Consultant - Western Pacific Regional Antimicrobial Consumption Surveillance Systems (WPRACSS)

Purpose of the Consultancy

WHO supports Member States to enhance and develop systems to monitor antimicrobial consumption and use as guided by the Framework for Accelerating Action to Fight Antimicrobial Resistance in the Western Pacific Region. Monitoring antimicrobial prescription and consumption behaviour provides insights and tools to inform policy, therapy decisions, to assess the public health consequences of antimicrobial overuse and misuse and to evaluate the impact of resistance containment interventions.

The Western Pacific Regional Antimicrobial Consumption Surveillance System (WPRACSS), consisting of a web-based reporting at the national and hospital levels and a smartphone application for community pharmacy-based reporting are developed to aid and compliment the analysis of antimicrobial consumption (AMC) surveillance and monitoring in Member States. In view of these, WHO is looking to recruit a short-term consultant to provide support for the roll out and implementation of WPRACSS in Member States.

Background

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is an ever- present threat to health security and the achievements of universal health coverage (UHC) and Sustainable Development Goals. AMR is driven by many complex factors, but overuse and misuse of antibiotics are among the leading causes. Measuring and analysing the consumption and use of antibiotics is therefore a critical step that informs the development of appropriate strategies to optimize the use of antimicrobial agents.

WPRACSS is set up to conduct AMC surveillance and monitoring across the Western Pacific Region to increase multistakeholder accountability, strengthen antimicrobial stewardship and improve health outcomes. The system aims to capture and synthesize information on AMC and AMU across the value chain of antimicrobials/medicines and countries/areas through:

• Establishment of surveillance/monitoring system for AMC and AMU in countries/areas to ensure that information on AMC and AMU are used for development and implementation of evidence-based policies and practices;and
• Establishment and maintenance of a web-based regional WPRACSS database to capture data from countries/areas at three different levels (national, hospital, community).

The database will serve as a basis for regional analysis and technical advice to countries/areas Capacity building of Member States for antimicrobial consumption and use Producing technical documents and briefs on AMC in the Western Pacific Region

The first-ever WPRACSS regional report was released in December 2021 presenting the results on national antimicrobial consumption in seven countries and areas based on import, manufacturing or sales data providing an overview of the progress made in establishing antimicrobial consumption and use monitoring in the Western Pacific Region. Additional manuals for the country, hospital and facility modules as well as a user guide for the WPRACSS web platform are being developed.at global level, GLASS (Global Antimicrobial Resistance and Use Surveillance System) manual and guide exist for the management of antimicrobial consumption data and for the national surveillance systems for monitoring antimicrobial consumption in hospitals.

Planned timelines (subject to confirmation)

Start date: 15 September 2023 End date: 15 August 2024

Work to be performed

Under the technical guidance of the Coordinator, Essential Medicines and Health Technologies and the Responsible Officer, the incumbent is responsible for, but not necessarily limited to, the following duties:

1. Support the WPRACSS roll out and implementation in countries/areas (Member States) as a tool to monitor the antimicrobial consumption at the country, health facility and community levels and ensure its smooth implementation to optimize the use of antimicrobials. This includes amongst others, provision of technical support to Members States on the use of WPRACSS namely, AMC data validation, analysis, visualization and reporting through:

• Maintaining the proper functioning of the current WPRACSS web-based platform and suggesting additional improvements as needed;
• Facilitating the use of WPRACSS in additional Member States as a system that aims to support national and local capacity-building and provide services, including data validation, analysis and visualization;
• Providing technical trainings to participating member states on WPRACSS web-based and mobile application platforms; and
• Developing and updating technical documents and reports of WPRACSS in the region.

2. Facilitate the AMC data call for 2023-2024 and support the analysis and visualization of the data for antimicrobial consumption surveillance and monitoring at the national, hospital and community levels through the WPRACSS portal in collaboration with national counterparts and WHO Country offices.

Outputs:

The consultant is expected to deliver the following final products:

Output 1: Development of internal WPRACSS Dashboard Deliverable 1.1 Development of a new WPRACSS prototype dashboard Deliverable 1.2 Establishment of standard data extraction Deliverable 1.3 Additional data visualizations prototype dashboard for regular internal analysis

Output 2: Implementation of WPRACSS web-platform Deliverable 2.1 Documentation of technical issues of the WPRACSS platform Deliverable 2.2 Report on data management/visualization flow and process Deliverable 2.3 Updated WPRACSS manuals as required Deliverable 2.4 Reports on trainings provided to participating Member States and its functionalities

Output 3: Facilitation of AMC data call and analysis Deliverable 3.1 Ongoing AMC analysis from Member States Deliverable 3.2 Plan for the 2023-2024 Data Call with defined schedule, contents, and procedure Deliverable 3.3 Analysis of 2023-2024 AMC data (at least 10 countries and areas)

Output 4: Consultancy reports produced Deliverable 4.1 Monthly consultancy reports Deliverable 4.2 Final technical reports with all deliverables

Specific requirements

EDUCATION

Essential: University degree in Computer Science, Life Science, Pharmacy or related field.

EXPERIENCE

Essential: Minimum 5 years of experience in data management, dashboard development, deployment and software engineering skills. Desirable: At least 2 years of experience in managing data collection/analysis platform in public health.

TECHNICAL SKILLS & KNOWLEDGE

Demonstrated knowledge of MS power BI Knowledge of SQL Strong knowledge of data management and relational databases Ability to work independently and in close collaboration with UN agencies Excellent interpersonal and communication skills Attention to detail

LANGUAGES

Fully fluent written and spoken English is essential.

Place of assignment

The consultant will work in WHO Western Pacific Regional Office (WPRO) in Manila, Philippines.

Medical clearance

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

Travel

The consultant may be required to travel to Member states in the Region to provide support on the WPRACSS roll-out and implementation.

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:

• 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.
• 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 prides itself on a workforce that adheres to the highest ethical and professional standards and that is committed to put the WHO Values Charter into practice.
• WHO has zero tolerance towards sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct (i.e., discrimination, abuse of authority and harassment). All members of the WHO workforce have a role to play in promoting a safe and respectful workplace and should report to WHO any actual or suspected cases of SEA, sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct. To ensure that individuals with a substantiated history of SEA, sexual harassment or other types of abusive conduct are not hired by the Organization, WHO will conduct a background verification of final candidates.
• 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.