World Health Organisation Tender

Background The Covid-19 Outbreak Has Been Characterized As Pandemic By The Who Director-general. Since The First Notification Of A Cluster Of Pneumonia Of Unknown Aetiology In Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China, All Levels Of Who Have Been Working Closely With The Government Of China Through The National Health Commission.  We Note And Commend The Rapid Identification And Response To The Unusual Cluster And Subsequent Detection And Isolation Of Covid-19 By Chinese Authorities.  Who Teams Have Been Working Non-stop To Develop The Interim Guidance And Facilitate Meeting Obligations Under The International Health Regulations (2005).  Since Early On, The Who Regional Office For The Western Pacific Has Been Immersed In Preparedness And Response Activities In China And Neighbouring Countries And Areas And Will Continue To Do So Until The Threat Posed By Covid-19 Is Under Control. As Increasing Number Of Cases Continue To Be Reported All Across The World, Enhanced Preparedness And Response Efforts Are Required In The Region. Countries In The Region Are Experiencing Challenges When Dealing With Outbreak Response: Low Capacity Of Health Care Systems; Limited Laboratory Capacity For Testing For Covid-19; Shortage Of Skilled Laboratory Workforce; Shipment Of Reagents And Shortage Of Supplies, Etc. To Cope With The Situation, The Laboratory Team Within Hsd Is Being Strengthened, To Provide Technical Assistance To Member States For Preparedness And Response Efforts.  The Covid-19 Response Operations In The Region Are Expected To Continue For Several Months.   Purpose/specific Objective Of The Activity In The Context Of The Who Health Emergencies Incident Management System (ims), At The Regional Level, The Incumbent Will Lead In The Development And Establishment Of The Empact Surveillance Network Within The Region, In Collaboration With Regional Reference Laboratories, Lead And Support Capacity Building For Genetic Sequencing Of Sars-cov-2 In Countries With Limited Capacity.   Description Of Activities To Be Carried Out Under The Overall Guidance Of The Wpro Imst Incident Manager And Supervision Of The Pillar Lead On Health Services Delivery And Working Closely With Counterparts At The Respective Who Country Offices And Hq, The Incumbent Will Act As The Subject Matter Expert For Laboratory Within The Lab Team Sub-pillar. He Will Be An Integral Part Of The Laboratory Team Sub-pillar Of The Incident Management System And Will Be Expected To Provide Timely Technical Support To The Ministries Of Health (moh) And Partners Within The Health Cluster. He Will Establish And Maintain Collaborative Networks Involving National And International Organizations, Governmental And Non-governmental Institutions, Professional And Scientific Societies, Liaise With Other Units/teams At The Country Offices, Respective Regional Office And Hq.   Methods To Carry Out The Activity During Deployment, The Duty Station May Change, And Duties May Be Modified, Based Upon The Technical Needs Of The Programme. Lead In The Development And Establishment Of The Empact Surveillance Network Within The Region, In Collaboration With Regional Reference Laboratories, Lead And Support Capacity Building For Genetic Sequencing Of Sars-cov-2 In Countries With Limited Capacity. Provide Technical Expertise And Operational Support In Laboratory Diagnosis Of Sars-cov-2 For The Timely Response To The Covid-19 Outbreak As Part Of The Imst Covid-19 Laboratory Team, In Collaboration With Who Country Offices And Hq, National Health Officials, Including Laboratory Staff, And Other Partner Organizations. Coordinate And Adapt The Development And Implementation Of Technical Guidelines And Standard Operational Procedures For Laboratory Testing Practices For Covid-19 Outbreak Detection. Contribute To The Enhancement Of Laboratory Infrastructure And The Implementation Of Standard Operating Procedures To Ensure Safe Collection, Handling, Shipment, Storage And Analysis Of Specimens. Perform Any Other Related Incident-specific Duties, As Required By The Functional Supervisor.   Qualifications & Experience Education Essential:   Advanced University Degree (master’s Level Or Above) In Life Science, Medicine, Molecular Biology Or Medical Virology From An Accredited/ Recognized Institute.  Certified Training Or Qualification In Bacteriology, Infectious Diseases, And/or Epidemiology And Laboratory Techniques. Desirable: Master’s Level Degree In Public Health, Epidemiology, Infectious Diseases Or Health Emergency Management.   Experience Essential: At Least Seven Years Of Practical And Operational Application And Management Of Laboratory Services, Laboratory Diagnosis Of Communicable Diseases At The National And International Levels. Some Related Experience In Outbreaks And/or Health Emergency Response Of International Impact. Desirable: Experience In Establishing Or Improving Laboratory Infrastructure For Microbiology And/or Detection Of Infectious Diseases. Experience In Evaluating Novel Diagnostics Assays For Emergency Use Authorization During Outbreak Response.  Previous Experience In Un Organizations/agencies, Health Cluster Partners, Recognized Humanitarian Organizations, International Institutions Or Nongovernmental Organizations, Particularly In Developing Countries.   Technical Skills & Knowledge • Good Computer Skills In Microsoft Office. • Proven Ability To Analyse Laboratory Activities In Diagnostic, Biosafety And Quality Management, In Order To Develop Innovative And Appropriate Solutions For Their Improvement. • Sound Knowledge In Biosafety Standards, Methodology And Techniques In Health Laboratories, Including Those In Molecular Biology, Virology, Bacteriology And Biosafety. • Sound Knowledge In Quality Assurance Systems For Laboratories. • Ability To Work Harmoniously As A Member Of A Team, Adapt To Diverse Cultural And Educational Background And Maintain A High Standard Of Personal Conduct. • Ability To Assess Laboratory Capacity And To Find Solutions To Fill Gaps • Excellent Communication, Interpersonal And Diplomatic Skills, With The Ability To Foster Consensus And Team Spirit. • Ability To Work Harmoniously As A Member Of A Team, Adapt To Diverse Cultural And Educational Background And Maintain A High Standard Of Personal Conduct.   Languages Excellent Knowledge Of English. Working Knowledge Of Another Who Official Language Would Be An Asset.   Competencies • Teamwork • Communication • Producing Results • Respecting And Promoting Individual And Cultural Differences • Ensuring The Effective Use Of Resources   Additional Information: Duration Of Contract: 4.5 Months Starting 8 August 2021   Applications Qualified And Interested Specialists Should Submit Their Cv {for Individual Contractors} And Expression Of Interest {cover Letter} To The Supply Officer Through Wp Ro Ungm At < Wproungm@who.int > By 18 June 2021.  The Cover Letter Should Outline How Their Experience And Qualifications Make Them A Suitable Candidate For This Position And Should Include Their Proposed Daily Consultancy Fee And Availability. Please Use Tender Notice No. 131274 As Subject To All Submission. only Successful Candidates Will Be Contacted.