Development of a technical guidance on how to achieve accelerated control of Japanese encephalitis in WHO's Western Pacific Region

Background

      Japanese encephalitis (JE) is the leading cause of viral encephalitis in the Western Pacific Region.  An estimated 40,000 JE cases occur in the Western Pacific Region annually and the case fatality rate is 20-30%.  Among survivors, 30-50% have long-term neurological effects.  Twelve countries in the Western Pacific Region have areas with JE virus transmission risk. In October 2014, the 65th Regional Committee for the Western Pacific endorsed the Regional Framework for the Implementation of the Global Vaccine Action Plan in the Western Pacific Region, which specified accelerated control of JE as one of 8 regional immunization goals.

      In March 2016, strategies and targets for accelerated control of JE in the Region were proposed at an expert JE consultation and in July 2016, the Technical Advisory Group on Immunization and
Vaccine-Preventable Diseases in the Western Pacific Region (TAG) reviewed the proposals and recommended regional targets for accelerated JE control.  In 2017, TAG recommended that WHO develop a regional strategy and plan of action for accelerated JE control.  This technical guidance will provide countries with risk of JE virus transmission and their partners with information and approaches on how to achieve accelerated JE control in the Region and will inform the development of a strategy and action plan for accelerated JE control when targets for this have been approved by the Regional Committee for the Western Pacific.

Purpose/Specific Objective of the Activity

      Under the supervision of WPRO/EPI, the contractual partner will develop a technical guidance on how to achieve accelerated control of JE in the Western Pacific Region.

      The contractual partner will develop a technical guidance aimed for national immunization programme staff and policy makers; and

      The plan must be developed for the following audiences:

• Primary audience: Ministries of Health, Ministries of Finance, National Immunization Technical Advisory Groups, National Regulatory Authorities, policymakers, health professionals, health professional societies, and non-profit and other organizations involved in new vaccine implementation
• Secondary audience: Donors interested in supporting accelerated control of JE, manufacturers of JE vaccines

Description of activities to be carried out

The core objective is to provide technical guidance for achieving accelerated control of JE in the Western Pacific Region.

 In order to do this, the contractual partner/agency will develop a technical guidance on how to achieve accelerated control of JE in the Western Pacific.

Method(s) to carry out the activity

1. Access, review and summarize relevant literature and consult with key technical partners and stakeholders;
2. develop 'use cases' to define the implementation requirements of technical guidance and to highlight program and product requirements;
3. develop demand forecasts for key products;
4. develop a high-level financial plan for key elements required for accelerated JE control;
5. in advance of a JE expert consultation that will be held in Manila in late May 2018, prepare an initial draft technical guidance in collaboration with WHO and other partners;
6. attend the JE expert consultation in Manila in May 2018 and help guide discussions;
7. coordinate efforts of WHO staff and other partners who will be contributing to the technical guidance;
8. develop a concise meeting report of the JE expert consultation that describes key inputs received on technical guidance and outlining its further development;
9. prepare a revised technical guidance document as well as the relevant presentation for facilitating for the TAG meeting in June 2018; and
10. guide discussions in working meetings with WPRO and main partners during the project timeline and in any other meetings the Regional Office will require.

Qualifications and Experience

1. Experienced team with at least 5 years of experience working with immunization programmes and on introduction of new and underutilized vaccines; and
2. Experience and and expertise in the following areas:

1. Global public health;
2. strategic planning and policy development related to immunization;
3. working collaboratively with WHO, UNICEF, US CDC, Gavi and country representatives;
4. assessing advocacy and communications needs related to immunization;
5. developing financial plans for control of vaccine-preventable diseases; and
6. developing technical guidances for control of diseases of public health importance

Technical Skills and knowledge/Skills

Kindly include a proposed timeline and budget for production, CV(s) and portfolio

Additional information

            WHO will review all the proposals and take the best proposal, based on prevailing industry rates. 

• Fostering integration and teamwork
• Communicating in a credible and effective way
• Producing results

Interested should  submit the following documents to the Supply Officer at wprosao@who.int by 27 March 2018. Please use Tender Notice No. 69488 as subject to all submissions.

• Expression of interest (cover letter)
• proposed timeline
• Fees and budget for production
• Samples of work

Please note that the application may be closed before the indicated closing date if a sufficient number of applications are received. Only the successful candidate(s) will be contacted