International Consultant - Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)

Purpose of consultancy

In the context of the WHO Health Emergencies department (WHE), at the regional level, the consultant will provide technical expertise and operational support to the Public Health Laboratory scientist (PHL) of the Regional Office for the South-East Asia to enhance bacteriology and mycology diagnostic capacity, laboratory systems, and service delivery for the identification and characterization of prevalent bacterial and fungal pathogens and susceptibility testing.

Background

The COVID-19 crisis has revealed the acute need for better systems to detect and respond to emerging threats early and to save lives. Antimicrobial resistance is an existing and expanding threat with a high impact on human health, the economy, and human development. The World Health Assembly (WHA) 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. All 11 Member States of the WHO South-East Asia Region have developed national action plans to address AMR. These are aligned with the Global Action Plan to tackle Antimicrobial Resistance. Diagnostic capacity and laboratory services for bacterial and fungal infections and AMR are essential for implementing the Global Action Plan (GAP) on Antimicrobial Resistance (21). The diagnostic pathway and equitable access to quality testing play a critical role in the GAP's success as a central component of the global response to AMR. Reliable clinical bacteriology services at the point of referral are pivotal for achieving GAP Objective 2 (AMR surveillance), GAP Objective 3 (Reduce the incidence of infection) and GAP Objective 4 (Optimize the use of antimicrobial medicines).Despite the evident increase in the number of countries providing AMR data to GLASS and in the number of infections with microbiological results (identification of the pathogen and Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing) reported over the years, data contributed to date do not suggest an improvement in AMR diagnostic testing coverage globally. Based on Tracking AMR Country Self-Assessment Survey (TrACSS) 2022 in the region, only 6 countries which have (at least) a national reference laboratory (NRL) performing AST for all 11 listed bacteria; 6 countries have National Reference Bacteria Laboratory, and some clinical labs use standardized AST guidelines; and only 3 countries that National EQA is compulsory and/or implemented in all laboratories.

The Consultant will support Member States to enhance bacteriology and mycology diagnostic capacity, laboratory systems, and service delivery for the identification and characterization of prevalent bacterial and fungal pathogens and susceptibility testing.

Deliverables

· Provide support to develop training materials aimed at establish/strengthening laboratory capacity for detection and further characterization of prevalent bacterial and fungal pathogens including Preparedness and Response to AMR outbreaks.

· Provide support to build capacity on GLASS platform and tools and WHONET microbiology software

· Provide technical expertise to build capacity on adequate Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (AST); implementation of molecular techniques and genomic surveillance to enhance prevalent bacterial and fungal pathogen surveillance; Quality Assurance in Microbiology laboratories; analysis and interpretation of data for clinical and epidemiological use.

· Provide support for recommendations produced by analysis report on situation of fungal pathogens in SEAR countries (note: to be published)

· Provide regular and timely feedback to the responsible technical officer(s) and supervisors

· Perform other duties as assigned in the interest of the organization, if needed.

Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Educational Qualifications:

Essential: University degree in the area of health laboratory sciences or related field.

Desirable: Advanced degree or training in public health, epidemiology, infectious diseases or molecular biology.

Experience:

Essential: Minimum five years of demonstrated experience working in laboratory-based surveillance of AMR, public health or clinical laboratories including exposure at the national and international levels.

Desirable:

· Experience in planning and conducting training activities.

· Experience in developing country setting in the area of AMR laboratory surveillance and capacity building.

· Previous relevant international working experience in WHO or any other UN Agency in a developing country context.

· Previous work experience in Asia is an asset.

Skills/Knowledge:

· Ability to establish collaborations and mobilize partnerships to strengthen and expand networks, including the regional genomic surveillance network.

· Knowledge and skills in providing technical support to WCOs, MOHs and technical partners.

· Excellent abilities in overall planning, management, organization and coordination of technical workstream.

· Ability to assess laboratory capacity and to find solutions to fill gaps.

· Ability to work flexibly, autonomously and efficiently, in a fast-paced environment, with the ability to adapt to shifting priorities.

· Strong writing skills including for presentations, proposals, concept notes, reports and other documents.

· Excellent communication, interpersonal and diplomatic skills.

· Experience synthesizing information and communicating effectively in a timely manner to broad and diverse audiences.

· Ability to work harmoniously as a member of a team, adapt to diverse

Languages and level required (Basic/Intermediate/Advanced):

Excellent written and spoken fluency in English is essential.

Location

On site: The consultant is expected to perform his/her work from the physical location of WHO Regional Office for South-East Asia located in New Delhi, India.

Travel

The Consultant is expected to undertake travel, including for taking up assignment.

Remuneration and budget (travel costs are excluded):

· Remuneration: BAND LEVEL-B at USD 7,000 per month

· Living expenses: Per diem will be paid as per WHO rules applicable to international consultant for travel.

· Expected duration of contract: 6 months. (There is no assurance of any further extension. Any extension will be subject to the programmatic requirements and the performance of the candidate).

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) in English 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.