Consultant- Laboratory Specialist
BACKGROUND
In the Western Pacific Region, the Asia Pacific Strategy for Emerging Diseases and Public Health Emergencies (APSED III) is a common strategic framework guiding the joint action of Member States, WHO and partners to advance implementation of the International Health Regulations (IHR 2005). Through building the core capacities required under the IHR (2005), including laboratory, countries can save lives and protect health during outbreaks and health emergencies such as the current COVID-19 pandemic.
The WHE team in Cambodia works to strengthen the overall capacity of the Ministry of Health for prevention, detection and control of emerging diseases and for preparedness and response to public health emergencies through the implementation of APSED III action framework. The COVID-19 pandemic requires all countries, to strengthen their health emergency preparedness, readiness, and response systems overall, both at central and local levels, including for surveillance, laboratory, and clinical management and healthcare services, as part of the Incident Management System (IMS), which are all key technical areas of work.
Priority public health laboratory initiatives being implemented by MOH which need technical support from WHO in 2021-2022 are:
- Enhancement of laboratory capacity and integration of diagnostics for COVID-19 for longer-term public health surveillance;
- Establishment of Laboratory Quality Management Systems (LQMS) and external quality assurances (EQA) programme for COVID-19 and other pathogens,
- Support development of whole genomic sequencing (WGS) in Cambodia for testing, monitoring and reporting of circulating variants; and
- Continue to build and strengthen the national and subnational network of the public health laboratory system for COVID-19, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and other emerging infectious diseases.
PURPOSE AND DESCRIPTION OF ACTIVITIES TO BE CARRIED OUT
This consultant will support the WHO Cambodia Health Emergencies (WHE) Team Lead and the Incident Manager to build laboratory preparedness and response for the COVID-19 pandemic, in line with the COVID-19 response plan and National Masterplan for COVID-19 and to strengthen the public health laboratory system aligned with Cambodian national strategic priorities.
DESCRIPTION OF ACTIVITIES TO BE CARRIED OUT
- • Act as WHO expert focal person on the provision of technical advice and operational support to Cambodia CDC/MoH, the National Institute of Public Health (NIPH) and partners supporting the national COVID-19 laboratory network to support the COVID-19 pandemic response and beyond.
- • Lead the laboratory pillar response for the COVID-19 pandemic response within the WHO IMS structure.
- • Provide technical expertise and operational support to continue strengthening public health laboratory systems in Cambodia with a view to the future health security system under APSED III and future regional and global frameworks that are currently under development such as GISRS+.
TIMELINE/DURATION OF ASSIGNMENT
Six month in-country assignment from 1 December 2021 – 30 June 2022
DELIVERABLE(S) TO BE SUBMITTED DURING AND AFTER THE PERIOD OF THE ASSIGNMENT INCLUDING MANNER OF DELIVERY AND PAYMENT
Output 1: Act as WHO expert focal person on the provision of technical advice and operational support to Cambodia CDC/MoH, the National Institute of Public Health (NIPH) and partners supporting the national COVID-19 laboratory network to support the COVID-19 pandemic response and beyond.
Deliverable 1.1: Lead the development, revision and adaptation of laboratory technical documents, training materials, testing strategies and strategic and operational plans to support the COVID-19 laboratory network in accordance with WHO technical guidelines and MOH national guidance.
Deliverable 1.2: Provide technical and operational support to Cambodia CDC and NIPH to expand and improve diagnostics services including molecular diagnostics for SARS-CoV-2, quality management systems, logistics management, equipment maintenance and biosafety for COVID-19 laboratories.
Deliverable 1.3: Support NIPH and the COVID-19 laboratory network to implement testing for SARS-CoV-2 variants and monitor SARS-CoV-2 circulation using RT-PCR assays and whole genomic sequencing (WGS) with the aim to support the evolution of the response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Deliverable 1.4: Provide technical guidance, strategic direction and operational support for rebuilding the laboratory component of influenza surveillance towards a more holistic respiratory diseases surveillance system, adapting WHO’s new GISRS+ for Cambodia.
Output 2: Lead the laboratory pillar response for the COVID-19 pandemic response within the WHO IMS structure.
Deliverable 2.1: Coordinate and provide regular updates on laboratory data and priority activities at WHO IMS meetings and provide direct support to MOH emergency operations centre (EOC) meetings with PHDs led by Director, Communicable Disease Control department (CDC/MOH).
