Roster Consultant- Lead regional green light (rGLC) mission for the Programmatic Management of the Drug Resistant TB (PMDT)

Contract

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

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Purpose of the consultancy

The purpose of the consultancy is to review and provide a technical expertise to the National Tuberculosis Programmes (NTP) of (Country), to carry out a review of the status of Drug Resistance Tuberculosis (DR-TB) programme activities in the country; to assess progress, identify the gaps and the challenges in the implementation of proper management of DR-TB cases and to make recommendations for improvement of the programme.

This consultancy is intended to support EMR member states in introduction of WHO DR TB policies, expansion of rapid diagnostic tests and transition to the new treatment regimens to close the gap in DR TB detection and treatment. This consultancy is also to advise on ensuring continuity of TB and DR TB services in the context of covid-19 pandemic, according to the relevant WHO guidance.

Background

Within the framework of Universal Health Coverage (UHC), the objective of the Department of Communicable Diseases in the WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMRO), is to assist Member States in strengthening the health sector response for achieving the Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG3). For this purpose, Member States are supported to develop appropriate national policies, guidelines and strategies for implementation of comprehensive programmes for prevention and control of communicable diseases.

Planned timelines

Subject to programme needs

Work to be performed

Below defined activities to be carried out in consultation with NTP, the TB national referral laboratory (NRL), regional and provincial TB teams and all stakeholders and partners supporting DR TB activities.

Output 1: Review of progress and constraints for implementation of the DR-TB component of the National TB Programme including case finding, diagnosis, treatment and clinical management, TB care and support, MDR TB services and coordination, and evaluate the current achievements.

• Deliverable 1.1: Provide technical expertise to review progress made on programmatic management of Drug Resistant TB and implementation of the previous year rGLC mission recommendations.

• Deliverable 1.2: Identify the gaps and the challenges in implementation of DR-TB management including implementation of the new medicines for oral MDR TB treatment regimens as per WHO recommendations.

• Deliverable 1.3: Evaluate the TB laboratory network (access, new diagnostic tests and expansion of Xpert MTB-RIF, quality control, and infection control).

• Deliverable 1.4: Coordinate a technical consultation with all stakeholders (national technical TB committee, TB regional coordination Units, NGOs and partners) on national consensus and strategy to improve MDR TB cases detection, adoption of the new recommended treatment regimens, and patient care and support.

• Deliverable 1.5: Evaluate the expansion of MDR TB molecular diagnostic tests and guide to update algorithm for early detection of TB and MDR TB using Xpert MTB-RIF and DST capacity

• Deliverable 1.6: Provide technical expertise to analyze the national coordination framework for TB and drug resistant TB.

• Deliverables 1.7: Collect patient data on DR-TB and treatment and clinical management.

Output 2: Advice for implementation of the revised WHO DR TB policies and treatment regimens for drug resistant tuberculosis.

• Deliverable 2.1: Provide technical expertise to implement all oral treatment regimens for DR TB patients and to ensure continuity of TB services in the context of COVID19 pandemic.

• Deliverable 2.2: Evaluate the implementation of active TB drug safety monitoring and management (aDSM), and management of serious adverse effects.

• Deliverable 2.3: Assess the situation of drug procurement and supply management for SLD and review the MDR and XDR-TB drugs quantification based on the latest treatment regimens.

Output3: Advise to ensure continuity of DR TB services in the context of COVID 19 pandemic

• Deliverable 3.1: assess the impact of COVID 19 pandemic on DR TB diagnosis, treatment enrolment, patients follow up and DR TB notification

• Deliverable 3.2: recommend a practical action that should be undertaken to ensure continuity of DR TB services in country during COVID 19 pandemic in terms of DR TB diagnosis, treatment, monitoring and drug provision according country context and national considerations during COVID 19 pandemic.

Output 4: Propose key recommendations based on the identified gaps and develop with consultation with NTP the related work plan for its implementation.

• Deliverable 4.1: Develop a mission report with documentation on the follow up actions and progress made on the recommendations issued in previous rGLC mission; and the recommended actions based on the identified gaps, with timelines, to achieve universal access to prevention, diagnosis and quality management of drug resistant tuberculosis.

Required Qualifications

Education: Master’s degree in Medicine or public health sciences

Experience: 10 years of experience in TB and DR TB (programmatic management and service delivery experience);

Skills / Technical knowledge

• Demonstrated knowledge in the area of DR TB
• Demonstrated experience at the regional level, to conduct review, evaluations of DR-TB programmes and interventions
• Knowledge on expansion of utilization of new diagnostics, new all oral regimens and new medicines for RR/MDR & XDR TB according WHO policies.
• Demonstrated skills in provision of policy guidance and technical support; facilitation skills and good writing skills
• Excellent knowledge of Public Health and Health Management.
• Excellent knowledge of TB programme, activities, including planning, coordinating and monitoring such activities.
• Excellent skills in advising and in collaboration with national counterparts of the Ministries of Health and other partners.
• Ability to process and analyse data, write proposals and reports.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with international and national staff at all levels

Language

Excellent knowledge of written and spoken English.

Location

Subject to programme needs

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.

Remuneration and budget (travel costs excluded) Remuneration: International consultant (P5 Level)

Additional Information section

• • This vacancy notice is to establish a roster of candidates for similar consultancies at international level at the same level.
  • Applicants must ensure that their profiles on Stellis are properly completed and updated.
  • Eligibility to the roster will depend on candidates meeting the minimum requirements for the positions, the terms of references of the assignment.
  • Contract length will depend on programme needs at the time
  • Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.
  • Successful candidates will be included in the roster for consideration for future contractual as a consultant, as need arises. 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.
  • Remuneration is based on classified requirements of the terms of reference of the individual consultant contract with related academic and professional experience applied for the grade in accordance with WHO’s consultant’s pay band ranges
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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.
  • 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.