POST DESCRIPTION

Member States in the Western Pacific Region recognize the threat of AMR to the health and security of their populations and its impact on the achievement of universal health coverage (UHC) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). Over the years, countries have developed their national action plans to guide multi-sectoral actions to combat AMR.

The 2014 Action Agenda for Antimicrobial Resistance in the Western Pacific Region provided guidance for priority actions, including strengthening development and implementation of national plans and raising awareness in multiple sectors, improving surveillance of AMR and monitoring of antimicrobial use, and strengthening health system capacity to contain AMR. To further advance the implementation of the 2014 Action Agenda and new vision for the Region, WPRO Member States endorsed in 2019 the Framework for Accelerating Action to Fight Antimicrobial Resistance in the Western Pacific Region, guiding countries on implementing sustained and forward-looking solutions, drawing on participation from all sectors of society.

To support the implementation of the Framework, WPRO is enhancing regional mechanisms to support the fight against AMR. WHO will strengthen working with partners, scientific bodies and experts to generate evidence; develop norms, standards and guidelines; and strengthen technical support for countries. To coordinate the work across different technical units in WHO and strengthen work with partners, the Division of Programme Management will closely work together with the Essential Medicines and Health Technologies Unit to set out the overall direction of the Regional Office and coordinate at strategic and technical level further support to countries in the implementation of the Framework for Accelerating Action to fight AMR.

BACKGROUND

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global public health problem that threatens the achievements of universal health coverage and the Sustainable Development Goals. In the Western Pacific Region, AMR is becoming an increasing problem and the continuing use and overuse of antimicrobials contributes to this process. 

One of the key areas for action is to control, monitor and regulate the use of antimicrobials. The information on the use of antimicrobials in the human, animal, agriculture and food-producing animals will help governments and other stakeholders to develop policies, regulations and intervention to ensure the appropriate use of antibiotics. The WHO Office in the Western Pacific Region supports countries to set-up systems and strengthens capacity for monitoring antimicrobial consumption and use (AMC/AMU). 

In view of this, it is proposed to set-up a Regional Antimicrobial Consumption Surveillance System to conduct AMC/AMU monitoring across the Western Pacific Region with the aim of increasing multi-stakeholder accountability and strengthening stewardship of antimicrobials and improving health outcomes.

The WPRACSS aims to capture and synthesize information on antimicrobial consumption and use across sectors and countries. WPRACSS consists of three levels: national-level, hospital-level, and community level, and will be undertaken through:

• • Setting-up and building capacity for antimicrobial consumption monitoring systems in countries and ensure that information on antimicrobial consumption and use will influence national policies, strengthen stewardship and improve clinical management of AMR infections; as well as contribute to the regional database on antimicrobial consumption and use;
• • Establishment of a web-based regional database to capture data from countries. The database will serve as a basis for regional analysis and technical advice to countries;
• • Establishment of community monitoring through online and web-based reporting using a mobile application connected to retail outlets across the region to enable reporting of antibiotic dispensed in the community; and
• • Issuance of an annual strategic and technical report on antimicrobial consumption in the Western Pacific Region.

For the first roll-out, WPRO is about to finalize the WPRACSS report for the 2018 data submitted from the member states on their national level consumption and in the process of finalization. The hospital-level and community-level methodology and system are under development.

PURPOSE/SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE OF THE ACTIVITY

• • To support Member States to enhance and develop systems to monitor antimicrobial consumption with the aim of strengthening stewardship and improve clinical management of AMR infections;
• • To support further development of the Western Pacific Regional Antimicrobial Consumption Surveillance System (WPRACSS) and roll-out in countries.
• • Provide technical support to the Essential Medicines and Health Technologies team in implementing the Framework for Accelerating Action to fight AMR.

