Consultant – Selection and use of essential medicines, Anti-infectives and Antimicrobial resistance, Anywhere

Consultant

Selection and use of essential medicines, Anti-infectives and Antimicrobial resistance

( 2301220 )

Contractual Arrangement : External consultant

Contract Duration (Years, Months, Days) : 9 months

Job Posting: Feb 8, 2023, 8:01:32 AM

Purpose of consultancy

To contribute to the finalization of activities related to the 2023 update of the WHO Model List of Essential Medicines (EML) (the 24th WHO Expert Committee on the Selection and Use of Essential Medicines will take place from 24 to 28 April 2023 at WHO Headquarters in Geneva) and the preparation of the 2025 update, including the activities of the EML Antimicrobial Working Group and EML Cancer Medicines Working Group.

To provide technical input to activities regarding the implementation and the update of the WHO AWaRe antibiotic book and the update of the electronic EML and related databases.

Background

The WHO Model List of Essential Medicines (EML) is updated every two years by the WHO Expert Committee on Selection and the Use of Medicines. The latest (22nd) EML was published in 2021, it contains more than 470 medicines that meet priority health needs globally. The EML serves as a guide for countries or regional authorities to prioritize medicines for national/regional selection in accordance with local priorities and treatment guidelines.

To ensure the greatest utility of the next revision of the Model List in 2023, considerable efforts are needed by the WHO EML Team Secretariat to prepare the background documents, draft the technical report of the meeting, to document the recommendations of the Expert Committee, prepare the updated Model Lists for publication and update the electronic EML. Furthermore, suggestions by the Expert Committee may result in the necessity to organize and establish activities for the next update.

The WHO AWaRe antibiotic book, published at the end of 2022, is an important tool help countries control AMR and achieve WHO’s target of overall antibiotic use being at least 60% Access. In order to ensure uptake and optimal utility of the book implementation activities need to be elaborated and updates of the book content will need to be prepared.

The WHO EML, the AWaRe database and the AWaRe antibiotic book are also published as online information tools providing users access to all recommendations and background contents.

Deliverables

• Deliverable 1: Contribute to the drafting, finalizing and publishing of the technical report of the 2023 Expert Committee.
• Deliverable 2: Drafting of a short (10-15 pages) document outlining an implementation plan and plan for update of the WHO AWaRe antibiotic book and drafting of the content of a two page infographic on the the AWaRe classification and the AWaRe antibiotic book.
• Deliverable 3: Update of the (link) and (link) databases.

Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Educational Qualifications:

Essential:

• First university degree in pharmacy or medicine.

Desirable:

• An advanced university degree in public health or epidemiology.

Experience

Essential:

• At least three years of relevant experience in public health.
• At least one year of relevant experience in the area of antibiotic use/antimicrobial resistance.

Desirable:

• Experience working in low- and middle-income countries.

Skills/Knowledge:

Essential:

• Excellent technical writing skills.
• Good communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to work in a multicultural team and maintain effective working relationships with recognized experts and stakeholders.
• Strong methodological and analytical skills with the ability to conduct research, identify and analyse literature relevant to the programme area.
• Good planning and organizational skills with attention to detail and with the ability to multi-task and work under pressure.
• Strong IT skills: Word, Excel, presentation software, databases and web navigators.
• Strong technical knowledge in medicines selection and use.

• Strong technical knowledge about anti-infectives and antimicrobial resistance.

Languages required:

Essential:

• Expert knowledge of English.

Desirable:

• Intermediate knowledge of any other UN official languages.

Location

Off-site – Home based.

Travel

The consultant is expected to travel.

Remuneration and budget (travel costs are excluded):

Remuneration:

Band level A

USD 3,955

6,980 per month

Living expenses (A living expense is payable to on-site consultants who are internationally recruited):

N/A

Expected duration of contract:

9 months.

Additional Information

• This vacancy notice may be used to identify candidates for other similar consultancies at the same level.
• Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.
• A written test may be used as a form of screening.
• If your candidature is retained for interview, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. WHO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed through the link: (link) Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and will require individual review.
• For information on WHO’s operations please visit: (link)
• WHO is committed to workforce diversity.
• WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.
• Applications from women and from nationals of non and underrepresented Member States are particularly encouraged.
• 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.
• Consultants shall perform the work as independent contractors in a personal capacity, and not as a representative of any entity or authority. The execution of the work under a consultant contract does not create an employer/employee relationship between WHO and the Consultant.
• WHO shall have no responsibility whatsoever for any taxes, duties, social security contributions or other contributions payable by the Consultant. The Consultant shall be solely responsible for withholding and paying any taxes, duties, social security contributions and any other contributions which are applicable to the Consultant in each location/jurisdiction in which the work hereunder is performed, and the Consultant shall not be entitled to any reimbursement thereof by WHO.
• Consultants working in Switzerland must register with the applicable Swiss cantonal tax authorities and social security authorities, within the prescribed timeframes (Guidelines issued by the Swiss Mission are available at: (link)-onu-geneve/en/home/manual-regime-privileges-and-immunities/introduction/Manuel-personnes-sans-privileges-et-immunites-carte-H/Non fonctionnaires et stagiaires.html