ABOUT THE COMPANY:

Inside WIPO What is WIPO? WIPO is the global forum for intellectual property (IP) services, policy, information and cooperation. We are a self-funding agency of the United Nations, with 193 member states. Our mission is to lead the development of a balanced and effective international IP system that enables innovation and creativity for the benefit of all. Our mandate, governing bodies and procedures are set out in the WIPO Convention, which established WIPO in 1967

JOB SUMMARY

Title of Assignment: Technical Expert on AMR in Wastewater

Name of unit/sector: Global Health Unit, Global Challenges Division, Global Challenges and Partnerships Sector

Place of Assignment: Remote

Expected places of travel (if applicable): N/A

Expected duration of assignment:  4 months

1.

Background

The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) is a Specialized Agency of the United Nations. WIPO leads the development of a balanced and effective international intellectual property system that enables innovation and creativity for the benefit of all.

WIPO provides a global forum for discussing intellectual property (IP) policy. It also provides services and information related to intellectual property.

WIPO’s Global Challenges Division supports the policy debate at the interface of IP and global health.  To that effect, the Division engages substantively with Member States, intergovernmental organizations, the private sector and civil society to better inform pertinent policy deliberations.

The Global Challenges Division develops and maintains practical tools to demonstrate the impact and benefits of IP at the intersection of major challenges facing humanity, including global health and access to medical technologies.

The Global Health Unit of the Global Challenges Division implements the global health components of WIPO’s Development Agenda.

Its work is oriented towards strengthening WIPO’s position as the leading intergovernmental forum for addressing the intersection between IP and access to health products.

WIPO provides training and capacity building support to help member states better understand the complex interplay between intellectual property, public health and access to medical technologies.

It conducts independent studies to build knowledge for evidence based policy making, convenes stakeholders to debate the issues, develops toolkits and training courses on a range of IP and health issues.

The Global Challenges Division seeks to engage the services of a technical expert in antimicrobial resistance (AMR) wastewater technologies to support in designing a project on AMR in wastewater.

The assignment will be focused on identifying innovative technologies for the detection and treatment of AMR in wastewater from the health, pharmaceutical, agricultural and environmental sectors in LMICs leveraging intellectual property, licensing and technology transfer.

2.

Objective of the assignment

The expert works under the supervision of the Head of Global Health Unit. The expert will provide technical support to the head of global health to co-develop a multistakeholder project on AMR in wastewater.

3.

Tasks

The expert will be hired to undertake the following tasks, under the guidance of WIPO:

Throughout the assignment
a) Participate in virtual and in-person meetings as needed.

On request by WIPO officials, report on the progress of the assignment.

Preparation
a) Design a research methodology to identify effective patented and non-patented technologies that can be used to address AMR in wastewater through detection and removal of antibiotic residues.

The methodology will include defining criteria for selecting the technologies and a review of scientific literature, and consultation with AMR experts and technology providers working in the field.
b) Identify effective technologies to detect and remove antibiotic residues from wastewater during primary treatment of municipal wastewater treatment (which includes industrial, hospital, agricultural, and sanitation waste) in collaboration with project partners to
• develop case studies of successful technological interventions for AMR management in wastewater
• encourage countries to incorporate commitments on fostering IP and facilitating technology transfer in their national AMR Action Plans.
• suggest the most relevant technological interventions based on priorities, context and needs of select LMICs in Southern and Eastern Africa.
c) Identify at least five case studies from all four sectors for implementation of technologies in different countries and settings, which can be shared with stakeholders as examples of successful implementation.

Draft Phase
a) Draft a report capturing the process and outcome of the assignment, specifically the following:
• Research methodology employed by the expert
• Thorough review of technologies identified (including status of IP protection, assessment of effectiveness and details of commercialization)
• Detailed account of case studies of successful technological interventions in countries to address AMR in wastewater
• Key findings (including opportunities and risks)
• Mapping of the existing technologies and technology transfer options to the One Health components of the National Action Plans for AMR in select LMICs in Southern and Eastern Africa.
• Recommendations for WIPO and other stakeholders on addressing AMR in wastewater through the technologies identified by the expert.

Deliverables:
1.

Deliverable 1: Effective AMR Waster Water Technologies identified.
2.

Deliverable 2: Case studies on one health application of technologies developed.
3. Deliverable 3: IP landscaping for these technologies completed.
4. Deliverable 4: Technologies mapped to One Health AMR country Action Plans select LMICs of Southern and Eastern Africa.
5. Other deliverables as agreed.

4. Reporting

The incumbent reports to the Head of Global Health Unit.

5. Profile

Essential:
• Advanced university degree in biotechnology, molecular biophysics, infectious disease or any other discipline directly related to development and assessment of AMR technologies.
• At least 10 years of demonstrated experience working in the field of AMR technologies.
• Extensive experience in providing technical assistance to projects on the One Health components of AMR working with relevant country stakeholders.
• Working knowledge of licensing and technology transfer models in the health sector.
• Working knowledge of policy making in AMR.

Desirable:
• Experience working with health, agricultural, environmental ministries and the pharmaceutical industry.
• Good understanding of IP aspects of One Health AMR.
• Experience working in developing countries and regions, especially in Africa, Latin America, Asia.

6.

Duration of contract

Expected duration of assignment:  September 15 – December 30, 2024.

Application deadline: 28 August 2024.

Please apply through WIPO ICS portal.

Applicants are requested to submit a CV with a detailed one page proposal outlining their methodology for conducting the study. This should cover the following components:
• Developing a set of criteria for the selection of relevant AMR Wastewater detection and treatment technologies.
• Identifying innovative and cost effective AMR technologies.
• Developing case studies of their successful application in the health, industrial, agricultural and environmental sectors.
• Conducting a patent landscaping of these technologies.
• Mapping such technologies to a One Health AMR National Action Plan for a country.

Applicants are requested to provide an indication of their remuneration expectations in Swiss francs (daily rate).

REQUIRED EDUCATION: Bachelor Degree

EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS: 60