Deadline for application: 20 May 2022 at 18:00 Geneva Switzerland time
Purpose of the APW
To support the development of a global market study on hepatitis A vaccines. The market analysis will be based on the World Health Organization (WHO)-established Market Information for Access to Vaccines Project (MI4A) methodology to provide supply and demand forecasts, analysis of supply-demand balance, price dynamics, risk and opportunities, and prioritized recommendations. The APW is proposed for a duration of six (6) months from 1 June 2022 to 30 November 2022.
Background
The mission of the WHO Department of Immunization, Vaccines and Biologicals (IVB) is to achieve a world in which all people are protected against vaccine-preventable diseases.
However, timely and affordable access to vaccines is an issue flagged by several WHO Member states since early 2000 and is an area of focus of:
• The Immunization Agenda 2030 (IA2030).
• Resolution WHA68.6 “Global Vaccine Action Plan” adopted at the 68th World Health Assembly (WHA) in May 2015 (This resolution recognized sustainable access tofe adequate and timely supply of quality vaccines as a key component of national immunization programmes, urging countries and WHO to act on these issues 68th World Health Assembly 2015, Resolution WHA68.6 on “Global Vaccine Action Plan”; and
• Resolution WHA 69.25 on “Addressing the global shortages of medicines and vaccines” adopted at the 69th WHA in May 2016.
Gavi, the Gates Foundation, PAHO and UNICEF have worked together to provide the considerable support needed to assure an affordable supply of high qualities vaccines through international funding, pooled procurement, and market shaping activities. WHO has been an important partner in this work with a key function on setting standards and verifying quality and safety of products.
Nevertheless, as work focused mainly on lower income countries and pooled procurement settings, an important gap remains: many self-procuring middle-income countries (MICs) are too wealthy to qualify for international support. Conversely, they have too few resources to guarantee suppliers’ attention in the same way high income countries do, and many do not manufacture vaccines themselves. More and more countries are also transitioning from Gavi and electing to set up independent procurement capabilities over time —adding to the group of non-producing, self-procuring MICs at higher risk of market supply. Several high-income countries are also struggling to keep sustainable access to vaccines and facing important shortages across several products. Finally, for several traditional vaccines (e.g. BCG) even lower income countries choose to self-procure and are disproportionally affected by supply disruptions and neglected.
In October 2022, WHO will be updating the SAGE position paper on Hepatitis A vaccine. WHO is looking to develop a global market study on hepatitis A vaccine providing insights on products available and overall market dynamics for this vaccine.
Work to be performed
Objective 1: Develop a Global Market Study on Hepatitis A vaccine, including:
• Develop reliable global supply forecasts as per MI4A methodology.
• Develop demand forecast as per standard MI4A methodology.
• Develop an action-oriented analyses of supply-demand balance based on MI4A standard methodology.
• Support WHO team in the leading on actions identified in the study.
Expected outputs:
• Annotated slide set covering supply forecast, demand forecast, analysis of supply-demand balance, price dynamics, risk and opportunities and proposed actions.
• Public summary document as per MI4A standard methodology.
• Internal document describing the methodology used for each study as well as related excel files including relevant data (including forecasts).
Objective 2: Project manage and coordinate consultation and inputs on the Market Study including:
• Consultation with vaccine manufacturers.
• Consultation with the MI4A Advisory Group to present assumptions and methodology, as well as results and proposed recommendations.
• Consultation with partners and other relevant stakeholders as required.
• Ensure coordination with WHO MI4A team through regular updates and check ins.
Expected outputs:
• Project management file developed and updated throughout the project.
• Briefings and summary of each consultation.
• MI4A Advisory group meeting prepared with slides, and summary of discussions.
Specific requirements
Qualifications required:
• Extensive expertise in immunization programmes and in the vaccine industry.
• Proven experience in vaccine procurement, vaccine markets and understanding of market dynamics
Essential Skills / Technical skills and knowledge:
• Highly organized and strong project management skills.
• Ability to prioritize and work under pressure and to deadlines.
• Excellent verbal and written communications skills in English.
Place of assignment
Support will be provided remotely at a location at the discretion of the service provider.
Timeline and Duration
The contract is expected to commence on 1 June 2022 and terminate on 30 November 2022.
Travel
No travel is expected.
Application Process:
Applicants should submit their proposal, by 20 May 2022 to: Sana Kisoso with a copy to Johanna Fihman (fihmanj@who.int)
Applications received after this date will not be accepted.
In the email subject line, please put “Proposal - Hepatitis A Market Study”.
Only successful applicants will be contacted. CVs received from this posting may be used to fill other current and future openings requiring a similar skill set.