International Consultant – Adapting global guidance to optimize treatment for people living with HIV

Purpose of consultancy

This consultancy is to engage the services of an international expert to update the national guidelines of HIV clinical management, in Myanmar. Working together with a national consultant, and in close coordination with the WHO Country Office (WCO), the consultant has to review the current national guidelines in view of the latest WHO guidelines and develop the update one in line with the current country context. From this guideline’s development, HIV service providers will be able to provide simplify and the most optimal treatment to PLHIV in Myanmar.

Background

HIV treatment in Myanmar started since 2003 and expanded gradually in two decades to provide ART for more than 200,000 patients in 2022. ART treatment was limited in early years and only the sickest patients were eligible to get treated. Along with the evolution of Global recommendation, ART eligibility criteria in the national guidelines in Myanmar also adopted ‘treat all’ in 2017. The 2017 national guidelines was updated based on the 2016 WHO global guidelines. As there were some new guidance on new ARV transition, cryptococcal meningitis etc., in 2018 amendment to 2017 national guidelines was also developed. Since then, there were global guidance and new recommendations that came out and updated WHO consolidated guidelines were also published in 2021. Hence, national guidelines need to be updated accordingly.

Deliverables

Output 1: Outline of the updated guidelines developed with the areas identified to be updated

• Deliverable 1.1: Review existing national guidelines

• Deliverable 1.2: Outline a framework for the updated guidelines and identify the technical updates should be reflected in national guidelines

Output 2: Updated national guidelines with inputs from stakeholders incorporated in iterative drafts

• Deliverable 2.1: Prepare updated draft and incorporate feedback towards finalizing for proposing a comprehensive but simplified national HIV clinical management guidelines

Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Educational Qualifications:

Essential: Medical degree from recognized university

Desirable: Advanced university degree in tropical medicine or Specific trainings related to HIV clinical management

Experience

Essential: Minimum 7 years of experience in HIV field and 5 years in HIV clinical management.

Desirable: Multi-countries experience in the field of HIV, experience on guidelines and SOP development

Skills/Knowledge:

• Excellent writing skill on guidelines/SOP
• Public health programming
• Teamwork
• Communication

Technical Expertise:

Strong knowledge on HIV clinical management

Languages and level required (Basic/Intermediate/Advanced):

Expert level of English is essential (Read-Write-Speak)

Location

Off site: Teleworking technical support (please indicate location/address).

Travel

Not applicable

Remuneration and budget (travel costs are excluded):

1. Remuneration: Band Level: B; daily remuneration of USD 400
2. Expected duration of contract: 20 days (1 June 2023 to 31 July 2023)

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) in English 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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• 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.
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