Job: CONSULTANT: REGULATORY FRAMEWORK AND IP STATUS OF SELECT ARV MEDICINES IN COUNTRIES IN EASTERN EUROPE AND CENTRAL ASIA

Location :

home-based, with one mission within the region

Application Deadline :

06-Nov-13

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Post Level :

International Consultant

Languages Required :

English Russian

Duration of Initial Contract :

estimated November 2013 – December 2013

Expected Duration of Assignment :

approximately 50 working days

Background

UNDP is the UN's global development network advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. As a founding Cosponsor of the Joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), and guided by the health-related MDGs, responding to HIV is one of the organizations' priorities. Under the UNAIDS division of labour, UNDP is responsible for leading the UNAIDS response in addressing dimensions of AIDS relating to: development planning and mainstreaming; governance; and human rights, gender and sexual diversity. UNDP is also responsible for providing support to governments in their implementation of policies and programs that protect the human rights of people affected by HIV. While globally the number of new HIV infections is decreasing, the region of Eastern Europe and the Central Asia (EECA) is home to fastest still further growing HIV epidemic: rising from an estimated 970,000 people living with the virus in 2001 to 1.5 million in 2013. The Russian Federation and Ukraine, together account for almost 90 percent of newly reported HIV cases. Levels of treatment in the region are low with approximately 20 percent of those in need of antiretroviral therapy receiving it. At the same time, the Price and Quality Reporting Mechanism of the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (Global Fund) has indicated the countries in the region pay one of the highest prices for anti-retroviral treatment, exceeding several times the Global Fund Median Prices for certain medicines. In the context of the overall decrease of international funding of the HIV response, taking into account the Global Fund Strategy 2012-2016 which relies on quality national strategies, as well as the new Funding Model of the Fund which requires substantial national contributions, it is of utmost importance for countries in the region to assess the levels of preparedness of national healthcare systems to meet the new challenges in the response to HIV and, where necessary, increase their sustainability. This process includes, without being limited to, providing access to affordable quality, safe and efficient anti-retroviral medicines and medicines for treatment of co-infections. Intellectual property rights and other components of the regulatory framework such as licenses and registration substantially affect the prices of and access to essential medicines, worldwide and in the region. Recent developments in the area of trade in the region have caused considerable changes in national IP regimes of several countries which are likely to develop further. In cooperation with governments, other UN agencies, international organizations, and civil society actors, UNDP works to develop the capacity of national legislators, government offices and civil society actors on matters related to trade, intellectual property and access to essential medicines, including anti-retroviral treatment. UNDP seeks a consultant on trade and sustainable development to support the work of the HIV, Health and Development Team at the Regional Center in Bratislava for five months with approximately 50 working days.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Consultant reports to the Programme Specialist for Rights and Law of UNDP's Practice on HIV, Health and Development, Regional Centre for Europe and the CIS in Bratislava (Supervisor). Building on the previous work carried out by UNDP worldwide and in the region, the Consultant:

• Carries out a compressive research on intellectual property legislation and trade regimes in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Turkmenistan and Ukraine with focus on their ability to secure access to essential medicines and the needs for reform in order to enable sustainable access to affordable quality medicines;
• Carries out analysis of the health sector procurement regulations and practices in the select countries;
• Analyses the opportunities to reduce cost of essential medicines, including ARVs, in short, mid- and long terms, including through possible pooled procurement, or local production, while taking into account national strategies;
• Analyses other national and/or developments in trade that are likely to impact cost of and access to essential medicines and provides recommendations for increasing access and mitigating possible negative consequences.
• Actively participates in the preparation and implementation of regional/national intervention focusing on trade and sustainability in access to medicines;
• Actively participates in the work of the team on sustainable financing of the response to HIV and supports/contributes to the work of the Economist at the HHD team;
• Performs other consultancy-specific tasks assigned by the Supervisor;
• The Consultant is expected to be home-based and liaise with the Regional Center on a regular basis by phone and in virtual space;
• The Consultant is expected to carry out one mission in the region, specific destinations to be determined during the consultancy period.

