Consultancy to support the HCV normative guideline development process

Project summary:

 

In 2014, WHO launched the 1st Guidelines for the screening, care and treatment of persons with chronic hepatitis C infection. In 2016, an update to the guidelines was developed and a guideline development committee met to develop new recommendations that were not included in the 2014 guidelines.  The Global Hepatitis Programme (GHP) of WHO aims to update the HCV treatment guidelines and disseminate these by the end of 2017.  It will follow the same format as in 2016.

 

The 2017 HCV treatment guideline development process will include a Guideline Development Committee (GDG), who will provide guidance on PICO questions via a series of scoping meetings and teleconferences from April 2017 to December 2017. The release of the final document is anticipated by the end of 2017.

                                                                                   

The 2017 HCV treatment update process has already started and PICO questions are under development and fairly well established. The Guideline Development Group has been nominated.

 

Objectives of the assignment:

The consultant will assist WHO/HIV/GHP with technical and project management expertise to support the 2017 HCV treatment guideline development process. 

 

Main Tasks:

The main objective is to provide technical and project management support to the GHP Team lead  who heads the Secretariat for the 2017 HCV treatment guideline development process. The outlined tasks and deliverables for this contract are:

                                                                              

1.      Develop and regularly update, an overall concept and detailed work plan for the elaboration of the normative Guidelines.

2.      Support the development of scoping documents and prepare the initial GRC planning proposal and final GRC submission of the HCV treatment guideline document.

3.      Prepare back ground documents, draft presentations, and minutes for the meetings of the HCV treatment guideline WHO Steering Group and monitor the implementation of agreed action points. Ensure accurate and accessible filing on the meetings. 

4.      Facilitate the systematic reviews and data synthesis on HCV treatment and service delivery approaches by drafting terms of reference for systematic reviews (other work may include modelling, literature reviews, values and preferences etc.) needed for normative and implementation guidance. Ensure the cohesiveness of various components (including the complementarity of PICO questions).

5.      Prepare the discussion documents for the teleconferences and meetings with the Guidelines Development Group, draft agenda’s and develop minutes. Support other subgroup meetings as required. Ensure accurate and accessible filing on the meetings and teleconferences.

6.      Facilitate internal and external communication on the HCV treatment guideline process and ensure updated mailing lists and contact database.

7.      Prepare communications for the Team Lead for stakeholders based on the roles assigned in the work plan, from groups and contributors, and ensure that an accurate filing system is maintained.

8.      Draft mock-ups for the guideline chapters and conduct a technical editing and quality control of all components, as well as ensure adherence to a joint format and style. Track the contributions to be handed in. Provide technical input on agreed upon chapters as requested by the GHP coordinator.

9.      Draft six-monthly UNITAID grant reports related to the normative guidance development.

10.    Facilitate support to the guideline publication and products in terms of lay-out and printing production checking and proof reading.

11.    Support GHP in convening a group of implementation experts on hepatitis service delivery or other defined areas to reach consensus on implementation science research gaps. Prepare back ground documents, draft agenda’s, and produce minutes of the meetings.

12.    Propose a mechanism to monitor the implementation of guidance to identify focus/early adopter countries to enable adoption of existing WHO recommendations. Compile best estimates of the key indicators of the cascade of testing, care and treatment (core indicators C2, C6, C7 and C8) in the focus countries. This will be done in collaboration with our Strategic Information unit and the country intelligence system.

 

Key requirements for this consultancy:

 

Essential Education:

Master University Degree in Medicine and/or Public health

Desirable Education:

Project management certificate

 

Essential Work experience:

Five years of public health work experience of which at least four years in the field of HIV or Hepatitis.

Desirable Work experience:

Experience in systematic reviews, guideline development, and in WHO will be an asset. Experience in Hepatitis guideline development will be an asset.

                              

Skills and Competencies:

• Good communication and presentation skills
• Demonstrated capacity to write and communicate in English
• Ability to work as part of a team, and high level of interpersonal skills to work with Ministry of Health officials and partners
• Good organisation skills

 

Additional information:

 

The place of performance of the work under the Contract shall be on site, within the WHO premises at WHO headquarters in Geneva (Switzerland).

 

The implementation of the assignment may require international travel; costs for such travel will be borne by WHO according to its rules and regulations. The contractor has to be legally entitled to work in the country or countries where the work is to be carried out, and is expected to be in the possession of an unrestricted passport.

 

This consultancy will be initiated for 12 months, and for 12 days per month. Upon successful completion, it may be prolonged up to  a maximum of 24 months as agreed upon by both parties following the conditions in the first part of the contract (but adjusted based on annual inflation)  and pending on the availability of resources and performance.

 

Submission of proposals:

 

No later than 30 May 2017 (17:00 CET), the bidder shall complete and return by either email or hard copy to WHO (only when this step is completed the bidder is regarded as a prospective bidder):

a)      Covering letter signed by the respective authority.

b)      Proposal (including, but not restricted to, technical and financial documents).

c)      2017HTMHIV008 RFP Confidentiality Undertaking  form completed/signed.

d)      2017HTMHIV008 RFP Acknowledgement form completed/signed as confirmation of the bidder's intention to submit a bona fide proposal and designate its representative to whom communications may be directed, including any addenda.

e)      2017HTMHIV008 RFP Acceptance form completed/signed.

f)       2017HTMHIV008 RFP Completeness form completed/signed.

 

A prospective bidder requiring any clarification on technical, contractual or commercial matters may notify WHO via email at the following address no later than 23 May 2017 (17:00 CET).

 

• Email for submissions of forms and/or proposal:    pdifin@who.int

(use subject: Bid Ref 2017/HTM/HIV/008)

• Mailing address for submission of proposal:

World Health Organization

­­­­Mr. Jerome Peron

HQ/HIV, PDI/FIN, D45034

Bid Ref: 2017/HTM/HIV/008

20, Avenue Appia

CH-1211 Geneva 27             

 

Refer to attached documents for additional information.