Roster for International Consultants - Public Health Laboratory Assessments
Organizational Context
The WHO Health Emergencies Programme (WHE) in the South-East Asia Region aims to strengthen public health laboratory capacity. Despite investments, laboratory capabilities remain uneven. WHO is establishing a voluntary Public Health Laboratory Recognition Programme to standardize assessments and support improvement plans, enhancing disease surveillance, outbreak response, and health security.
Job Purpose
This consultancy aims to bolster public health laboratory systems within the WHO South-East Asia Region by supporting the implementation of the Public Health Laboratory Recognition Programme. The role involves building regional assessment capacity, facilitating laboratory self-assessments, and developing improvement plans. Additionally, it will strengthen national capabilities in detecting and characterizing priority bacterial and fungal pathogens, including antimicrobial resistance (AMR). By assessing AMR national reference laboratories and promoting standardized procedures, this consultancy will enhance the quality, reliability, safety, and sustainability of laboratory services crucial for disease surveillance, AMR monitoring, and preparedness for public health emergencies.
Responsibilities
Support the implementation of the Public Health Laboratory Recognition Programme by planning and facilitating regional webinars, country orientation sessions, and technical consultations. Deliver a training-of-trainers workshop to build a pool of qualified assessors. Conduct in-country technical missions to support laboratory self-assessments, identify gaps, and develop corrective action and quality-improvement plans. Strengthen national laboratory capacity for pathogen detection and characterization by assessing AMR national reference laboratories and providing technical support. Facilitate the development of national AMR laboratory network coordination mechanisms, including referral pathways and reporting. Support the adaptation of WHO standardized laboratory protocols for pathogen detection, identification, antimicrobial susceptibility testing, quality assurance, biosafety, and referral.
Work Experience
Essential: Minimum of five years of relevant experience in laboratory diagnostics or related work at public health, clinical, or research laboratories. Desirable: Experience in planning and conducting training, working in developing countries on disease surveillance and response, previous WHO international experience, and experience in Asia.
Skills
Proven knowledge in public health laboratory preparedness for infectious hazards, laboratory support for response readiness, and microbiological risk assessment. Ability to provide technical advice, promote consensus, communicate effectively, and manage projects. Strong organizational, monitoring, and evaluation skills. Ability to work independently and adapt to changing priorities. Strong writing, communication, interpersonal, and diplomatic skills. Experience synthesizing information for diverse audiences. Knowledge of laboratory standards, techniques, communicable disease control, surveillance, and quality management systems.