Inclusion in ICARS Roster of Economics Consultants

Background

The International Centre for Antimicrobial Resistance Solutions (ICARS) is an independent organisation partnering with low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) to develop evidence-based, context-specific and cost-effective solutions to mitigate antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Specifically, ICARS supports country-led Intervention and Implementation Research (IIR) projects by co-developing and funding evidence-based interventions that are practically implementable in a national/local context. ICARS works from a One Health perspective, thus covering human, veterinary and environmental sectors. Projects include an economic evaluation of the intervention and implementation strategy. For this purpose, ICARS is creating a roster of consultants in Health and/or Development Economics that can support this work.

Objectives

The consultants will work closely with country project teams and the ICARS Science team to provide expert technical inputs on the financial feasibility of the projects such as data collection on economic aspects in demonstration projects, economic evaluation of the interventions, advocacy and support for economic policies to address AMR, and using the IIR framework to design real-world solutions for AMR. Consultants will be engaged according to the requirements of the individual projects.

While designing projects across the IIR continuum, ICARS requires targeted support for developing and finalizing the economic case for addressing AMR in the local contexts during the project cycle. These could be at the individual level (person, farmer, patient), community level (social groups such as farmer’s collective, patient groups, mother groups etc), with the public sector (government department, national or administrative level) or private sector (group of animal producers, feed producers, size-based farms, medium to large corporate hospitals etc.).

Terms of Reference

The terms of reference for the Health / Development Economist may include, but are not necessarily limited to the following:

• Advise ICARS Science and country project teams on specific aspects related to project design, specifically data collection methodologies, feasibility, indicators and proxies to make the economic case in the local country context.
• Advise the Science team on activities to advance the scientific discourse on economic aspects of AMR (i.e., return on investment, cost-effectiveness, cost-benefit analyses), especially in developing local/ country context-related research questions in line with project objectives.
• Provide on-site and offsite support to ICARS projects in building economic assessments and developing partnerships between the implementing project team, local economic research institutions/experts and other key relevant stakeholders in the country.
• Support the country project teams in facilitating co-development workshops (for economic aspects) that promote cross-sectoral and multi-disciplinary collaborations.
• Support ICARS in capacity building on economic aspects of AMR in the IIR continuum within LMICs such as through quarterly review meetings, mentoring in-country researchers, supporting in-country government institutions during the project and establishing/ continuing dialogue with key stakeholders (government/researchers/research institutions).
• Support the ICARS Science team in developing a supportive IIR ecosystem of economics researchers, institutions (academic and policy) and agencies that will help advance the understanding and relevance of economic considerations when addressing AMR from a One Health perspective globally and specifically in LMICs.
• Provide AMR economics issue-related landscape assessments and situational analyses for countries or regions in which the applicant works.
• Support other economics-related science and partnership activities of the ICARS team.

Language

Language of the outputs and deliverables: Proficiency in English is essential but knowledge of other languages, particularly those relevant to the country or region in which they work, will be an asset.

Desired Skills/Experience:

Trained economist (specialising in Health Economics/Development Economics/ Behavioural Economics/ Public Policy) holding a PhD or Master’s degree. Consultants with or without post-doctoral work experience, independent consultants as well as those affiliated with an academic institution are welcome to apply. The role may include travel to country project sites and other locations when requested to support projects on site.

The following skills will be an asset:

• Experience of or affiliation with economics teaching/education, research and implementation in LMICs.
• Demonstrated experience in working on infectious diseases/health economics/in the development sector including agricultural economics, and industrial economics.
• Specific experience of research in economic aspects of AMR, /implementation research/ economic research capacity building in LMICs with mentorship programmes in the development sector, One Health or AMR.

Renumeration: UN rates will apply (Remuneration, consultants | HR Portal) and the timeframe for the consultancy will be agreed upon in a written contract when the support is requested.