Anti-Microbial Resistance (AMR) Support Officer-Laboratory

Contract

This is a No grade contract. More about No grade contracts.

Objectives of the Programme

The objective of the WHO Nepal Country Office is to implement the Country Cooperation Strategy by supporting the Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP), Government of Nepal (GoN) in the formulation, implementation and evaluation of national health policies, strategies and plans and developing and managing WHO's technical cooperation programmes at the country level. The Country Office collaborates with the Government of Nepal and relevant stakeholders in support of their efforts of achieving national health goals; of ensuring the attainment of universal health coverage and of contributing to global and regional public health action by providing need-based technical assistance in national level policy formulation, setting norms and standards, improving knowledge dissemination and management, monitoring country health situation and building sustainable institutional capacity, to play a greater leadership role in different national level policy technical forums. WHO provides guidance and technical support in organizing the humanitarian health response following multi-hazard emergencies and in revitalizing the capacity of the health sector to recover and rebuild from emergencies in appropriate and sustainable ways. In the inter-emergency period the objectives are to increase the capacity and resilience of the Nepal Health System to reduce risk, prevent and prepare for disasters, to mitigate adverse health consequences, through supporting the Emergency Risk Management interventions prioritized in the national plan for the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (2015-2030); and the health security interventions for enhancement of core capacities required to comply with the International Health Regulations (IHR) 2005 as prioritized in the National Action Plan on Health Security (NAPHS), National Action Plan on Anti-Microbial Resistance (NAP-AMR) and National Pandemic Preparedness and Response Plan (NPPRP).WHO strives to integrate and harmonize the actions undertaken for enhanced ERM and Health Security with the interventions implemented to achieve the health-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and health systems strengthening through appropriate capacity building and co-ordination mechanisms and partnerships. The WHO Health Emergencies Programme (WHE) supports the MoHP, GoN to direct and coordinate the rapid provision of life-saving emergency health interventions at scale in the aftermath of multi-hazard emergencies and disasters and subsequently assists in the rapid recovery of the health system in collaboration with national and international partners. Thereupon it provides technical support to the MoHP and partners to enhance health sector emergency risk management through prevention risk reduction or mitigation; preparedness and response readiness to build a health system that is resilient to multi-hazard disasters including public health emergencies.

The selected candidate will focus on two of the IHR core capacities – public health laboratories and AMR.

Summary of assigned duties:

Under the overall guidance of the Team Leader – WHO Health Emergencies Program (WHE), and the direct supervision of the Technical Officer (Public Health Laboratories) in close coordination with the National Professional Officer (AMR-LABs), Incident Management System pillar leads (when activated) and National Professional Officers of the WHO Health Emergencies Programme of the WHO Country Office for Nepal; and in close collaboration with the relevant government counterparts AMR Support Officer-Laboratory will perform the following duties:

• This position will work closely with the Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP), and National Public Health Laboratory (NPHL) for AMR activities with focus on laboratory activities to strengthen the capacity and systems for AMR/AMU surveillance.
• Identify needs for technical assistance and provide technical assistance for Microbiology and related laboratory techniques, Laboratory quality management including sample collection, coordination, and transport, laboratory/microbiological procedures for bacterial pathogen isolation, identification, and antibiotic susceptibility test (AST).
• Support on molecular laboratory work on AMR characterization.
• Provide technical assistance, including visits to AMR surveillance site laboratories, onsite mentoring, coaching, training on microbiology techniques for improvement of the laboratory testing quality and AMR surveillance implementation.
• Review and update training materials on AMR and support to design, develop and organize training and workshops, prepare training reports.
• Provide technical assistance to organizing AMR- NTWC and TWGs meetings.
• Support program team in developing and/or updating laboratory standard operating procedures (SOPs) and provide technical backstopping to ensure national protocols, SOPs, and guidelines are followed for AMR activities.
• Coordinate for AMR data collection, collation, refine, analyze and submit AMR/AMU-related data and report as per the national/global requirements including annual report of the AMR/AMU surveillance data to Global Antimicrobial Resistance and Use Surveillance System (GLASS).
• Support to coordinate for AMR NEQAS and referral of isolates for AMR testing from surveillance sites to the national AMR reference laboratory and support to NRL for inventoried biorepository of AMR isolates.
• Contribute to regular monitoring and documentation of programmatic achievements, prepare and submit reports and other AMR/AMU-related data reports, lessons learned, and success stories and their implications to the program.
• Collaborate and provide support for AMR in animal health, food and environment sectors.
• Perform other relevant duties as assigned by the Team Lead-WHE or WHO Representative. This includes duty travel or duty-station reassignment on short notice as per the program requirements.

