UNAIDS is recruiting a consultant
Source: | Author:UNAIDS China | Published time: 2022-02-22 | 688 Views | Share:


Terms of Reference 

Availability and Accessibility Mapping of Quality HIV-related Commodities in China 


Background 

The 8th Ministerial Conference of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), held on 29 – 30 November 2021 in Dakar, Senegal, achieved fruitful results and passed the China-Africa Cooperation Vision 2035. The Conference reviewed the achievements made in the development of China-Africa relations since the Beijing Summit of FOCAC in 2018 and deliberated on the implementation of the “Eight Major Initiatives” announced at the Beijing Summit; and launched the new collaboration plan—the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation Dakar Action Plan (2022-2024) that provided new impetus for enhanced China-Africa Cooperation.  


The Dakar Action Plan recognizes priorities in health cooperation including prevention and control of communicable diseases (HIV, TB, Malaria and Schistosomiasis), and increased cooperation between China and Africa on strengthening the capacities of local drug production. Good examples were set as China is facilitating the establishment of the African Medicines Agency (AMA) and supporting the African Medicines Regulation and Harmonization (AMRH) programme. The China-Africa Cooperation Vision 2035 also calls for consolidating and deepening health cooperation by supporting African to strengthen the prevention and control system of communicable diseases, improving medical research and medicine accessibility and affordability.  


To maintain the momentum of the 8th Ministerial conference of FOCAC and explore entry points for multilateral support to operationalize major commitments and initiatives made at the conference, UNAIDS aims to address the challenges that populations and countries face in promoting equitable access to essential and innovative HIV-related commodities and promote experience and commodity sharing amongst countries.  


China has demonstrated great progress in HIV response and has lessons and experience to share, for instance: funding mechanism for community participation; scaling up HIV testing and related services among young people; capacity building and experience sharing with other countries; promoting accessible and local production of medicines and health products in Africa.  


Based on these efforts made in China and to further promote South-South Collaboration, UNAIDS China office would support a study to map China’s capacity on HIV-related products, including HIV test kits, condoms, and male circumcision rings, to identify current registration needs upon exportation and potential cost-effectiveness and demand in the African market.  


Findings and recommendations from this study will inform about the current situation of HIV-related commodities on China’s market with qualification, and their potential to enter the African market. The outcome will also contribute to common future actions amongst countries.  


Objectives 

  • Map the HIV-related commodities on China’s market with potential to support Africa, include but not limited to: HIV self-testing kits, HIV rapid testing kits (both ELISA and PCR), condoms, volunteer male circumcision (VMC) rings etc.; 

  • Collect their manufacture, in stock and export capacity, as well as registration/qualification status in China and globally; 

  • Identify the potential gaps and challenges for these commodities to be channeled to Africa and provide recommendations.  


Scope of work 

1.    Desk review and key informant interviews: 

  • Perform a desk review of secondary information on reviews or annual reports from national and global publications in the past 5 years on existing HIV-related commodities, with details including their manufacturers, in-stock capacity, production capacity, registration status (both under NMPA and International, such as WHO, EU), unit price in market, qualification standards used, procurement mechanisms, sales data and linkage to health system. 

  • Review and identify their marketing potential to be promote abroad, with emphasis on the type of commodity, situation of registration/qualification, local needs and procurement methods in the African market. 

  • Identify stakeholders and practitioners in the country and abroad who will participate as key informants and conduct interview for information collection. 

2.    Focused information analysis: 

  • Identify the features and advantages of these commodities in each category. 

  • Identify gaps and challenges of these qualified commodities going abroad, such as international registration, demand/supply balance, marketing channels, policy and regulations, and potential factors of influence. 

  • Analysis the about mapping information with the potential local production of these commodities in Africa. 

3.    Report writing and deliverables: 

  • Develop study report with recommendations on how China can contribute to promote access to HIV-related health commodities to Africa and other developing countries. 

  • Organize consultation meetings among key stakeholders. 

  • Share and distribute the outcome documents with relevant stakeholders and governments. 

4.     Communicating with interviewing partners when necessary to follow up programmes. 

5.     Supporting to organize relative events and activities, and preforming any other tasks, as required, to ensure efficient facilitation of UNAIDS work priorities. 


Key Deliverables 

The following will be the expected deliverables: 

  • Study plan;  

  • Consultation meetings; 

  • Draft and finalized the Chinese and English study outcome report. 


Requirements 

  • Consultant (s), individual or from company, participating in this study should have proven and demonstrable relevant experience of not less than eight-ten (8-10) years, including understanding of the manufacture, domestic and international registration and exportation of China’s health commodities. 

  • A proven understanding of the HIV epidemic and response, and challenges and opportunities related to achieve the goal of ending AIDS as a public threat by 2030. 

  • Being familiar with relative pharmaceutical and registration harmonization plan in Africa and the reality of access to health products and local production in Africa. 

  • Experience of taking a lead role in evaluative health studies, policy analysis, strategic analysis and developing sound synthesis report. 

  • Excellent report writing skills in English. 

  • Excellent communication skills with national and international collaboration partners. 


Approach 

The consultant(s)/consulting company is/are expected to work directly with the UNAIDS offices at global, regional, and country levels for technical and operational support required during the consultancy. 


Proposed Time Frame and Submission 

The consultancy period will be 21 March-15 May 2022.  All deliverables should be submitted in both soft and hard copies to the UNAIDS as agreed during the inception phase. 


Proposed timeline 

Week 

Activity 

1-4 

Consultant on board; Conduct desk review and Key informant interviews 

5-6 

Focused information gathering and analysis 

7-8 

Finalization of reports and dissemination to relevant organisations 

 

Ownership and Disclosure of Data/Information 

All documents, project data and information obtained in connection with this assignment shall be treated confidential and shall not without the written approval of UNAIDS be made available to any third party. All the documents provided by UNAIDS, both soft and hard copies are to be returned to UNAIDS upon completion of the assignment. All documentation and reports written as, and as a result of this assignment or otherwise related to it shall remain the property of UNAIDS. No part of the package shall be reproduced except with the prior, expressed, and specific written permission of UNAIDS. 


Application Deadline 

6th March 

Please send application letter, individual/company profile and quotation to: China@unaids.org. Note that only shortlisted candidates will be notified.