Introduction

The Fleming Fund (FF) is a U.K. Department of Health and Social Care programme to help low and middle-income countries fight Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR). AMR poses a severe global threat, expected to cause 10 million deaths annually by 2050. With potential costs reaching $100 trillion, its impact on the global economy is significant. Fleming Fund Grants aim to tackle the AMR challenge in developing countries including Pakistan. The grants are funded by the UK Department of Health and Social Care and managed by Mott MacDonald for the country, regional and fellowship grants. Pakistan has received Fleming Fund support since 2019 in the form of two Country Grants, 9 Fellowships, and central and local procurement of equipment, reagents, and consumables. Between 2017 and the end of phase-1 of the program in March 2023, the program has provided financial support to grantees to establish and support local development of national AMR surveillance systems.

In partnership with the Fleming Fund, DAI's programme in Pakistan collaborates with the Pakistani government to strengthen systems using a “One Health” (OH) approach – a multisectoral approach to complex health problems that reaches across human health, animal health, and environment sectors. As global leaders in One Health, the DAI team helps incorporate One Health across programme interventions. DAI is helping Pakistan become a leader in combating antimicrobial resistance, and a model for better management of antimicrobials in human and animal populations. DAI and its consortium partners have successfully secured an additional round, Phase 2, of the Fleming Fund Country Grant in Pakistan which spans from January 2024 to December 2025. The Phase 2 of the FFCG programme focuses on achieving four intermediate outcomes: 1) Production of quality AMR/U/C and burden of disease data; 2) Conducting quality data analysis; 3) Sharing quality data analysis with decision-makers; and 4) Contributing to sustainable investments at both the country and global levels to counter AMR.

Position Overview:

The Surveillance Specialist’s role will be multifaceted, encompassing leadership, strategic planning and technical expertise to ensure the successful implementation of AMR surveillance activities using One Health Approach. The position will be based in Lahore. The client has suggested DAI to enhance the presence in Punjab province. In this context a team of technical experts will be recruited for Punjab.

SCOPE OF WORK

• Lead the development and implementation of comprehensive capacity strengthening site plans to ensure activities align with the core levels outlined in the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine’s Roadmap for "AMR Surveillance in low and middle-income settings".
• Lead and oversee the Punjab-based hospital-based sentinel sites including the Fleming Fund supported AMR Provincial Reference Lab (PRL) located at Allama Iqbal Medical College (AIMC), Lahore.
• Provide technical inputs in the development of antibiograms using WHONET software, aimed at enhancing empirical therapy in Punjab based hospitals and support Fleming Fund Country Grants OH Surveillance team to collate and analyse data required for national antibiogram production.
• Review laboratory performance quarterly and provide additional clinical microbiology support (e.g., review SOPs, clinical protocols, laboratory bench aids, etc.) Work with microbiology teams of Punjab based sites for the development and implementation of SOPs on processing of GLASS pathogens as per international guidelines and assist these laboratories in result interpretation, reporting and analysis.
• Oversee the activities and deliverables from sub-grantees and consultants pertaining to laboratory capacity building and ensure compliance.
• Provide crucial technical inputs for the hospital-based sentinel sites reports which are reported on a quarterly basis to the client.
• Provide assistance to the Fleming Fund Country Grant’s OH surveillance team in preparation of training reports which are submitted to the client Mott on a quarterly basis.
• Collaborate with Punjab based stakeholders to ensure alignment with global best practices and standards in AMR surveillance.
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement, identifying areas for innovation and enhancement in surveillance methodologies.
• Work in close liaison with the Fleming Fund Country Grant’s OH surveillance team and AMR secretariat at NIH for periodic updates and reporting of surveillance status.

Required Qualification and Experience:

• Master’s level qualifications in Clinical Microbiology, or related fields.
• 5+ years of engaging with surveillance systems from a leadership perspective, preferably in designing and implementing surveillance frameworks in AMR projects.
• Demonstrated expertise in rigorous quantitative and qualitative methods, research, management information systems, reporting, data quality analysis and data analysis.
• Familiarity with AMR and GHSA surveillance systems.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills to work effectively with diverse stakeholders.
• Experience in managing complex projects with multiple stakeholders.
• Highly organized and a critical, creative thinker under pressure.