Consultant - European Commission Health Emergency Preparedness and Response (HERA) AMR Project

Purpose of consultancy

To contribute to the implementation, coordination and monitoring of an EU-funded three-year project to prevent and control AMR.

Background

The European Commission Directorate General for Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (DG HERA) decided in April 2022 to make a financial contribution to the World Health Organization (WHO) in support of its activities on antimicrobial resistance (AMR), including activities related to SECURE and the Global Antibiotic Research and Development Partnership (GARDP), under its Work Programme 2021 and ‘Action on CP-g-06.7 Strengthening preparedness and response to cross-border health threats at global level’.

Through this contribution, DG HERA wish to support WHO in the implementation of the global action plan on antimicrobial resistance.

This contribution to WHO and GARDP builds on the strategic alignment and strong partnership on AMR between the EU and these two entities. Under this partnership, GARDP is developing new antibiotic treatments against WHO priority pathogens thereby supporting the implementation of WHO’s outputs and outcomes related to AMR under the Programme Budget 2022 - 2023, and the achievement of the GPW13 targets.

WHO in cooperation GARDP will design, run and implement effective global initiatives for the prevention and control of AMR by significantly improving pandemic prevention, preparedness and response. The contribution will also strengthen the partnership between the two organizations and will provide essential resources that enable the WHO to implement AMR priority actions.

Deliverables

• Deliverable 1: Assist in drafting an implementation plan for WHO activities by analyzing the DG HERA award documents (Description of the Action), based on appropriate frameworks and in accordance with donor requirements, and making the appropriate recommendations for action (for example, implementation steps, roles and responsibilities, and timelines). Contribute to the development of the GARDP implementation plan with timeline for implementation and reporting.
  Expected by: April 2023
• Deliverable 2: Contribute to the development of a methodology and framework for monitoring, evaluation and reporting for the DG HERA project. The M&E framework should include quantitative/qualitative indicators, baseline values and targets to be monitored.
  Expected by: May 2023
• Deliverable 3: Facilitate the timely preparation of interim progress reports (technical and financial) for submission to DG HERA. Draft technical progress report and incorporate inputs from GARDP and WHO.
  Expected by: June 2023
• Deliverable 4: Contribute to the development of a Communications and Visibility Plan (including a timeline) in accordance with the EU visibility requirements, WHO guidelines on donor visibility and GARDP’s respective guidelines.
  Expected by: July 2023
• Deliverable 5: Facilitate the submission of research protocols, study instruments, informed consent forms and other associated documents to the WHO Ethics Review Committee (ERC). Ensure timely preparation of protocols and other relevant document for WHO ERC review. Following ERC review, prepare cover memo with point-by-point responses to ERC queries. Ensure timely and accurate submission of revised amended protocol incorporating all the requested amendments, and upon ERC approval, submission of the final protocol.
  Expected by: August 2023
• Deliverable 6: Contribute to developing an interim M&E report that includes: an overall review of the progress and achievements in the implementation of the Action by all parties based on the log frame matrix and indicators and the methodology developed; an evaluation of the achieved results against original activity plans and project deliverables set as milestones; Identification of potential risks and issues and potential mitigating measures.
  Expected by: September 2023
• Deliverable 7: Organize a Project Steering Committee (PSC) meeting to review the development and implementation of the project, identify challenges and issues and discuss corrective actions when necessary. Develop the draft agenda in consultation with WHO, GARP and HERA; prepare background materials, draft minutes and support the IRC Unit in executing/coordinating follow-up actions.
  Expected by: October 2023
• Deliverable 8: Conduct an on-site assessment of GARDP to monitor performance and achievement of deliverables.
  Expected by: November 2023
• Deliverable 9: Ensure the timely preparation of final annual reports (technical and financial) for submission to DG HERA. This includes supporting the Unit in drafting the technical progress report and incorporating inputs from GARDP and WHO and coordinating with responsible officers at WHO and GARDP for the development of the financial report.
  Expected by: December 2023
• Deliverable 10: Contribute to the preparation and submission of requests for payments to the EC in collaboration with the WHO financial services.
  Expected by: January 2024
• Deliverable 11: Facilitate organizing a PSC meeting to review the development and implementation of the project, identify challenges and issues and discuss corrective actions when necessary. Develop draft agenda in consultation with WHO, GARP and HERA; prepare background materials, draft minutes and execute/coordinate follow-up actions.
  Expected by: February 2024

Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Educational Qualifications:

Essential:

• Master's degree in biomedical sciences, pharmacy, medicines, organic chemistry, or another relevant area specific to antimicrobials and/or antimicrobial resistance.

Desirable:

• PhD in biomedical sciences, pharmacy, medicine, organic chemistry, or another relevant area specific to antimicrobials and/or antimicrobial resistance.

Experience

Essential:

• At least 7 years of relevant experience in the area of project coordination, public health and AMR.
• Proven experience as a project/grant manager including experience with monitoring and evaluation plans.
• Experience with communication and visibility plan development and implementation.

Desirable:

• Experience with drug development and/or epidemiological studies on infectious diseases.
• Experience in the management of grants from the European Commission.
• Experience with the submission and review of protocols to Ethic Review Committees.
• Experience working for the UN in an international context.

Skills/Knowledge:

Essential:

• Technical knowledge of AMR.
• Skilled in grant management including monitoring and Evalution and producing and revising complex financial reporting.
• Very good presentation and writing skills demonstrated through reports and publications.
• Track record of delivering results.
• Ability to work independently and in a team.
• Ability to work under pressure with conflicting priorities.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Computer literacy (Word, Excel, Power Point, etc.).

Languages required:

Essential:

• Expert knowledge of English.

Desirable:

• Intermediate knowledge of French.

Location

Off-site – Home based.

Travel

The consultant is expected to travel.

Remuneration and budget (travel costs are excluded):

Remuneration:

Band level B - USD 7,000 - 9,980 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.

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.
• For information on WHO's operations please visit: http://www.who.int.
• 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: https://www.eda.admin.ch/missions/mission-onu-geneve/en/home/manual-regime-privileges-and-immunities/introduction/Manuel-personnes-sans-privileges-et-immunites-carte-H/Non fonctionnaires et stagiaires.html