Deliverables:

• Analytical report on regulatory framework, including IP, licensing and registration, trade regimes and access to essential medicines in specified countries as an outcome of the comprehensive research;
• Analysis of the current procurements carried out with Global Fund grants in the select countries, followed by developing of three transition scenarios (in short, mid- and long terms) for sustainable financing approach focusing on the specific aspect of getting the best solutions for country-driven medicine procurement;
• Analysis of the developments in trade likely to impact cost/access to essential medicines with recommendations.

Payments:

• 25% of the total amount at the submission of a work plan and approval by the Supervisor;
• 50% of the submission of the approved first draft of the analytical report;
• 25% at the satisfactory completion of the consultancy, as evidenced by approval of the Supervisor.

Competencies

Corporate competencies:

• Commitment to the principles set forth in the UN High Level Declarations on HIV and AIDS;
• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Treats all people fairly without favoritism;
• Fulfills all obligations to gender sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment.

Functional competences:

• Excellent research, analytical and drafting skills;
• Excellent organizational skills, ability to work independently, strict adherence to completing assigned tasks in a timely manner;
• Quality-oriented professional, constructive approach to obstacles and delays in planned performance;
• Excellent communication skills, oral and written.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• A masters' degree in law, economics, international relations, trade, or other relevant field.

Experience:

• Four or more years of relevant regional experience in the field of trade, international relations, law and health;
• An excellent understanding of trade, intellectual property rights, registration requirements and access to anti-retroviral medicines and medicines for treatment of co-infections, as well as patented consumables, worldwide and in the region.

Language skills:

• Fluency and ability to communicate and perform complex research in English and Russian is required.
• Knowledge of more EECA regional languages is a plus.

Publications:

• At least one recent relevant publication in the field of trade-related matters and development, in particular access to medicines, in English;
• Additional publications in English and/or Russian are a plus.

Evaluation of Applicants Individual consultants will be evaluated based on a cumulative analysis taking into consideration the combination of the applicants' qualifications and a financial proposal, in US$, which includes all consultant's costs except missions. The award of the contract should be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

• Responsive/compliant/acceptable; and
• Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation.

Only the highest ranked candidates who would be found qualified for the job will be considered for the Financial Evaluation. Technical Criteria -70% of total evaluation - max. 50 points.

• Education and additional qualifications (courses, diplomas) - max. 20 points;
• Publications - max. 10 points;
• Relevant work experience in HIV, IP, registration of medicines - max. 15 points;
• Communication skills and languages - max. 5 points.

Financial Criteria - 30% of total evaluation - max. 21.5 points Application procedures Qualified candidates are requested to apply online via this website. The application should contain:

• Cover letter explaining why you are the most suitable candidate for the advertised position. Please paste the letter into the 'Resume and Motivation' section of the electronic application;
• Filled P11 form including past experience in similar projects and contact details of referees (blank form can be downloaded from http://europeandcis.undp.org/files/hrforms/P11_modified_for_SCs_and_ICs.doc ); please upload the P11 instead of your CV;
• Financial Proposal* - specifying a total lump sum amount for the tasks specified in this announcement. The financial proposal shall include a breakdown of this lump sum amount (number of anticipated working days and any other possible costs), except costs related to 1 foreseen mission. Related mission costs will be covered separately as per the UNDP rules and regulations.;
• Incomplete applications will not be considered. Please make sure you have provided all requested materials.

*Please note that the financial proposal is all-inclusive and shall take into account various expenses incurred by the consultant/contractor during the contract period (e.g. fee, health insurance, vaccination and any other relevant expenses related to the performance of services...). All envisaged costs (except of the travel costs connected with 1 foreseen mission) must be included in the financial proposal. Payments will be made only upon confirmation of UNDP on delivering on the contract obligations in a satisfactory manner. Individual Consultants are responsible for ensuring they have vaccinations/inoculations when travelling to certain countries, as designated by the UN Medical Director. Consultants are also required to comply with the UN security directives set forth under dss.un.org. General Terms and conditions as well as other related documents can be found under: http://europeandcis.undp.org/home/jobs. Qualified women and members of minorities are encouraged to apply. Due to large number of applications we receive, we are able to inform only the successful candidates about the outcome or status of the selection process.

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.

More Info and Application