Position title: Co-Lead, Joint Allocation Taskforce – COVAX (Temporary)
Location: Geneva
Purpose of the position: The Co-Lead will play a pivotal role in the Joint Allocation Taskforce (JAT) by jointly leading the JAT and being accountable for the delivery of the functions of the Joint Allocation Taskforce.
Department: Design & Operationalisation, Office of the COVAX Facility
Team: JAT
Reports to: Lead, Design and Operationalisation, Office of the COVAX Facility
N° of positions supervised (if applicable): 3
Career step level: 5
Duration: ASAP until December 2022
Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance is a public-private partnership committed to saving children’s lives and protecting people’s health by increasing equitable use of vaccines in lower-income countries. The Vaccine Alliance brings together developing country and donor governments, the World Health Organization, UNICEF, the World Bank, the vaccine industry, technical agencies, civil society, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and other private sector partners. Since 2000, Gavi has contributed to the immunisation of more than 888 million children and the prevention of more than 15 million future deaths. At the Global Vaccine Summit in June 2020, world leaders pledged more than $8.8bn to ensure Gavi can immunise another 300 million children by 2025.
The COVAX Facility (“COVAX”) provides a global solution to the equitable distribution of vaccines to the 190 participating countries and economies. The COVAX Advance Market Commitment (AMC) is an innovative financing instrument that supports the participation of the 92 low and lower-middle income economies in COVAX. Self-financing participants (SFPs) have entered COVAX either as Optional (having the possibility to opt-out of a particular vaccine) or Committed Purchasers. Guided by the WHO fair allocation framework, COVAX will equitably distribute doses to help protect the most at-risk groups. Gavi is working with Alliance partners UNICEF and WHO to ensure that the infrastructure is in place, and the technical support available, for COVID-19 vaccines to be safely delivered to all those who need them.
BACKGROUND
In the context of limited global supply, an ‘Allocation Mechanism’ is being established to deliver the Fair Allocation Framework, comprising of an expert Independent Allocation Validation Group (IAVG) and a Joint Allocation Taskforce (JAT). The JAT, comprised of staff from WHO and Gavi, supports the IAVG, and its functions are to:
• Develop Vaccine Allocation Decision (VAD) proposals, based on a data-driven model, for review and validation by the IAVG;
• Work with the Office of the COVAX Facility within Gavi to ensure implementation of the validated VAD;
• Support the maintenance of the Allocation Model.;
• Provide secretariat support to the IAVG;
• Coordinate and communicate with all COVAX Partners;
• Ensure transparency on the Allocation Mechanism and Allocation decisions to all COVAX participating countries through the COVAX Facility governance bodies.
The main purpose of the IAVG is to validate proposals for Vaccine Allocation Decisions (“VAD proposals”) prepared by the JAT outlining the volumes of vaccines to be allocated to each participant of the COVAX Facility within a given time frame, depending on supply forecasts.
As a member of the Joint Allocation Taskforce (JAT), the Co-Lead will jointly lead the JAT, working closely with WHO colleagues, and ensuring delivery on key functions, maintaining effective communication with COVAX Partners and COVAX Facility countries/participants through the governance bodies of the Facility, and ensuring smooth and effective running of the IAVG.
MAIN DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES
The work is fast paced and dynamic. The scope of responsibilities may evolve but will likely include some of the following:
• Co-Lead the Joint Allocation Taskforce: work closely with the WHO counterpart, manage Joint Allocation Team (JAT) staff hosted by Gavi and provide support to JAT staff hosted by WHO cross functional areas.
• Prepare and facilitate the meetings of the Allocation Leadership Group in support of the chair and lead the Allocation Technical working group: guide the preparation of the materials, analysis and recommendations for decision.
• Finalise the Vaccine Allocation Decision (VAD) proposals, support validation by the IAVG and liaise with the Office of the COVAX Facility on implementation: oversee the development of the VAD proposals for review by the IAVG, ensuring appropriate data and evidence are in place and all internal reviews have been complete before submission; respond to questions raised in the course of review and ensure that adjustments are finalised.
