Consultant – Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccination

Purpose of consultancy

To provide technical contributions to World Health Organization (WHO) global, regional and country offices to strengthen the quality and maximize the impact of immunization programmes, with attention to Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccination. The consultant is to develop operational guidance, provide technical expertise to countries, monitor and report on global and regional achievements towards WHO’s contribution to the Gavi HPV revitalization agenda. This encompasses efforts to reach the targets and goals of the Global Strategy for the Elimination of Cervical Cancer and the Immunization Agenda 2030 (IA2030).

Background

The mission of the Department of Immunization, Vaccines and Biologicals (IVB) is to promote the health and well-being of all people, in all countries, by advancing the impact of vaccines and immunization programmes through partnership and leadership; policies and guidance; and evidence and research.

The work on HPV vaccination contributes to the global strategy to eliminate cervical cancer and reaching the 2030 targets of introduction in all member states and 90% coverage with the HPV vaccine, as well as to the Gavi HPV revitalization strategy that aims to reach 86 million girls by end 2025.

HPV is a high impact area in IVB and is organized in a matrixed structure. Key staff in all IVB units as well as wider WHO departments are engaged in the high impact area under the leadership of the IVB Senior Technical Adviser, HPV, and includes cross-cutting expertise in vaccine policy, financing, supply, monitoring and Essential Programme on Immunization (EPI), Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD), Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and school health programmes.

Deliverables

• Output 1: Develop technical materials with focus on HPV vaccination.
  Deliverables:
  • Task 1.1: Facilitate the development and final production of a technical briefing document on HPV vaccination for the fourth year celebrations of the Global Strategy to Eliminate Cervical Cancer.
    Expected by 31 December 2024
  • Task 1.2: Develop, review and publish evidence-based and revised versions of:
    • (i) WHO Guide to Introducing HPV Vaccine,
    • (ii) Considerations to HPV Vaccine Product Choice documents in English and French.
      Expected by 31 January 2025
  • Task 1.3: Ensure the documentation of the IVB Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE) HPV Vaccine Working Group includes legal requirements/Declaration of Interest (DOI) process, develop meeting invitations, agendas, and minutes of meetings.
    Expected by 31 May 2025
• Output 2: Provide technical guidance to WHO regional and country offices and vaccination partners to achieve HPV revitalization plans and Gavi target.
  Deliverables:
  • Task 2.1: Develop and review technical materials and presentations related to global and regional technical meetings (virtual and/or in person) on HPV vaccination including Gavi sub-team meetings, cervical cancer elimination secretariat meetings, regional EPI managers’ and technical advisory group meetings.
    Expected by: Monthly technical reporting expected until the end of the contract
  • Task 2.2: Provide technical expertise to regions and countries (virtual and/or in person) by advising on content of Gavi HPV applications and revitalization plans, planning for HPV implementation, HPV vaccination reporting, monitoring systems, coverage surveys, and post introduction evaluations.
    Expected by: Monthly technical reporting expected until the end of the contract

Task 2.3 Develop a global roster of consultants for HPV vaccine technical expertise in consultation with regional offices.
Expected by 30 June 2025

Output 3: Provide technical guidance to monitor HPV vaccine introductions and coverage.

Deliverables

Task 3.1: Monitor introduction status of HPV vaccines in countries; maintain the WHO HPV Introduction Dashboard (Power BI) with latest information on introduction timelines and develop an updated version of the dashboard.Monthly technical reporting expected until the end of the contract.

Task 3.2:Provide technical expertise to the WHO/UNICEF HPV vaccine estimates working group to prepare for planning the 2025 update of the HPV vaccine coverage estimates; prepare country profiles for the working group to review and publication of final estimates.Expected by 31 July 2025.

Task 3.3:Develop analyses of the introduction status and HPV coverage estimate data for use in WHO products and presentations, including the development of regional coverage estimates profiles.Expected by 31 December 2024.

Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Educational Qualifications:

Essential:

• An advanced university degree in Medicine, Public Health, Policy, Pediatrics or Child/ Adolescent or Sexual and Reproductive Health, Social sciences, Public or Development Administration or related fields.

Desirable:

• Published literature in health field and/or (HPV) immunization.

Experience:

Essential:

• At least 7 years of relevant experience in the health sector, including:
  • At least 5 years of demonstrated experience with immunization programming at country, regional or global level.
  • At least 5 years of experience with HPV vaccination programming, including experience in supporting ministries of health in the development, planning, implementation or monitoring and evaluation of national HPV vaccine programmes from global, regional or country level.
• Demonstrated professional experience in coordinating and managing complex projects.
• Demonstrated professional experience in preparing technical presentations and demonstrated leadership in coordinating and convening stakeholders.

Desirable:

• Experience supporting country level immunization programmes in African and Asian countries.
• Demonstrated work experience with (US) Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Gavi or other global immunization stakeholders active in area of HPV vaccination.

Skills:

Essential:

• Knowledge of vaccine-preventable diseases and immunization programmes at global, regional and country levels and demonstrated understanding of HPV vaccination, as well global cervical cancer elimination strategy goals and targets.
• Familiarity with guidance documents and policies on HPV vaccination including IA2030, and understanding of global immunization initiatives, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.
• Ability to collaborate in a multicultural environment and/or coordinate diverse stakeholders.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Strong interpersonal, networking and diplomacy skills.
• Conscientious and highly organized, with the ability to take the initiative and work independently under general guidance, meet tight deadlines and deliver results.
• Demonstrated ability to develop, manage and analyze complex datasets.
• Familiarity with the UN system, including WHO country, regional and global architecture, and competence in building relationships with key immunization partners such as UNICEF, Gavi, donors and civil society organizations.

Languages required:

Essential:

• Expert knowledge of English.
• Intermediate (working) knowledge of French.

Desirable:

• Advanced knowledge of other UN languages.

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.

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 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