WHO Rwanda in Collaboration with Rwanda Biomedical Center (RBC) is inviting applicants from suitability qualified Rwandan Nationals to fill the following Consultancy:

Title: Local Consultant to develop study protocol intitled: “Toward the elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV – Closing the Gap

Grade: NOC.

Duty Station: KIGALI

Date issue: 06/05/2021

Deadline: 24/05/2021

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Background and justification

Mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of HIV is a significant contributor to the HIV pandemic, accounting for 9% of new infections globally. MTCT of HIV occurs when HIV is transmitted from a woman living with HIV to her baby during pregnancy, labour or delivery, or after delivery through breastfeeding. Without treatment, approximately 15–30% of infants born to HIV-positive women will become infected with HIV during gestation and delivery, with a further 5–15% becoming infected through breastfeeding. HIV infection of infants results in early mortality for many or creates a lifelong chronic condition that greatly shortens life expectancy and contributes to substantial human, social and economic costs.

Dual elimination of Mother to child transmission of HIV and Syphilis serves to improve a broad range of maternal and child health (MCH) services and outcomes. This achievement directly contributes to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 3, 5 and 10 and to first billion of more people benefitting from universal health coverage of WHO GPW-13 which both aspire to ensure health and well-being for all, achieve gender equality and empower women and girls, and reduce inequalities in access to services and commodities.

The global community has committed to eliminating mother-to-child transmission (EMTCT) of HIV and syphilis as a public health priority. International and regional goals have been set, and countries are scaling up programmes towards EMTCT of HIV and syphilis. The processes and criteria to validate EMTCT of HIV and/or syphilis has been defined by WHO and partners to guide countries to apply a standard approach across a wide range of epidemiological and programmatic contexts.

In Rwanda, gaps for data to apply for the EMTCT have been identified and they are leading to the untruthful estimates of the mother to child transmission rates by UNAIDS. Thus, the EMTCT national steering committee has recommended to conduct a deep study to define the gap seen in PMTCT by estimating the HIV transmission rates among pregnant who receive ART services to reduce the MTCT and those who dropped out of the service, providing the size estimates for women with unmet need for PMTCT. In this regard, a consultant will be hired for two months and fifteen working days, to develop the research protocol and five months to implement the research project and produce a study report. The consultant will work under the leadership of the HIV division manager at RBC/MOH in collaboration with partners (WHO, UNAIDS, UNICEF, UNFPA, PEPFAR) and local and international NGOs and civil society organizations.

Purpose of the consultancy

Develop a study protocol to identify the Gaps into the National PMTCT program
Propose to the technical working group a suitable methodology that will be used to estimate the MTCT rates for different groups within PMTCT cascades.
Present the study protocol to the EMTCT steering committee and to the Rwanda National Ethics committee for approval.
Design the study tools which will respond to the study objectives.
Estimate the study detailed budget for each aim of the study which will be used for advocacy.

Organizational context

Under overall supervision of the WHO Representative for Rwanda, and the direct supervision of the WHO Technical officer for HIV and HIV division manager in Rwanda Bio Medical Center, the consultant will Develop a study protocol to identify the Gaps into the National PMTCT program

Summary of assigned duties

Output: The consultant is expected to draft the scientific study protocol with outstanding methodology to close the gap to reach the Elimination of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV.

Activity 1.1: Review of the national PMTCT program, available data and gaps in knowledge and data;

Activity 1.2: Convene the EMTCT- TWG to present the inception report and methodology;

Activity 1.3: Develop the study protocol with clear methodology and study design and draw a representative sampling design;

Activity 1.4: Estimate the detailed budget for the study;

Activity 1.9: Present and validate the report to the EMTCT-TWG;

Activity 1.10: Present and get the approval from the Rwanda National Ethics committee.

Deliverables
Study protocol and questionnaires approved by the technical working Group and the Rwanda National Ethics committee with detailed budget and study tools.
Duration

The deliverables as mentioned above will have to be produced over two months and fifteen working days.

Education qualifications

An advanced degree (Master’s or higher) in public health, health services

Experience

Minimum of 5 years of experience in HIV PMTCT program and EMTCT areas in limited resource settings
Minimum of 5 years of experience in public health, research and evaluation

Skills

Good understanding of research project, study design, methodology, data collection and analysis
Good clinical and laboratory practice
Research ethic on human subjects
Report writing and communication skills