International Consultant - Laboratory Strengthening

Job Posting

Closing Date

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Schedule

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Purpose of consultancy

To support and contribute to the laboratory detection and diagnosis of communicable diseases by providing technical guidance to the public health laboratories and health facilities laboratories. To enhance the capacity of public health laboratories, health facilities' laboratories.

Background

The Pacific frequently faces outbreaks and natural disasters. Public health threats are inevitable, and the complexity and scale of these events may increase in the future as a result of the complex interaction of a number of factors, such as demographic shifts, climate change, technological developments and economic uncertainty. Addressing these challenges requires continued investment in preparedness and readiness before and between events. Member States, WHO and partners have been working together to strengthen country and regional systems and capacities for all-hazards emergency preparedness and response, including through implementation of the Asia Pacific Health Security Action Framework (APSHAF).
The mission of WHO Health Emergencies Program (WHE) is to build the capacity of Member States to manage emergency risks, and when national capacities are overwhelmed, to coordinate the international health response to provide effective relief and recovery to affected populations. WHE brings together and enhances WHO's operational, technical and normative capacity in emergencies and to address all health hazards across the risk management cycle in a predictable, capable, dependable, adaptable and accountable manner. It is designed to operate within the broader humanitarian and emergency management architecture in support of people at risk of, or affected by, outbreaks and emergencies, and to ensure that such efforts strengthen local and national capabilities.
Public Health Laboratories are a cornerstone of health emergencies alert and response mechanisms. They provide the data required to detect, confirm, and monitor epidemic and pandemic events. The International Health Regulations (IHR) (2005) require State Parties to develop and maintain core capacities for surveillance, laboratory diagnosis, and reporting of public health events. Strengthening laboratory systems is therefore fundamental to meeting these obligations and improving national and regional health security.
In response, DPS is supporting PICs to strengthen laboratory systems through a coordinated, systems-based approach that includes governance and policy development, laboratory network optimization, workforce capacity building, and integration with surveillance systems. This includes advancing practical, context-appropriate models for laboratory services in small island settings, strengthening links with regional and reference laboratories, and improving the availability and use of diagnostic data for public health decision-making.
This consultancy will provide dedicated technical expertise to support these priorities across 21 PICs, contributing to strengthened laboratory capacity, improved surveillance integration, and more effective outbreak detection and response.

Deliverables

Under the direct supervision of the PSC team coordinator, the Consultant - Laboratory Strengthening is expected to provide strategic and technical advice to Pacific Island countries in laboratory issues of public health laboratories and communicable diseases. The incumbent's technical expertise is required to support the public health laboratories in PICs for detection and diagnosis of commonly prevalent and epidemic-prone communicable diseases. The incumbent will support other members of the team with overall guidance on any laboratory related diagnostics.

Objective 1: Laboratory Systems Assessment and Technical Guidance
Provide technical advisory support and conduct situational analyses of laboratory systems across prioritized PICs to inform strengthening priorities.

• Coordinate laboratory's activities throughout the PICs in conjunction and cooperation 
  with the Regional Office, HQ and counterparts, Pacific Community (SPC), and the Pacific Public Health Surveillance Network (PPHSN) LabNet partners 
• Liaise with public health and health facility laboratories across prioritized PICs regarding testing capability and capacity needs, providing technical expertise for laboratory diagnostics and operational support for the timely detection and response to infectious disease outbreaks, in collaboration with the WHO Regional Office, national health authorities, and regional partner organizations
• Conduct laboratory capability assessments covering testing modalities, biosafety and biosecurity arrangements, human resource capacity, equipment status, quality and data management systems
• Develop country-specific laboratory strengthening plans based on assessment findings, aligned with IHR core capacity requirements and WHO standards
• Provide ongoing technical guidance to national laboratory staff on diagnostic protocols, quality practices, and system improvement, for priority communicable diseases and aligned with updated national notifiable disease surveillance
• Provide technical support for antimicrobial resistance (AMR) surveillance, including guidance on AMR detection protocols, healthcare-associated infection (HCAI) surveillance, infection prevention and control (IPC) programme implementation, and data reporting to WHO GLASS

Objective 2: Laboratory Equipment, Supplies, and Infrastructure Support
Provide technical guidance on the procurement, installation, and commissioning of laboratory equipment and supplies to ensure fit-for-purpose and sustainable laboratory infrastructure.

• Provide technical specifications and procurement guidance for essential laboratory equipment across prioritized PICs for priority infectious diseases, including centrifuges, incubators, biosafety cabinets, autoclaves, microscopes, PCR machines, serology platforms, rapid diagnostic testing platforms, power supply, water and waste management systems
• Provide technical guidance on the procurement of backup laboratory analysers and point-of-care testing equipment and reagents across PICs, including for animal health laboratories
• Advise on emergency procurement and annual replenishment of critical laboratory reagents and supplies to address stockouts and improve diagnostic turnaround times
• Support the procurement of consumables for safe laboratory practice, including biosafety supplies, PPE, and sample transport and storage equipment

Objective 3: Laboratory Workforce Capacity Building
Build the technical and leadership capacity of laboratory workforces across prioritized PICs through structured training, mentoring, and professional development programmes, including through Pacific regional partnerships.

