Roster of consultants - Scientific writer and rapporteur

Purpose of consultancy

To establish a roster of consultants to contribute to the program as a rapporteur, note-taking and scientific technical report writing, and facilitate the development and publication of key strategic and scientific documents.

Background

The Department of Epidemic & Pandemic Preparedness and Prevention (EPP) department is committed to delivering GPW13 Outcome 2.2 Epidemics and pandemics prevented, through:

• Delivering risk assessment, technical guidance, interventions and control strategies for country impact
• Promoting innovation and adoption of new technologies
• Supporting Member States in reinforcing collaborative surveillance systems
• Ensuring vulnerable populations have access to life-saving interventions and supplies (i.e. vaccines, therapeutics, diagnostics, and others) Sharing laboratory protocols and developing training and capacity building for countries across all geographic regions, to develop their own capacity to ensure high quality testing, enhancing diagnostic capacity worldwide
• Continuing to address barriers to access to and allocation of medical countermeasures by operationalizing the i-MCM-Net interim mechanism
• Providing leadership and coordination, for trusted cross-sector partnerships for international action, for the development of global preparedness mechanisms for epidemics and pandemics, thereby limiting their international spread

The consultant will provide rigorous substantive notetaking and review scientific documents in preparation for technical consultations, collect and organize data, consolidate discussion outcomes and finalize papers for internal use and external publication. This work will also involve engaging strongly with the content in an informed manner, raising technical queries for the technical officer responsible and revising the written material in the light of received responses. He/she will also develop derivatives (PowerPoint, leaflet, aide-memoire, etc.).

Deliverables

• Deliverable 1: Pre-conference, to review provided relevant electronic documentation (e.g. technical background materials (texts, tables, illustrations), meeting agenda, concept note with purpose of the meeting, a checklist of tasks to be completed)
• Deliverable 2: Take notes during assigned events, and organization of notes
• Deliverable 3: Review materials, collect comments from report reviewers and post conference, to integrate inputs into report
• Deliverable 4: Produce executive summary, draft full report of all proceedings, follow-up on comments and finalize final written report

Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Educational Qualifications:

Essential:

• A first university degree in health, health sciences, pharmaceuticals, life sciences.

Desirable

• An advanced degree in health, pharmaceuticals, health sciences or life sciences.

Experience

Essential:

• At least five years of relevant scientific research and writing, and rapporteur expertise.
• A track record of delivering successful products in a timely manner for emergencies.
• Demonstrated experience in evidence/literature review.

Desirable:

• Publication experience with peer-reviewed journal (attach publication list) as first author, or peer-journal editing experience.
• Previous WHO experience would be an added advantage.

Skills:

• Excellent technical writing skills in report drafting, reference/bibliography management, literature search.
• Strong commitment and ability to deliver work on time under tight deadlines.
• Excellent knowledge of public health, emergency preparedness, infectious diseases, pharmaceutical measures.
• Proficient with commonly used computer programmes, such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint.
• Knowledge of health promotion, biomedical and clinical research

Languages required:

Essential:

• Expert knowledge of English.

Desirable

• Intermediate 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 350 - 499 per day

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

N/A

Expected duration of contract:

1 to 11 months. The consultant may be required to work part-time (few days per week/month).

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.
• The WHO is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The WHO recruits workforce regardless of disability status, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, language, race, marital status, religious, cultural, ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds, or any other personal characteristics.
  The WHO is committed to achieving gender parity and geographical diversity in its workforce. Women, persons with disabilities, and nationals of unrepresented and underrepresented Member States (https://www.who.int/careers/diversity-equity-and-inclusion) are strongly encouraged to apply for WHO jobs.
  Persons with disabilities can request reasonable accommodations to enable participation in the recruitment process. Requests for reasonable accommodation should be sent through an email to reasonableaccommodation@who.int.
• An impeccable record for integrity and professional ethical standards is essential. 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 (https://www.who.int/about/who-we-are/our-values) 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 short-listed candidates.
• WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.
• Consultants shall perform the work as independent contractors in a personal capacity, and not as a representative of any entity or authority.
• WHO shall have no responsibility 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.
• Please note that WHO’s contracts are conditional on members of the workforce confirming that they are vaccinated as required by WHO before undertaking a WHO assignment, except where a medical condition does not allow such vaccination, as certified by the WHO Staff Health and Wellbeing Services (SHW). The successful candidate will be asked to provide relevant evidence related to this condition. A copy of the updated vaccination card must be shared with WHO medical service in the medical clearance process. Please note that certain countries require proof of specific vaccinations for entry or exit. For example, official proof /certification of yellow fever vaccination is required to enter many countries. Country-specific vaccine recommendations can be found on the WHO international travel and Staff Health and Wellbeing website. For vaccination-related queries please directly contact SHW directly at shws@who.int.
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• 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

For roster VNs:

The purpose of this vacancy is to develop a list of qualified candidates for inclusion in this advertised roster. All applicants will be notified in writing of the outcome of their application (whether successful or unsuccessful) upon conclusion of the selection process. Successful candidates will be placed on the roster and subsequently may be selected for consultancy assignments falling in this area of work or for similar requirements/tasks/deliverables. Inclusion in the Roster does not guarantee selection to a consultant contract. There is no commitment on either side.