• Build and maintain excellent working relationships with all COVAX Facility partners and Facility governance bodies, including WHO, CEPI, UNICEF and PAHO; build trust and ensure clear and smooth communication flows to maintain effective collaboration and facilitate required oversight.
• Work closely with the SWAT team of the COVAX Pillar (across WHO, CEPI, UNICEF and Gavi), which works to resolve operational bottlenecks in regards to getting vaccines to the countries.
• Drive iterative development of the allocation framework and mechanism in consultation with partners: ensure allocation objectives are fit for purpose in response to a dynamic environment.
• Establish principles and processes related to the operating model, ensure documentation is in place for accountability and transparency and address emerging issues related to allocation design: E.g., to codify processes and decisions to enable accountability and transparency and lead on resolving any outstanding final Allocation design questions as they arise.
Note: The essential functions listed in this section are not exhaustive of the job responsibilities; other duties may be assigned consistently with the department needs.
QUALIFICATIONS
ACADEMIC
• Advanced university degree in public health, health economics, development, international affairs (with experience in international development), business affairs, or related field, or other relevant qualification.
WORK EXPERIENCE
• Minimum of 12 years’ professional experience working in a field relevant to global public health;
• Demonstrated work experience in issues relating to global access to medicines and/or product delivery/ immunisation programmes with experience in low and middle income countries preferred;
• Experience of operating with tact and diplomacy, in complex multi-stakeholder environments including in the context of bilateral and development aid partnerships;
• Significant experience of working in partner engagement and communications and demonstrated ability to build excellent and productive relationships with a high degree of discretion and sensitivity, to work with diverse partners, work across institutional boundaries, and enable the utilisation of talent and expertise of team members;
• Track record of working effectively with technical and advisory groups and governance bodies;
• Knowledge and / or experience of regulatory, readiness and logistics issues for immunisation, particularly in lower income countries an asset;
• Experience managing teams.
SKILLS/COMPETENCIES
• Knowledge of public health, medicine or international development, particularly immunisation;
• Leadership, effective relationship building, diplomacy and political acumen;
• Effective written and verbal communication skills in English with demonstrated ability to synthesise complex issues into effective oral and written materials and attention to detail;
• A track record in producing high quality work on a variety of issues in a fast-paced dynamic environment and making effective, timely decisions;
• Ability to adapt and work within a multicultural, multilingual, multidisciplinary environment;
• Fluency in Excel, Word and PowerPoint.
LANGUAGES
• Written and spoken fluency in English;
• Fluency in French or another UN language is considered an asset.
CONTACTS
• Office of the COVAX Facility, Gavi Secretariat;
• WHO, CEPI, COVAX Partners and Gavi Alliance partners.
If you wish to apply, please provide a cover letter and resume through our Careers webpage and apply by clicking on “Co-Lead, Joint Allocation Taskforce – COVAX (Temporary)”. Deadline for applications is 18 November 2021.
Please note that as a vaccine organisation and in order to provide duty of care towards its employees, Gavi is requiring its new employees to confirm that they are fully vaccinated against Covid-19 as a condition for pursuing employment with us. You can find out more by visiting this link.
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Gavi brings together the public and private sectors to save lives and protect people’s health by increasing equitable and sustainable use of vaccines against 18 infectious diseases. You will be joining an organisation at the centre of the international COVID-19 response, at the most critical time in global health in a lifetime. You will work in a culturally diverse environment with over 70 nationalities. You will collaborate with partners such as WHO, UNICEF, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the World Bank – and from business, civil society and government.
And you will work in the first global health organisation to receive equal gender salary certification. Your unique experience, skills and talents can help us achieve our vision of leaving no one behind without the life-saving power of vaccines.
In support of Gavi’s commitment to diversity, equality and inclusion, we hire globally and welcome applications regardless of age, disability, ethnicity, national origin, family status, sex, gender identity or expression, physical characteristics, race, religion, spirituality or sexual orientation.