Facilitator for Health Research Ethics

BACKGROUND

The Ethics Review Committee (ERC) of the World Health Organization Regional Office for the Western Pacific (WPRO) ensures that scientific research WPRO is involved with are conducted in accordance with ethical standards and scientific rigor. As the secretariat of the WPRO-ERC, the Health Intelligence and Information unit manages the membership of WPRO-ERC, develops/updates the standard operating procedures (SOPs), and coordinates the ethics review process. With the increasing volume and complexity of research WPRO is being involved with, HII requires technical support to ensure that the submitted research proposals are thoroughly reviewed in a timely manner. Moreover, existing guidance materials and SOPs need to be reviewed and revised with the support of external consultant, to facilitate the ethics review process.

PURPOSE/SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE OF THE ACTIVITY

The Health Intelligence and Information (HII) unit of WHO is looking for a part-time consultant who will work with WPRO-ERC Secretary on activities related to the work of WPRO Ethics Review Committee.

DESCRIPTION OF ACTIVITIES TO BE CARRIED OUT

Under the supervision of the Coordinator of HII unit (WPRO-ERC Secretary), the part-time consultant will perform the following activities:

• • Facilitate ethics review of research proposals submitted to WPRO-ERC in accordance to established SoPs.
• • Facilitate the review, revision, and updating of WPRO-ERC SoPs, and develop a guidance material.
• • Support the management and coordination of WPRO-ERC, as requested by the coordinator.

METHODS TO CARRY OUT THE ACTIVITY

Technical support to HII unit for 10 months

Output 1: Facilitate ethics review of submitted research proposals in accordance to established WPRO-ERC SoPs

• • Facilitate the review of submitted research proposals to ensure that they adhere to ethics standards and are of scientific rigor
• • Facilitate and coordinate the review process between internal and external reviewers and consolidate the review comments
• • Facilitate and provide the feedback of WPRO-ERC to principal investigators, and ensure proposals are revised based on reviewers’ comments
• • Facilitate the drafting of WPRO-ERC’s decision on the conducted research ethics review

Output 2: Support to review, revise and update the WPRO-ERC SoPs and develop guidance material.

• • Support to update the WPRO-ERC SOPs to reflect current ethical standards for scientific research
• • Support to conduct review of established ethics review protocols from research institutions, and identify best practices that WPRO-ERC may adopt
• • Support to develop internal and external guidance material on WPRO-ERC SoPs.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

EDUCATION

Essential:   University degree in Bioethics or a health-related discipline.
Desirable:  Master degree in Bioethics or a health-related discipline.  Additional training in bioethics or relate discipline would be an advantage.

EXPERIENCE

Essential:  At least 5 years of work experience in conducting scientific review of health-related research studies. Experience in developing standard operating procedures on research review process.
 

TECHNICAL SKILLS & KNOWLEDGE

• • Ability to review complex health research proposals and make sound judgement on ambiguous research questions.
• • Knowledge on latest ethical standards used in scientific research agencies.

LANGUAGES

Advance written and spoken fluency in English is essential.

COMPETENCIES

• • Communicating in a credible and effective way
• • Producing results
• • Moving forward in a changing environment
• • Fostering integration and teamwork
• • Knowing and managing yourself

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

The Consultant is expected to perform her/his work remotely from place of residence for the entire duration of the consultancy. The selected consultant is expected to work for 10 working days per month or a total of 100 days for the entire duration of the contract. 

APPLICATIONS

Qualified and interested specialists should submit their CV {individual contractors only} and Expression of Interest {cover letter} to the Supply Officer through WP RO UNGM at < wproungm@who.int > by 4 March 2022. 

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. 166944 as subject to all submission. Only successful candidates will be contacted.