• Application Deadline: Mon, 24 Oct 2022 00:00:00 GMT
• Position: Consultant - WHO HIV/Syphilis Testing Strategy and Algorithm - (2209199)


• Job Type Full Time


• Qualification BA/BSc/HND


• Experience 5 years


• Location Abuja


• Job Field Consultancy 
  

Purpose of consultancy

The consultant will contribute to the work of the Testing, Prevention and Populations (TPP) unit within the Department of the Global HIV, Hepatitis and Sexually Transmitted Infections Programmes (HHS) by facilitating the roll-out of the verification tool kit and helping countries to adopt the WHO HIV testing strategy and algorithm, and to include dual HIV/syphilis tests. 

Background

The TPP unit works on a range of topics such as HIV testing, voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC), biomedical prevention and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), HIV and sexual and reproductive health (SRH), as well as all relevant prevention and testing for key populations. WHO defines key populations in the context of HIV and viral hepatitis as people who inject drugs, people in prisons and other closed settings, men who have sex with men, sex workers and transgender people. Other populations remain vulnerable to HIV acquisition in various regions and countries depending on local epidemiology. 

HIV testing services (HTS) are an essential gateway to treatment and prevention, and for achieving the 95-95-95 targets by 2030. To advance these goals, WHO recommends a strategic mix of HTS to achieve greatest impact and efficiency including testing in facility and community settings, as well as partner notification and self-testing approaches. Accurate diagnosis underpins all HTS and moving to the WHO universal HIV testing strategy and completing verification of algorithms is a key priority to ensure quality testing services. The consultancy focuses on the roll-out the verification tool kit and supporting countries to adopt the WHO HIV testing strategy, implement rapid verification studies and select the optimal mix of products (including dual HIV/syphilis tests), to improve the quality of testing and accurate diagnosis for all people with HIV.  This consultancy will also contribute to activities for the forthcoming 2023 HTS guidelines and feedback the implementation lessons learned.

Deliverables

Output 1: Provide technical guidance to at least 5 countries to ensure alignment with WHO guidelines (standard 3 test strategy, inclusion of dual test HIV/syphilis as 1st test in ANC settings and for Key Populations).

Deliverable 1.1: Facilitate virtual stakeholder consultations (including national TWGs, WHO regional offices, PEPFAR and Global Fund) to ensure better understanding, buy-in and implementation of WHO recommendations and adoption of algorithm verification tool kit and produced meeting notes.

Timeline: November 2022, January 2023

Deliverable 1.2: Review and provide technical guidance in updating the national HTS strategies and technical documents for at least 5 countries to ensure alignment with latest WHO guidelines.

Timeline: November 2022

Deliverable 1.3: Provide technical guidance to at least 5 countries on implementing algorithm verification studies and developing new algorithms scale up plan through virtual meetings (meeting notes), development of supporting tools (SOPs, training modules, HTS registers, etc) and potentially country visits (mission reports).

Timeline:  March 2023

Output 2: Update the national policy review to maintain tracking and monitoring of country progress on testing strategy policy change and adoption, the implementation of dual HIV/syphilis testing in ANC and for KP, the roll-out of the verification tool kit. 

Deliverable 2.1: Update national policy review tracked and monitored of country progress on testing strategy policy change and adoption, the implementation of dual HIV/syphilis testing in ANC and for KP. 

Timeline: November 2022

Deliverable 2.2: Report on the roll out of the implementation of verification studies.

Timeline:  January 2023

Deliverable 2.3: Contribute to the development of a collaboration with the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria to set up a verification study consultant pool including identifying suitable consultants, orienting them to protocols, and organizing regular meetings to monitor, track and troubleshoot (remote or in person).

Output 3: Develop resource materials including technical updates and slides on lessons learned and progress on adopting the WHO HIV testing strategy, algorithm verification studies, and use of HIV/Syphilis Dual test in key populations and pregnant women, support multicounty analysis of verification study results, and disseminate findings and lessons learned.

Deliverable 3.1: Collect tools and develop slide sets, presentations, and technical updates to verification toolkit.

Timeline: October 2022

Deliverable 3.2: Analyze reports and results incorporated in slides deck of individual country study results (at least 5 countries).

Timeline:  January 2023

Deliverables 3.3: Background documents, agenda and slide deck prepared for the multi-country result dissemination and lessons learn webinar.

Timeline:  February 2023

Output 4: Contribute to the development of LMICs adapted HTS Quality Management System technical guidance (lab and other testing sites).

Deliverable 4.1: Completed desk review and consultations and synthesized findings into a report and slide set for dissemination (ASLM, WHO, CDC and other stakeholders, technical documents, country experiences).

Timeline: December 2022

Deliverable 4.2: Updated QMS guidance drafted based on the findings.

Timeline: February 2022

Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Educational Qualifications:

Essential:

Advanced University degree in laboratory science, public health.

Experience

Essential:

• Over 5 years’ experience working in HIV testing services including laboratory support, laboratory data analysis, and procurement, policy & strategy development, and its implementation. 


• At least two years of experience working with rapid diagnostic tests in countries.  


• Experience with technical writing, data analysis and report writing.

Skills/Knowledge:

• Good communication, presentation and coordination skills.

Languages required:

• Expert knowledge of English.

Location 

Off site: Home based.

Travel 

The consultant is expected to travel.

Remuneration and budget (travel costs are excluded):

Remuneration:

Band level B

7,000 - 9,980 per month. 

Living expenses (A living expense is payable to on-site consultants who are internationally recruited):

N/A

Expected duration of contract: 

6 months.