This consultancy is intended to develop a roster of IPC consultants to be ready to provide technical advice to EMR countries in assessment, development and strengthening of national and facility level IPC programmes.

Background

Effective infection prevention and control (IPC) programmes at national and health facility levels are crucial for health systems strengthening to withstand shocks caused by highly transmissible infections. Strong IPC programmes will prevent the spread of healthcare-associated infections, antimicrobial resistance, and contributes to preparedness and response to epidemic and pandemic infectious diseases.

Within the framework of Universal Health Coverage (UHC), the objective of the Department of Communicable Diseases in the WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMRO), is to assist Member States in strengthening the health sector response for achieving the Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG3). For this purpose, Member States are supported to develop appropriate national policies, guidelines and strategies for implementation of comprehensive programmes for prevention and control of communicable diseases including IPC.

Healthcare associated infections (HAIs) cause increasingly significant morbidity, mortality and economic burden globally and in the Eastern Mediterranean Region. About three in every 20 hospitalized patients get infection while receiving healthcare in low and middle- income countries. The recent major epidemics and pandemics that occurred in our region and worldwide (COVID-19, Middle East Respiratory Corona virus (MERS CoV) and Ebola virus disease (EVD)), were mainly magnified due to the lack of effective national and facility-level IPC programmes.

Furthermore, the International Health Regulations (IHR 2005) and the WHO Global Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance (GAP-AMR 2015) emphasize the importance of IPC as a cornerstone of countries’ capacity building and preparedness to respond to emerging infectious diseases. Additionally, IPC occupies a unique position in the field of patient safety and quality of care, as it is universally relevant to every health worker and patient, at every health care interaction and should be embedded within health systems.

To achieve the above, the AMR/IPC unit at DCD will provide leadership, technical expertise and guidance to Member States in the region to establish and strengthen national and healthcare facility IPC programmes, achieve core components and other IPC standards, support the reduction of the burden of healthcare- associated infections in the region, and facilitate implementation of IPC guidelines and measures to reduce the spread of antimicrobial resistance. The unit will develop a roster of IPC consultants to be ready to assist EMR countries.

Planned timelines (consultants will be selected from the roster to conduct one or more of the below outputs and activities for EMR countries, subject to availability of funds and further confirmation)

Start date: 01 March 2022

End date:   31 December 2023

Work to be performed

Output 1: Participate in establishing/strengthening national and facility level IPC governance mechanisms

• • Deliverable 1.1: Assess existing national and facility level IPC programme governance using the WHO assessment tools.
• Deliverable 1.2:  Identify IPC gaps and needs and provide options to strengthen IPC governance.
• Deliverable 1.3: Implement and follow up the progress of countries in implementing IPC governance mechanisms.

Output 2: Provide technical input to the development/update national IPC guidelines

• Deliverable 2.1: Support countries develop/review/update national IPC guidelines and IPC guidance in the context of COVID-19 and facilitate the endorsement of the national IPC guidance.

Output 3: Contribute to the development /update national IPC education and training policy

• Deliverable 3.1: Participate in development of national IPC education and training plans including specific targets.
• Deliverable 3.2: Participate in virtual or onsite training of national and hospital IPC staff on basic and advanced IPC measures.

Output 4: Provide a technical inputin designing and implementing special surveys/surveillance programmes to measure the burden of healthcare associated infections (HAIs) at national and facility levels.

• Deliverable 4.1:   Support countries develop and implement national strategic plans for HAI surveillance.
• Deliverable 4.2: Conduct field visits to monitor and evaluate the implementation of the surveillance procedures
• Deliverable 4.3: Facilitate data analysis of HAI surveillance data.

Output 5: National IPC monitoring/auditing plans and tools

• Deliverable 5.1:  Support countries develop national IPC monitoring/auditing, tools, and checklists.
• Deliverable 5.3: Conduct field visits to sites for general supervision and advise to improve implementation of IPC practices.
• Deliverable 5.4: Facilitate data analysis and report writing for quality improvements.

Required qualifications:

First university degree in Medicine, Medical Sciences or Nursing with specialization in IPC, microbiology, public health, epidemiology or infectious diseases. A certified IPC attendance programme is required.

Experience required:

Up to 5 years’ experience in the field of supporting national IPC programmes and proven experience of implementing and improving IPC at health facility levels as part of health system strengthening and outbreak response in low and middle resource settings.

• Familiarity with WHO IPC core components, facility assessment tools, strategies and implementation tools are essential.

Skills/Technical skills and knowledge:

1. Reviewing and technical analysis
2. Analytical writing
3. Excellent communication skills operating within a multicultural team
4. Ability to function independently and drive required change in implementation

Language requirements:

Advanced knowledge on English. Advanced knowledge on Arabic or French is desirable.

Location:

CAIRO, EGYPT

Medical clearance : The selected Consultant will be expected to provide a medical certificate of fitness for work.

Travel (If travel is involved, a medical certificate of fitness for work will be required.) All travel arrangements will be made by WHO – WHO will not be responsible for tickets purchased by the Consultant without the express, prior authorization of WHO. While on mission under the terms of this consultancy, the Consultant will receive subsistence allowance. Visas requirements: it is the consultant’s responsibility to fulfil visa requirements and ask for visa support letter(s) if needed.

Additional Information section

• 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.
• Remuneration is in line with WHO consultant established rates
• Successful candidates will be included in the roster for consideration for future contractual engagement via a consultancy, as they become available. Inclusion in the roster does not guarantee any future contractual relationship with WHO
• 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’s workforce adheres to the WHO Values Charter and is committed to put the WHO Values into practice.
• 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.
• Interested candidates are strongly encouraged to apply on-line through Stellis. For assessment of your application, please ensure that:
  (a) Your profile on Stellis is properly completed and updated;
  (b) All required details regarding your qualifications, education and training are provided;
  (c) Your experience records are entered with elaboration on tasks performed at the time.