Consultant to provide technical support to Ministry of Health (MOH) in Jordan in implementing influenza vaccination programmes among key target groups

Job Description

<strong>Contractual Arrangement</strong><p><br></p>External consultant<p><br></p><strong>Contract Duration (Years, Months, Days)</strong><p><br></p>75 working days<p><br></p><strong>Job Posting</strong><p><br></p>Jul 20, 2023, 6:45:07 AM<p><br></p><strong>Closing Date</strong><p><br></p>Jul 27, 2023, 5:59:00 PM<p><br></p><strong>Primary Location</strong><p><br></p>Jordan-Amman<p><br></p><strong>Organization</strong><p><br></p>EM_JOR WHO Representative’s Office, Jordan<p><br></p><strong>Schedule</strong><p><br></p>Full-time<p><br></p><strong>IMPORTANT NOTICE: </strong>Please note that the deadline for receipt of applications indicated above reflects your personal device’s system settings.<p><br></p><ul><li> Purpose of consultancy</li></ul><p><br></p>The purpose of the consultancy is to provide technical support to Ministry of Health (MOH) in Jordan in implementing influenza vaccination programmes among key target groups (i.e., health workers, pregnant women, older adults, people with chronic conditions, and other vulnerable populations) specifically Understanding behavioural and social drivers of influenza vaccine uptake that will guide development and evaluation of evidence-based strategies to increase vaccine uptake.<p><br></p><ul><li> Background </li></ul><p><br></p>Every year, influenza causes between ~290,000 and ~645,000 deaths globally[1] and an untold number of medically and non-medically attended illnesses, causing a predictable annual burden on health care systems worldwide and impacting global productivity. Influenza vaccination programs are one of the most impactful and cost-effective tools to mitigate these impacts, however uptake of influenza vaccines remains low. Understanding the reasons for low uptake will allow immunization program managers to design appropriate interventions to improve vaccine delivery and uptake. The Working Group on Measuring Behavioural and Social Drivers of Vaccination (BeSD) developed a package of draft tools to assess drivers of vaccine uptake.<p><br></p>The World Health Organization developed the Behavioural and Social Drivers (BeSD) tools and indicators as standard, validated resources for use by countries to understand the underlying causes of lower-than-expected vaccine uptake, and to develop approaches to increase vaccine uptake based on the data collected. The BeSD tools include a survey designed to collect quantitative data from vaccine target groups and other populations, qualitative interview guides to collect in-depth data from stakeholders, and guides on the use of the data collection instruments. The tools are based on constructs (or domains) that provide a framework for understanding motivations and access to vaccinations and the actions needed to improve use of vaccines. The survey tools and qualitative guides were validated and produced for the childhood immunization and COVID-19 vaccine programs. In this new project, the BeSD tools of Influenza Vaccination (BeSD-IV) tools are being field tested and validated.[2], [3]<p><br></p>Jordan is selected as one of the sites to validate the Arabic version of the materials. The work will be a collaboration between the Task Force for Global Health, which is contracted with the WHO for study implementation; U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the Ministry of Health.<p><br></p>Data collection methods for this assessment will include a) cognitive interviews to field test the BESD-IV survey and b) qualitative key informant interviews to field test and refine the BeSD qualitative interview field guides study, and c) BeSD survey with a larger sample of 500 adults in several groups. The national consultant(s) in contact with the study team at Task Force for Global Health, CDC and WHO will assist the WHO Country Office and MOH EPI manager with planning, data collection, and if there is interest, the coding, and analysis of qualitative data. It is envisioned that all data will be obtained from persons at health facilities.<p><br></p>The national consultant will develop a country report written in English for colleagues at partner agencies (TFGH, CDC and WHO) and Arabic for Ministry of Health national stakeholders. The consultant(s) should have expertise in social science, epidemiology, and public health policy.<p><br></p>[1] Estimates of global seasonal influenza-associated respiratory mortality: a modelling study. Lancet, 2018.<p><br></p>[2] Understanding the behavioural and social drivers of vaccine uptake WHO position paper – May 2022. Weekly Epidemiol Rec 2022;97:209-224<p><br></p>[3] World Health Organization. (‎2022)‎. Behavioural and social drivers of vaccination: tools and practical guidance for achieving high uptake. World Health Organization. https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/354459.<p><br></p><ul><li> Work to be performed</li></ul><p><br></p><strong><u>The Specific Objective Of This Consultancy Is To Support WHO Country Office In Jordan And Ministry Of Health In Piloting And Validate Behavioural And Social Drivers (BeSD) Tools And Indicators Developed By WHO To</u></strong><p><br></p><ul><li> Understand underlying causes of lower-than-expected vaccine uptake</li><li> Guide policymaking, planning, and evaluation</li><li> Tailor interventions</li></ul><p><br></p><u>Output 1</u>: Field test and validate evidence-informed and globally standardized draft tools for WHO’s Measuring Behavioural and Social Drivers of Influenza Vaccination (BeSD-IV).<p><br></p>Deliverable 1.1: Adapt the protocol for use in Jordan; check the quality of translation in Arabic (from a translation company) of the study tools and associated training materials.