Consultant Roster- Antimicrobial Stewardship Programmes

Contract

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

Purpose of the consultancy

The overall purpose of the consultancy is to develop a roster of consultants to provide technical input to the implementation of the fourth strategic objective of the global action plan related to optimization of antibiotic use by promoting the responsible use of antimicrobials and antimicrobial stewardship at national and health care facility level in the countries of the Eastern Mediterranean Region.

Background

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is recognized as a global problem with significant health and economic dimensions. The World Health Assembly (WH)A in 2015 through its Resolution WHA68.7 urged all countries to develop their respective national action plans to combat AMR in alignment with the WHO Global Action Plan that was endorsed by the WHA. These policy initiatives acknowledge overuse and misuse of antimicrobials as a main driver for development of resistance, as well as a need to optimize the sue of antimicrobials. 20-50% of all antibiotics prescribed in acute care hospitals are either unnecessary or inappropriate. Additionally, patients who are unnecessarily exposed to antibiotics are placed at risk for serious adverse events with no clinical benefit.

Antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) is a coordinated activity that promotes the appropriate use of antimicrobials, improves patient outcomes, and reduces the emergence of resistance. These activities are usually carried on by national pharmacy departments within Ministries of Health. There is evidence that implementation of both AMS and Infection prevention and control (IPC) measures have decreased the spread of infections caused by multi-drug resistant organisms.

Over the past several years, the AMR unit at WHO/EMRO supported several countries to collect comprehensive AMR surveillance data, national Antimicrobial consumption data, as well as collecting data on the prevalence of antibiotic prescribing among hospitalized patients (point prevalence surveys). These priority countries (Jordan, Tunisia, Iran, and others) are in a stage to utilize their national available data and move forward in designing and implementing tailored AMS interventions.

In this regard, AMR/IPC Unit will establish a roster of consultants to support MS design and implement antimicrobial stewardship programmes at national and facility levels. The roster of consultants will provide the needed technical expertise to these priority countries to interpret their data, and design, pilot and implement specific antimicrobial stewardship interventions and activities to optimize the antimicrobial use (fourth strategic objective of the global action plan).

Planned timelines (consultants will be selected from the roster to conduct one or more of the below outputs and activities for EMR countries, subject to availability of funds and further confirmation)

Start date: 01 March 2022

End date: 31 December 2023

Work to be performed

The consultant(s) will perform one or more of the following:

Output 1: Brief the national and WHO country office teams on methods to build the capacity of national and facility antimicrobial stewardship programmes.

Deliverable 1.1: collect, compile, and prepare recommendations and action plans on regional data of national AMS programmes in countries of the region.

Output 2: Identify priority AMS interventions in EMR countries by analyzing and interpreting the available surveillance data (AMR, antibiotic use in hospitals and antimicrobial consumption data) and participate in implementing these interventions.

Deliverable 3.1: Draft a list of priority AMS interventions identified through consensus with national decision makers (e.g. AMS governance structures, AWARE classification, therapeutic guidelines for main infection syndromes, diagnostic stewardship, and surgical prophylaxis stewardship programmes).

Deliverable 3.2: Work with national teams, in collaboration with the three levels of WHO, to develop action plan to carry out the priority AMS interventions.

Deliverable 3.3: Work with relevant stakeholders to monitor and report the progress

Output 3: Participate in exploring and implementing key competencies needed for AMS teams at national and facility level for implementation of AMS activities and .

Deliverable 3.1: Identify competencies necessary to implement AMS at national and facility levels.

Deliverable 3.2: Develop a training package and provide training to address the competencies needed.

Output 4: Work with national teams and country offices to develop monitoring and evaluation plans to measure the impact of antimicrobial stewardship interventions at national and facility levels.

Deliverable 4.1: List of relevant structural, process, and outcome indicators targeting the specific interventions implemented.

Deliverable 4.2: Data collected and analyzed on the indicators selected.

Deliverable 4.3: Participate in report preparation for providing feedback.

Qualifications required:

• First university degree in clinical pharmacy or infectious diseases

Experience required:

• Up to 5 years’ experience in developing and implementing antimicrobial stewardship programmes preferably surgical prophylaxis and proof of principle diagnostic stewardship.
• Excellent knowledge of AWARE classification of antibiotic use needed for AMS.

Skills:

• Excellent report writing skills in English
• Experience needed in data management and analysis skills.

Language

Excellent knowledge of English

Location:

CAIRO, EGYPT

Medical clearance : The selected Consultant will be expected to provide a medical certificate of fitness for work.

Travel (If travel is involved, a medical certificate of fitness for work will be required.) 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. Visas requirements: it is the consultant’s responsibility to fulfil visa requirements and ask for visa support letter(s) if needed.

Additional Information section

• 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.
• Remuneration is in line with WHO consultant established rates
• Successful candidates will be included in the roster for consideration for future contractual engagement via a consultancy, as they become available. Inclusion in the roster does not guarantee any future contractual relationship with WHO
• 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 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 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.
• 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.
• Interested candidates are strongly encouraged to apply on-line through Stellis. For assessment of your application, please ensure that: (a) Your profile on Stellis is properly completed and updated; (b) All required details regarding your qualifications, education and training are provided; (c) Your experience records are entered with elaboration on tasks performed at the time.