Consultant (People who inject drugs, HIV and hepatitis)

Result of Service

The consultant will be responsible for the following tasks:

- Review and compile national estimates on people who inject drugs and the prevalence of HIV and hepatitis (C and B) among people who inject drugs, disaggregated by sex wherever available. This will be based on the search of peer-reviewed and “grey” literature such as national reports, together with a review of data routinely collected by UNODC, UNAIDS and WHO or sourced from regional organizations (such as the EMCDDA) and other international organizations.
- Liaise with UNAIDS, WHO and the World Bank, as well as other stakeholders including the UNODC national and regional focal points on HIV and AIDS and civil society organizations on the estimates compiled.
- Produce sub/regional and global estimates on PWID and the prevalence of HIV and hepatitis (C and B) among this group.
- Address any comments and questions related to these estimates from a broad range of stakeholders, including from Member States.
- Produce graphs and maps for inclusion in the WDR 2024 (online segment).
- Review available data by sex and produce an analysis of people who inject drugs and the prevalence of HIV and hepatitis (C and B) among people who inject drugs by gender, including estimates by sex.
- Draft a short narrative summarizing the main developments regarding these estimates and placing them into the global context of drugs and AIDS/hepatitis issues (500-700 words maximum).
- Attend relevant meetings to produce the online segments of the WDR 2024.

Work Location

Home-based

Expected duration

September- December 2023 (with the possibility of extension till March 2024)

Duties and Responsibilities

The Drug Research Section (DRS) within the Research and Trend Analysis Branch (RAB) in the Division of Policy Analysis and Public Affairs (DPA) conducts research on topics related to the drug phenomenon, producing the best available knowledge on the drug situation and trends with a view to providing strategic analyses to support evidence-based policy making. DRS is responsible for the production of the annual World Drug Report (WDR) which aims to improve understanding of the illicit drug problem, to which the consultant will contribute, as relevant.

The purpose of the assignment is to compile national estimates on people who inject drugs (PWID), and the prevalence of HIV, hepatitis C and hepatitis B among this group; and produce regional and global estimates based on national estimates as well as a short narrative summarizing main developments regarding these estimates and placing them into the global context of the drugs and HIV and AIDS issues. These estimates are compiled in collaboration with UNAIDS, WHO and the World Bank for inclusion in the WDR along with regional and global estimates.

The consultant will work under the overall guidance of the Chief of Drug Research Section and the supervision of the Epidemiologist, Drugs Research Section, and in close cooperation with colleagues from the HIV/AIDS Section (HAS), Drugs, Laboratory and Scientific Services Branch, Division of Policy Analysis (DPA).

Qualifications/special skills

• An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in in public health, epidemiology, sociology or a closely related field is required. A first level university degree in similar fields in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• Minimum of 7 years of experience in the field of public health, epidemiology, sociology or a related field with a track record of scientific publications on the subject, or contribution to published reports is required.
• Good record of analytical work based on quantitative methods, preferably in drug use epidemiology, PWID and HIV, or public health is required.
• Experience in managing datasets and the use of statistical software is required.
• Excellent planning and organizational skills are required.
• Demonstrated analytical, research, writing and communication skills are required.
• Experience of working in the epidemiology of PWID and HIV is desirable.
• Experience in producing analytical publications according to UN standards is desirable.

Languages

• English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this position, fluency in English, with excellent drafting and communication skills, is required. Knowledge of another United Nations official language is an advantage.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.