Consultant - AMR Pipeline Analysis

Purpose of consultancy

To contribute to the development of the annual WHO antibacterial pipeline analysis.

Background

Antimicrobial resistance is a global public health threat, acknowledged through the endorsement of the Global Action Plan on antimicrobial resistance by the World Health Assembly (resolution WHA68.7) on May 2015, the Political Declaration of the high-level meeting of the General Assembly on AMR in September 2017, as well as the report of the UN Interagency Coordination Group (IACG) on Antimicrobial Resistance.

Objective five of the Global Action Plan is to develop the economic case for sustainable investment that considers the needs of all countries and increases investment in new medicines, diagnostic tools, vaccines, and other interventions.

In response, in September 2017, WHO released the first bacterial priority pathogens list (BPPL) including M. tuberculosis to drive R&D and public health interventions. The WHO is now in the process of updating this list. In addition, against the WHO BPPL, the WHO conducts an annual pipeline analysis of antibacterial agents in clinical and preclinical development to guide R&D efforts towards the production of new antibacterial agents. WHO is now starting the work to update the annual antibacterial pipeline analysis.

In addition, in 2024 WHO plans to develop the first antifungal pipeline analysis.

Deliverables

• Deliverable 1: Perform a literature review of traditional and nontraditional antibacterials in the clinical pipeline from clinical trial databases [ClinicalTrials.gov , International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP) etc.] and PubMed. Perform a desk review to complement data, insights information through website search, poster abstracts. Support WHO in conducting targeted consultations for Russia, China and Japan.
  Expected by: April 2023
• Deliverable 2: Perform an online data call for developers to generate primary preclinical data. Support WHO in conducting targeted consultation for Russia, China and Japan.
  Expected by: May 2023
• Deliverable 3: Facilitate organizing the Advisory Group meeting, including developing the agenda, compiling background materials, drafting presentations and drafting meeting notes.
  Expected by: June 2023
• Deliverable 4: Contribute to trend analysis on the bacterial pipeline data since the first (2017) WHO clinical pipeline review. Analyze yearly data on in order to identify trends in the evolution of the pipeline. Perform statistical analyses, e.g., number of antibiotics that entered phase 1, number of products that progressed across different phases, number of products that were discontinued (and why).
  Expected by: July 2023
• Deliverable 5: Contribute to developing the antibacterial pipeline report, e.g., drafting, preparing data tables and figures, compiling inputs from WHO and clinical and preclinical R&D experts, and incorporating comments from the Advisory Group.
  Expected by: August 2023
• Deliverable 6: Contribute to developing the Bacterial Priority Pathogen List report, e.g., drafting, preparing data tables and figures, compiling inputs and incorporating comments from the Advisory Group. Liaise with designers to ensure technical proofreading and accuracy of technical reports and output.
  Expected by: September 2023
• Deliverable 7: Work on the clinical and preclinical database for the WHO R&D observatory using data collected for the antibacterial pipeline report. Compile data into an Excel file suitable for submission to the observatory.
  Expected by: October 2023
• Deliverable 8: Facilitate the publication process of the antibacterial pipeline report on the WHO website, including drafting a press release, developing social media tiles, website updates, etc.
  Expected by: November 2023
• Deliverable 9: Facilitate the dissemination activities for the antibacterial pipeline report, including drafting presentations for conferences and other events.
  Expected by: January 2024
• Deliverable 10: Facilitate the dissemination activities for the antibacterial pipeline report, including contributing to the development of a scientific publication.
  Expected by: February 2024
• Deliverable 11: Contribute to the kick-off of the first WHO antifungal pipeline analysis. Draft Concept Note/scope of work to be undertaken to develop antifungal pipeline review and facilitate organizing the Advisory Group meeting to review and align.
  Expected by: March 2024

Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Educational Qualifications:

Essential:

• University degree in pharmacy, medicine, biomedical sciences, microbiology or another relevant area specific to antimicrobial resistance and infectious disease.

Desirable:

• Advanced degree (M.Sc., Ph.D.) in pharmacy, medicine, biomedical sciences, microbiology or another relevant area specific to antimicrobial resistance and infectious disease.

Experience

Essential:

• At least 3 years of relevant experience in antimicrobial resistance and infectious disease.

Desirable:

• Experience working for the UN in an international context.

Skills/Knowledge:

Essential:

• Specific technical knowledge in AMR, infectious diseases research, clinical trial, drug development and scientific writing.
• Good knowledge of research and development of treatments for infectious diseases.
• Ability to work independently and in a team.
• Ability to work under pressure with conflicting priorities.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Computer literacy (Microsoft office, Tableau, zoom, etc.).

Languages required:

Essential:

• Expert knowledge of English.

Desirable:

• Intermediate knowledge of another UN official language.

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:

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