The WHO Global Tuberculosis Programme (GTB) aims to advance universal access to TB prevention and care, guide the global response to threats, and promote innovation. Specifically, it (1) provides global leadership on TB prevention and care through the WHO End TB Strategy; (2) develops evidence-based policies, strategies and standards for TB prevention and care, and monitors their implementation; (3) jointly with six WHO regional and country offices, provides specialized technical support to Member States, catalyses change, and builds sustainable capacity; (4) monitors the global TB situation, and measures progress in TB prevention and care, including financing; (5) shapes the TB research agenda and stimulates the generation, translation and dissemination of valuable knowledge; and (6) facilitates and engages in partnerships for action on TB.

One of the responsibilities of the People-centred services, Communities and Determinants (PCD) Unit within GTB is to lead policy development and coordinate key actions to end TB in children and adolescents. Consolidated guidelines and an operational handbook on the management of TB in children and adolescents were published in March 2022. WHO has also released two e-courses based on the new guidance, targeting health care workers and a programmatic audience.

Child-friendly formulations of TB drugs are essential to enabling implementation of WHO recommendations for prevention and treatment of TB in younger children. The paediatric anti-TB drug optimization (PADO-TB) exercise brings together relevant stakeholders to identify current and future gaps in availability of paediatric formulations based on WHO guidelines, discuss relevant ongoing studies and emerging results, and reach consensus on priority medicines needing accelerated development and introduction to the market. The first PADO-TB meeting took place in February 2019, and priorities for treatment of drug-susceptible and drug-resistant TB and treatment of TB infection were agreed upon. A virtual review of the PADO priority list took place in September 2020 and proposed several updates, which were subsequently further reviewed during the second PADO-TB meeting in October 2023.

To address aspects to optimize TB medicine dosing strategies and drug delivery approaches among children and adults which are beyond the scope of the WHO guideline development process, the Technical Advisory Group (TAG) on dosing of TB medicines for adults and children has been established to provide independent evaluation and advice to WHO on dosing issues related to TB medicines for all ages and all indications, aligned to WHO recommendations.

The focus of the work in this consultancy is on paediatric TB drug optimization and the work of the TAG on dosing and will involve collaboration across units within GTB, notably with staff from the Prevention Diagnosis, Treatment, Care and Innovation (PCI) unit.

Deliverables

• Output 1: Follow up on activities related to the second PADO-TB meeting (PADO-TB2).
  Expected by: October 2023
  • Deliverable 1.1: Participation in relevant webinars, meetings and events to disseminate the PADO priorities.
    Expected by: July 2025
  • Deliverable 1.2: Monitoring of the GTB commitments for the Rome Paediatric TB HIV Action Plan
    Expected by: July 2025
  • Deliverable 1.3: Collation of inputs from GTB into the WHO Prequalification Expression of interest and the Global Fund Expert Review Panel expression of interest to manufacturers for TB medicines in line with WHO guidelines and policy recommendations.
    Expected by: August 2025
  • Deliverable 1.4: Development of memos to motivate for changes to the TB medicines listed in the Essential Medicines List (EML) and the EML for children (EMLc).
    Expected by: December 2024
• Output 2: Ensure the functioning of the Technical Advisory Group on dosing of TB medicines for the treatment of TB disease and TB infection in adults and children.
  • Deliverable 2.1: Ensure efficient functioning of the Secretariat of the Technical Advisory Group on dosing of TB medicines.
    Expected by: ongoing
  • Deliverable 2.2: Facilitate technical preparations for the second meeting of the Technical Advisory Group on Dosing of TB medicines to address dosing of first-line medicines including rifampicin for the treatment of drug-susceptible TB in children and adults.
    Expected by: March 2025
  • Deliverable 2.3: Co-organize the meeting of the Technical Advisory Group on Dosing of TB medicines to address dosing of first-line regimens and prepare a brief report of decisions made.
    Expected by: April 2025
  • Deliverable 2.4: Develop draft content related to dosing of first-line medicines for and review sections of the updated operational handbook on tuberculosis (module 5: management of tuberculosis in children and adolescents and/or module 4: treatment of tuberculosis)
    Expected by: May 2025
  • Deliverable 2.5: Participate in relevant webinars, meetings and events to disseminate new guidance related to treatment of tuberculosis and dosing of TB medicines.
    Expected by: August 2025
• Output 3: Facilitate the collaboration with the Stop TB Partnership’s Global Drug Facility (GDF).
  • Deliverable 3.1: Two quarterly meetings between GTB and GDF planned and coordinated for quarters 1 and 2, 2025.
    Expected by: August 2025
  • Deliverable 3.2: Collation of GTB inputs and participation in the TB Procurement and Market-Shaping Action Team (TPMAT) meetings.
    Expected by: June 2025
• Output 4: Contribute to other activities on child and adolescent TB by the PCD unit
  • Deliverable 4.1: Participation in relevant regional workshops and consultations to disseminate guidance on the management of TB in children and adolescents and the Roadmap towards ending TB in children and adolescents.
    Expected by: ongoing
  • Deliverable 4.2: Up-to-date WHO TB research tracker with all relevant trials related to TB in children and adolescents and comorbidities
    Expected by: August 2025
• Output 5: Contribute to activities related to TB prevention and treatment of DS-TB and DR-TB (in collaboration with the PCI unit).
  • Deliverable 5.1: Update and development of the TB drug dose finder on both the TB Knowledge Sharing Platform mobile app and the main website.
    Expected by: December 2024

Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Educational Qualifications:

Essential:

• Advanced degree in pharmacology or pharmaceutical chemistry.

Desirable:

• Advanced degree in public health or health science related field.

Experience:  

Essential:

• At least 7 years of professional experience in regulation of medicines and other health products, development of medicines and other health products, rational use of and access to medicines, public health and/or health management information systems.
• Experience with WHO rules and regulations related to essential medicines and health products.
• Experience with WHO paediatric drug optimization processes for TB and/or other diseases.
• Experience with development of dosing guidance using pharmacokinetic and pharmacometrics evidence.
• Documented experience in writing of technical reports.

Desirable:

• Experience in TB control, in infectious diseases, in policy analysis, and in working with international organizations and multiple stakeholders.
• Experience in building sustained partnerships, and interacting with partners and global, regional and country level.

Skills:

Essential:

• Good understanding of the End TB Strategy, WHO TB related policies and guidelines, including those related to children and adolescents.
• A good understanding of the challenges related to the treatment of children with TB or at risk of TB and the need for child-friendly formulations, as well as a good understanding of the challenges and opportunities towards ending TB in TB high burden countries.
• Ability to analyse technical reports, identifying issues, formulate opinions, make conclusions, and recommendations.
• Excellent skills in commonly used computer software including Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
• Excellent writing, presentation and interpersonal communication skills (written and oral).
• Awareness of, and sensitivity to, cultural differences when working with colleagues and when presenting to audiences.

Languages required:

Essential:

• Expert knowledge of English.

Desirable:

• Intermediate knowledge of another UN language.

Location 

Off site: Home-based

Travel 

The consultant is expected to travel.

Remuneration and budget (travel costs are excluded):

Remuneration:

Band level B – USD 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: 

11 months – part-time at 70%.  Remuneration will be pro-rated accordingly.