The mission of the Antimicrobial Resistance Division is to define, advance, promote and monitor comprehensive policies and strategies that prevent, reduce, and mitigate drug-resistant infections and the overall impact of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) globally based on the Global Action Plan on AMR and the 13th Global Programme of Work of WHO and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It also provides global direction and strategic leadership for the global response to AMR in coordination with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) and other United Nations (UN) and international agencies and, facilitates the creation of common goal and vision through innovative partnerships, political engagement and promoting multisectoral engagement and synergy across the One Health spectrum in humans, animals, plants, food, feed and the environment.
Its main objective is to support the development, implementation, and monitoring of One Health National Action Plans for Member States and facilitates the mainstreaming of effective strategies and actions, including on the prevention and control of infection, antimicrobial stewardship, awareness creation and communication, research and development in their health and development agendas in partnership with FAO, OIE and other key partners. The Department of Global Coordination and Partnership on AMR leads and coordinates the global One Health multisectoral response to AMR in cooperation with FAO, OIE, the UN as well as other agencies, civil society, and the private sector, towards a world free from the suffering of drug-resistant infections.
The Department has the following functions in line with WHO’s General Programme of Work to protect antimicrobials important for human health and mitigate drug-resistant infections: Leads the global One Health multisectoral response to AMR across the human, animal, plant, food, feed and environment sectors, through multisectoral engagement and interventions, and strengthening advocacy and awareness; Facilitates global coordination and interagency engagement and partnership for creation and sustenance of shared global vision and goals; shapes the research and development agenda through innovation, priority setting and supporting global initiatives that enable the generation, translation and dissemination of knowledge; facilitates, nurtures and scales up evidence-based interventions to enhance stewardship, awareness, and understanding of AMR across the One Health spectrum.
The Antimicrobial Stewardship and Awareness Unit facilitates, nurtures and advocates for evidence-based interventions to enhance antimicrobial stewardship activities, promotes awareness and understanding of AMR and coordinates global advocacy and campaigns on AMR. This includes: advocating for evidence-based interventions to enhance the appropriate, prudent and responsible use of antimicrobials in the human, human-animal health and food chain sectors; optimizing the stewardship of antimicrobials through the dissemination of normative guidance, best practices, and technical support; Driving awareness and understanding of AMR through education, training, behavior change, and communications; coordinating global campaigns, including World Antimicrobial Awareness Week.
Description of Duties
- Provide input to the work program in the area of antimicrobial resistance awareness and behavior change and assist in the successful implementation of health systems and policies related to antimicrobial resistance.
- Undertake research on public health topics to facilitate the development and implementation of antimicrobial resistance awareness and behavior change programmes and activities.
- Draft, revise and further develop antimicrobial resistance awareness and behavior change guidelines, national strategies and provide recommendations on a plan of action for improvement in the existing public health policies and health systems.
- Monitor work plans and budgets including resource mobilization for the work programme and follow up on the implementation of planned activities.
- Conduct data analyses and information on best practices and partners’ experiences in implementing sustainable public health systems and disseminate information.
- Participate in capacity building in the area of public health systems and the management and financing of the systems.
- Analyze and evaluate best practices from a variety of public health databanks and information related to antimicrobial resistance awareness and behaviour change; identify disease sources and provide recommendations concerning appropriate response to identified risks, and implementation of preventative measures and prepare reports.
- Conduct a variety of community outreach activities concerning the extension of health-care networks.
- Serve as a technical resource at counterpart level concerning antimicrobial resistance awareness and behaviour change, respond to inquiries and provide detailed technical information concerning related principles, practices, issues, measures, techniques, and procedures.
- Facilitate implementation of the annual World Antimicrobial Awareness Week in collaboration with the Tripartite organizations, UNEP and other partners.
- Provide technical input to new global campaigns aimed at raising awareness of antimicrobial resistance and securing behaviour change.
Eligibility
- A first university degree in social or behavioral sciences, international relations or communications.
- An advanced university degree in the above-mentioned fields or public health or veterinary medicine.
- At least five years of progressively responsible professional experience in behaviour change, communications or advocacy focusing on areas of public health. Demonstrated experience at the international level.
- Experience at the country level.
- Knowledge of global situation with regard to antimicrobial resistance and management with a good understanding of needs, priorities and policies, along with WHO’s policies, practices, guidelines, and procedures in the related areas and ability to apply them in the country office setting.
- Ability to conduct research and analyze results, identify issues, formulate opinions, make conclusions and recommendations for strengthening health care systems.□ Ability to review and revise policies and objectives of assigned program and activities.
The application deadline is May 20, 2021