<p><br></p>Deliverable 1.2: Engage and support WHO/MOH in the study which includes assisting with the Institutional Review Board (IRB) materials preparation and submission in Jordan and approval process<p><br></p>Deliverable 1.3: Conduct and or supervise a team that will carry out the data collection — cognitive interviews of the survey (approximately 12 to 16 cognitive interviews) and the qualitative key informant interviews (approximately 13 to 20 qualitative interviews), in collaboration with the Task Force for Global Health<p><br></p>Deliverable 1.4 Provide data and analytic support, as requested, to MOH and local stakeholders for their own use in identifying behavioural and social drivers for influenza vaccination in Jordan in collaboration with the Task Force for Global Health.<p><br></p>Deliverable 1.5: Submit a spreadsheet for each cognitive interview of the BeSD survey and for each qualitative interview using the BeSD qualitative field guides. The notes will be available in English for the sponsors. Capture audio digital recordings of interviews in Arabic. All interviews will be completed within 30 days from the start of the data collection.<p><br></p>Deliverable 1.6: Prepare summary memo in English of each cognitive or qualitative interview conducted submitted to WHO and Task Force for Global Health within 3 days after interview.<p><br></p>Deliverable 1.7. Code and analyse the qualitative interview memos and notes from the cognitive interviews and qualitative interviews in software (such as Nvivo or other)<p><br></p>Deliverable 1.8 Prepare summary memos for feedback from the qualitative data to improve the BeSD IV study user guide.<p><br></p>Deliverable 1.9 Draft a final report with suggested lessons learned, a listing and discussion of the most useful and reliable questions in the survey and useful questions in the qualitative field guides with lessons learned. Draft the recommendations for further refining and finalising BeSD-IV tools based on the experience using these tools in Jordan. Two reports will be needed: one in English and one in Arabic for MOH and national stakeholders. This report will help inform the edits or revisions to the BeSD-IV survey tool.<p><br></p><u>Output 2</u>: Data collection for Psychometric Testing of the revised BeSD-IV Survey. 500 participants will be recruited for this Component.<p><br></p>Deliverable 2.1: Ensure updated survey tool is on tablets deployed in the survey data collection for psychometric testing phase.<p><br></p>Deliverable 2.2 Collect and supervise collection of 500 surveys with health workers (health workers, persons who are pregnant, and older adults (60+ or 65+ years old) or adults with underlying conditions, distributed as appropriate in the setting in Jordan. (Samples for each respondent type will be discussed and confirmed with MOH.) All surveys should be collected within 30 calendar days of the start of the data collection for the survey.<p><br></p>Deliverable 2.3 Ensure that survey data and supporting materials are uploaded to a shared folder with the Task Force for Global Health, CDC, WHO and MOH. And address any questions on the datasets.<p><br></p><ul><li> Qualifications, experience, skills and languages</li></ul><p><br></p><strong><u>Educational Qualifications</u></strong><p><br></p>First University degree in social science or behavioural epidemiology/public health.<p><br></p><strong><u>Experience</u></strong><p><br></p>2 years’ experience in public health policy, qualitative in-depth interviews, coding and analysing qualitative data using the software (NVivo or another).<p><br></p>Desirable: Experience with immunization programme and/or demand-side or behavioural research, Experience with mixed-methods (qualitative and quantitative) research.<p><br></p><strong><u>Skills/Technical Skills And Knowledge</u></strong><p><br></p><ul><li> Excellent writing and oral communications skills in English and Arabic;</li><li> Must be results-oriented, a team player, exhibiting high levels of enthusiasm, tact, diplomacy and integrity;</li><li> Demonstrate excellent interpersonal and professional skills in interacting with government and development partners;</li><li> Skills in facilitation of training workshop and stakeholder engagements/workshops;</li><li> Evidence of having undertaken similar assignments;</li><li> Experience in research, policy development, management and programming-related work;</li><li> Ability to travel to selected health facility/project sites in Joran for interviews, as needed (sites to be confirmed with MOH) (2 sites for cognitive interviews and qualitative interviewing and more sites for survey deployment, to be confirmed).</li></ul><p><br></p><strong><u>Languages And Level Required</u></strong><p><br></p>Expert level in English and Arabic<p><br></p><ul><li> Location </li></ul><p><br></p>Amman, Jordan.<p><br></p><ul><li> Planned timelines (Subject to confirmation)</li></ul><p><br></p><strong>(75 working days)</strong><p><br></p>Start date: 20 August 2023<p><br></p>End date: 15 January 2024<p><br></p><ul><li> Medical clearance</li></ul><p><br></p>The selected Consultant will be expected to provide a medical certificate of fitness for work.<p><br></p><ul><li> Travel</li></ul><p><br></p>The Consultant is not expected to travel but will be visiting health facilities within the country.<p><br></p><strong><u>Additional Information</u></strong><p><br></p><ul><li>This vacancy notice may be used to identify candidates for other similar consultancies at the same level.</li><li>Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.</li><li>A written test may be used as a form of screening.</li><li>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.</li><li>For information on WHO’s operations please visit: http://www.who.int.</li><li>WHO is committed to workforce diversity.</li><li>WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.</li><li>Applications from women and from nationals of non and underrepresented Member States are particularly encouraged.</li><li> 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 into practice.</li><li>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 final candidates.</li></ul>