Closing date: 15 Apr 2019
The WHO programme on HIV is located in the HIV, TB and Malaria Cluster (HTM). The HIV programme is guided by the Global Health Strategy for HIV 2011-15. Its goals are consistent with getting to zero: UNAIDS Strategy 2011-15 and other international commitments as for example the Millennium Development Goals. The objective of the Department of HIV is to lead an effective, organisation wide HIV effort to support member states in the implementation of the strategy. The HIV Department (HIV/HQ) provides technical and strategic leadership in key technical areas and leverages the capacity of other HQ departments to contribute to the broader HIV programme.
The Strategic Information and Planning unit (SIP) is in charge of global reporting on the health sector response to HIV infection, developing guidelines, tools and other materials on surveillance, toxicity monitoring and evaluation and strategic information for impact for country response to HIV infection. In addition, the SIP Unit also support capacity building and policy adoption in key priority countries that have been identified.
Since 2016, WHO has recommended dolutegravir (DTG) as an alternative option to Efavirenz (EFV) for first-line ART. In July 2018 WHO updated this guidance and released interim recommendations regarding preferred first-line antiretroviral regimens for adults, adolescents and children initiating ART which now include DTG and raltegravir. At the same time WHO also launched a toxicity monitoring implementation tool for new antiretroviral (ARV) and antiviral medicines in HIV and viral Hepatitis programmes. This tool was developed along with a training package to support countries in collecting information on treatment-limiting toxicities of ARVs including dolutegravir (DTG), to enable information on adverse drug reactions to be collected and used for decision-making and thereby enhance the quality and safety of treatment programmes.
To date many countries have transitioned and more are planning to transition to DTG - containing regimens. Accordingly, WHO is supporting active toxicity monitoring of DTG in adopter countries in disseminating tools, building capacity and facilitating country support to implementation. Increasing the availability of data on adverse drug outcomes associated with new ARVs as they are introduced at large scale is a priority for WHO to improve patient health outcomes and retention to treatment and update future guidelines.
The Strategic Information and Planning (SIP) Unit with the Department of HIV seeks technical support to country work on active toxicity monitoring of DTG and new ARVs to support the safe introduction of new ARVs in low- and middle- income countries. The bidding institution will provide support to implementation of active toxicity monitoring of dolutegravir, collecting and analysing adverse drug reactions among individuals receiving DTG, building capacity in countries in the region, and reporting collected data to contribute to WHO global surveillance of the safety of ARVs.
Work to be performed:
The contractor will assist WHO/HIV/SIP with technical expertise to provide highly effective country support on active ARV toxicity monitoring on dolutegravir and new ARVs in priority countries, including capacity building, supporting toxicity data collation, analysis and quality review and reporting this data to WHO to contribute to the global surveillance of the safety of ARVs.
The HIV and Hepatitis Department seeks technical support on active toxicity monitoring of dolutegravir and new antiretrovirals in low- and middle- incomecountries including capacity building, supporting collation of toxicit data, analysis and regular quality review, and reporting this data to WHO to contribute to the global surveillance of the safety of new ARVs.
The key specific activities and deliverables that envisaged, for the first year only in support to WHO’s work on active toxicity monitoring of new ARVs and capacity building.
Main Tasks:
Task 1: Develop protocol, finalise reporting tools for implementation of active toxicity monitoring for DTG at sentinel sites in a priority country.
Task 2: Support capacity building of health workers and site involvement.
Task 3: Development of automated alerts and data collection on DTG related adverse drug reactions.
Task 4: Creation or modification of hotline data entry and drug centre staff trained to new ARV management.
Task 5: Support active monitoring implementation with regular supervision visits at sites, monitor progress of real time alerts and hotline.
Task 6: Building sub-regional capacity on active toxicity monitoring for DTG and new ARVs and experience and best practice sharing among key countries.
Task 7: Undertake analysis of reported DTG related ADRs including review of single drug discontinuation.
Task 8: Produce reports on DTG related ADRs.
Key requirements for this consultancy:
Essential Qualifications required: Master University Degree in Pharmacy, Medicine, Public Health or relevant equivalent degree.
Desirable Qualifications required: Expertise in monitoring, surveillance or operational research in HIV treatment.
Language Requirements: Expert level in English
Essential Work Experience: Ten years of public health work experience of which at least of 5 years of field experience in low and middle-income countries and focus on HIV treatment monitoring.
Desirable Work Experience: Work experience in African region, and with ARV toxicity or patient monitoring systems. Previous experience working with WHO is an asset.
How to apply:
Full details are available at; https://www.ungm.org/Public/Notice/85971
No later than 15 April2019,17:00 CET, the bidder shall complete and return by either email or hard copy to WHO (only when this step is completed the bidder is regarded as a prospective bidder):
a) Covering letter signed by the respective authority.
b) Proposal (including, but not restricted to, technical and financial documents).
c) Annex 1 “2019CDSHIV003_Acknowledgement form completed/signed.
d) Annex 2 “2019CDSHIV003_Confidentiality Undertaking form completed/signed.
e) Annex 3 “2019CDSHIV003_Proposal Completeness form completed/signed.
f) Annex 4 “2019CDSHIV003_ Questions from Bidders Template
g) Annex 5 2019CDSHIV003_ Acceptance form completed/signed.
h) Annex 6 “2019CDSHIV003_Bidder Self-declaration form completed/signed.
Any prospective bidder requiring any clarification on technical, contractual or commercial matters may notify WHO via email at the following address no later than 08 April 2019, 17:00 CET.
Full details and forms are available at; https://www.ungm.org/Public/Notice/85971