Technical Officer - Medicines Regulation & Production / AMR at World Health Organization (WHO)

Reference No: 2105472
Organisation: AF_NGA Nigeria
Grade: P5
Contractual Arrangement: Temporary appointment under Staff Rule 420.4
Contract Duration (Years, Months, Days): 12 months

Objectives of the Programme

• Within the framework of the “One Health Approach,” the mission of the Unit of Antimicrobial Resistance in the WHO African region is to define, advance, promote and monitor comprehensive policies and strategies that prevent, reduce, and mitigate drug-resistant infections and the overall impact of antimicrobial resistance in the WHO African Region.
• Its main objectives are to coordinate the implementation, monitoring and documentation of the AFRO inter-cluster joint work plan on AMR ; advocate in collaboration with tripartite and other partners the development, implementation and monitoring of national action plans in the context of the One Health approach; establish effective regional and national multisectoral coordination and partnership on AMR; enhance awareness and understanding of AMR; strengthen Infection prevention and control (IPC), water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) in health facilities and communities; optimize the use of antimicrobial medicines in the context of One Health approach, and improve quality and coverage of AMR surveillance.
• A key purpose of the WHO Health System Strengthening Framework for Action is to promote a common understanding of what a health system is and what constitutes health systems strengthening.
• It also provides a basis to support countries in scaling up health systems and services: addressing bottlenecks in a collaborative, coordinated way, driven by desired health outcomes, to achieve sustainable system-wide effects.
• To be most effective, this process must be country-led, based on priorities set out in comprehensive national health plans.

Description of Duties

• The Technical Officer, within an assigned area of responsibility, will work in close consultation with the WHO Representative, WHO Regional Office, WHO Headquarters, and other UN and/or, development partners, academic institutions, civil society, and international counterparts for expediting the effective implementation of the AMR national action plan in the country and achieve planned milestones to monitor national progress.
• The incumbent shall: Provide technical input to the work program in the area of Antimicrobial Resistance.
• Support the development and implementation of a comprehensive programmatic approach to address AMR in the health sector.
• Work with national authorities to conduct a thorough assessment of the existing AMR National Action Plan and help develop and implement a funded plan with a prioritized set of interventions based on existing country context, resources and prioritization criteria.
• Lead the technical coordination across all relevant UHC/PHC, health security and health systems units at the country-level to ensure relevant AMR activities are costed/ budgeted, embedded, implemented and monitored in the national health systems strengthening plans.
• Facilitate the provision of technical support and encourage scale up of AMR related areas, specifically: WASH, IPC, immunization, food safety, patient safety, essential medicines, regulations, laboratory strengthening and the supply chain.
• Provide political and technical support to enhance the inclusion of AMR into relevant sectoral and development plans and budgets (WHO country cooperation strategy, UNSDCF, Global Fund).
• Advocate with various government Ministries and other partners (civil society, professional groups, private sector and academia) the need for a strengthened health sector response to AMR, including enhanced awareness and education on AMR for health sector workers, and support for conducting AMR NAP implementation research projects in the human health sector.
• Work with relevant development partners (Development agencies, World Bank, Global Fund, other bilateral and multilateral financing agencies, etc.) to include AMR within development loans, grants and projects, and help mobilize financial resources.
• Support the country in developing a sustainable approach to AMR surveillance of resistance and use (laboratory network, reagent supply, surveys, budget etc.), support the enrollment in Global Antimicrobial Resistance and Use Surveillance System (GLASS) for surveillance of AMR and Antimicrobial consumption (AMC), support the conduct of surveys for AMR and Antimicrobial Use (AMU), and support the submission of data towards the AMR SDG indicator – SDG 3.d.2 on blood-stream infections.
• Support of the development of best practices including documentations for advocacy and decision making.
• Provide technical support to the planning, formulation, implementation, monitoring and   evaluation of EMP programmes, including medical supply chain activities and the use of the Interagency Emergency Health Kit 2015 in emergency settings, with focus on the capacity building of relevant stakeholders in order to reach affected and vulnerable populations.
• Provide technical guidance to the national health authorities on the acceptance of medical product donations and the implementation of the interagency medicines donation guidelines. Monitor the availability of SSFFC medical products and report to WHO global monitoring system
• Liaise with the WHO team and national health authorities on quality control and assurance systems for procurement, supply chain management, distribution and storage, including cold storage of medical products and issues related to access of quality-assured medical products, market intelligence, pricing and the appropriate use of medical products at the various health care levels.
• Perform other relevant functions as required.

Required Qualifications
Education:

• Essential: Master's Degree in Public Health, Epidemiology or Microbiology in a related field from a recognized institution.
• Desirable: Degree in Medicine or Pharmacy.

Experience:

Essential:

• At least 10 years of experience in supporting the planning, development and implementation of public health initiatives in countries, with emphasis on strengthening key health systems. 
• Experience working across different departments and programmes to deliver impact in the field.

Desirable: 

• Experience in developing and implementing AMR relevant activities in countries, regional or global level.
• Experience in planning for and responding to health emergencies.
• Experience in working with UN agencies, NGOs, academia and other national and international stakeholders.

Skills:

• Demonstrated ability to effectively use a computer and utilize software programs such as Microsoft Office Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook.

WHO Competencies:

• Teamwork
• Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
• Communication
• Producing results
• Promoting innovation and organizational learning

Use of Language Skills:

• Essential: Excellent knowledge of English.
• Desirable: Desirable: Working knowledge of French or another WHO official language would be an asset.

Remuneration

• WHO salaries for staff in the Professional category are calculated in US dollars. The remuneration for the above position comprises an annual base salary starting at USD 88,162 (subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance, as applicable), a variable post adjustment, which reflects the cost of living in a particular duty station, and currently amounts to USD 3064 per month for the duty station indicated above.
• Other benefits include 30 days of annual leave, allowances for dependent family members, home leave, and an education grant for dependent children