National Consultant - AMR

1. Purpose of the Consultancy

The purpose of this short-term consultancy (STC) is to provide technical assistance to Ministry of Health and other relevant ministries in Malaysia and Ministry of Health in Brunei Darussalam and Singapore in implementation, evaluation and monitoring of the national action plans for AMR specifically focusing on AMR surveillance, consumption monitoring, antimicrobial stewardship, outbreak response, and multisectoral coordination. The consultant will be requested to support develop national and local guidelines and tools for these areas of work using WHO guidance and tools.

Terms of references for the STC include: In collaboration with the Ministry of Health and other relevant ministries in Malaysia and supervised by WHO Country in collaboration with WHO Regional Office, the short-term consultant will undertake following activities: 1.Support implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the 2nd AMR national action plan for Malaysia (MyAP-AMR) with coordination and in collaboration with tripartite (WHO, FAO and WOAH). 1.1. Support coordination and implementation of the country work plan for Malaysia supported by EU Regional Tripartite AMR Project across all relevant sectors. 1.2. Through regular communication with the Regional Tripartite AMR Project coordination team at FAORAP, WHO WPRO and WOAH-SRRSEA, support implementation of regional project activities supported by the EU.

2. Provide technical support on AMR related activities for Brunei Darussalam, Malaysia and Singapore with guidance from WHO Country Office and in collaboration with WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific. 2.1. Support implementation, monitoring and evaluation and update of national action plan for AMR 2.2. Support advocacy and communication activities including planning and hosting events for World AMR Awareness Week 2.3. Support strengthening AMR surveillance and laboratory capacity, antimicrobial stewardship, antimicrobial consumption monitoring and outbreak response, using WHO guidance and tools 2.4. Support initiatives to support coordination and collaboration on AMR surveillance from human, animal and environmental health sector

3. Submit monthly report and a final technical report. 4. Perform other duties as may be deemed necessary by the WHO Representative.

2. Background Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a major threat to global health and security. It endangers decades of progress made in modern medicine and public health. Although inappropriate use of antimicrobials is regarded as one of the main drivers of AMR, monitoring antimicrobial use is underdeveloped in large parts of the world. The World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Committee for the Western Pacific adopted For the Future: Towards the Healthiest and Safest Region (WPR/2020/RDO/001) in 2019 as a vision to guide WHO’s work with Member States on health priorities in the coming years. Health security, including AMR, is one of the four priorities in the vision, which proposes new ways of working to help countries address complex issues relating to health and development.

The 2nd AMR national action plan for Malaysia (MyAP-AMR) will be officially launched during World AMR Awareness Week in November 2023 to provide directions and framework for combating AMR. WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific (WPRO) have been focusing on technical support to four major areas of work, including AMR surveillance, consumption monitoring, antimicrobial stewardship, outbreak response. WPRO has published “Responding to outbreaks of antimicrobial-resistant pathogens in health-care facilities: guidance for the Western Pacific region” and finalized “Guidance on setting up national and local AMR surveillance systems for countries in the Western Pacific Region” to support capacity building and systems strengthening for AMR outbreak response at hospital settings and AMR surveillance, and also launched Western Pacific Regional Antimicrobial Surveillance System “WPRACSS” to support capacity building for antimicrobial consumption monitoring at the national, hospital and community level. The incumbent is expected to tailor these guidance and tools into the country context and provide support.

The Regional Tripartite AMR Project, implemented by the Tripartite (FAO, WHO and WOAH) plus UNEP, in partnership with the European Union, seeks to contribute to partner countries preparedness to tackle AMR as described in the 2017 EU action plan, by sharing experiences, advocating best practices and stimulating actions outside the EU, by working with targeted Asian partner countries, including Malaysia. The project supports components on One Health support to AMR National Action Plans AMR NAPs), integrated surveillance, private sector engagement and research and innovation, as well as one on pandemic preparedness. The project works through financial support to partner countries to implement country work plans linked to AMR NAPs and through regional activities linked to all components. The incumbent would be expected to coordinate with the Tripartite focal points to support these activities.

