Consultant for Paediatric Medicines Ecosystem

Job Posting Organization:
The World Health Organization (WHO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for international public health. Established on April 7, 1948, WHO has a mission to promote health, keep the world safe, and serve vulnerable populations. It operates in 194 member states and has a workforce of over 7,000 employees. WHO's initiatives include addressing global health issues, providing leadership on health matters, shaping the health research agenda, and setting norms and standards. The organization is committed to ensuring that all people can attain the highest possible level of health, particularly focusing on vulnerable groups such as children.

Job Overview:
The consultant will play a crucial role in the design and implementation of a national framework aimed at strengthening the paediatric medicines ecosystem in four ASEAN countries: Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines. The primary goal is to improve access to safe and effective medicines for children suffering from high-burden conditions. The consultant will engage with various stakeholders, including national programs, academic institutions, and WHO regional offices, to facilitate the development of tailored frameworks that address the unique challenges faced in each country. This position requires a deep understanding of the paediatric medicines landscape and the ability to coordinate efforts across multiple stakeholders to ensure successful implementation and monitoring of the frameworks developed.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Development and Implementation of a Customized Essential Paediatric Medicines Framework for the four ASEAN countries, including conducting a bottleneck analysis, stakeholder consultations, and drafting customized frameworks with implementation plans.
• National Adoption & Adaptation of the Essential Medicines List for Children (EMLc), which involves developing dissemination strategies, priority disease mapping reports, and policy gap analyses.
• Leveraging Global Platforms to Accelerate the Introduction of Novel Therapeutics for Paediatric Use, including updating the GAP-f Access & Delivery Toolkit and developing training materials.
• Regional Collaboration for Strengthening the Paediatric Medicines Ecosystem, which includes engaging stakeholders, conducting workshops, and developing a regional roadmap.
• Coordination of GAP-f’s Access and Delivery Working Group, which involves developing work plans, documenting meetings, and summarizing engagement outcomes.

Required Qualifications:
Essential qualifications include a university degree at the Master’s level in medical or social sciences, with a preference for candidates holding an advanced degree (PhD) in clinical epidemiology, public health, pharmacy, or equivalent. Candidates must have at least 5 years of relevant experience in managing and coordinating collaborative projects, particularly in the introduction and rollout of new medical health products. Desirable qualifications include experience providing technical support to government and development partners in Asia, as well as expertise in pharmaceutical management, including regulatory frameworks and supply chain management.

Educational Background:
Candidates must possess a university degree at the Master’s level in medical or social sciences. An advanced university degree (PhD level) in clinical epidemiology, public health, pharmacy, or a related field is desirable, indicating a higher level of expertise and knowledge in the relevant areas.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in managing and coordinating collaborative projects. Candidates should have experience with the introduction and rollout of new medical health products, demonstrating their capability to navigate complex health systems and stakeholder environments. Desirable experience includes providing technical and capacity-building support to government and development partners in Asia, as well as expertise in pharmaceutical management, which encompasses understanding national regulatory frameworks, procurement processes, and supply chain management.

Languages:
Expert knowledge of English is essential for this position. While not mandatory, intermediate or basic knowledge of another UN language is considered desirable, as it may enhance communication with diverse stakeholders and facilitate collaboration across different regions.

Additional Notes:
The consultancy is expected to be home-based, with the consultant required to be available during working hours for Southeast Asia. The expected duration of the contract is 11 months, with the possibility of extension based on performance and availability of funds. The remuneration for this position falls within the band level B, ranging from USD 7,000 to USD 9,980 per month. Travel may be required for stakeholder engagements and consultations. Candidates should be aware that WHO is committed to workforce diversity and encourages applications from women and nationals of underrepresented Member States. A written test may be used as part of the screening process, and candidates must provide proof of their educational qualifications prior to the interview.