National Consultant - Antimicrobial Resistance, Ulan Bator, Mongolia

PURPOSE OF THE CONSULTANCY

WHO has been providing technical support to the Ministry of Health, Mongolia to develop, implement and monitor policies and plans on antimicrobial resistance within promoting health and healthy environments for all Mongolians through multisectoral engagement and health in all policies and building resilient health systems to advance universal health coverage. The purpose of this national short-term consultancy (STC) is to provide technical assistance to Ministry of Health, Mongolia and other stakeholders to introduce and implement antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) and antimicrobial surveillance programs in selected hospitals and to provide support for strengthening one health approach to manage antimicrobial resistance and antimicrobial use.

The national consultant will be asked to provide technical support and inputs to the development and implementation of national and local guidelines and tools on AMS and AMR pathogen and consumption surveillance in collaboration with an international consultant in collaboration with international expert.

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 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 second Multi-Sectoral Action Plan on Combating Antimicrobial Resistance (MNAP), 2022-2025, Mongolia was endorsed in May 2022 by the Minister of Health and Minister of Agriculture and Light Industry to provide directions and framework for combating AMR. Two of the five objectives are:

Improve the detection and surveillance of antimicrobial resistance, to strengthen the capacity to collate, analyse and inform data on antimicrobial resistance on national level.

Control the use of antimicrobials, reduce inappropriate use of antimicrobials, and strengthen responsible use of antimicrobials by implementing effective stewardship programs.

Ministry of Health, along with other sectors have made a significant progress on combating antimicrobial resistance in Mongolia. AMR- Multi-Partner Trust Fund will be implemented in Mongolia from January 2025.

DELIVERABLES

In collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Government agencies under direct support of technical officers, WHO Country and Regional Offices, the consultant will undertake following activities:

Conduct a technical review of existing materials and documents on AMR to determine the current gaps in implementing AMS and AMR surveillance.

Support the development of guidelines, manuals, and procedures on AMS and AMR surveillance in hospital settings.

This support includes:

Situational assessment of selected hospitals on areas of interest.

Translation of guidelines, manuals, and other relevant documents on AMR into English and/or Mongolian essential for effective introduction and implementation of these interventions in hospital settings.

Support trainings, workshops, and meetings on AMR by undertaking following approaches in close collaboration with consultant(s) and expert(s) as well as national/local counterparts:

Preparation of relevant tools and guidelines as well as training materials (including but not limited to point-prevalence or medicines/antibiotics use survey) into Mongolian and/or English as required.

Train relevant experts, members.

Facilitation of trainings on AMS program.

Provide support in monitoring and evaluation of AMS implementations.

Oral translation support from English to Mongolian and vice versa.

Convene and facilitate review meetings of relevant stakeholders to develop key materials including but not limited to antimicrobial stewardship and antimicrobial surveillance.

Provide technical support to the implementation, monitoring and reporting of the multi-sectoral action plan on antimicrobial resistance in Mongolia 2022-2025.

Provide technical support for implementation of the Multi-Partner Trust Fund project “One Health approach to manage Antimicrobial Resistance and Antimicrobial Use”

Compile national and local policies/guidelines/tools and documents on AMR and translate them as required, and

Submit a final report, including newly developed tools and guidelines, and recommendations and timeline for key next steps.

Output 1: Provision of guidelines, manuals, and procedures on AMS and AMR surveillance in hospital settings in both languages (Mongolian and English)

Deliverable 1.1 consultancy plan

Deliverable 1.2 situation/assessment reports of selected hospitals on AMS and AMR surveillance as required

Deliverable 1.3 guidelines, manuals, and procedures for AMS and AMR surveillance as required

Output 2: Provision of training materials and activity reports

Deliverable 2.1 tools, guidelines and training materials in both languages as required

Deliverable 2.2 reports of events conducted during this consultancy

Output 3: Provision of technical support on strengthening one health approach to manage antimicrobial resistance and antimicrobial use

Deliverable 3.1 development of project operational plan and budget in collaboration with partners and stakeholders

Deliverable 3.2 support for strengthening multi-sectoral coordination mechanism and project implementation and monitoring

Output 4: Provision of consultancy reports

Deliverable 4.1 monthly consultancy report

Deliverable 4.2 final technical reports with all deliverables

QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE, SKILLS AND LANGUAGES

Educational Qualifications

Essential: University degree in medicine, microbiology, pharmacy and/or social sciences

Desirable: Advanced training on AMR/ AMS/ AMC and/or relevant fields

Experience

Essential: At least 5 years of experience in public health, social sciences and/or translation and interpreting studies; supported by at least two (2) references.

Desirable: Proven experience in conducting needs assessments; facilitating participatory workshops and developing training curricula

Skills/Knowledge

Understanding of health systems and service delivery in resource-limited settings;

Knowledgeable about antibiotic Stewardship, Surveillance of Antibiotic resistance, Surveillance of Antibiotic Use/AMC, Point Prevalence Survey, Diagnostic Stewardship, IPC, microbiology etc ;

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).

Desirable: Expert knowledge of antimicrobial resistance

Intermediate knowledge of surveillance, infection prevention control, microbiology

Languages and level required

Essential: Expert knowledge of English and Mongolia (writing, reading and speaking

Desirable: other UN languages

LOCATION

The consultant will work in WHO Country office in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

TRAVEL

The consultant is expected to travel to provinces when needed and a travel plan is subject to discussions with an international consultant and WHO Technical officers.

REMUNERATION AND BUDGET

Remuneration: TBD Duration: 11 months, 15 February 2024 to 15 December 2024

Additional Information

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Added 3 months ago - Updated 2 months ago - Source: who.int