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.

1. Purpose of the Consultancy:

The purpose of this consultancy is to assist the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in developing a detailed list of AMR-related equipment and consumables, including technical specifications, for microbiology laboratories in Pakistan. The consultant will ensure the list aligns with the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) roadmap categories to support sustainable and standardised AMR surveillance. The finalized list and specifications will be reviewed and approved by NIH and submitted to DAI.

2. Background:

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) presents a significant global health challenge, severely impacting healthcare systems by increasing the complexity of infections, prolonging hospital stays, and escalating treatment costs. In Pakistan, efforts to strengthen AMR surveillance align with the World Health Organization’s Global AMR Surveillance System (GLASS) and the goals of the Fleming Fund, focusing on building diagnostic capacities that generate reliable, high-quality data. Establishing a standardised approach to AMR surveillance requires well-equipped microbiology labs that can support consistent and accurate testing. This initiative is part of a larger strategy to reinforce diagnostic capabilities, reduce data variability, and build a sustainable laboratory framework to support national and global AMR reporting.

A key part of achieving this objective is ensuring that microbiology labs have access to standardised, high-quality equipment and consumables. By adhering to established frameworks such as the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) roadmap, the labs will be better positioned to procure and manage equipment and consumables that meet essential quality standards. This standardisation not only enhances the quality of diagnostic testing but also contributes to the sustainability of laboratory operations by supporting consistency in equipment performance, maintenance, and lifecycle management.

This consultancy will aid the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in developing a comprehensive list of AMR-related equipment and consumables, including detailed specifications to guide procurement decisions. Through close consultation with NIH and relevant human health sentinel sites, the consultant will work to align the equipment list with local needs and international standards, thus supporting long-term quality and sustainability in Pakistan’s microbiology labs. The biomedical engineer’s technical expertise will be central to this task, providing insights that ensure the specifications meet the unique operational needs of AMR labs and fostering a sustainable approach to laboratory infrastructure development.

3. Planned timelines:

The services of the consultant will be acquired for seven days.

4. Work to be performed:

Output 1:
Develop a comprehensive list of equipment and consumables required for AMR testing in microbiology labs, with specifications aligned to the LSHTM roadmap categories.

Output 2:
Discuss and review the list and specifications with NIH to ensure alignment with national AMR surveillance needs and obtain formal approval from NIH.

Output 3:
Submit a final report to DAI, including the approved list of equipment and consumables with technical specifications.

5. Deliverables and Timelines:
The scope of work will be undertaken 20th November 2024 – 30th November 2024 (subject to approval); a total of 07 days LOE. The disbursements will be made upon submission of following progress reports:

Deliverables Payment

1st Deliverable: Draft list of AMR-related equipment and consumables with technical specifications according to LSHTM roadmap categories 30%

2nd Deliverable: Complete review and approval of list and specifications with NIH 40%

3rd Deliverable: Submit final report to DAI, including the approved list and specifications document 30%

Specific requirements:

• Qualifications required:
- Advanced university degree in Biomedical Engineering or related fieldrle
- Knowledge and proven experience in the field of clinical microbiology and preferably equipment maintenance and calibration
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Excellent analytical and strategic planning skills

• Language Requirements:
- Proficiency in English.

8. Place of assignment:
The place of assignment is Islamabad.