Consultant, Epidemiology and Vaccine-preventable diseases (yellow fever) – Cameroon, Central African Republic, Guinea

Area of expertise

Consultant, epidemiology and vaccine-preventable diseases (yellow fever)

Purpose of consultancy

To build outbreak preparedness, detection and response capacity in Cameroon, the Central African Republic and Guinea.

Background

Yellow fever (YF) is a serious viral haemorrhagic disease that poses a challenge for surveillance systems, with high-impact and high-threat. Due to its risk of international spread, it represents a potential threat to global health security. YF epidemics are complex, with multi-factorial and evolving nature of risk and its inherent unknowns. The threat of YF outbreaks continues to affect countries in Africa and the Americas. The unprecedented urban outbreaks in 2016 demonstrated that despite the advances in immunization activities, challenges remain in ending YF epidemics.
Countries at risk of Yellow Fever (YF) are prioritizing efforts to enhance population immunity, focusing particularly on high-risk communities. Key strategies include: 1) strengthening surveillance to better identify and protect susceptible populations, 2) projecting the number of individuals who could benefit from YF vaccination and ensuring these populations, including migrants, are vaccinated, 3) improving surveillance systems to differentiate YF from other arboviral diseases and 4) enhancing data collection to better understand sub-national risks, such as the distribution of non-human primates (NHPs) and mosquito vectors.
The International Coordination Group (ICG) on Vaccine Provision was established in 1997 following major outbreaks of meningitis in Africa as a mechanism to manage and coordinate the provision of emergency vaccine, supplies and antibiotics to countries during major outbreaks. Currently the ICG monitors global licensed vaccine stock levels for cholera, meningococcal meningitis, yellow fever, and Ebola virus disease to ensure availability of sufficient supplies to respond to disease outbreaks. The ICG brings together partners to improve coordination of epidemic preparedness and response, including UNICEF, Médecins sans Frontières and the International Federation of the Red Crescent. The ICG works on forecasting licensed vaccine stocks, negotiating prices through its networks and partners.
Between 2022 and 2024, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, and Guinea reported yellow fever cases in regions that had previously undergone vaccination campaigns, whether reactive or preventive. A root cause analysis in these countries revealed gaps in routine immunization and yellow fever surveillance that need strengthening. Corrective actions were identified and are now ready to be integrated into national recovery plans. Additionally, an evaluation of delays in implementing reactive vaccination campaigns in Guinea and Cameroon was conducted. A list of corrective actions was developed, and its implementation is now set to effectively reduce delays in outbreak response.
The global strategy to Eliminate Yellow Fever Epidemics (EYE) is a comprehensive and long-term strategy built on lessons learned that aims at ending YF epidemics by 2026. It was developed by a coalition of partners (Gavi, UNICEF and WHO) to face yellow fever’s changing epidemiology, resurgence of mosquitoes, and the increased risk of urban outbreaks and international spread. The strategy consists of three strategic objectives: 1) protect at-risk populations, 2) prevent international spread; and 3) contain outbreaks rapidly. Activities supported through the EYE Strategy contribute to the triple billion goal of the Thirteenth General Programme of Work of WHO (GPW13) by implementing large-scale interventions to prevent epidemics.

Deliverables

• Output 1: Coordinate countries’ responses for early detection and timely response to yellow fever cases.
  • Output 1.1: Act as the yellow fever focal point at the World Health Organization Country Office and liaise with both the Expanded Programme on Immunization and Emergency departments for optimal coordination.
  • Output 1.2: Conduct investigations of suspected yellow fever cases, final classification of yellow fever cases, clinical description of cases, and triangulation of different sources of information with national health authorities.
  • Output 1.3: Update yellow fever detection and control plans of the national health authorities, including the urban preparedness component, and integrate them into the national EYE strategy plans as relevant.
  • Output 1.4: Provide surge support to countries affected by yellow fever outbreaks.
• Output 2: Facilitate timely vaccination response to yellow fever vaccines under the International Coordination Group mechanism.
  • Output 2.1: Implement mitigation measures identified during the evaluation of outbreak response delays in conjunction with the national health authorities to ensure timely reactive vaccination campaigns.
  • Output 2.2: Review ICG requests, including the budget, with national health authorities for preparation and submission.
  • Output 2.3: Develop reactive vaccination response plans with national health authorities.
  • Output 2.4: Review ICG request comments upon their deliberation with the national health authorities.
  • Output 2.5: Draft microplanning activities related to reactive vaccination campaigns with the national health authorities.
  • Output 2.6: Develop post-campaign coverage survey protocols in line with 2018 World Health Organization Immunization, Vaccines, and Biologicals Department guidance with the national health authorities.
• Output 3: Facilitate countries in developing routine immunization and catch-up vaccination planning to roll out reactive vaccination campaigns for yellow fever.
  • Output 3.1: Coordinate the implementation of measures identified during root cause analysis to strengthen routine immunization for yellow fever with national health authorities.
  • Output 3.2: Develop a national catch-up/targeted mass vaccination campaign plan based on immunity gap analysis.
  • Output 3.3: Conduct training of national health authorities on the above-mentioned topics.

Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Educational Qualifications

Essential

An advanced level university degree in epidemiology, medicine, public health or related field. Formal training in epidemiology.

Desirable

Training in applied epidemiology would be an asset.

Experience

Essential

• At least seven years of relevant experience working at national/international level in epidemiology conducting monitoring and evaluation of diseases and public health issues related to epidemic-prone diseases.
• Field experience in the African region.

Desirable

Experience with the United Nations agencies, such as the World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US CDC), Médecins sans Frontières (MSF), or a health cluster member organization.

Skills/Knowledge

Essential

• Demonstrated knowledge, competency and professional skills on the public health aspects of infectious disease epidemiology, prevention and control.
• Strong knowledge of disease surveillance systems, understanding of field outbreak response operations.
• Proven ability in managing and analysing public health data sets, including large databank sets.
• Ability to work with governments to implement immunization initiatives.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills.
• Ability to work as a team with a variety of stakeholders and meet deadlines.
• Proficiency in the Microsoft office suite of applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, SharePoint) and remote working technologies.

Desirable

• Background/familiarity with emergency settings.
• Expertise in vaccination coverage surveys.
• Sound knowledge of vaccine preventable diseases.
• Sound knowledge of yellow fever surveillance.

Languages and level required (Basic/Intermediate/Expert)

Essential

• Expert knowledge of written and spoken English and French
• Working knowledge of other UN language is an advantage

Desirable

Intermediate knowledge of Spanish or any other UN official language

Location

Onsite – consultant to be based in one of the following countries: Cameroon, Central African Republic, Guinea

Travel

The consultant is expected to travel.

Remuneration and budget (travel)

Remuneration

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

Living expenses

Living allowance is payable to onsite consultant

Expected duration of contract

A contract up to 11 months might be offered. Additional contracts may be offered based on programme needs and availability of funds.

Additional Information

• This vacancy notice may be used to identify candidates for other similar consultancies at the same level.
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• A written test may be used as a form of screening.
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• 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 [email protected].
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