Roster of International Consultant – Antimicrobial Use (AMU), Access and/or Stewardship

Job Posting Organization:
The World Health Organization (WHO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for international public health. Established on April 7, 1948, WHO has a mission to promote health, keep the world safe, and serve vulnerable populations. It operates in 194 Member States across six regions, with a workforce of over 7,000 employees. WHO's work includes addressing global health issues, providing leadership on health matters, shaping the health research agenda, setting norms and standards, and monitoring and assessing health trends.

Job Overview:
The WHO South-East Asia Regional Office (SEARO) is seeking to establish a roster of qualified consultants to provide technical support to Member States in various aspects of antimicrobial stewardship, access to quality-assured antimicrobials, and optimizing antimicrobial use. The consultants will play a crucial role in strengthening pharmaceutical governance and regulatory systems, monitoring antimicrobial consumption, and implementing One Health approaches to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Selected consultants will support regional and country-level activities aligned with significant global health initiatives, including the Global Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance and the 2024 United Nations General Assembly Political Declaration on AMR. The role requires a deep understanding of the challenges faced by countries in implementing national action plans and the ability to provide specialized expertise as needs arise.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Establish or strengthen antimicrobial use (AMU) surveillance systems, including methods, protocols, data collection, analysis, reporting, and technical recommendations.
• Develop and implement antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) strategies, programs, tools, and quality-improvement measures.
• Assess antimicrobial availability, affordability, accessibility, quality, and develop strategies to improve access and prevent stockouts.
• Review antimicrobial regulatory and policy frameworks and support stronger regulations and quality assurance.
• Support One Health approaches to optimize antimicrobial use across various sectors.
• Develop and deliver AMS/AMU training and strengthen institutional capacity.
• Monitor and evaluate AMS, AMU, access, and governance programs, providing recommendations for strengthening and sustainability.
• Develop technical guidance, reports, and knowledge products to support policy and implementation.

Required Qualifications:
Essential qualifications for Band level B include a first university degree or medical degree in fields such as Medicine, Pharmacy, Public Health, or related disciplines, along with at least five years of progressively responsible experience in relevant technical profiles. For Band level C, an advanced university degree or medical degree with postgraduate specialization is required, along with at least ten years of experience. Desirable qualifications include a doctoral degree, board certification, or professional certification related to AMS, public health, or epidemiology.

Educational Background:
For Band level B, a first university degree or medical degree in relevant fields is essential. For Band level C, an advanced university degree or medical degree with postgraduate specialization is required. Additional desirable qualifications include a doctoral degree and relevant professional certifications.

Experience:
For Band level B, a minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in technical profiles is required, while Band level C requires at least ten years. Experience in antimicrobial stewardship, monitoring, and public health programs is essential. Desirable experience includes working in low- and middle-income countries and with WHO or UN agencies.

Languages:
Expert knowledge of English is essential. Intermediate or expert knowledge of another official United Nations language or a language used in a WHO South-East Asia Region Member State is desirable.

Additional Notes:
Consultancies may be home-based, country-based, or regional office-based, with travel expected to WHO South-East Asia Region Member States for assessments and consultations. The expected duration of contracts may range from short inputs to several months, up to a maximum of 11 months per calendar year. Remuneration will be established according to WHO consultant remuneration guidance, and living expenses will be specified for on-site assignments. Candidates under serious consideration will be contacted, and a written test may be used as a screening method. WHO is committed to diversity and inclusion in its workforce.