Purpose of the Consultancy

The incumbent will provide support to the Executive Officer, Office of Director for Programme Management, and the Technical Officer (AMR Coordination) to facilitate joint missions with relevant divisions to countries and develop AMR country strategy case studies accordingly.

Background

Advancing the development of cross-cutting programmes – in which multiple sectors are involved – is always challenging, given the complexity of issues and the joint efforts needed to coordinate between sectors and divisions. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of it, which was included as one of the thematic priorities of WHO in the Western Pacific Region to fulfil the vision of building the healthiest and safest region. Cross-cutting coordination is essential to foster a sustainable system in which antimicrobials remain effective to save lives. Combatting AMR involves managing interactions between humans, animals and the environment, as well as a wide range of sectors, including: infection prevention and control; surveillance; water sanitation and hygiene; food safety; immunization; regulatory strengthening for medical products; laboratory capacity and diagnostic stewardship; environmental health; animal health; awareness-raising and advocacy.

The key is to engage all stakeholders in order to amass expertise and influence. With this concept in mind, the WHO Regional Office started early in 2023 to bring together stakeholders within the Organization with the Mechanism. Led by the directors of Programme Management and Health Systems and Services, the Mechanism also includes technical divisions responsible for programmes related to AMR in the divisions of Health System and Services, Health Security and Emergencies and Programmes for Disease Control. The Division of Healthy Environments and Populations, the Data, Strategy and Innovation group and communications team also contributed by expanding partnerships and adapting new approaches, including Communication for Health. The Division of Pacific Technical Support and WHO country offices are also key members of this Mechanism, given their role in strategic planning, implementation and advocacy at the country level.

The AMR Coordination Mechanism focuses on action for country impact through cross-cutting collaboration. The Mechanism has been working to identify key drivers of AMR and gaps in countries, as well as priority actions with result-based metrics, the Global Action Plan and the Framework for Accelerating Action to Fight Antimicrobial Resistance in the Western Pacific Region as a foundation. Specifically, a project was launched in 2023 by the Regional Office to identify key gaps and priorities in selected countries. The project went through situation analysis based on available resources, identified potential gaps using a people-centred framework, and proposed a set of key priorities with timeline based on impact-feasibility metrics for each country – Philippines, Fiji, Papua New Guinea and Viet Nam. Based on the findings at country level, the report advised the Regional Office with a set of priority topics where coordinated support from relevant divisions could focus on.

As a follow up of this study, the Regional Office plans to organize a series of joint missions with relevant staff and experts to look into the findings of the study, identify the root causes and explore the tipping point that can trigger the change to address the root cause. This is to ensure that WHO is providing a more targeted support and advice to the Member States, and also the coordination around AMR is objective- and project-based and can lead to country impact as it originally planned.

With this idea in mind, the DPM Division at the Regional Office is looking for a consultant to provide full-time support to this joint mission(s), facilitate in-depth discussion during the mission and write country case study for AMR coordination accordingly. The consultant will also support organizing and developing conference materials for the AMR Ministerial Meeting planned for 2024.

Deliverables

Under the supervision of the Executive Officer, Office of Director for Programme Management, and the Technical Officer (AMR Coordination), the incumbent provides support to the team as follows:

Output 1: Organize of a series of joint mission to countries consisting of relevant staff and experts, and facilitate meetings and discussions to identify the root causes of the key gaps of AMR and the action point to initiate the change at country level

Deliverable 1.1: Based on the key findings of the AMR gap and priority assessment study (report will be provided), develop concept note of phase II of the study, including the terms of reference of a joint mission on a certain topic in collaboration with relevant staff at the Regional Office and country offices
Deliverable 1.2: Work with TO (AMR Coordination) and develop the participants list of each joint mission, draft agenda and meeting documents, and facilitate in-depth discussion during the mission
Deliverable 1.3: Prepare mission documents including meeting minutes, travel report, summary of the mission, discussions and recommendation to WHO and Member States as next steps

Output 2: Write country case studies based on the two phases of the AMR gaps and priorities assessment study
Deliverable 2.1: Write country case studies for AMR coordination to support prioritization and implementation at country level
Deliverable 2.2: Assist WHO in submitting the case studies in a WHO publication and/or academic journal.

Output 3: Support organizing and developing conference materials for the AMR Ministerial Meeting planned for 2024
Deliverable 3.1: Support developing meeting materials including agenda, talking points, press release, communique, and meeting summary
Deliverable 3.2: Support facilitating discussions during the meeting as required.

Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Educational Qualifications:

Essential: University degree in public health, medicine, infectious diseases, social science or communication.

Experience:

Essential: Minimum five years of working experience in the field of AMR, One Health, prevention and management of infectious diseases with drug-resistant pathogens or relevant areas Experience in strategic planning Experience in cross-cutting coordination
Desirable: Experience in policy advocacy and communications. Experience working with WHO or other UN agencies.

Skills and knowledge:

Ability to develop strategies and planning document
Ability to write quality documents that meet the publication standard
Proactive and capable of effective communication and teamwork.

Language:

Expert knowledge of English (speak/read/write)

Location

On site: Manila, Philippines

Travel

The consultant is not expected to travel.

Remuneration and budget

Remuneration: USD 7,000
Expected duration of contract: 11 months, 1 March 2024 to 31 January 2025

Additional Information:

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