Purpose of the Consultancy
This consultancy will support the WHO Country Office in the Solomon Islands to provide technical advice and support the Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI). The Government is advancing Vaccine-Preventable Diseases (VPD) Surveillance activities. ย The STC will contribute to strengthening the system in line with the Immunization Agenda 2030 and the Regional Strategic Framework for Vaccine-preventable Diseases and Immunization in the Western Pacific 2021โ2030 and will support the country to move towards an integrated and comprehensive all-VPD surveillance system.
Background
Since the establishment of EPI in the 1980s, the Solomon Islands has been making steady improvements in reaching high vaccination coverage for all the antigens of the national schedule. ย The country has made great efforts to protect the people from VPDs, including attaining landmark achievements such as polio eradication and maternal and neonatal tetanus elimination. ย Incredible contributions also were made to newborn survival, reduction of child and maternal mortality and now contributing to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Concerning the above, WHO will continue to provide strategic advice and technical support to the National Immunization Program (NIP) and MHMS in strengthening the routine immunization system and programme alongside wider health system strengthening toward increasing coverage; VPD and adverse events following immunization (AEFI) surveillance systems toward improving detection; immunization supply chain system; reporting and quality; coordination with partners; and COVID-19 vaccination implementation including monitoring and evaluation.
VPD surveillance is embedded in two surveillance systems namely the Hospital-Based Active Surveillance (HBAS) and Syndromic Surveillance. ย The purpose of HBAS is to actively find out and report AFP, AFR and NT cases. The HBAS has sentinel sites in all provinces. The EPI program will work towards establishing and maintaining HBAS sentinel sites in every province. ย The syndromic surveillance system reports Acute Fever and Rash, Diarrhea, Influenza-like Illness, prolonged Fever and dengue-like illness.
Multiple partners are supporting the Government, including WHO, UNICEF, World Bank, GAVI and others.
WHO Country Office in the Solomon Islands is part of the WHO Western Pacific Region. Under the overall leadership of the WHO Representative, and reporting to the WHO Health Systems Coordinator, the incumbent will work directly with the national partners and provincial health authorities to facilitate coordinated approaches. The consultant is part of the international technical assistance team and is expected to effectively collaborate with the WHO colleagues in the Solomon Islands and support global ย and regional initiatives for achieving EPI targets.
Deliverables
Output 1. Provide technical guidance to further restore, revitalize, and strengthen VPD surveillance system in the Solomon Islands
Deliverable 1.1: Plan and conduct, with technical support of WHO DPS and RO, a review of the VPD surveillance system
Deliverable 1.2: Finalize the VPD surveillance Guidelines including relevant tools to be used at the national and provincial level
Deliverable 1.3: In selected provinces conduct capacity building to help close the gaps in surveillance monitoring and data use among all levels of the surveillance workforce.
Deliverable 1.4: Support the implementation of integrated training on laboratory techniques applicable to multiple VPDs to help close the gap in laboratory capacity
Output 2. Provide technical assistance to COVID-19 and Routine Immunization and New Vaccine Introduction activities in selected provinces, including support to integrated approaches
Deliverable 2.1: Support the Province in developing and conducting a supportive supervision plan and assessment of quality and added value of supportive supervision completed.
Deliverable 2.2: Support the Provincial Health Authorities in planning and implementing regular supportive supervision to assess and support the health workersโ performance and immunization coverage
Deliverable 2.3: To support updating the National Immunization Policy and Handbook
Deliverable 2.4: Support Provincial Health Authorities and Health Facilities to conduct microplanning including vaccine session plan, identification of outreach activities, and micro-campaigns where needed. (Routine Immunization and COVID-19 integrated).
Deliverable 2.5: Support WHO technical advisor and Provincial health authorities in real-time data and monitoring approaches to support immunization campaigns, new vaccine introduction and integration to national RI systems (e.g., within HMIS)
Qualifications, experience, skills and languages
Educational Qualifications:ย
Essential: Degree in medicine or advanced university in public health or other related life science field/programmes.
Experience required:
Essential: At least seven years of relevant experience and/or experiences in the field of immunization programmes at national and international level is essential.
Desirable: Relevant experience in a national level and/or international organization or bilateral development partner or nongovernmental organizations. Experience in developing countries, and PICs an asset. Working knowledge of WHO/UN system.
Skills and Knowledge:
Knowledge of the specific or technical area of public health;
Health planning at operational, subnational, and national levels, with political and technical elements;
Capacity-building through multiple methods, including training, mentoring and example setting;
Ability to establish harmonious working relationships as part of a team, adapt to diverse educational and cultural backgrounds, and maintain a high standard of personal conduct;
Ability to demonstrate gender equity and cultural appropriateness in the delivery of services to Member States.
Language requirements:
Excellent written and oral English
Location
On-site: Honiara, Solomon Islands
Travel
The Consultant is expected to travel according to the itinerary and estimated schedule that would be agreed with WHO Country Office, pending dialogue with national counterparts
Remuneration and budgetย
Remuneration: Payband B, USD 8,000 - USD 9,980 (monthly)
Duration: 5.5 months, May to November 2025
Additional Information
โข ย ย This vacancy notice may be used to identify candidates for other similar consultancies at the same level.
โข ย ย Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.
โข ย ย A written test may be used as a form of screening.
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โข ย ย Please note that WHOโs 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.
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