Deliverables
1. Deliverable 1 - program manufacturing partner’s feasibility report: Enhance sustainability-related elements of the WHO mRNA technology transfer programme. This includes but is not limited to collaborating with individual program manufacturing partners (where applicable), considering the outputs of the 2024 gaps and needs assessments related to the establishment and maintenance of mRNA capacity, and potentially providing business model insights. This role involves evaluating future production capacity at partners and considering national and regional market opportunities for candidate mRNA vaccines and other potential biologics revenue streams. Prepare at least 2 program manufacturing partner’s feasibility reports through such assessments to be shared with WHO per year.
2. Deliverable 2 – stakeholder engagement reports: Produce a comprehensive report that supports the WHO mRNA Technology Transfer (TT) programme's policy and sustainability efforts. This report will: provide inputs (via studies, draft articles, etc.) on business models, partner strategies, and other sustainability elements; summarize engagements with key entities working on local production and vaccine sustainability, ensuring alignment with the mRNA programme; detail stakeholder engagements from participation in relevant meetings and key strategic initiatives in major Low and Middle Income Country (LMIC) regions leading regional vaccine and biologics manufacturing initiatives; offer evidence-based recommendations to support WHO's decisions on developing sustainable business models for mRNA TT programme partners.
The report will synthesize all these elements to provide a holistic view of stakeholder engagement, sustainability strategies, and policy implications for the WHO mRNA TT programme.
3. Deliverable 3 – licensing acquisition and sub-licensing opinion papers and reports: Contribute to the WHO Health Technology Access Pool (HTAP) expansion by engaging with prospective technology providers to evaluate opportunities for license acquisition and know-how transfer for the HTAP senior management team considering technology prioritisation, reviewing opportunities including scientific, development, and commercial viability considerations, strategic value, and pandemic preparedness aspects, as well as offering guidance on challenges and opportunities concerning HTAP activities and strategy. All inputs should have the form of a report or opinion paper or article. Summarize the outputs of such activities regularly in reports to WHO.
Qualifications, experience, skills and languages
Educational Qualifications:
Essential:
4. Masters degree or higher in public health, life sciences, or related field.
Desirable:
5. PhD degree in medical science (pharmacy, microbiology, biochemistry, etc).
Experience:
Essential:
6. Over 10 years of relevant experience in developing national or regional plans for local production of medical products, biotech industry (vaccines and other biologic products, and venture capital for biomanufacturing.
7. Demonstrated experience in developing plans for production of vaccines in Africa.
8. Demonstrated experience and technical command of pharmaceutical and vaccines production, including from a country-level perspective in LMICs.
9. Direct experience of investing in the healthcare sector, preferably within the biopharma/vaccines area, ideally gained through work within internationally-recognised investment institutions.
10. Substantial experience working in, or in collaboration with, intergovernmental organizations.
11. Substantial experience working with manufacturers and investors in LMICs and evaluation of business/investment plans.
12. Substantial experience evaluating biotechnology-related investment opportunities and technologies including scientific, technical and clinical due diligence, from either the venture capital/private equity or biopharmaceutical industry in-licensing perspective.
Skills:
Essential:
13. Direct knowledge of investing in the healthcare sector, preferably within the biopharma/vaccines area, ideally gained through work within internationally-recognised investment institutions.
14. Expert technical knowledge in the interface between industrial policy and public health.
15. Excellent technical knowledge of market shaping opportunities.
16. Technical knowledge in the manufacturing and approval of vaccines and biologicals.
17. Due diligence of life science companies and/or technologies.
18. Excellent technical writing and communication skills.
19. Ability to work in a multicultural team and maintain effective working relationships with recognized experts and stakeholders.
20. Excellent planning and organizational skills with attention to detail and with the ability to multi-task and work under pressure.
21. Strong IT skills: Word, Excel, presentation software, databases and web navigators.
Languages required:
Essential:
22. Expert knowledge of English.
Desirable:
23. Intermediate knowledge of another WHO language.
Location
Off site: Home-based
Travel
The consultant is expected to travel.
Remuneration and budget (travel costs are excluded):
Remuneration:
Band level C - USD 10,000 - 12,500 per month.
Living expenses (A living expense is payable to on-site consultants who are internationally recruited):
N/A
Expected duration of contract:
11 months. Additional contracts may be offered depending on programme needs and availability of funds.