Consultant - to work with both the Access to Medicines & Health Technologies (AMT) and the antimicrobial resistance (AMR) unit at WHO EMRO

Contract

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

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Purpose of the consultancy

The main purpose of the consultancy is to work with both the Access to Medicines & Health Technologies (AMT) and the antimicrobial resistance (AMR) unit at WHO EMRO to support countries to collect, aggregate and report antimicrobial consumption and resistance data during the 2022 data call.

Background

In response to Member States requests, WHO has developed the Global Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance System (GLASS) as a global platform to promotes and supports standardized antimicrobial resistance (AMR) surveillance worldwide. The overall goal of GLASS is to enable standardized, comparable and validated data on AMR to be collected, analysed and shared with all countries and partners. Data collected will inform decision making and provide the evidence base for action and advocacy.

In EMRO, all the 22 countries have enrolled to GLASS and 20 of them have reported antimicrobial resistance data to GLASS in the last data call. Every year, the call to upload national AMR data to GLASS starts on First of May and ends by the end of July of the same year. However, many countries do not have national capacities to prepare aggregated national AMR data files for submitting the data to GLASS.

Additionally, GLASS platform will start a new module to report antimicrobial consumption (AMC) data in 2022. Countries will be asked to report their national AMC data to GLASS. Further support will be needed to support EMRO countries to collect, aggregate and report to GLASS.

Moreover, WHO Expert Committee on Selection and Use of Essential Medicines developed the access, watch and reserve (AWaRe) classification of antibiotics as a tool to support antibiotic stewardship efforts at local, national and global levels. Antibiotics are classified into three groups, Access, Watch and Reserve, taking into account the impact of different antibiotics and antibiotic classes on antimicrobial resistance, to emphasize the importance of their appropriate use.

It is a useful tool for monitoring antibiotic consumption, defining targets and monitoring the effects of stewardship policies that aim to optimize antibiotic use and curb antimicrobial resistance. The WHO 13th General Programme of Work 2019–2023 includes a country-level target of at least 60% of total antibiotic consumption being Access group antibiotics.

Therefore, the consultant will assist the AMT and AMR Units at UHS and DCD/EMRO and provides technical support to Member States in the region to prepare, aggregate, validate and upload AMR and AMC data files to GLASS and also support countries to adapt WHO AWaRe classification of antibiotics into their Essential Medicine Lists.

Planned timelines (subject to confirmation)

Start date: 01/02/2022

End date: 31/12/2022

Work to be performed

Output 1: Provide technical support to EMRO countries on how to collect and aggregate national and hospital antimicrobial consumption (AMC) data using WHO methodology.

Deliverable 1.1. provide technical support and training to national AMC focal points to prepare, aggregate, and validate national and facility level AMC data.

Deliverable 1.2 Work in collaboration with GLASS secretariat to ensure national AMC focal points have valid access to GLASS web interface and AMC files are uploaded correctly.

Deliverable 1.3. Ensure at least 10 countries report national and facility level AMC data to the GLASS platform.

Output 2: Provide technical support to national teams and Country Office focal points to adapt the WHO (AWaRe) classification of antibiotics into their national Essential Medicine Lists (EML)

Deliverable 2.1: Identify EMRO countries that could meet the target of 60% of total antibiotic consumption being Access group antibiotics

Deliverable 2.2: Ensure at least 10 countries in the region adapt their national EML to introduce the AWaRe classification of antibiotics according to WHO targets.

Output 3: Support GLASS-enrolled countries to report good quality AMR data to GLASS in line with GLASS specifications.

Deliverable 3.1. provide technical support to national GLASS focal points, on how to prepare, aggregate and upload validated AMR data to GLASs in 2022

Deliverable 3.2. ensure all 22 countries report good quality AMR data to GLASS including hospital and outpatient clinic data particularly for bloodstream infections.

Deliverable 3.3 Work in collaboration with GLASS secretariat to ensure national GLASS focal points have valid access to GLASS web interface and GLASS file are uploaded correctly.

Required Qualifications

Education: University degree in medicine, pharmacy, public health or equivalent

Experience****:

Up to 5 years of relevant experience in preparing files to report AMR data to GLASS

Good communication skills and report writing.

Good knowledge of WHONET, EXCEL or other data set software.

Skills/ Technical knowledge

Language Excellent knowledge of English and Arabic is required.

Location: The consultant will be placed in Cairo to work under the direct supervision of the regional adviser for HS and AMR/ IPC at EMRO.

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.
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• 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.