Opportunity to Join the Fleming Fund Technical Advisory Group

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Expert Advisor Position – UK Fleming Fund Technical Advisory Group (Health Systems Strengthening, Clinical Microbiology, and Pharmacy Experts)

The Fleming Fund

The Fleming Fund is a UK aid programme supporting up to 25 countries across Africa and Asia to tackle antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Managed by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), the fund invests in strengthening surveillance systems through a portfolio of country and regional grants, global projects and fellowship schemes.

The UK Government established the Fleming Fund programme in 2015 in response to the UK AMR Review and the WHO Global Action Plan on AMR, which called for funding to improve AMR surveillance, general awareness and understanding of AMR and responsible use of antimicrobials. The programme focuses on low- and middle-income (LMIC) countries because they are expected to bear the heaviest consequences of the spread of AMR. The UK AMR Review estimated that by 2050, up to 90% of all deaths related to AMR will occur in Africa and Asia. You can find out more about the Fleming Fund on our website here: https://www.flemingfund.org/about-us/.

The Technical Advisory Group (TAG)

The Fleming Fund Technical Advisory Group plays a key role in shaping the programme by providing independent technical advice and expertise to support programmatic decisions and shape the strategic direction of the fund.

The TAG meets on a quarterly basis to receive updates, discuss key topics, and provide strategic and technical advice and feedback across the Fleming Fund programme. Membership is on a voluntary basis and currently consists of ten experts (you can read about it here https://www.flemingfund.org/about-us/technical-advisory-group/) in the field of AMR from a One Health context. The TAG has a Chair and Deputy-Chair, currently Professor Clare Chandler and Dr Evelyn Wesangula.

Current Membership Availability

The Fleming Fund TAG is looking for three experts to join the existing membership on a voluntary basis, this includes:

• 1 Health Systems Strengthening Expert
• 1 Clinical Microbiology Expert
• 1 Pharmacy Expert

In addition to the candidate criteria set below, applications are particularly welcome from those with relevant experience in regions where the Fleming Fund is most active. You can find out more about our regions and countries here: https://www.flemingfund.org/regions-countries/

Core Criteria for Membership

All successful candidates must, in addition to the role specific criteria, have:

• Experience of international AMR.
• Experience of LMICs from an international perspective.
• Evidence of being part of broad networks focussed on AMR that could be leveraged to draw in expert experience where necessary.
• Possess local LMIC experience, particularly in Fleming Fund focus countries and/or regions.
• Have a minimum of 10 years’ experience in the relevant field(s) of expertise in the disciplines indicated above.
• Must have no potential conflicts of interest that could compromise independence and impartiality.

Role Criteria: Health Systems Strengthening Expert

The successful candidate will have:

• A strong understanding of and experience with demonstrating leadership and vision to include the following critical elements of health systems strengthening:
• - advocacy and policy at national level to influence national plans and strategies.
• - role of regulatory bodies and UN agencies to implement national level regulation and use of data for guideline development both at national and regional level.
• - development of scientific technologies (laboratories: capacity, capability and usage) for data generation and IT systems to analyse and report on data generated.
• - awareness (locally, regionally, nationally) of the education and training of healthcare professionals including clinical, laboratory, data analysts and managers.
• Extensive experience of public health particularly in health systems of LMICs.
• Relevant postgraduate and other relevant qualifications. Experience of academic teaching and research would be considered beneficial.

Desirable

• Practical experience of planning, managing, and improving diagnostic microbiology services.

Role Criteria: Clinical Microbiology Expert

• Extensive experience in diagnosis, treatment and prevention of hospital and community acquired infections including proven experience and leadership of a clinical microbiology service.
• Extensive experience of clinical interpretation of laboratory data and the practice of liaison with clinical teams for patient management.
• Significant experience utilising AMR data to advocate for sustained support for clinical microbiology training and continued professional development in clinical microbiology (all cadre of healthcare professionals) and services.
• Significant experience utilising AMR data to advise on local treatment guidelines, diagnostic and antimicrobial stewardship and national infection management guidelines and IPC policy.
• Extensive proven technical expertise in clinical bacteriology (quality and safety)
• Knowledge of the One Health approach to antimicrobial resistance, surveillance, and control.
• Significant experience of epidemiology, disease transmission, prevention of communicable diseases and advisory capability on effective interventions in LMICs.
• Development of human and laboratory capacity for diagnostic microbiology in low resource settings. Potentially with focus on improving laboratory informatics.
• Significant experience of working with multilateral, regional and non-government organisations.
• Relevant postgraduate and other relevant qualifications. Experience of academic teaching and research would be considered beneficial.

Role Criteria: Pharmacy expert

• Extensive experience in strengthening pharmaceutical systems, clinical pharmacy and infectious diseases particularly in LMICs. Specifically, proven ability to improve healthcare outcomes and reducing health inequalities for people across the low- and middle-income health systems.
• Significant experience with pharmaceutical supply management, engagement with private sector and Industry players, drug quality, survey data and analysis,
• Significant technical expertise in pharmacovigilance and pharmacoepidemiology, pharmaceutical products policy, regulation, including pharmacy practice research.
• Significant experience of working with multilateral, regional and non-government organisations.
• Significant experience of setting up and managing programmes to improve antimicrobial stewardship (AMS), reduce antimicrobial consumption (AMC) and reduce antimicrobial use (AMU) in LMICS.
• Relevant postgraduate and academic qualifications. Experience of academic teaching and research would be considered beneficial.

Submitting your expression of interest

To register your interest in being considered for the Fleming Fund Technical Advisory Group, please submit the following documents by 24:00 (midnight) UK Time on 26 April 2024 to FlemingFund@dhsc.gov.uk using the subject line “Expression of interest for the Fleming Fund Technical Advisory Group ".

• A cover letter limited to 500 words, indicating your motivation to apply and how you satisfy the selection criteria. Please note that, if selected, membership will be in a personal capacity.
• Your CV

Fleming Fund will review expressions of interest received by the above deadline. Due to an expected high volume of interest, only selected individuals will be informed.