Opportunity for M.Pharm as Consultant at World Health Organization

WHO is the directing and coordinating authority for health within the United Nations system. It is responsible for providing leadership on global health matters, shaping the health research agenda, setting norms and standards, articulating evidence-based policy options, providing technical support to countries and monitoring and assessing health trends.

Post : Consultant - Global HIV, Hepatitis and STIs Programme (research and development of new therapeutics for pregnant and breastfeeding women)

Job Description
Purpose of consultancy
To provide technical expertise to the Global HIV, Hepatitis and STIs Programmes work research and development of new therapeutics for pregnant and breastfeeding women.

Background
Multiple agencies and actors have voiced their concerns around the exclusion of pregnant and breastfeeding women from clinical trials and the associated harm and risks of these policies. More recently, the importance of allowing pregnant women the opportunity to take part in clinical trials has received renewed attention during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this context, a technical body of experts on investigation and use of drugs in pregnant women for the prevention and treatment of HIV, Hepatitis and STIs is needed to advise WHO in its Guidelines development, their implementation and more broadly the drug optimization work that will accelerate innovation and access for this population.

In this context, several activities will be undertaken by the HHS Department to accelerate investigation of new therapeutics and their safe use for pregnant breastfeeding women. The contractual partner will be working with the WHO HHS/SIA unit to assist the work of the newly established HIV, Hepatitis and STIs Pregnancy and Breastfeeding Therapeutics Working Group (HHS PTWG). The aims of the technical working group will be to provide expert advice and inform WHO on matters that relate to the use of recommended medicines as well as to research and development of new therapeutics in pregnant and breastfeeding women for prevention and treatment of HIV, Hepatitis and STIs. The consultant will assist in finalizing the terms of reference and workplan of key areas of work for the technical working group, organizing the modalities and operations for establishing the group, preparing meetings, and regularly reviewing resources and making them available to the group members. The consultant will assist in drafting a toolkit for research in pregnancy in support of investigators and key stakeholders including an inventory of protocols and studies. The consultant will also assist in preparing dissemination materials for communication and advocacy purposes, including researchers, technical partners, regulatory authorities, civil society, private sector engaged in research and innovation, and national programmes engaged with clinical trials and surveillance programmes.

Deliverables
Output 1: Development of PTWG terms of reference, governance and workplan
Deliverable 1.1: Draft terms of reference. Expected by: 30 July 2022;
Deliverable 1.2: Draft Workplan. Expected by: 15 August 2022;
Deliverable 1.3: Draft virtual resource folder including DOIs and appropriate mapping of PTWG members. Expected by: 30 August 2022.

Output 2: PTWG meetings, design and facilitation of core activities identified by the PTWG.
Deliverable 2.1: Draft agenda, slides, and dissemination material for bimonthly calls. (Q2, Q3 and Q4). Expected by: 30 September 2022;
Deliverable 2.2: Draft study implementation repository (trials and surveillance, registries, eHealth). Expected by: 30 October 2022;
Deliverable 2.3: Draft updated tracker with ongoing studies (trials, surveillance, registries, eHealth.)Expected by: 30 November 2022.

Output 3: Update and development of the pregnancy chapter for the R&D toolkit
Deliverable 3.1: Draft concept note, project plan, and detailed outline. Expected by: 30 January 2023;
Deliverable 3.2: Draft updated pregnancy chapter. Expected by 30 March 2023.

Output 4: Design and development of dissemination materials of the TWG work
Deliverable 4.1: Draft dissemination materials. Expected by: 30 April 2023;
Deliverable 4.2: Provide final draft of dissemination materials. Expected by: 15 May 2023;
Deliverable 4.3: Prepare slides set for presentation to CADO and contribution to final report. Expected by: 30 May 2023.

Candidate Profile
Educational Qualifications :
Essential :
Advanced degree in medicine or pharmacy and/or postgraduate qualification in obstetrics, epidemiology, or public health
Experience
Essential :
Over 10 years’ experience in maternal, child and infant HIV infection and treatment of which at least 7 years in scientific research and clinical studies.
Desirable :
• At least five years of experience in investigating the use of medicines in pregnant and breastfeeding women living with HIV.
• At least 5 years’ experience with clinical trial design, observational data, or surveillance in HIV, Hep or STIs.
• Previous experience with WHO on drug optimization and surveillance work.
Skills/Knowledge:
• Basic knowledge of human rights, community engagement and gender equity in relation to disease response.
• Expertise in contributing in collaborative projects.
• Good communication and presentation skills.

Remuneration : Payband level C - USD 10,000 - 12,500 per month
Location : Anywhere