Job Description

Contractual Arrangement: External consultant
Contract Duration (Years, Months, Days): 5.5 months
Job Posting: Jul 21, 2022, 4:43:46 AM
Closing Date: Aug 4, 2022, 4:59:00 PM
Primary Location: Philippines
Other Locations: Anywhere
Organization: WP/DHS Division of Health Systems and Services
Schedule: Full-time


IMPORTANT NOTICE: Please note that the deadline for receipt of applications indicated above reflects your personal device's system settings.

.. 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 surveillak,6ynce 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. AMR surveillance is the key area which detects occurrence of outbreaks which often become life threatening and requires 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 allow for assessment of interventions to reduce AMR. AMR surveillance being one of priorities in the regional AMR framework, WPRO finalized “Guidance on setting up local and national AMR surveillance systems for countries in the Western Pacific Region” and “AMR outbreak response guidance in the Western Pacific” to support strengthening or setting up AMR surveillance system and also outbreak response caused by AMR pathogens 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, as well as “Guidance on setting up local and national AMR surveillance systems for countries in the Western Pacific Region” and “AMR outbreak response guidance in the Western Pacific”, focusing on strengthening of AMR surveillance including laboratory and outbreak response, the incumbent is responsible for, but not necessarily limited to, the following duties:

• Support mapping and desk-top review of AMR national action plan in the region

• Support mapping and desk-top review of AMR surveillance system for selected countries in the region

• Support implementing capacity building assessments, visits and workshops to strengthen AMR surveillance and laboratories for human health, with support from partners such as WHO Collaborating Centres

• Support mapping and desk-top review of external quality assessment for national reference laboratory in the Member States in the region

• Support strengthening capacity for AMR outbreak response in the region

• 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. Support AMR national action plan in the member states Deliverable 1.1 Mapping and desk-top review of AMR national action plan in the Member States in the region and generation of report Deliverable 1.2 Input to/review 2nd national action plan for at least two countries Output 2. Support strengthening AMR surveillance and laboratory capacity Deliverable 2.1 Assessment tool for AMR surveillance system/laboratory Deliverable 2.2 Evaluation of AMR surveillance system including national reference laboratory capacity in selected countries and generation of report Deliverable 2.3 Coordination, organization and planning of meeting and/or workshop(s) (virtually or on site) needed for delivery 2.2 and delivery of event(s) report(s) Output 3. Support building external quality assessment for AMR laboratories in the region Deliverable 3.1 Mapping and desk-top review of existing external quality assessment support in the region and generation of report Deliverable 3.2 Identification of need for external quality assessment from countries and generation of report Deliverable 3.3 Support coordination with WHO collaborating centres and external partners to build sustainable network to support EQA in the region. Output 4. Support strengthening AMR outbreak response Deliverable 4.1 Development of training materials for AMR outbreak response using “AMR outbreak response guidance in the Western Pacific” Deliverable 4.2 Coordination, planning and implementation of training workshop(s) for AMR outbreak response as requested by Member States Output 5. Technical report Deliverable 5.1 submission of monthly progress report Deliverable 5.2 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 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. Desirable: Advanced university degree in public health, infectious diseases, epidemiology, microbiology or relevant field is an asset.
EXPERIENCE Essential:

• At least 3 (three) years of working experience in the field of AMR, including surveillance, laboratory, clinical practice, and/or outbreak response

Desirable:

• Experience in working in the UN systems
• Experience in working for the government
• Experience in AMR surveillance
• Experience in laboratory
• Experience in infectious disease outbreak response
• Experience working on areas of AMR in resource-limited setting including the 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 Member States in the Western Pacific region 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 may have duty travels to Member state(s).
• WHO prides itself on a workforce that adheres to the highest ethical and professional standards and that is committed to put the WHO Values Charter into practice.
• WHO has zero tolerance towards sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct (i.e., discrimination, abuse of authority and harassment). All members of the WHO workforce have a role to play in promoting a safe and respectful workplace and should report to WHO any actual or suspected cases of SEA, sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct. To ensure that individuals with a substantiated history of SEA, sexual harassment or other types of abusive conduct are not hired by the Organization, WHO will conduct a background verification of final candidates.