Deadline for application: 8 January 2021
Purpose of the APW
The objective of the APW is to publish a series of MI4A reports in peer-reviewed journals.
The work is proposed for a duration from 15 January to 31 August 2021.
Background
Through the MI4A initiative, the World Health Organization (WHO) and its partners have prepared Global Market Studies for specific vaccines and annual Global Vaccine Market Reports (GVMR). While all of these reports are publicly available on the WHO website, experience has shown that publication in a prominent, peer-reviewed journal such as Vaccine increases their audience, and by extension their potential for impact.
Publication of these reports in early 2021 would be timely for several reasons:
- The 2020 GVMR will be issued in Q4 2020. Prompt publication will maximize its influence.
- Market studies have been prepared or are being finalized for several vaccines. Coordinated publication of multiple papers will attract greater attention than a trickle of individual papers. These studies include:
- Typhoid vaccines – by November 2020.
- Rabies vaccines – by November 2020.
- Measles containing vaccines – July 2020.
- Pneumococcal vaccines – June 2020.
- Meningococcal vaccines – August 2019.
- Diphtheria and tetanus-containing vaccines – May 2019.
- Vaccine Product Price and Procurement Key Findings for Rota – July 2017.
- A journal supplement describing Immunization Agenda 2030 (IA2030) is being prepared for publication.
- The article on vaccine supply will highlight the need for vaccine market assessments to inform shared strategies to improve market health. Publication of the MI4A articles in the same timeframe can contribute to wider understanding of market health and help build momentum for implementing the Immunization Agenda 2030 (IA2030) strategies for vaccine supply security.
- This supplement will also include a paper on middle-income countries. Editorial support may be needed for the preparation of this manuscript.
Work to be performed
Objective
To transform the MI4A Market Studies and 2020 Global Vaccine Market Report into publications in peer-reviewed journals.
Detailed outputs
- Output 1: Publication of a Global Vaccine Market Supplement, including:
- One perspective article discussing the strategic value of the MI4A reports.
- The 2020 Global Vaccine Market Report.
- Up to seven (7) vaccine market studies.
- One immunization financing article, as desired.
- Output 2: Editorial review of additional papers as needed, such as the IA2030 Middle Income Countries manuscript.
Workplan
Activities will include:
- As needed, will provide editorial support for additional papers developed for the IA2030 supplement. This includes ensuring compliance with editorial guidelines consistency with other MI4A and IA2030 papers. This does not include preparing outlines or initial drafts or supporting review cycles and incorporating reviewer comments.
- Publication of a market report supplement.
- Identifying appropriate target journal and supporting WHO staff to propose the 2021 Global Vaccine Markets supplement and annual GVMR publication.
- Drafting manuscripts for the GVMR and each market report in compliance with editorial guidelines and supporting reviews and revisions by co-authors.
- Managing development of perspective article, including
- Convening co-authors for a brainstorming session to develop themes.
- Preparing outline for elaboration by co-authors. Drafting sections as needed.
- Editing for submission.
Submitting for publication and supporting the peer review process.
Requirements - Planning
Output 1: Global Vaccine Market Supplement
- Outline for perspective article will be routed to co-authors for review by 29 January 2021.
- Manuscript for perspective article will be drafted, reviewed by co-authors and by their institutions as needed, and ready for submission by 23 April 2021.
- The remaining GVMR manuscript, up to seven (7) market study manuscripts, and optional financing article (5000 words each) will be drafted, reviewed by co-authors and by their institutions as needed, and ready for submission by 23 April 2021.
Output 2: Editorial review of additional papers
- Reviews will be conducted on an as-needed, as-available basis.
- Turnaround time will be agreed-upon in advance.
- Full support will be provided for submission and publication, including:
- Pre-submission inquiries with journal editor(s) to assess interest in these publications.
- Coordinating article content and timing with IA2030 publications, as needed.
- Ensuring manuscripts adhere to submission guidelines.
- Collecting required disclosures and license agreements from co-authors.
- Submission of manuscripts using the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) Chronos portal to ensure compliance with BMGF open access policies and BMGF funding for publication fees.
- Organizing responses to reviewer comments and updating manuscripts as needed.
- Correcting page proofs.
Specific requirements
- Qualifications required:
Advanced university degree in Public Health, Business Administration, Health Policy, Development, Economics or another related field.
- Experience required:
At least seven years’ experience in immunization including knowledge of vaccine/medicine demand, procurement, supply, price dynamics
- Skills / Technical skills and knowledge:
- Knowledge of vaccine-preventable diseases and EPI programmes , knowledge of vaccine market dynamics and sound understanding of stakeholders involved
- proven technical and analytical skills, excellent oral and written communication, proven track record of publications in peer reviewed journals
- Demonstrated experience in working to deadlines
- Experience in interacting with a broad range of immunization stakeholders at global and country level
- Language requirements:
English – Read/Write/Speak at advanced level.
Place of assignment
The work can be performed remotely, in a location at the discretion of the contractual partner.
Timeline and Duration
The contract is expected to start on 15 January 2021 and terminate on 31 August 2021. The pay scale will be defined according to the level of expertise of the selected contractual partner.
Application Process:
Qualified applicants should submit their proposal along with a cover letter in English, by 8 January 2021 to
Sana Kisoso (kisosos@who.int) with a copy to Johanna Fihman (fihmanj@who.int).
Applications received after this date will not be accepted.
Only successful candidates will be contacted. Proposals received from this posting may be used to fill other current and future openings requiring a similar skill set.