• Contribute to strengthening the national capacity at the health laboratories; assess training needs and provide training for laboratory personnel
• Support capacity building for laboratory staff on new and existing testing modalities, including rapid diagnostic tests, serology, molecular diagnostics, and AMR testing
• Deliver IATA certification training for laboratory staff on the safe shipment of infectious samples
• Support overseas training, experience sharing, and internship placements for laboratory managers and technical officers under the Global Laboratory Leadership Programme (GLLP)
• Facilitate joint training, coaching, and mentoring for laboratory scientists across human health, animal health, and environmental sectors, in support of a One Health approach

Objective 4: Laboratory Information Management and Specimen Referral Systems
Strengthen laboratory information management, data flow, and specimen referral systems to improve the timeliness and quality of diagnostic data for public health decision-making.

• Support the implementation of laboratory information management systems (LIS) with integrated inventory management, in compliance with ISO 15189 requirements
• Establish formalized agreements and standard operating procedures for specimen referral and transport within countries and with regional reference laboratories
• Conduct sample shipment simulation exercises with outer island laboratories on specimen referral and safe transport protocols
• Support enrolment in and participation in external quality assurance (EQA) programmes, and contribute to laboratory data management system development in partnership with regional laboratories
• Support the integration of laboratory diagnostic data with national surveillance systems and EWARS to strengthen outbreak detection and reporting

Deliverables 

• Laboratory capability assessment reports and country-specific strengthening plans for prioritized PIC, covering testing modalities, biosafety and biosecurity, human resource capacity, equipment status, AMR surveillance, and IPC programme status
• Technical specifications, procurement guidance documents, and commissioning reports for essential laboratory equipment, reagents, and supplies across prioritized PICs
• Mapping for laboratory workforce capacity-building activities, including diagnostic modalities, AMR testing, IATA certification, and GLLP placements
• Specimen referral agreements, standard operating procedures, and simulation exercise reports for in-country and regional reference laboratory networks, including EQA programme enrolment and performance records
• End of Mission Report documenting all works performed, key achievements across all objectives, laboratory data integration status with national surveillance systems, and recommendations for continuity
   

Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Educational Qualifications

Essential: University degree in health sciences or laboratory sciences from a recognized university/institute. Certified training or qualification in molecular biology, virology, bacteriology, infectious diseases, and/or epidemiology and laboratory techniques.
Desirable: Postgraduate degree (master’s level or above) or training in microbiology and molecular biology.

Experience

Essential: 

• Minimum of five years' experience, including relevant international exposure, in practical and operational application and management of laboratory services, and laboratory diagnosis of communicable diseases. 

• Relevant experience in outbreaks and/or health emergency response of international impact. 

• Experience in planning, managing and implementing laboratory investigations including experience at national level. Prior experience in planning and conducting training activities.

   

   

Desirable:

• Experience in establishing or improving laboratory infrastructure for microbiology and/or detection of infectious diseases.

• Experience in planning and implementing laboratory training at national and regional levels. 

• Experience in evaluating novel diagnostics assays for emergency use authorization during outbreak response. 

• Experience in developing-country setting in the areas of surveillance and response to emerging and/or re-emerging diseases. 

• Experience working with Ministries of Health to strengthen public health laboratories. 

• Previous experience in UN organizations/agencies, health cluster partners, recognized humanitarian organizations, international institutions or nongovernmental organizations, particularly in developing countries.

Technical skills and knowledge

• Broad knowledge of principles, practices, methodology and techniques in public health, clinical laboratory, surveillance, communicable disease control, International Health Regulations (IHR) including teaching and advisory techniques at the international level; 

• Relevant skills and work experiences on laboratory testing, laboratory training, clinical laboratory management. 

• Very good interpersonal skills, ability to work harmoniously as a member of a team, adapt to diverse and educational and cultural backgrounds and maintain a high standard of personal conduct. 

• Ability to interact with and to advise Government and Ministry of Health counterparts on policy and technical areas related to communicable disease control and to develop effective working relationships with senior decision-makers and officials in a variety of settings and cultures. 

• Understands the principles of results-based management and can develop plans, organize resources and take actions to ensure objectives are achieved within realistic timelines; 

• Have ability to quickly acquire a thorough working knowledge of essential WHO procedures, policies and rules and regulations that support WHO's presence in countries. 
   

Languages:

Essential: Fluency in English Language

Desirable: Working knowledge of other UN languages

Competencies

• Communication

• Building and promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond

• Teamwork

• Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences

• Promoting WHO’s position in health leadership. 
   

Location

On site: Division of Pacific Technical Support (DPS) in Suva, Fiji. During deployment, the duty station may change, and duties may be modified, based on the technical needs of DPS.

Travel

The consultant may be required to travel within PICs.

Remuneration (travel costs are excluded)

• Remuneration: The remuneration is set at BAND B between USD425 and USD499/day (20 days per month x 11 months), subject to qualifications and experience.

• Expected duration of contract: 11 months