WHO consultancy: Rollout of Policy Guidance on Integrated Stewardship Activities

Dear All,

Just below my signature you will find the full details on a recently posted WHO consultancy opportunity. It’s an intriguing 6-month project during which you would be responsible for the rollout and implementation of a new WHO Policy Guidance on the Implementation of Integrated Antimicrobial Stewardship Activities. This guidance will be rolled out in several regions and implementation to adapt the guidance to local contexts will start in several countries.

Even if you don’t want to apply for consultancy, you should take a look at the Policy Guidance. The guidance was created because “Member States have requested WHO policy guidance on how to facilitate the implementation of national AMS activities in an integrated and programmatic approach.” To address these requests, the guidance aims to provide a set of evidence-based and pragmatic recommendations to drive comprehensive and integrated AMS activities and has these target audiences:

• National policy-makers at ministries of health, national AMR coordinating bodies such as national AMR steering or coordinating committees or other equivalent national authorities who are responsible for the development, implementation and monitoring of the national action plans, policies and standards for mitigating AMR in the human health sector.
• Subnational authorities and decisionmakers, technical experts and stakeholders supporting such programmes at all levels.
• Finally, sectors or ministries working on quality of care in the human health sector, WASH, IPC, animal and plant health as well the environment would find the policy to have important implications and relevance.

Intriguing indeed … all quite high level! Could this be you? The deadline is 9 June 2021. Sharpen your pencil and get to it!

All best wishes, –jr

John H. Rex, MD | Chief Medical Officer, F2G Ltd. | Operating Partner, Advent Life Sciences. Follow me on Twitter: @JohnRex_NewAbx. See past newsletters and subscribe for the future: https://amr.solutions/blog/. All opinions are my own.

— ALL THE DETAILS —
Contract Type: Individual consultancy
Application deadline: COB Wednesday, 9 June 2021 (CET)
Contact: Naomi Vollet
Email address: whoams@who.int
Consultancy reference: HQ/AMR/GCP/2021/7
 

1. Purpose of the Consultancy

Support the rollout and implementation of the WHO Policy Guidance on Integrated Antimicrobial Stewardship Activities
                                                                                               

2. Background

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global health and development threat. It requires urgent multisectoral action in order to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Antimicrobials are used to fight diseases in humans, animals and plants and include antibiotic, antiviral, antifungal and antiparasitic medicines. AMR occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites change over time and no longer respond to medicines, making infections harder to treat and increasing the risk of disease spread, severe illness and death. As a result of drug resistance, antibiotics and other antimicrobial medicines become ineffective and infections become increasingly difficult or impossible to treat.
 
In response to demand from member states and after extensive global consultations, WHO developed a new policy guidance on the implementation of integrated antimicrobial stewardship activities. This guidance will be rolled out in several regions and implementation to adapt the guidance to local contexts will start in several countries. 
 
The Department of Global Coordination and Partnership on AMR leads and coordinates the global One Health multisectoral response to AMR, in cooperation with FAO, OIE, the UN as well as other agencies, civil society, and the private sector, towards a world free from the suffering of drug-resistant infections. The Department has the following functions in line with WHO’s General Programme of Work to protect antimicrobials important for human health and mitigate drug-resistant infections: Leads the global One Health multisectoral response to AMR across the human, animal, plant, food, feed and environment sectors, through multisectoral engagement and interventions, and strengthening advocacy and awareness; Facilitates global coordination and interagency engagement and partnership for creation and sustenance of shared global vision and goals; shapes the research and development agenda through innovation, priority setting and supporting global initiatives that enable the generation, translation and dissemination of knowledge; facilitates, nurtures and scales up evidence-based interventions to enhance stewardship, awareness, and understanding of AMR across the One Health spectrum.

3. Planned timelines

This consultancy is for six months, to begin as soon as possible.

4. Work effort

Full time (100% FTE)

5. Work to be performed

Output: Facilitate effective implementation of the rollout of the WHO Policy Guidance on Integrated Antimicrobial Stewardship Activities across selected regions and countries
Activity 1 Engage in consultations with WHO regions and country offices to finalise activities needed to rollout the policy guidance and enable effective implementation
Activity 2 Provide technical assistance as may be required to support  effective rollout
Activity 3 Monitor progress against agreed plans and provide periodic reports of progress 
Activity 4 Monitor utilization of funds against agreed budgets and provided periodic updates on expenditures
Activity 5 Support documentation of all aspects of the rollout and share information across regions and countries
Activity 6 Develop draft reports for submission to donor(s) periodically

6. Specific requirements

– Qualifications:                           
Essential: minimum first university degree in Public Health, Medicine and/or project management
Desirable: additional qualification in the above fields
 
– Experience:
Essential: At least five (5) years of experience in project management in the area of public health; communicable diseases; water sanitation and hygiene; and/or AMR.
Desirable: Previous experience with antimicrobial stewardship. Experience working in the UN.
 
– Technical skills and knowledge:

• Excellent writing and editing skills
• Excellent organizational and scheduling skills
• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to build strong relationships with a variety of stakeholders across different sectors
• Excellent analytical and presentation skills
• Self-discipline with the ability to work with autonomy and as part of a team

 
– WHO Competencies:

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

 
– Language requirements:
Fluency in English (both oral and written).
An additional UN language would be an advantage.

7. Place of assignment

The consultancy will be initiated remotely (home-based) under a teleworking arrangement. Virtual meetings with the Geneva-based GCP Department will take place during regular office hours (Central European Time). If regulations allow, a transition to work from Geneva would be strongly preferred.

8. Travel

When the department or office concerned determines that travel is necessary in order for the consultant to perform the work, a travel request will be raised and per diem will be applied as per WHO payment regulations.

9. Fee rate, contract duration, timing of payments and performance evaluation

The remuneration will be based on a monthly fee in the range US$7,000 – US$9,000, depending on the selected consultant’s degree of specialization, knowledge, qualifications, experience and skills. This is in accordance with the WHO remuneration scales for international consultants. The daily fee will be agreed between WHO and the selected consultant in advance. The contract will cover a 6-month period. Payments will be made following satisfactory completion of a set of deliverables. Other terms and conditions of employment will be in accordance with WHO policy on the employment of consultants (details available upon request).

10. How to prepare and submit a proposal in reply to this tender

1. Content of the proposal

1. A cover letter explaining the bidder’s motivation for applying to this position.
2. A copy, in .pdf format, of the bidder’s updated CV or Personal History Form (preferred option, detailed instructions on how to do this through the following link: http://www.who.int/careers/process/instructions-for-candidates.pdf?ua=1).
   PLEASE NOTE: The selected candidate(s) will be asked to produce copies of all degrees/diplomas/certificates as mentioned in their CVs or Personal History Forms, as well as a copy of their passport and other documents as appropriate.
3. Full contact details.
4. Description and contact details of at least two recent references (the references shall be related to the present Terms of Reference).

 
Incomplete proposals will not be considered.

2. Questions during preparation of proposal

A prospective bidder requiring any clarification on technical, contractual or commercial matters may notify WHO via e-mail (whoams@who.int) no later than 3 June, 2021 hours, 23.59 hours Central European Time (Geneva time).

3. Deadline for submission of proposal

The deadline for final submissions of proposals is 9 June, 2021 23.59 hours Central European Time (Geneva time).

4. Email address for submission of proposal

Final duly completed proposals should be submitted in electronic format by e-mail to: whoams@who.int with subject reference clearly marked as reference number HQ/AMR/GCP/2021/7.
 
Additional Information section:

• This vacancy notice may be used to identify candidates for other similar consultancies.
• Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.
• A written test and interview will 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.