CONSULTANT - Malaria Chemoprevention

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Application deadline 11 months ago: Sunday 9 Apr 2023 at 21:59 UTC

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  1. Purpose of the consultancy

    Please briefly describe why the work is needed and the context.

The 2022 World Malaria Report documented 247 million cases of malaria worldwide, and 619 000 malaria deaths. The World Health Organization’s (WHO) Africa Region carried about 96% of these cases (estimated 234 million cases) and 96% of these deaths (593,000 deaths), with children aged under 5 years being most vulnerable and accounting for most (about 79%) of malaria deaths. Member States are implementing the priority interventions and actions to accelerate achieving the set targets in the region as stated in the framework for implementing the Global Technical Strategy for Malaria in the African Region. However, after many years of progress, the trajectory of malaria control has plateaued and there is urgent need for these approaches to evolve.

Despite the progress in malaria prevention and control in the region, there are gaps in uptake of available interventions. Among the malaria preventive measures are a set of chemoprevention interventions based on the use of malaria medicines to reduce the burden of severe malaria and death among populations at risk of malaria, especially young children and pregnant women. According to the latest WHO malaria guideline recommendations (version of 25 November 2022) - these include Intermittent-Preventive-Treatment in Pregnancy (IPTp), Perennial malaria chemoprevention (PMC), formerly known as Intermittent Preventive Treatment in infants (IPTi), Seasonal-Malaria-Chemoprevention (SMC), Intermittent preventive treatment of malaria in school -aged children (IPTsc), Post-discharge malaria chemoprevention (PDMC) and Mass Drug Administration (MDA).

To maximize the value of the implementation of preventive therapies that are recommended especially for the most vulnerable groups in malaria – endemic areas of sub-Saharan Africa, and the opportunity afforded by the WHO updated/revised chemoprevention recommendations, consultants are needed to support the adoption, implementation and scale up of chemoprevention interventions in the region.

The purpose of this consultancy is to to ensure that member states are adequately supported, and also appropriate guidance provided in the adoption and implementation of malaria chemoprevention interventions

Objectives:

The overall objective is to ensure that member states are adequately supported, and also appropriate guidance provided in the adoption and implementation of malaria chemoprevention interventions and specifically:

The specific objectives are as follows:

  1. To support policy development in favor of the adoption and scale-up of chemoprevention strategies
  2. To support documentation of chemoprevention implementation best practices/success stories in selected countries.
  3. To support drug resistance monitoring for malaria chemoprevention therapies.
  4. To propose innovative ways to strengthen collaboration and partnership (including identified capacity needs) at country level to improve implementation of chemoprevention interventions.

Organizational Context

Under the guidance of the Tropical and Vector Borne Diseases (TVD) and Vaccine Preventable Diseases (VPD) team leaders within the AFRO UCN cluster, the consultant will work closely with the chemoprevention focal persons in the TVD unit and Global Malaria Programme (GMP) to perform / carry out the tasks; Support countries in the adoption, adaptation and/or implementation of malaria chemoprevention interventions (policy development, strategic planning and identification of needs for capacity strengthening for chemoprevention), Advocate for and support subnational tailoring activities and ensure chemoprevention interventions are appropriately considered in national policy documents and national strategic plans, Facilitate resistance monitoring for chemoprevention interventions through use of the ChemoPrevention Efficacy Study (CPES) protocol and submit comprehensive report upon completion of the mission

  1. Description of duties

    Outline clear tasks and deliverables, to be carried out in the framework of the background described above.

These need to be time-bound and specific.

No

Task

Deliverable

Timeline

1

Support countries in the adoption, adaptation and/or implementation of malaria chemoprevention interventions

Country policies and guidelines on malaria chemoprevention

31 December 2023

2

Perform direct country support and monitoring visits for selected countries (in collaboration with the AFRO/MCAT teams and partners to perform country specific technical assistance

Country support mission reports.

31 December 2023

3

Draft a short consultancy accomplishment report

Consultancy reports (at the end of consultancy) including recommendations to improve chemoprevention implementation in the region

TBD

Summary of Assigned Duties:

Under the direct Under the guidance of the Tropical and Vector Borne Diseases (TVD) and Vaccine Preventable Diseases (VPD) team leaders within the AFRO UCN cluster, the consultant will work closely with the chemoprevention focal persons in the TVD unit and Global Malaria Programme (GMP) to perform / carry out the following tasks:

  • Support countries in the adoption, adaptation and/or implementation of malaria chemoprevention interventions (policy development, strategic planning and identification of needs for capacity strengthening for chemoprevention).
  • Perform direct country support and monitoring visits for selected countries (in collaboration with the AFRO/MCAT teams and partners to perform country specific technical assistance, examples - support for introduction, strengthen coordination and implementation, training and supervision, monitoring and evaluation).
  • Advocate for and support subnational tailoring activities and ensure chemoprevention interventions are appropriately considered in national policy documents and national strategic plans.
  • Facilitate resistance monitoring for chemoprevention interventions through use of the ChemoPrevention Efficacy Study (CPES) protocol.
  • Support documentation of chemoprevention implementation best practices/success stories in selected countries.
  • Document inadequacies and develop action plan(s) to address the identified observed gaps/issues and challenges to ensure high quality chemoprevention implementation.
  • Perform other related tasks as needed

    1. Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

    Identify the educational qualifications and expertise needed for the terms of reference outlined above.

Educational Qualifications

Master’s degree in Epidemiology, public health, parasitology or infectious diseases.

Experiences

Essential:

  • At least 5 years’ experience in the field at global or regional level with proven experience in the planning, management, implementation, and/or monitoring and evaluation of malaria or maternal and child health programmes or immunization programmes or other infectious diseases public health programmes;
  • Experience in supporting research activities at national or international levels and working with WHO would be assets.

Desirable.

  • Demonstrated experience in working with MOH and partners on development, planning, implementation or monitoring and evaluation of health strategies and programmes.
  • Ability to establish effective networks and working relationships with people of different nationalities and cultural background.
  • Fostering integration and teamwork including the ability to work as a team member and sensitive to working in a multi-cultural environment.

Competencies:

Candidate should be able to:

  1. Produce results
  2. Communicate in a credible and effective way
  3. Ensure effective use of resources
  4. Move forward in a changing environment
  5. Respect and promote individual and cultural differences; building and promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond.

Languages and level required

English/Expert or French/Expert or Portuguese/Expert

A good working knowledge of a second international language (English, French or Portuguese) would be an advantage.

  1. Travel - If travel is involved, full medical clearance is required

    Please specify any expected travel(s): dates, location and purpose.

A living expense is payable to on-site consultants – please refer to Information Note 08/2019 for details on eligibility.

Place of assignment: WHO Regional Office, Brazzaville, Republic of Congo

5. Remuneration and budget (travel costs excluded)

Rate [daily or monthly or for language and publishing services by word count or number of pages]:

Proposed level: P4 or P5 based on qualification and experience.

Currency:

United States Dollars (USD)

Work schedule (if applicable) :

Please refer to Information Note 09/2021 for guidance on rates for consultants.

Added 1 year ago - Updated 11 months ago - Source: who.int