DESCRIPTION OF ACTIVITIES TO BE CARRIED OUT

Under the supervision of DHS/EMT, the contractual partner will deliver the following outputs:

To support Member States to enhance and develop systems to monitor antimicrobial consumption with the aim of strengthening stewardship and improve clinical management of AMR infections;

• • Provide technical support to Member States to design, build or identify systems enabling countries to monitor the consumption of antimicrobials at national, community or hospital levels.
• • Provide technical support to countries to collect, analyse and report antimicrobial consumption data using WPRACSS, and help design products to translating consumption data into guidance for policy and clinical practice.

To support further development of the Western Pacific Regional Antimicrobial Consumption Surveillance System (WPRACSS) and roll-out in countries.

• • Provide technical support to further enhance a user manual for methodology on hospital-level consumption and community level consumption to guide countries to use WPRACSS as a platform to monitor antimicrobial consumption.
• • Support the further development and maintenance of the WPRACSS web-based platform and mobile app.
• • Development of annual report on WPRACSS.

Provide technical support to the Essential Medicines and Health Technologies team in implementing the Framework for Accelerating Action to fight AMR.

METHODS TO CARRY OUT THE ACTIVITY

Output 1: Provide technical support to countries to develop system for antimicrobial consumption monitoring to collect, analyse and report antimicrobial consumption data using WPRACSS, and informing policy and clinical practice. This will include supporting the development of annual report and providing feedback to countries.

• Contact WPRACSS focal point of WHO country offices and member states to guide them for roll out of WPRACCS
• Clean, analyse and interpret the data countries have collected
• Develop a draft report, circulate among the member states to receive feedback and finalize and publish

Output 2: Provide technical support to further revise and update user manual for methodology on hospital-level consumption and community level consumption to guide countries to use WPRACSS as a platform to monitor antimicrobial consumption.

• Manual should be a step-by-step guidance for countries to collect data, analyse and display national level, hospital level and community level consumption data
• Guide member states to participate and collect and submit data needed for WPRACSS

Output 3: Support contracted IT company to maintain and update necessary changes to the WPRACSS web platform and the mobile app.

• Guide IT company or contractor to maintain and update necessary changes to the WPRACSS platform and the mobile app of WPRACSS
• Monitor usability and trouble of web platform and apps and fix and update as necessary

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

EDUCATION

Essential: 

University degree in medicine or pharmacy.

Desirable:

Post-graduate degree in one of the above fields.

EXPERIENCE

Essential:

At least 5 (five) years of clinical or pharmaceutical practice and/or relevant experience in monitoring and surveillance of antimicrobial consumption, data analysis and reporting.

TECHNICAL SKILLS & KNOWLEDGE

• • Experience with implementation of monitoring systems for antimicrobial consumption at the hospital, the national or international level;
• • In-depth understanding of the WHO methodology for surveillance of antimicrobial consumption;
• • Knowledge of the Anatomic Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) classification system and the Defined Daily Dose (DDD) measuring unit;
• • Understanding of the pharmaceutical sector and supply chain systems;
• • Experience of point prevalence surveys on antimicrobial use in hospitals at the national and international level;
• • Knowledge of antimicrobial resistance and risk factors;
• • Experience working in/with low- and middle-income countries;
• • Excellent interpersonal and communication skills;
• • Ability to work independently and in team;
• • Computer literacy (Word, Excel, Power Point etc) and working knowledge of statistical programs (STATA, SAS, R etc)

LANGUAGES

Fully fluent written and spoken English is essential.

COMPETENCIES

• • Communicating in a credible and effective way
• • Producing results
• • Moving forward in a changing environment
• • Fostering integration and teamwork
• • Knowing and managing yourself

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

• • The contractor will work in close collaboration with DHS/EMT.
• • The contractor will be based in the WPRO office and might travel to the member states.
• • Duration of contract is from April 2021 – March 2022

APPLICATIONS

Qualified and interested specialists should submit their CV to the Supply Officer through WP RO UNGM at < [email protected] > by 17 April 2021. 

The cover letter should outline how their experience and qualifications make them a suitable candidate for this position and should include their proposed daily consultancy fee and availability.

Please use Tender Notice No. 125362 as subject to all submission. Only successful candidates will be contacted.