Consultant - Economist for Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) economic investment case.

Purpose of consultancy

To provide technical expertise to the Quadripartite in estimating the costs and co-benefits of AMR response across sectors. The consultant will also contribute to developing, costing and determining the value of key AMR interventions across sectors.The Quadripartite Joint Secretariat on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) consolidates cooperation between the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), drawing on their core mandates to support the global AMR response across the One Health spectrum through global advocacy and political engagement, creation of a shared vision and goals, and providing Secretariat services for global governance structures.

AMR poses severe threats to human, animal, plant and environmental health and global food security. In human health, recent research shows that almost 5 million deaths were associated with AMR globally in 2019. Its potential to undermine trade, commerce, and livelihoods places millions of people at risk of poverty. Estimates of economic losses caused by rising AMR range from approximately 1.1 to 3.8 per cent of annual gross domestic product (GDP) by 2050. Although the risks of AMR to human, animal and plant health and the environment are shared by all countries globally, Low-and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs) bear a more substantial burden of infectious disease and will be most adversely affected by AMR.

There is currently inadequate financial support for the sustainable implementation of multisectoral National Action Plans (NAPs) on AMR. Existing estimates of the costs of antimicrobial resistance containment measures and NAPs’ implementation range from US $4 to $9 billion annually, but experts suggest that these figures may underestimate the actual cost of responding, and not responding, to AMR in a One Health context.

The Quadripartite have prioritized in their 2022-23 joint work plan to estimate the AMR cost and associated co-benefits of AMR response across different sectors to inform global, regional, and country prioritization and resource mobilization.

Background

The Quadripartite Joint Secretariat on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) consolidates cooperation between the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), drawing on their core mandates to support the global AMR response across the One Health spectrum through global advocacy and political engagement, creation of a shared vision and goals, and providing Secretariat services for global governance structures.

AMR poses severe threats to human, animal, plant and environmental health and global food security. In human health, recent research shows that almost 5 million deaths were associated with AMR globally in 2019. Its potential to undermine trade, commerce, and livelihoods places millions of people at risk of poverty. Estimates of economic losses caused by rising AMR range from approximately 1.1 to 3.8 per cent of annual gross domestic product (GDP) by 2050. Although the risks of AMR to human, animal and plant health and the environment are shared by all countries globally, Low-and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs) bear a more substantial burden of infectious disease and will be most adversely affected by AMR.

There is currently inadequate financial support for the sustainable implementation of multisectoral National Action Plans (NAPs) on AMR. Existing estimates of the costs of antimicrobial resistance containment measures and NAPs’ implementation range from US $4 to $9 billion annually, but experts suggest that these figures may underestimate the actual cost of responding, and not responding, to AMR in a One Health context.

The Quadripartite have prioritized in their 2022-23 joint work plan to estimate the AMR cost and associated co-benefits of AMR response across different sectors to inform global, regional, and country prioritization and resource mobilization.

Deliverables

• Deliverable 1: Analyze all relevant studies and available literature providing an estimate of AMR cost; determine interim benchmarks for costing in existing studies, create preliminary hypotheses of qualifying data and available research indicating global AMR cost structures. Expected by: Month 2 and ongoing throughout the contract duration.
• Deliverable 2: Identify and facilitate the convening of key actors associated with past or current initiatives on estimating the economic impact of AMR globally and across all sectors. Expected by: Month 3 and ongoing throughout the contract duration.
• Deliverable 3: Facilitate the Quadripartite Experts Working Group deliberations and outputs in close consultation with a wider range of experts and other stakeholders. Expected by: Ongoing throughout the contract duration.
• Deliverable 4: Highlight critical evidence/data gaps concerning the economics of AMR, including potential costs that are unknown or poorly studied and potential remedies for estimating or providing data to fill the gaps. Expected by: Month 4.
• Deliverable 5: Develop the study protocol, including methods to estimate the cost of AMR action and inaction, and return on investment, and facilitate its validation by the experts across sectors. Expected by: Month 5.
• Deliverable 6: Facilitate expert and stakeholder engagement to build a list of key AMR interventions across sectors. Expected by: Month 6.
• Deliverable 7: Contribute to the development of a global estimate of the costs and a return on investment for key interventions across sectors. Expected by: ongoing throughout the contract duration.
• Deliverable 8: Contribute to the design, development and testing of a toolbox, including a cost-effectiveness model, for national-level investment case development. Expected by: ongoing throughout the contract duration.

Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Educational Qualifications:

Essential:

Advanced university degree in economics or other relevant disciplines.

Experience

Essential:

Over ten (10) years of relevant experience in developing and implementing economic analysis

Skills/Knowledge:

Essential:

• Expertise in economic principles and modelling complex economic concepts.
• Strong quantitative, statistical and analytical skills.
• Familiarity with the use of priority setting/ranking methods.
• Advanced knowledge of use of cost-transfer functions.

Desirable:

• Understanding of the context of the one health and/or AMR.
• Publication track record in the field of economic analysis of global health.

Languages required:

Essential:

Expert knowledge of English.

Desirable:

Knowledge of another UN language.

Location

Off site: Home based.

Travel

Consultant may be required to travel.

Remuneration and budget (travel costs are excluded):

Remuneration:

Band level C. USD 10,000 - 12,500 per month

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

N/A

Expected duration of contract:

11 months (full time or part-time at 50%). Additional contracts may be offered based on availability of funding and satisfactory performance.

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: http://www.whed.net/. Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and will require individual review.
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