Short Term Consultancy (STC) on AMR for tripartite coordination, national action plan and surveillance
POST DESCRIPTION/BACKGROUND
The 2014 Action Agenda for Antimicrobial Resistance in the Western Pacific Region provided guidance for priority actions, including strengthening development and implementation of national plans and raising awareness in multiple sectors, improving surveillance of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and monitoring of antimicrobial use, and strengthening health system capacity to contain AMR. To further advance its implementation, the Framework for Accelerating Action to Fight Antimicrobial Resistance in the Western Pacific Region was endorsed by the Member States in 2019 guiding countries on implementing sustained and forward-looking solutions, drawing on participation from all sectors of society. Guided by this framework and a vision for WHO work with Member States and partners in the Western Pacific: For the Future: Towards the Healthiest and Safest Region, which positions health security including AMR as one of thematic priorities in the region, WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific (WPRO) has been supporting the Member States to fight against AMR to avert its long-term impact.
To advance its global commitment in areas such as AMR or Climate Change, the European Commission (EC) uses a so-called 'Partnership Instrument'. The Partnership Instrument is designed to pursue EU strategic interests globally. The instrument is of worldwide application and serves to promote cooperation and alliance-building on issues of EU or mutual interest and challenges of global concern.
Recognizing the efforts of WHO, OIE and FAO in the Region on AMR, the EC proposed for the tripartite organizations (FAO/OIE/WHO) to lead and implement this instrument on AMR in Asia for four years, starting from 2022. The following countries have been identified by the EC as strategic countries in the Region: China, Japan, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Republic of Korea, Thailand, and Viet Nam. The rationale for collaborating with these countries is to strengthen ties on human, animal health and environment as well as to continue to build relationships with these countries as trading partners.
The overall objective of this programme is to tackle AMR by sharing experiences, advocating best practices and stimulating actions aligned to the WHO Global Action Plan on AMR and WPRO regional AMR framework. This project directly supports priority actions to strengthen health security, including AMR, in the Western Pacific Region, one of the thematic priorities outlined in the vision paper for WPRO: For the Future: Towards the Healthiest and Safest Region. WPRO will be engaged in activities which is aligned with existing mechanisms and ongoing initiatives to achieve long-term goal of averting the impact of AMR in the region.
PURPOSE/SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE OF THE ACTIVITY
To contribute the implementation of the Framework for Accelerating Action to Fight Antimicrobial Resistance in the Western Pacific Region to fight against AMR, focusing on activities funded by the EC, including coordination among tripartite, implementation of AMR NAP, strengthening AMR surveillance, research and innovation, the incumbent is responsible for, but not necessarily limited to, the following duties:
- Support coordination with tripartite and the Member States to plan and host meetings and consultations listed in the proposal document
- Support WPRO and WHO country offices to plan and hold intersectoral national workshop(s) to support implementation of AMR national action plan
- Support implementing capacity building assessments, visits and workshops to the National Reference Laboratory and/or other laboratories for human health, including food safety laboratory, to strengthen their capacities
- Support implementation of measures for prudent use of antimicrobials in the food chain pertaining to Codex and food safety
- Support promoting One Health AMR research and innovation and enable international cooperation via research
- Undertake other activities on AMR, as assigned by responsible unit.
- Submit a final technical report with all deliverables.
DESCRIPTION OF ACTIVITIES TO BE CARRIED OUT
Under the supervision EMT/DHS/WPRO, the consultant will produce the following deliverables:
Output 1. Coordination for planned tripartite meetings with the Member States
Deliverable 1.1 Consultancy proposal/plan with clear timetable for four years
Deliverable 1.2 Agenda and meeting report for each meeting with tripartite and/or the Member States
Deliverable 1.3 Progress report, communication materials and other tasks required for regular progress reporting to the EC
Output 2. Support for implementation of AMR national action plan
Deliverable 2.1 Planning and holding of national workshops for AMR national action plan and generation of meeting report
Deliverable 2.2 Mapping of AMR national action plan for the Member States in the region
Deliverable 2.3 Report on monitoring and evaluation of AMR NAP for the Member States, with use of the WHO costing tool where appropriate
Output 3. Support for strengthening AMR surveillance and laboratory capacity
Deliverable 3.1 Assessment report of AMR surveillance system including national laboratory capacity levels on AMR surveillance (reference laboratories, food safety and/or other relevant laboratories) in selected countries;
Deliverable 3.2 Organization, planning and facilitation of workshop(s) (virtually or on site) to deliver capacity building to national laboratories (national reference laboratory, food safety laboratories and/or other relevant laboratories) to selected countries on AMR and delivery event(s) report(s).
