Consultant- AMR

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1. Purpose of the Consultancy

WHO has been providing technical support to the Ministry of Health, Mongolia to develop, implement and monitor policies and plans on antimicrobial resistance within promoting health and healthy environments for all Mongolians through multisectoral engagement and health in all policies and building resilient health systems to advance universal health coverage. The purpose of this national short-term consultancy (STC) is to provide technical assistance to Ministry of Health, Mongolia and other stakeholders to introduce and implement antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) and antimicrobial surveillance programs in selected hospitals and to provide support for strengthening one health approach to manage antimicrobial resistance and antimicrobial use.

The national consultant will be asked to provide technical support and inputs to the development and implementation of national and local guidelines and tools on AMS and AMR pathogen and consumption surveillance in collaboration with an international consultant in collaboration with international expert.

Terms of references for the STC include:

In collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Government agencies under direct support of technical officers, WHO Country and Regional Offices, the consultant will undertake following activities:

1. Conduct a technical review of existing materials and documents on AMR to determine the current gaps in implementing AMS and AMR surveillance.
2. Support the development of guidelines, manuals, and procedures on AMS and AMR surveillance in hospital settings. This support includes:
   1. Situational assessment of selected hospitals on areas of interest.
   2. Translation of guidelines, manuals, and other relevant documents on AMR into English and/or Mongolian essential for effective introduction and implementation of these interventions in hospital settings.
3. Support trainings, workshops, and meetings on AMR by undertaking following approaches in close collaboration with consultant(s) and expert(s) as well as national/local counterparts:
   1. Preparation of relevant tools and guidelines as well as training materials (including but not limited to point-prevalence or medicines/antibiotics use survey) into Mongolian and/or English as required.
   2. Train relevant experts, members.
   3. Facilitation of trainings on AMS program.
   4. Provide support in monitoring and evaluation of AMS implementations.
   5. Oral translation support from English to Mongolian and vice versa.
4. Convene and facilitate review meetings of relevant stakeholders to develop key materials including but not limited to antimicrobial stewardship and antimicrobial surveillance.
5. Provide technical support to the implementation, monitoring and reporting of the multi-sectoral action plan on antimicrobial resistance in Mongolia 2022-2025.
6. Provide technical support for implementation of the Multi-Partner Trust Fund project “One Health approach to manage Antimicrobial Resistance and Antimicrobial Use”
7. Compile national and local policies/guidelines/tools and documents on AMR and translate them as required, and
8. Submit a final report, including newly developed tools and guidelines, and recommendations and timeline for key next steps.

2. Background

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a major threat to global health and security. It endangers decades of progress made in modern medicine and public health. Although inappropriate use of antimicrobials is regarded as one of the main drivers of AMR, monitoring antimicrobial use is underdeveloped in large parts of the world. The WHO Regional Committee for the Western Pacific adopted For the Future: Towards the Healthiest and Safest Region (WPR/2020/RDO/001) in 2019 as a vision to guide WHO’s work with Member States on health priorities in the coming years. Health security, including AMR, is one of the four priorities in the vision, which proposes new ways of working to help countries address complex issues relating to health and development.

The second Multi-Sectoral Action Plan on Combating Antimicrobial Resistance (MNAP), 2022-2025, Mongolia was endorsed in May 2022 by the Minister of Health and Minister of Agriculture and Light Industry to provide directions and framework for combating AMR. Two of the five objectives are:

• Improve the detection and surveillance of antimicrobial resistance, to strengthen the capacity to collate, analyse and inform data on antimicrobial resistance on national level.
• Control the use of antimicrobials, reduce inappropriate use of antimicrobials, and strengthen responsible use of antimicrobials by implementing effective stewardship programs.

Ministry of Health, along with other sectors have made a significant progress on combating antimicrobial resistance in Mongolia. AMR- Multi-Partner Trust Fund will be implemented in Mongolia from January 2025.

3. Planned timelines: 9 months

Start date: 1 July 2023

End date: 30 Jun 2024

Duration: 11 months

4. Work to be performed

Outputs: The consultant is expected to deliver the following products:

Output 1: Provision of guidelines, manuals, and procedures on AMS and AMR surveillance in hospital settings in both languages (Mongolian and English)

Deliverable 1.1 consultancy plan

Deliverable 1.2 situation/assessment reports of selected hospitals on AMS and AMR surveillance as required

Deliverable 1.3 guidelines, manuals, and procedures for AMS and AMR surveillance as required

Output 2: Provision of training materials and activity reports

Deliverable 2.1 tools, guidelines and training materials in both languages as required

Deliverable 2.2 reports of events conducted during this consultancy

Output 3: Provision of technical support on strengthening one health approach to manage antimicrobial resistance and antimicrobial use

Deliverable 3.1 development of project operational plan and budget in collaboration with partners and stakeholders

Deliverable 3.2 support for strengthening multi-sectoral coordination mechanism and project implementation and monitoring

Output 4: Provision of consultancy reports

Deliverable 4.1 monthly consultancy report

Deliverable 4.2 final technical reports with all deliverables

5. Qualifications, experience, skills and languages:

Educational Qualifications:

Essential: University degree in medicine, microbiology, pharmacy and/or social sciences as an individual consultant

Desirable: Advanced training on AMR/ AMS/ AMC and/or relevant fields

Experience:

Essential: At least 5 years of experience in public health, social sciences and/or translation and interpreting studies; supported by at least two (2) references.

Desirable: Proven experience in conducting needs assessments; facilitating participatory workshops and developing training curricula

Skills/Knowledge:

• Understanding of health systems and service delivery in resource-limited settings;
• Knowledgeable about antibiotic Stewardship, Surveillance of Antibiotic resistance, Surveillance of Antibiotic Use/AMC, Point Prevalence Survey, Diagnostic Stewardship, IPC, microbiology etc ;
• Capacity to plan and conduct operational activities;
• Excellent communication, interpersonal and presentation skills;
• Outstanding organizational and time-management skills; and
• Proven research skills (desirable in antimicrobial resistance or relevant area).

Desirable:

• Expert knowledge of antimicrobial resistance
• Intermediate knowledge of surveillance, infection prevention control, microbiology

Languages and level required:

Essential: Expert knowledge of Excellent in English and Mongolia (writing, reading and speaking)

Asset: other UN languages

6. Competencies
   • Communicating in a credible and effective way
   • Producing results
   • Moving forward in a changing environment
   • Fostering integration and teamwork
   • Knowing and managing yourself
7. Place of assignment

The consultant will work in WHO Country office in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia (onsite)

8. Travel:

The consultant is expected to travel to provinces when needed and a travel plan is subject to discussions with an international consultant and WHO Technical officers.

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
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  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 in each location/jurisdiction in which the work hereunder is performed, and the Consultant shall not be entitled to any reimbursement thereof by WHO.
• The purpose of this vacancy is to develop a list of qualified candidates for inclusion in this advertised roster. All applicants will be notified in writing of the outcome of their application (whether successful or unsuccessful) upon conclusion of the selection process.
  Successful candidates will be placed on the roster and subsequently may be selected for consultancy assignments falling in this area of work or for similar requirements/tasks/deliverables. Inclusion in the Roster does not guarantee selection to a consultant contract. There
  is no commitment on either side.