Deliverable 2.2: Represent WHO Cambodia within the WPR regional laboratory network and coordination mechanism and on the WPRO IMST and other fora as needed.
Deliverable 2.3: Convene and coordinate laboratory partners in Cambodia under MOH leadership to ensure strong collaboration and optimal use of resources to support MOH’s national COVID-19 response, including facilitation of resource mobilization to appropriately address needs.
Deliverable 2.4: Advise, guide and build capacities at all COVID-19 laboratories in Cambodia to ensure they incorporate all aspects of technical SOPs for high-quality procedures and results.
Deliverable 2.5: Contribute to development of information and technical documents, situation reports, data analysis and strategic planning in support of the current COVID-19 response and beyond for a strong future health security system in Cambodia.
Deliverable 2.6: Ensure full operational support to MOH on behalf of WHO IMS for operational aspects of laboratory capacity for COVID-19 pandemic response and beyond in Cambodia, including proposal development, guidelines, procurement of commodities/supplies, laboratory management systems, as needed.
Deliverable 2.7: Assist IM and WHE TL on smooth IMS functioning, as needed, including by serving on any relevant cross-IMS working groups and supporting other pillars.
Output 3: Provide technical expertise and operational support to continue strengthening public health laboratory systems in Cambodia with a view to the future health security system under APSED III and future regional and global frameworks that are currently under development such as GISRS+.
Deliverable 3.1: Coordinate the implementation of on-going and planned activities for 2021-2022 to support laboratory system strengthening with the Bureau of Medical Laboratory Services (BMLS), CDC/MOH and NIPH particularly focusing on specimen management systems, quality management systems (LQMS, EQA)) and biosafety/biosecurity.
Deliverable 3.2: Adapt global guidance and facilitate and lead the development of relevant national guidelines, strategic, policy and technical documents, SOPs, training materials and tools that are needed to operationalize WHO’s support to Cambodia’s public health laboratory system guided by the APSED III framework for capacity building under the IHR 2005.
Deliverable 3.3: Technically advise and support especially to NFP and CDC/MOH on strengthening national and subnational capacities of the public health laboratory system overall for infectious disease threats, including AMR, to build a fit-for-the future laboratory surveillance system in Cambodia.
Deliverable 3.4: Support WHE Team Lead on work planning and budget development for relevant capacity building activities and technical assistance, including a system for monitoring and evaluation, to enable donor engagement and timely reporting for laboratory activities.
colleagues and MOH focal points on risk communication and community engagement
QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE
Education
- • Essential: Postgraduate degree from a recognized university in laboratory medical sciences, Biomedical Science, Medical Microbiology or other public health related field with public health laboratory training.
- • Desirable: Postgraduate degree in public health, laboratory or medical sciences.
Experience
- • At least seven years professional experience working in the field of public health laboratory medicine.
- • Expertise in national laboratory systems, infectious disease diagnostics and responding to infectious disease outbreaks and public health emergencies.
- • Relevant work experience in developing country, resource-constrained settings and understanding of the health system and related challenges.
- • Experience working with WHO or other UN organization and/or with a Ministry of Health (MoH) in a technical or advisory capacity.
Skills and knowledge
- • Demonstrated knowledge of laboratory techniques, experience working in Public Health Laboratories and infectious diseases, microbiology and/or virology
- • Knowledge and skills in providing technical support to MOH, partner coordination, technical group facilitation, work planning, monitoring & evaluation, and the application of strategic approaches to capacity building.
- • Excellent abilities in overall management, organizational and coordination of technical workstream.
- • Demonstrated good teamwork in working in a multicultural, multidisciplinary environment.
- • Excellent written, document development and communication skills.
- • Good working knowledge of Microsoft applications PowerPoint, Word and Excel
Language
- • Excellent written and spoken fluency in English is essential.
Competencies
- • Communicating in a credible and effective way
- • Fostering integration and teamwork
- • Producing results
- • Ensuring effective use of resources
- • Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Place of assignment
WHO Country Office: Cambodia with travel to provinces in Cambodia as needed
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 5 November 2021 (1700 GMT+8)
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 (in USD) and availability.
Please use Tender Notice No. 147988 as subject to all submission. Only successful candidates will be contacted.