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Qualifications

 Area of Expertise: National Consultant to develop Guidelines on HIV, Hepatitis and STIs prevention services for key populations

Purpose of consultancy

This consultancy is to engage the services of a national expert to update the national guidelines on comprehensive HIV, hepatitis and STIs prevention packages for key populations in Myanmar. Working together with an international consultant, and in close coordination with the WHO Country Office (WCO), the selected consultant has to review the current national and organizational guidelines in view of the latest WHO guidelines; facilitate dialogue and collect inputs from the stakeholders for incorporating in the proposed updated version of the national guidelines. From this guidelines development, service providers will be able to provide standardized prevention services for HIV, hepatitis and STIs to different key population groups customized to their needs.

Background  

It is estimated that there are approximately 280,000 people living with HIV in Myanmar with around 11,000 annual new HIV infections. Similarly, it is estimated that around 3.5 million people are living with chronic hepatitis B and 1.4 million with chronic hepatitis C. Key populations such as people who inject drugs (PWID), sex workers (SW); men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender (TG) persons, are disproportionately affected by the burden of disease including HIV, viral hepatitis and STI. HIV prevalence among FSW, MSM and PWID were 8.2%, 8.8% and 34.9% respectively. Hepatitis B and C prevalence 4.4% and 1.4% respectively among FSW were while 5.5% and 1.3% among MSM according to IBBS 2019. Meanwhile, hepatitis B prevalence was 7.7% and hepatitis C prevalence was 56% among PWID. Syphilis prevalence was 11.5%, 14.4% and 1.5% among FSW, MSM and PWID respectively.

“A Core Package for HIV Prevention amongst Key Affected Populations” was published by the National AIDS Programme in Myanmar in 2014.  Since then, there has been several developments such as new global guidance and recommendations on prevention services including for key populations; recognition of and inclusion of transgender women with different service package requirements in Myanmar; and newer prevention interventions available for all key populations such as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP); implementation of innovative intervention such as HIV self-testing; etc. Similarly, there have been initiatives to examine the situation on chemsex or sexualized use of drugs, and further to include programmatic adaptations to address this emerging issue.

In 2022, the World Health Organization (WHO) published its “Consolidated Guidelines on HIV, Viral Hepatitis, and STI Prevention, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Care for Key Populations.” These guidelines present a comprehensive set of recommendations tailored to the diverse needs of key populations, integrating interventions across the spectrum. From creating enabling environments to implementing broader healthcare strategies, these guidelines offer a holistic approach to addressing the health challenges faced by these communities. Against this backdrop, there is a need to develop an updated guidelines in Myanmar in line with the latest global guidance and to address the needs in the country.

Deliverables

Output 1: Report on the desk review and consultations with stakeholders

·         Deliverable 1.1: Coordinate with in-country stakeholders including National Programme, technical and implementing partners and community representatives and identify relevant background documents

·         Deliverable 1.2: Organize and/or facilitate consultations and collate stakeholder inputs individually or in groups

Output 2: Updated national guidelines with inputs from stakeholders incorporated in iterative drafts

·         Deliverable 2.1: Provide the information on the country context and other inputs as necessary in the updated national guidelines

·         Deliverable 2.2: Update and summarize the inputs and feedback on the proposed draft guidelines and ensure that the country context and all critical inputs from the stakeholders are reflected

Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Educational Qualifications:

Essential: Advanced university degree in a related discipline or Medical degree from a recognized university

Desirable: Additional trainings related to HIV, hepatitis and STIs

Experience

Essential: Five to ten years of working experience in HIV, hepatitis and STIs with a focus on key populations.

Desirable: Experience in developing related guidelines, standard operating procedures, etc.

Skills/Knowledge:

• Strong knowledge on HIV, hepatitis and STIs and nature of key populations 
• Knowledge on vulnerabilities and nature of services for key populations 
• Report writing and documentation skill 
• Facilitation experience on consultation workshop 
• Teamwork 
• Communication 

Technical Expertise:

Strong knowledge on the nature of the communicable diseases and other health related vulnerabilities affecting key populations such as men who have sex with men (MSM), sex workers (SW), transgender (TG) persons and people who use drugs (PWUD); along with knowledge and experience in designing related services targeted at preventing HIV, hepatitis and STIs among the KP.

Languages and level required (Basic/Intermediate/Advanced):

Expert level of English is essential (Read-Write-Speak)

Location

On site: WHO Office Yangon, Myanmar and travel to Naypyitaw.

Travel

Two travels to Naypyitaw: Dates to be decided

Remuneration and budget (travel costs are excluded):

a.       Remuneration: (Pay Band B level) – “180 USD per day with 40 working days between 26 June 2024 to 21 September 2024.

b.       Living expenses: Not applicable.

Additional information

•                     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.

•                     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.

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•                     Consultants shall perform the work as independent contractors in a personal capacity, and not as a representative of any entity or authority.

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•                     This assignment is subject to local recruitment and will be filled by persons recruited in the local commuting area of the duty station/assignment location.