Technical assistance is required for the monitoring and evaluation of the reactive meningitis vaccination campaign in the Health Districts of Magaria At World Health Organization

1. Areas of expertise

• Epidemiology
• Outbreak response
• Vaccination campaigns evaluation
• Surveillance
• Impact evaluation

2.Purpose of consultancy**

Technical assistance is required for the monitoring and evaluation of the reactive meningitis vaccination campaign in the Health Districts of Magaria and Dungass (Zinder Region) scheduled for March 2022.**

3. Background

Niger, a country located in the African meningitis belt, is repeatedly confronted with epidemics of meningitis, the magnitude varies from year to year. Over the past seven (7) years, the country has been seriously affected once again by epidemics of meningitis which have caused 19,262 cases, including 1,493 deaths, i.e. a lethality of 7.75%**.**

However, these figures are most certainly underestimated and do not reflect the socio-economic consequences, nor the permanent damage which affects up to 25% of survivors.**

To deal with these health emergencies resulting from meningitis epidemics, the Ministry of Public Health Population and Social Affairs has set up structures for prevention, surveillance, care and control, from this scourge including and amongst others, the National Rapid Response Team, the National Health Information System, the National Network of Laboratories for the rapid confirmation of epidemics, and the One Health Committees at different levels.

Concerned by the frequency of epidemics and their health, social, political and economic consequences, the Ministry of Public Health Population and Social Affairs, with the support of technical and financial partners, has taken measures to combat these epidemics.

For the 2020-2021 period, the country observed an early start to the epidemic season in the Zinder region. Starting from week 48 of 2022, the Magaria and Dungass health districts of Zinder reported an outbreak of meningitis. In total, as of 12/30/2021, the DS total 116 suspected cases including 10 deaths are on the linear list. The predominant germ isolated is meningococcus C.

From January 1 to 20, 2022, 135 (135) cases were reported from Dungass District and 115 cases (6 deaths) from Magaria District. The predominant germ isolated from this outbreak was N*eisseria meningitidis* Serogroup C; the Ministry of Public Health Population and Social Affairs, with the support of partners, intends to carry out an emergency vaccination campaign in Magaria and Dungass.

A request to access the emergency vaccine stock managed by the International Coordinating Group (ICG) on Vaccine Provision was submitted on February 1, 2022. The request was partially approved for 207,035 doses of ACW polysaccharide vaccine to conduct an emergency vaccination campaign targeting 156,845 people from 2 to 29 years in the health areas having crossed the alert and epidemic thresholds of Magaria and Dungass.

These 5 areas were not affected by the vaccination against meningitis organized in 2021, which had also targeted the district of Magaria (and the districts of Mirriah and Zinder city) in the Region of Zinder.

In the request the country had also requested technical support to increase capacity in surveillance, laboratory, and monitoring and evaluation.

The campaign is scheduled to start on March 17, 2022.

Given the technical needs expressed above, a consultant epidemiologist is required to support the country in the evaluation of the two campaigns carried out in 2021 and 2022 in Magaria and Dungass (Zinder Region), strengthening the capacity for the detection and surveillance of bacterial meningitis, measuring vaccination coverage, and analyze bacterial meningitis occurrence, in order to assess the impact of the meningitis vaccination.

4. Deliverables

Output 1: Support the Ministry of Health and technical partners to evaluate the response to meningitis in Niger in 2021 and 2022. Specifically, the consultant is requested to:

1. Support strengthening meningitis surveillance capacity including detection and data analysis in targeted areas;
2. Monitor, investigate, and manage the occurrence of any adverse events following immunization (AEFIs);
3. Plan and implement post-campaign coverage surveys for both the campaign conducted in 2021 and 2022 in Magaria and Dungass;
4. Assess the impact of the 2022 and 2021 vaccination campaigns by comparing disease occurrence and vaccination coverage data in the targeted areas;
5. Analyze and document the preparatory activities for the 2022 vaccination campaign.

Deliverable 1: Evaluation report to be submitted at the end of the 6 weeks contract

Start date: ASAP End date: 6 weeks after the start date

5. Qualifications, experience, skills and languages;

Educational Qualifications:

Essential: Post-graduate degree in public health (MD, MPH, MSc or PhD);

Desirable: having completed a field epidemiology training program (FETP);

Experience

Essential: At least five years of experience in the following areas:

• Immunization-related activities and mass vaccination campaigns (development of standard operating procedures, guidelines and tools, training of local staff, field supervision, etc.);

• Field epidemiological and surveillance studies (drafting of protocols, training of local staff, data collection; data analysis; writing of reports, publication of scientific manuscripts);

• Coordination of projects with ministries of health or other governmental and non-governmental organizations;

Desirable:

• Experience with meningitis response activities and vaccination campaigns in the African continent

Skills/Knowledge:

• Ability to maintain and establish good interpersonal relationships;

• Diplomatic skills to deal with senior public health officials, international partners and stakeholders.

• Related experience in development of strategies and guidance within WHO and/or other UN agencies.

• Capacity to innovate, contribute to share knowledge and to develop new approaches to engage partners.

• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to interact in a multi-cultural, multilingual, multidisciplinary environment and promote consensus.

Languages and level required (Basic/Intermediate/Expert):

Essential:

• Expert level French, oral and written skills required.

Desirable: Intermediate level of English, oral and written skills

6. Location

On site: the selected Consultant will be based at the WHO Country Office in Niger and will work under the general supervision of the WHO Representative in Niger and the direct supervision of the Coordinator of the EPR cluster.

7. Travel

Travel to Niger is required for the full duration of the contract whereby local per diem will be included as per WHO travel rate

8. Remuneration and budget (travel costs are excluded):

a. Remuneration: Pay band B USD7000 – 99800 monthly rate (to be determined, depending on experience and qualification)

b. Living expenses (A living expense is payable to on-site consultants who are internationally recruited): N/A

c. Expected duration of contract: 6 weeks

9. Please add the name of the following:

a. Hiring Manager: Dr Lorenzo PEZZOLI, team lead Meningitis, EHI/HIE

Collaborators ; The selected Consultant will work under the general supervision of the WHO Representative in Niger (Dr Blanche ANYA) and the direct supervision of the Coordinator of the EPR cluster of the Niger representation office (Dr Didier TAMBWE)

b. Admin focal point: Geraldine Putman Cramer