3. Planned timelines (subject to confirmation) Start date: 01 November 2023 End date: 30 September 2024 Duration: 11 months

4. Work to be performed Outputs: The consultant is expected to deliver the following products:

Output 1: Support systems strengthening for AMR surveillance, laboratory and outbreak response for human health Deliverable 1.1 Coordination and support for AMR surveillance and outbreak response mission in Brunei Darussalam in early 2024 and requested follow up activities Deliverable 1.2 Coordination and support for AMR outbreak response workshop in Malaysia in 2024 and requested follow up activities Deliverable 1.3 Coordination and support to host WHONET workshop in 2024 as requested by MOH Malaysia Deliverable 1.4 Support review and update of national and subnational guidelines and tools for AMR surveillance, laboratory and outbreak response for the countries

Output 2: Support systems strengthening for antimicrobial consumption monitoring for human health Deliverable 2.1 Ensure annual submission of national level data for WPRACSS from Malaysia , Brunei Darussalam and Singapore. Deliverable 2.2 Introduction of hospital level and community level antimicrobial consumption monitoring in the countries Deliverable 2.3 National AMC monitoring tools and guidelines drafted as required

Output 3: Support strengthening antimicrobial stewardship capacity for human health Deliverable 3.1 Updated national antibiotic guidelines for selected countries Deliverable 3.2 Report on review of existing guidelines/tools for antimicrobial stewardship in Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam and Singapore for human health Deliverable 3.3 Report on AMS implementation in hospital settings carried out during the consultancy period

Output 4: Support advocacy and awareness raising for AMR Deliverable 4.1 Support hosting advocacy and awareness related activities, including WAAW related events in Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam and Singapore. Deliverable 4.2 Report on WAAW related activities in three countries to be submitted to WPRO

Output 5: Support the delivery of the EU-funded Regional Tripartite AMR Project country and regional activities Deliverable 5.1 Coordinate a national workshop in the first quarter of 2024 to define the Regional Tripartite AMR Project’s support to Malaysia through its regional activities Deliverable 5.2 Coordinate the implementation of, and reporting on, the project Country Work Plan for 2024 Deliverable 5.3 Coordinate the support Malaysia’s work with the regional Tripartite organizations on regional activities relating to integrated surveillance, private sector engagement and research and innovation

Output 6: Deliverable 6.1 monthly consultancy reports Deliverable 6.2 notes from any calls and meetings attended Deliverable 6.3 final technical reports with all deliverables

5. Under the supervision of the Technical Officer (EPI)

6. Specific requirements EDUCATION Essential: University degree in medicine, veterinary medicine, microbiology, pharmacy and/or relevant public health and clinical fields Desirable: Advanced university degree in medicine, veterinary medicine, microbiology, pharmacy, or public health

EXPERIENCE Essential: At least 5 years of experience in the area of antimicrobial resistance such as surveillance, antimicrobial stewardship, antimicrobial consumption monitoring, clinical pharmacy, clinical practice, microbiology/clinical laboratory and/or other field at national and international level

Desirable: • National health policies, strategies and plans and One Health/AMR. • Experience in AMR surveillance, laboratory, stewardship, or consumption monitoring. • Experience in managing outbreak of AMR pathogens and/or managing patients infected with AMR pathogens. • Experience in working with the UN • Experience in working in resource limited settings

TECHNICAL SKILLS & KNOWLEDGE - Understanding of health systems and service delivery in resource-limited setting; - Specialized on AMR –related areas such as antimicrobial stewardship, AMR surveillance, diagnostic stewardship, and microbiology; - Capacity to plan and conduct operational activities; - Excellent communication, interpersonal and presentation skills; - Outstanding organizational and time-management skills; and - Proven research skills (desirable in antimicrobial resistance or relevant area).

LANGUAGES Essential: Fluent in English (writing, reading and speaking) Asset: Malay (writing, reading and speaking)

7. Competencies

• Communicating in a credible and effective way • Producing results • Moving forward in a changing environment • Fostering integration and teamwork • Knowing and managing yourself

8. Place of assignment The consultant will work in WHO Country Office in Cyberjaya, Malaysia (onsite)

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

10. Travel International travel and in country travel is expected

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. • The purpose of this vacancy is to develop a list of qualified candidates for inclusion in this advertised roster. All applicants will be notified in writing of the outcome of their application (whether successful or unsuccessful) upon conclusion of the selection process. Successful candidates will be placed on the roster and subsequently may be selected for consultancy assignments falling in this area of work or for similar requirements/tasks/deliverables. Inclusion in the Roster does not guarantee selection to a consultant contract. There is no commitment on either side.