Regional Access Consultant

The Drugs for Neglected Diseases _initiative _(DND_i_) is an international, not-for-profit research and development (R&D) organization that develops and delivers new treatments for neglected diseases that affect millions of the world’s poorest people.

Together with more than 200 public research and industry allies worldwide, we use the power of partnership, innovation, open science, and advocacy to find solutions to a great injustice: the lack of medicines for life-threatening diseases that disproportionately impact poor and marginalized people. Driven by collaboration, not competition, and by patients’ needs, not profits, we promote equitable access, foster inclusive and sustainable solutions, and advocate for a more effective global biomedical R&D system that meets the needs of neglected patients.

Since our inception, DND_i_ has delivered nine new treatments for people with sleeping sickness, visceral leishmaniasis, Chagas disease, HIV, hepatitis C, and malaria that have saved millions of lives. We now aim to deliver an additional 15-18 new treatments by 2028 - addressing R&D gaps for neglected tropical diseases and viral infections, including new pandemic-prone diseases (such as COVID19) and climate-sensitive diseases (such as dengue) with a focus on the needs of patients in low
- and middle-income countries.

Counting Brazil’s Fiocruz as a founding member and numerous collaborations with science and access leaders in Latin American region, DND_i_ established itself in Rio de Janeiro in 2004. An integral part of DND_i_’s global network, DND_i_ Latin America nurtures R&D and access partnerships in the broad region eco-systems, including for Chagas disease, leishmaniasis, hepatitis C and dengue, while contributing to DND_i_'s global strategy. It also undertakes advocacy in support of neglected patients and leads capacity-building projects through multi-country clinical research and drug discovery platforms, including the Chagas Clinical Research Platform and RedeLEISH and the Lead Optimization Latin America (LOLA).

**Purpose of the position**:
Support the elaboration and implementation of an advocacy strategy for Chagas and leishmaniasis in the Latin American region according to the objectives of the DND_i_, which include the expansion of access to diagnosis and treatment as well as the development, registration and adoption of new treatments for the disease in the LATAM region and some countries in particular.

Develop the initiatives proposed in the advocacy plan together with the Chagas team.

Develop and implement in coordination with the main partners in the region (e.g: PAHO, Redeleish) an advocacy strategy to expand access to safe, effective and affordable local and systemic treatments for the treatment of cutaneous and visceral leishmaniasis in key countries

**Specific job responsibilities**:
**1**st** area - Support for the preparation of the implementation of the advocacy strategy for Chagas and contribution to improve it**:

- Carry out the mapping of actors involved in the development and implementation of policies for the prevention and care of diseases in the region and of other actors such as patient groups, medical societies in areas related to Chagas, etc.
- Support the planning of the implementation of the regional advocacy plan for Chagas, detailing the plans with a focus on priority countries, including activities, schedule of actions and indicators.
- Participate in the activation and updating meetings with institutional contacts of the countries of interest to DND_i_.
- Evaluate the degree of institutional prioritization towards the issue of Chagas disease based on a survey with key actors.

**2**nd** area - Definition/Preparation of an advocacy strategy for leishmaniasis in LATAM and contribution to its implementation**:

- Collect, from internal or external sources, necessary information on the situation of Leishmaniasis disease in each of the priority countries of DND_i_ in the Latin American region.
- Prepare the advocacy plan for Leishmaniasis, detailing the plans with emphasis on priority countries, including activities, schedule of actions and indicators
- Identify the priority actions to be implemented during the time of the consultancy
- Participate in reactivation and updating meetings with institutional contacts from the countries of interest to DND_i_.

**3**rd** area - Implementation of strategies in collaboration with teams**:

- Follow the progress of the Chagas and Leishmaniasis projects and stay informed about decisions and actions that may impact the advocacy plans
- Follow the initiatives and participate in the meetings held by the Chagas and Leishmaniasis teams that have an objective and element of advocacy and record and coordinate the information
- Identify, propose, write and/or update materials and documents necessary for the execution of the strategies, such as "policy briefs", record of experience or others.
- Participate in meetings with partners