capacities for accessing childhood cancer medicines.
  • Deliverable 1.4: consolidate and synthesize data from assessment into a report to be provided to national stakeholders.
  • Deliverable 1.5: participate in Global Platform stakeholder virtual meetings related to orientation and assessment process including by organizing national stakeholder engagements with international partners.

• Output 2: Facilitate and contribute to key activities in preparation for receipt of medicines.
  Expected by: 31 May 2025.
  • Deliverable 2.1: document key interventions to be performed in preparation for receipt of medicines.
  • Deliverable 2.2: monitor and contribute to progress in the delivery of key interventions.
  • Deliverable 2.3: identify financial and human resources required for successful implementation of key interventions.
  • Deliverable 2.4: develop a comprehensive financial proposal that outlines the estimated costs required to contribute to key activities and facilitate approval and reporting.
  • Deliverable 2.5: document agreed decisions with national stakeholders on processes along the value chain including quantification approach, supply planning, regulatory approval, quality assurance and quality control processes and logistics management systems.
  • Deliverable 2.6: report monthly on general progress in completion of key interventions.

• Output 3: Contribute to drafting of national implementation plan as part of Global Platform.
  Expected by: 31 July 2025.
  • Deliverable 3.1: facilitate meetings and consultations with national stakeholders and relevant partners about the national implementation plan.
  • Deliverable 3.2: provide technical input to the draft national implementation plan and based agreed decisions and implementation of key interventions.
  • Deliverable 3.3: review and validate content in draft and final national implementation plan.
  • Deliverable 3.4: provide technical guidance in the implementation of the plan.

Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Educational Qualifications:

Essential:

• Advanced university degree in health sciences, public health or related field.

Desirable:

• Advanced university degree in medicine and/or pharmacy.
• Specialized training in cancer and/or medicine access.

Experience

Essential:

Band level B:

• 7-year experience working in drafting national policies or as a program manager in cancer programme or non-communicable diseases in low- and middle-income countries.

Band level C:

• 10-year experience working in drafting national policies or as a program manager in cancer programme or non-communicable diseases in low- and middle-income countries.

Band level B & C:

• Experience working on major international initiatives including those led by WHO and/or other relevant international agency.
• Experience in technical writing in public health.

Desirable:

• Experience working with WHO, other UN agency or international health sector organization in planning, monitoring, and evaluation country projects.
• Over 5 years of demonstrated experience in working in low- and middle-income countries

Skills/Knowledge:

• Expertise in supporting the organization of consultations and meetings.
• Strong technical, analytical, conceptual and inter-personal skills.
• Excellent organizational, oral and written communication skills including the development of reports and technical presentations.

Languages and level required (Basic/Intermediate/Expert):

Essential:

• Expert knowledge of English.

Desirable:

• Intermediate knowledge of another UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, Spanish).

Location

Off site: Home-based

Travel

The consultant is expected to travel.

Remuneration and budget (travel costs are excluded)

Remuneration:

Band level B: USD 7,000 – 9,980 per month.

Band level C: USD 10,000 – 12,500 per month

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

Not applicable

Expected duration of contract:

10 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.
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