- Deliverable 3.2.2 Support the organization of the workshop(s)
- Deliverable 3.2.3 Participate in the execution of the workshop(s)
- Deliverable 3.2.4 Develop the final meeting report for each event(s)
Output 4. Support for implementation of measures for prudent use of antimicrobials in the food chain pertaining to Codex and food safety
Deliverable 4.1 Support organization and planning of the Regional Tripartite workshop on AMR-related regulatory frameworks in what is pertinent to codex and food safety and support on delivering the meeting report.
Deliverable 4.2 Support activities related to data collection on national legislation reviews related to antimicrobial use, AMR-related regulatory frameworks in what is pertinent to codex and food safety and deliver a technical report with a summary of national legislations and data collected per country.
Output 5. Support for promoting One Health AMR research and innovation and enabling international cooperation via research
Deliverable 5.1 Planning and holding of meetings with other tripartite partners and Member States and generation of meeting report
Deliverable 5.2 List of resource persons (experts) for AMR in human health and one health in the region and beyond
Output 6. Technical report
Deliverable 6.1 Submission of monthly progress report
Deliverable 6.2 Submission of a final technical report along with all deliverables
METHOD(S) TO CARRY OUT THE ACTIVITY
Review key documents, including AMR national action plan, liaison and coordination with WHO country office focal points, tripartite partners and Member States focal point, planning, facilitation of online and/or physical meetings/calls/consultations and coordination of planned activities.
QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE
EDUCATION
Essential: University degree in medicine, veterinary medicine or microbiology
Desirable: Advanced university degree in public health, infectious diseases, epidemiology, microbiology or relevant field is an asset.
EXPERIENCE
Essential:
At least 7 (seven) years of working experience in the field of AMR, including surveillance, laboratory, clinical practice, stewardship, and/or coordination
Desirable:
- • Experience in working in the UN systems
- • Experience in working for the government
- • Experience in intersectoral coordination for AMR agenda, including tripartite coordination
- • Experience in AMR surveillance
- • Experience in laboratory
- • Experience in food safety
- • Experience working on areas of AMR in resource-limited setting including Asia-Pacific.
TECHNICAL SKILLS & KNOWLEDGE
- • Capacity to plan and conduct operational activities;
- • Excellent analytical and presentation skills
- • Computer literacy (Word, Excel, Power Point etc)
- • Excellent communication, interpersonal and presentation skills
- • Outstanding organizational and time-management skills
LANGUAGES
- • Fully fluent written and spoken English is required.
- • Fluency in the official language spoken in the target countries in the region (China, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines, Republic of Korea, and Viet Nam) is a plus.
COMPETENCIES
- • Speaks and writes clearly, adapting communication style and content so they are appropriate to the needs of the intended audience
- • Works productively in an environment where clear information or direction is not always available
- • Produces high-quality results and workable solutions that meet client needs
- • Adapts readily and efficiently to changing priorities and demands
- • Maintains confidentiality and treats sensitive information with discretion
- • Develops plans into clearly defined objectives that take account of changing circumstances
- • Conscientiousness and efficiency in meeting commitments, observing deadlines, and achieving results, in a sustainable manner
- • Show persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges and remains calm in stressful situations
- • Flexibility and adaptability to respond to the fluid interest and demand of stakeholders
- • Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The STC contractor will work under supervision of EMT/DHS/WPRO.
The contractor will be based in Manila, Philippines (on-site) and might have duty travels.
Duration of contract is for 11 months starting May 2022
APPLICATIONS
Qualified and interested specialists should submit the following documents to the Supply Officer through WP RO UNGM at < wproungm@who.int > by 3 May 2022
- • Curriculum Vitae
- • Expression of Interest (cover letter). The cover letter should outline how their experience and qualifications make them a suitable candidate for this position and should include their proposed daily fee and availability.
Please use Tender Notice No. 173014 as subject to all submission. Only successful candidates will be contacted.