Consultant- People Living with HIV (PLWHIV)

1. Purpose of the Consultancy

The purpose of this consultancy is to support MOH/NCDC to reach a consensus and make the needed progress to update the management protocol of HIV according to WHO standards.

2. Background

UNAIDS has proposed that by the year 2020, 90% of all people living with HIV (PLWHIV) will know their HIV status, and 90% of all people with diagnosed HIV infection will receive sustained antiretroviral therapy. Caring for PLWHIV is challenging in resource-limited settings of Libya and became more interrupted because of the protracted crisis during the last decade and compounded by COVID-19 pandemic.

The success of HIV care programs relies in part on proper management protocols and professional use Anti-Retroviral Treatment (ART). WHO guidelines have supported major gains in HIV testing and treatment, resulting in a 32% decline in HIV mortality since 2016. However, outdated Libyan protocols to treat HIV patients and the interruption of Anti-Retroviral Treatment (ART) led to poor health outcomes for PLWHIV, increase in drug resistant HIV and the need to second line ARTs, which are expensive, requires more experience and capacity to detect resistance and side effects to ARVs early.

There is an urgent need to update the HIV treatment protocol to make proper therapeutic decisions.

Planned timelines (subject to confirmation)

The duration of the consultancy is for 5 months, tentatively starts in mid-August 2023.

3. Work to be performed

Output 1: Update the management protocol of HIV according to WHO standards

Deliverables:

1. Conduct desk review providing analysis of HIV management protocols used at country level following WHO guidelines.

2. Identify the gaps related to information-based capacity building plans to roll out the protocol

3. collect and analyse HIV related data in Libya, prepare reports/info graphs to improve health outcomes for PLWHIV.

4. Identify national experts in the field and organize on-line meetings to propose an approach to reach a consensus about a national HIV management protocol.

5. Submit a monthly technical report on work performed and achievements throughout the duration of the assignment.

6. Support the development and finalization of HIV management protocols, adapted to Libyan context and endorsed by national health authorities in line with WHO recommendations.

7. Support MOH/NCDC to develop capacity building plan for healthcare workers who are treating HIV/AIDS patients.

4. Specific requirements

Educational requirements:

Essential: Minimum first university degree in Medicine or related field

Desirable: Qualification in Infectious Diseases medicine, HIV training and education.

Experience required:

Essential: 5 to 6 years of relevant experience in clinical experience working on the clinical management of HIV/AIDS.

Desirable: Relevant experience at the international levels and working experience in developing treatment protocols, and sound knowledge in research in infectious diseases.

Skills / Technical skills and knowledge:

- Experience in HIV/AIDS clinical management

- Proven ability to multi-task across various planning and implementation processes within a highly demanding environment.

- Proven understanding of the management of PLWHIV

- Ability to work as part of a team;

- Strong organizational skills

- Proficiency in Microsoft Office

Language requirements:

• Essential: Expert knowledge of English and Arabic languages.

• Desirable: Knowledge of other UN language.

5. Place of assignment

Libya

6. Medical clearance

The consultant will be expected to provide a medical certificate of fitness to work

7. Travel

This consultancy may require travel to Benghazi, Tripoli and Sabha cities when necessary.

If travel occurred, all travel arrangements will be made by WHO – WHO will not be responsible for tickets purchased by the Consultant without the express, prior authorization of WHO. While on mission under the terms of this consultancy, the Consultant will receive subsistence allowance.

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

Remuneration: national rate of NO-C with total amount of USD 23,000 for the duration of 5 months to be paid upon submission of deliverables and monthly reports.

a. Expected duration of contract (Maximum contract duration is 11 months per calendar year): 5 months.

Additional Information

This vacancy notice may be used to identify candidates for other similar consultancies at the same level.

Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.

Interested candidates are strongly encouraged to apply on-line. For assessment of your application, please ensure that your profile on Stellis is updated; all experience records are entered with elaboration on tasks performed at the time. Kindly note that CV/PHFs inserted via LinkedIn are not accessible.

A written test may be used as a form of screening.

If your candidature is retained for interview, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this consultancy. 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 is committed to workforce diversity.

WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.

Applications from women and from nationals of non and underrepresented Member States are particularly encouraged.

WHO's workforce adheres to the WHO Values Charter and is committed to put the WHO Values into practice - https://www.who.int/about/who-we-are/our-values.

Consultants shall perform the work as independent contractors in a personal capacity, and not as a representative of any entity or authority. The execution of the work under a consultant contract does not create an employer/employee relationship between WHO and the Consultant.

WHO shall have no responsibility whatsoever for any taxes, duties, social security contributions or other contributions payable by the Consultant. The Consultant shall be solely responsible for withholding and paying any taxes, duties, social security contributions and any other contributions which are applicable to the Consultant in in each location/jurisdiction in which the work hereunder is performed, and the Consultant shall not be entitled to any reimbursement thereof by WHO.