World Health Organization (WHO) is the directing and coordinating authority for health within the United Nations system. It is responsible for providing leadership on global health matters, shaping the health research agenda, setting norms and standards, articulating evidence-based policy options, providing technical support to countries and monitoring and assessing health trends.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Consultant – Vaccine Manufacturing and Market Shaping

Location: Home based – Off-site.
Schedule: Full-time
Contractual Arrangement: External Consultant
Contract Duration (Years, Months, Days): 6 months
Organization: HQ / IVB Immunization, Vaccines and Biologicals UHL

Purpose of Consultancy

• To develop coherent regional plans which will take into consideration industrial and health policies is needed.

Background  

• The mRNA vaccine Technology Transfer Hub was established in response of the flagrant inequities in access to COVID-19 vaccines in low- and middle-income countries, especially in Africa. Formally established in July 2021, the purpose of the hub is to increase access to mRNA vaccines made closer to home by establishing manufacturing capacity using a technology transfer hub model to ensure sustainable vaccine security in future pandemics.
• The Hub will be a mRNA training facility where the technology is established at industrial scale and clinical development is performed. Interested manufacturers from low- and middle-income countries can receive training and any necessary licenses to the technology. WHO and partners will bring in the production know-how, quality control and necessary licenses to a single entity to facilitate a broad and rapid technology transfer to multiple recipients around the world.
• In support of the above activity WHO needs to ensure that there are coherent regional plans established for vaccine and biological production, including vaccines against Covid and other pandemic diseases, but also routine vaccines, and biologicals such as monoclonal antibodies for the treatment of covid and other infectious diseases, and monoclonals for the treatment of non-infectious diseases.

Deliverables
Output 1:

• To draft a menu of options for countries wishing to establish mRNA vaccine manufacturing facilities on their soil taking into account the Capex, and the Opex, by size of different facility, an estimate of the number of staff required to maintain readiness.
• The menu should offer a range of options from small pilot facilities, through small production facilities to large production facilities, and taking into account how these facilities would be able to respond to future outbreaks, but also what the cost of maintaining these facilities will be.

Output 2:

• Prepare an analysis on how the costs of maintenance can be offset by concomitant production of other biologicals such as biotherapeutics, veterinary vaccines, or human vaccines, including an analysis of cost-savings.
• The analysis should look at potential market demand and access barriers in selected AFRO and EMRO countries for the other biologicals.

Output 3:

• Participate in the WHO mRNA Working Group on sustainability by ensuring that outputs from other entities working on local production and vaccine sustainability are incorporated into the discussions. This will be done by participation in the meetings of PAVM and other groups to be identified by the consultant through a mapping exercise.

Expected Duration of Contract:

• 6 months Additional contracts may be offered based on funding availability and satisfactory performance.

Qualifications, Experience, Skills and Languages
Educational Qualifications:

Essential:

• Advanced Degree in Public Health, Pharmacy, Science or related field.

Desirable:

• PhD qualification in Medical Science (Pharmacy, Microbiology, Biochemistry, etc).

Experience:
Essential:

• ­Over 10 years of relevant experience in developing national or regional plans for local production of medical products.
• Demonstrated experience in developing plans for production of vaccines in Africa.
• Demonstrated experience and technical command of pharmaceutical and vaccines production, including from LMICs country-level perspective.
• Experience working in, or in collaboration with, intergovernmental organizations.
• Experience working with manufactures in LMICs and evaluation of business/investment plans.

Skills / Knowledge:

• Expert technical knowledge in the interface between industrial policy and public health.
• Excellent technical knowledge of market shaping opportunities.
• Technical knowledge in the manufacturing and approval of vaccines and biologicals.
• Excellent technical writing and communication skills.
• Ability to work in a multicultural team and maintain effective working relationships with recognized experts and stakeholders.
• Excellent planning and organizational skills with attention to detail and with the ability to multi-task and work under pressure.
• Strong IT skills: Word, Excel, presentation software, databases and web navigators.

Languages Required:
Essential:

• Expert knowledge of English.

Desirable:

• Expert knowledge of French or any other WHO official language.

Travel:

• The Consultant may be expected to travel during the assignment for site visits and attend the workshop(s).

Remuneration and Budget (Travel Costs are excluded)

• Band level C: USD10,000 – 12,500 per month, depending on the consultant’s experience and educational background.
• Living expenses (A living expense is payable to on-site consultants who are internationally recruited).

Application Closing Date
10:59 PM: 28th June, 2022.