Objectives of the Assignment
The Focus, activities and Outcomes of Project: This project aims to investigate how countries can adopt regional strategies to resolve the tension between intellectual property (IP) regimes and access to medicine, by examining the extent to which the use of public interest exceptions in international intellectual property law may facilitate access to medicine. The project will address this aim through the following objectives:
1. Investigate the global state of the trade-off between intellectual property and access to medicine and undertake a review of the legal measures that may be adopted to address challenges associated with IP and access to medicines in Africa.
2. Evaluate strategies that may be used for implementing IP exemptions that promote access to medicines in African Union States.
3. Evaluate the legal implications of using regional strategies to foster the use of IP exemptions especially in relation to voluntary and non-voluntary licensing and parallel importation.
Scope of the Assignment;
Findings from this critical examination the potential benefits of adopting regional measures for the use and implementation of the TRIPS flexibilities are expected to influence policy guidelines for incorporating TRIPS flexibilities into national laws in jurisdictions that are yet to do so.
Promoting the full use of TRIPS flexibilities in the regions most affected by pandemics such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria will contribute significantly to the UN SDGs’ target to end these diseases by the year 2030.
The project is expected to bring about greater equity in relation to access to essential medicine for vulnerable populations. It is expected the project will provide significant law reform benefits that will result in the adoption of national IP legislations that will effectively use all the available rights under international IP law and international trade law to protect public interest and promote public health.
The development of new and generic drugs will strengthen the global supply chain for pharmaceuticals while bringing about a significant reduction in the global disease burden. The project will specifically offer the following tangible benefits:
1. The development of a Policy brief for the AUC policy organs,
2. The development of policy guidelines on the use of TRIPS flexibilities. The policy guidelines will serve as a great resource material that may influence the domestication of the TRIPS flexibilities.
3. The provision of technical support to the AU with respect to incorporating TRIPS flexibilities in the national legislations of their member states that are yet to do so. This will be of great significance to the access to medicine campaign as it will ensure patent law reforms are designed in a way that sufficiently takes into account the national interests of the implementing country.
Place of assignment
The assignment will be under the responsibility, supervision and coordination of AUC Department of Trade and Industry, The Consultant will report to the designated Programme Manager and focal person from the AUC Department of Trade and Industry who will manage the consultancy process including providing technical guidance and ensure that policy is followed .The assignment will be carried out at the AUC HQ in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, with the consultant working from home.
Required Expertise and Qualifications:
The Consultant shall have the following expertise and qualifications:
Further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours 8:00-13:00hrs and 14:00- 17:00 hours Local Time. Proposal must be delivered in a written form to the address below not later than 15:00 hours local time, 02 October 2020
African Union Commission,
Head of Procurement Travel and Store Division
Building C, Room 327
P.O.Box 3243, Roosevelt Street
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Tel: +251 (0) 11 551 7700 – Ext 4305
Fax: +251 (0) 11 551 0442; +251 11-551-0430
E-mail: tender@africa-union.org and Meronw@africa-union.org
(Consultant should send the proposal to both emails)
DEADLINE: October 02, 2020
