Consultant - Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) surveillance, WPRO

Purpose of consultancy

The consultant will lead implementing “Framework for Accelerating Action to Fight Antimicrobial Resistance in the Western Pacific Region to fight AMR”, by strengthening national AMR surveillance systems and laboratory capacity at the country level and by generating robust evidence to stimulate political agility for policy makers to take swift actions.

Background

Western Pacific Region” provides 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. The framework guides 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 four thematic priorities in the region, WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific (WPRO) has been supporting Member States to fight AMR and avert its long-term impacts.

AMR surveillance is key for detecting outbreaks of AMR pathogens, which often become life threatening and require an immediate response, and also yields data to further improve antimicrobial stewardship and clinical practice, as well as monitoring trends in infection and resistance. AMR surveillance should also support assessment of interventions to reduce AMR.

AMR surveillance and outbreak response being one of priorities in the regional AMR framework, WPRO has published “Responding to outbreaks of antimicrobial-resistant pathogens in health-care facilities: guidance for the Western Pacific region” and “Guidance on setting up local and national AMR surveillance systems for countries in the Western Pacific Region”, development of which were requested by Member States. WPRO is supporting capacity building for AMR outbreak response and surveillance using these guidance documents. Furthermore, WPRO hosted an “Informal consultation on strengthening surveillance systems of AMR and antimicrobial consumption in the Western Pacific” in September 2023 to accelerate actions to fight AMR.

The regional framework lists stimulating political agility by developing robust evidence to inform policy makers for swift and timely action to fight AMR as a priority action. In order to strengthen the evidence base on the imminent threat of AMR in the Western Pacific Region and its cost implications, WPRO published “Health and Economic Impacts of Antimicrobial Resistance in the Western Pacific Region, 2020-2030” to provide evidence and advocacy points in order to persuade policy makers and the general public of the importance of taking action to combat the threat of AMR. A next step will be to generate disease burden estimates at country level and/or subregional level, as well as an investment case for this region.

WPRO also supported the initiative to Accelerate action to fight AMR in the Asia-Pacific including the endorsement of the Joint Position Paper on AMR in the human health sector by 30 countries in the Asia-Pacific as a demonstration of political commitment to further tackle AMR in the Asia-Pacific.

Deliverables

Under the supervision of the Essential Medicines and Health Technologies unit, the incumbent will undertake the following activities:

Output 1. Organize and facilitate the roll out of the published “Guidance on setting up local and national AMR surveillance systems in the Western Pacific Region” for the development and/or strengthening of AMR surveillance system in countries
Deliverable 1.1: Develop tools for the roll-out of the “Guidance on setting up local and national AMR surveillance systems in the Western Pacific Region” that matches each country mission to strengthen Member States’ AMR surveillance system and laboratory capacity and to monitor/evaluate the effective implementation.
Deliverable 1.2: Conduct on-site AMR surveillance visits to assess and create strategy for AMR outbreak response for Cambodia, Mongolia, Lao PDR, Philippines, Solomon Islands, and Viet Nam.

Output 2. Provide consultative guidance to the development or review of the available AMR surveillance and laboratory policies and guidelines in selected countries
Deliverable 2.1 Review and adapt the AMR surveillance policies and guidelines documents for Cambodia, Fiji, Mongolia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Solomon Islands, and Viet Nam
Deliverable 2.2: Strengthen the policy and guidelines of Member States, using “Guidance on setting up local and national AMR surveillance systems in the Western Pacific Region” and “WPRO AMR surveillance system assessment tool”

Output 3. Facilitate the preparations and convening of the Tokyo AMR One Health Conference (Feb 18-19, 2025), hosted by Japan and co-hosted by WPRO, to accelerate action on AMR in the Asia-Pacific, building on the 2016 Tokyo AMR Ministerial Meeting and the 2024 Joint Position Paper on AMR.
Deliverable 3.1: Partner and facilitate discussions with key stakeholders to explore perceptions of and expectations towards implementation, monitoring and evaluation of national action plan for AMR
Deliverale 3.2: Generate robust evidence, following discussions with stakeholders, to stimulate political agility for policy makers to take swift actions to fight AMR in the Western Pacific Region
Deliverable 3.3: Develop executive action document as a meeting outcome
Deliverable 3.4: Provide technical insights on developing presentations and posters for Member States.
Deliverable 3.5: Provide consultative guidance to the Japan’s AMR response document to be published during the conference.
Deliverable 3.5: Provide on-site support and consultative advice during the conference to stimulate political agility

Output 4. Provide consultative guidance for the convening of the regional AMR surveillance meeting planned for quarter 3 in 2025.
Deliverable 4.1 Develop the meeting planning document, outcome document and recommendations
Deliverable 4.2 Develop official meeting documents and agenda.
Deliverable 4.3 Provide guidance to the development of the presentations, posters, and meeting reports.
Deliverable 4.4 Provide on-site support during the meeting.

Output 5. Technical report
Deliverable 5.1 Submission of monthly progress reports for the duration of the contract.
Deliverable 5.2 Submission of a final technical report along with all deliverables.

Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Educational Qualifications:

Essential: Bachelor’s degree in medicine in addition to master’s degree in public health, infectious diseases, epidemiology or microbiology or any relevant field from a recognized institution.

Experience:

Essential: At least 10 years of work experience in managing or advising on AMR or drug-resistant infectious diseases programmes, including clinical management, surveillance, laboratory and/or coordination.
International experience is mandatory for international consultants.
Desirable: Experience in working in the UN system. Experience in generating evidence in the area of AMR Experience in AMR surveillance. Experience in supporting programme implementation for vertical infectious diseases with potential AMR, such as HIV, TB and STIs.. Experience working on areas of AMR in resource-limited setting including Asia-Pacific.

Skills/Knowledge:

Essential: Knowledge of AMR surveillance, analytical and writing skills, communication, interpersonal and presentation skills

Languages and level required:

Essential: Expert knowledge of English

Location

Off site: Home-based with potential duty travels

Travel

The consultant is expected to travel to provide on-site support for Tokyo AMR One Health Conference for 18-19 February 2025 and potential AMR surveillance missions to countries, including Cambodia, Mongolia, Lao PDR, Philippines, Solomon Islands, and Viet Nam.

Remuneration and budget:

Remuneration: Band level C, USD 540.00 (daily)

Expected duration of contract: 11 Months, February to December 2025

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