Qualifications

Education

Essential: University degree in Medicine, Laboratory sciences or Microbiology.

Desirable: Master’s degree in medical / clinical Microbiology (MD Microbiology / MScMedical Microbiology)

Experience

Essential

Minimum two years of experience in clinical / diagnostic microbiology / bacteriology bench work and familiar with requirements for standard microbiology laboratory procedures including antimicrobial susceptibility testing and interpretation.

Desirable

• Experience in AMR/AMU surveillance / Healthcare associated infection surveillance and working in Hospital Infection prevention and control committee etc.
• Experience of working in molecular microbiology techniques
• Experience working with government, particularly MOHP and with international development projects.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate and coordinate with government, national and international non-government stakeholders, and UN agencies.

Functional Skills and Knowledge:

• Self-motivated with ability to work with minimum supervision.
• Good interpersonal skills, able to work as a team member in a multi-cultural environment.
• Ability to travel at short notice within the country and to perform practical hands-on field work.
• Ability to participate actively and cooperatively in knowledge sharing and policy forums at sub-national levels and to coordinate with the Government of Nepal (GoN) agencies.
• Good knowledge in outbreak response, disease control and emergency risk management in the health sector.
• Very good analytical skills including ability to collect and analyze technical data and information and to draw and present conclusions in written and spoken form.
• Very good writing skills in English, including the ability to write clear and concise progress reports, analytical reports, plans and proposals

Other Skills:

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel and Power Point), Internet and Email is essential.
• Proficiency in Statistical / Epidemiological Analysis software desired.

Competencies:

• Teamwork
• Respective and promoting individual and cultural differences
• Communication
• Producing Results

Use of language Skills: Excellent knowledge of written and spoken English and Nepali

Remuneration:

Monthly Salary: (Net of tax) NPR 196,102.00 at single rate (taxable as per Nepal Government laws and appointment will be through Special Services Agreement, SSA).

Grade: Level 8

Duty Station: Anywhere in Nepal.

Additional Information

• This Vacancy Notice may be used to fill similar positions at the same level.
• Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.
• A written test and interviews will be used as a form of screening
• WHO is committed to workforce diversity.
• WHO prides itself on a workforce that adheres to the highest ethical and professional standards and that is committed to put the WHO Values Charter into practice.
• WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.
• This post is subject to local recruitment and will be filled by persons recruited in the local commuting area of the duty station.
• In the event that your candidature is retained for an interview, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. WHO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed through the link: http://www.whed.net/. Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and will require individual review.
• For information on WHO's operations please visit: http://www.who.int.
• WHO has zero tolerance towards sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct (i.e., discrimination, abuse of authority and harassment). All members of the WHO workforce have a role to play in promoting a safe and respectful workplace and should report to WHO any actual or suspected cases of SEA, sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct. To ensure that individuals with a substantiated history of SEA, sexual harassment or other types of abusive conduct are not hired by the Organization, WHO will conduct a background verification of final candidates.
• Any extension of appointment would be subject to programmatic requirements, performance of the incumbent and availability of funds.
• Qualified female candidates are encouraged to apply.