International Consultant – Medical Entomologist

Purpose of consultancy

Vectors are living organisms that can transmit infectious diseases between humans or from animals to humans. Mosquitoes are the best-known disease vector. Others include ticks, flies, sandflies, fleas and triatomine bugs. Vector-borne diseases account for more than 17% of all infectious diseases, causing more than 1 million deaths annually. Vector-borne diseases are prevalent and major public health problems in the South-East Asia Region. These include, among others, mosquito-borne diseases (e.g. malaria, dengue, chikungunya, Japanese encephalitis, lymphatic filariasis), sandfly-borne disease (kala-azar) and mite and tick-borne diseases (scrub typhus, tick typhus, other rickettsial diseases). The South-East Asia Region has become hyperendemic with dengue, with over 6-fold increase of cases since 2000 and recurrent large outbreaks in many countries in the Region. Malaria is endemic in all countries in the SEA Region except Maldives and Sri Lanka, which have been recognized malaria-free since 1984 and 2016, respectively. Of the 793 million people globally at risk of lymphatic filariasis, 479 million reside in the South-East Asia Region. The Indian sub-continent used to account for 70% of the global burden of kala-azar, with on average about 42,000 cases every year between 2004 and 2008. However, the tremendous efforts to eliminate the disease led to reduction of the number of new cases reduced by 97% in the last decade.

Vector control is one of the WHO recommended strategies for prevention and control of dengue and other arboviral diseases and elimination of malaria, lymphatic filariasis and Kala-azar. It aims to interrupt disease transmission by reducing the vector density and man-vector contacts. Entomological surveillance is essential for effective vector control strategies as it provides real-time data on vector populations, their behaviour, and resistance patterns. It is also essential to assess and monitor impacts of other interventions on local disease transmission and to detect transmission foci or recrudescence of transmission even in the post-elimination phase. While both strategies require vector-specific entomological knowledge and skills to implement effectively, vector control and surveillance is well suited for integrated approaches because some vectors are responsible for multiple diseases, and some interventions are effective against several vectors. The concept of integrated vector management (IVM) hence has been progressively promoted in the Region to optimize and rationalize the use of resources and tools for vector control. Given the fact that entomological capacity is progressively decreasing across the Region and even globally in recent years, strengthening and sustaining national entomological capacity in an integrated approach is considered as one of the priority areas of the Global Vector Control Response 2017–2030 (GVCR) to accelerate control and elimination of VBDs.

WHO-SEARO is looking for qualified entomologists who have profound field experience in the following aspects to be part of the Regional roster to provide relevant technical support to Member States in the South-East Asia Region as required:

• Entomological surveillance and vector control for prevention and control of dengue and other arboviral diseases and elimination of malaria, kala-azar and lymphatic filariasis
• Planning and operationalization of integrated vector management and integrated vector surveillance

Background

Under the direct technical guidance and supervision of RA-NTD and overall supervision of the Director, Department of Communicable Diseases in WHO-SEARO, the consultant will support NTD and malaria programmes by performing the following duties:

• Collaborate with Member States, partners and concerned WHO programmes in the planning, organization, implementation and assessment of the vector control components of vector borne disease elimination and control, guided by the integrated vector manage concept and existing WHA or regional resolutions and strategic plans.
• Collaborate with Member Stats, partners and concerned WHO programmes in the planning and implementation of vector borne disease outbreak response measures, especially dengue, chikungunya and zika virus diseases with emphasis on vector control and social and behavioural change communication (SBCC).
• Provide country support for vector control field operations to achieve high quality standards of intervention, especially insecticide spraying operations.
• Provide technical support on the planning, organization and conduct of national and regional training activities on vector surveillance, control and SBCC.
• Provide technical support in the collection and analysis of vector surveillance data as well as the monitoring of the insecticide resistance of disease vectors and disseminate data through WHO websites and reports as well as through regional insecticide resistance networks.
• Provide technical support to Member States to strengthen the management and judicious use of public health pesticides, in collaboration with HQ and relevant partners.
• Participate in research priority setting, and promote, cooperate and participate in the planning, organization and evaluation of applied field research projects on vector control.
• Participate in meetings, project assessments, internal and external evaluation missions and other appraisals as needed, and to prepare relevant technical documents and reports.

Deliverables

Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Educational Qualifications:

Essential: University degree in biological sciences, medicines or other related areas, with postgraduate degree in entomology, medical entomology and/or public health vector control.

Desirable: Relevant degree or qualification in the field of public health and disease control.

Experience

Essential: Up to 5 years of work experience in vector-borne disease elimination and control focusing on vector control and entomological surveillance, some of which in an international context.

Desirable: Experience working on vector borne disease elimination and control focusing on vector control and entomological surveillance in developing countries. Experience on dengue prevention and control is an asset.

Skills/Knowledge:

Expert level technical knowledge and skills in planning, organization and conduct of field operations of entomological surveillance and vector control for vector borne disease elimination and control.

Languages and level required (Basic/Intermediate/Advanced):

English at expert level required (Read – Write – Speak)

Location:

Off-site

Travel

The Consultant may be required to travel to WHO-Headquarters, Geneva and participating countries for meetings related to the projects.

Remuneration and budget (travel costs are excluded):

Remuneration: Band Level – A; Monthly remuneration from USD 3955 to USD 6980

Living expenses: N/A

Expected duration of contract (tentative): 8 Months

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.
• In case the recruitment website does not display properly, please retry by: (i) checking that you have the latest version of the browser installed (Chrome, Edge or Firefox); (ii) clearing your browser history and opening the site in a new browser (not a new tab within the same browser); or (iii) retry accessing the website using Mozilla Firefox browser or using another device. Click the link for detailed guidance on completing job applications: Instructions for candidates      .