The World Health Organization (WHO), through its Department for HIV, Tuberculosis, Hepatitis and Sexually Transmitted Infections (HTH), is seeking 3 proposals from qualified institutions to enhance the global evidence base and research agenda on HIV drug resistance (HIVDR). The purpose is to inform policy guidance and programmatic initiatives in line with the Integrated Drug Resistance Action Framework for HIV, Hepatitis B and C, and Sexually Transmitted Infections (2026–2030). This initiative contributes to achieving global objectives to improve treatment outcomes and sustain momentum toward eradicating AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.
The proposals must be related to the following technical areas:
1. Guidance: support evidence analysis and identify research gaps for future policy development
Global HIV treatment programmes are entering a period of significant transition. While dolutegravir (DTG) based regimens have delivered substantial public health gains, emerging evidence and programmatic experience point to growing challenges related to virological failure, limited access to resistance testing, and uncertainties around optimal management strategies in real world settings.
Therefore, WHO seeks an institution with expertise in HIV drug resistance and public health to support evidence analysis and identify research gaps for future policy development in this field.
Scope of work
The selected institution will be expected to:
- To synthesize and analyze evidence on DTG resistance-associated mutations with use of current recommended treatment regimens, and their impact on viral suppression and re-suppression across populations, including adults, children, adolescents, and infants.
- To generate evidence on the prevalence and trends of HIV drug resistance in the context of prep-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) use through systematic review and meta-analysis.
- To identify key evidence gaps and research priorities to inform the development of the Drug Resistance Action Framework 2026–2030 research agenda.
- To develop a draft research agenda for the DR Action Framework 2026–2030 based on available evidence and identified priorities.
Requirements
Applicants should demonstrate:
- Proven experience conducting systematic reviews and meta-analyses in public health, infectious diseases, or HIV, as evidenced by peer-reviewed publications or technical reports.
- Demonstrated expertise in HIVDR, including analysis and interpretation of resistance-related evidence, as evidenced by publications or technical outputs.
- Experience analyzing and synthesizing evidence on antiretroviral treatment outcomes, including resistance-associated mutations, across different populations.
- Experience developing research agendas, policy briefs, or normative guidance documents in global health.
- Previous work by the institution or key personnel with WHO, other international organizations, or major academic or research institutions in the field of HIVDR or HIV, as evidenced by reports, publications, or references.
More information on the call's background, requirements, instructions to bidders, evaluation, general conditions and submission forms can be found in the Terms of Reference.
2. Strengthening global HIV drug resistance laboratory guidance, networks, and programmes
Over the past decade, the scale-up of antiretroviral therapy (ART) has transformed the global HIV response, with 31.6 million people accessing treatment in 2024, saving tens of millions of lives. However, increased use antiretroviral (ARV) drugs has been accompanied by the emergence of HIVDR, driven by genetic changes in the virus that reduce ARV effectiveness. All ARVs remain vulnerable to resistance, which can compromise prevention and treatment outcomes and increase HIV-associated morbidity, mortality, and transmission if not adequately monitored and addressed. Strengthening laboratory capacity for HIVDR testing is therefore essential to generate timely and reliable data on resistance patterns, inform treatment guidelines, and guide programmatic responses.
Therefore, WHO seeks an institution with expertise in HIV drug resistance laboratory testing and surveillance to support stepwise WHO laboratory network assessment, advancement and strengthening, generate evidence to inform development of global HIVDR testing guidance, and support WHO and Member States to implement evolving WHO-recommended HIVDR laboratory testing technologies and strategies for optimal resistance detection.
Scope of work
The selected institution will be expected to:
- Strengthen and update laboratory capacity, quality system, and operational frameworks within the WHO HIV Resistance Network (HIVResNet) global laboratory network, including advancement of technical guidance, laboratory network structures, and technology transfer activities.
- Support development, updating, and standardization of laboratory and bioinformatics methods used for HIVDR testing, including integration of advances in genomic sequencing technologies and testing approaches.
- Provide technical input to WHO and Member States to support implementation and optimization of HIVDR laboratory testing approaches, including facilitation of laboratory technical assistance and technical knowledge transfer.
Requirements
Applicants should demonstrate:
- Proven experience in HIVDR laboratory testing, laboratory network development, and multi-country laboratory network strengthening.
- Proven experience working with international standards, best practices, and operational frameworks for quality and technical capacity of HIVDR testing laboratories.
- Relevant technical capacity to coordinate international laboratory quality assurance, technical testing, and laboratory assessment activities, as described in this RFP.
- Previous work by the institution or key personnel of the institution with WHO, other international organizations, or major institutions with HIV drug resistance and HIV drug resistance testing and laboratory capacity building, as evidenced by reports, publications, or references.
- Previous work by the institution or key personnel of the institution with WHO policy development activities, including evidence generation and evidence assessment processes to inform global normative products.
- Experience coordinating technical support to low- and middle-income countries on HIVDR testing in more than one WHO region, including engagement with ministries of health, as evidenced by references, publications or documented outputs.
More information on the call's background, requirements, instructions to bidders, evaluation, general conditions and submission forms can be found in the Terms of Reference.
3. Strengthening HIV drug resistance surveillance systems
HIVDR poses a growing threat to the effectiveness of antiretroviral therapy and to global efforts to end AIDS, underscoring the need for robust, timely, and programmatically relevant surveillance systems. Strengthening the generation and use of HIVDR data, including from routine programmatic sources, is critical to inform treatment guidelines, optimize patient and population-level outcomes, and guide public health responses.
Therefore, WHO seeks an institution with expertise in HIV, drug resistance, and public health to support the strengthening of HIVDR surveillance systems for future policy development in this field.
Scope of work
The selected institution will be expected to:
- Strengthening the use of routine programmatic HIVDR data for surveillance through the development of methodological approaches to generate population-level estimates and synthesis of evidence from pilot implementations.
- Supporting the implementation and scale-up of HIVDR surveillance among PrEP users through the development of practical tools and guidance.
- Enhancing the analysis, interpretation, and use of HIVDR data to inform public health decision-making and strengthen surveillance systems.
- Supporting coordination of HIVDR surveillance activities through HIVResNet, including the provision of technical and operational inputs.
Requirements
Applicants should demonstrate:
- Proven experience in HIVDR surveillance, including epidemiological and statistical analysis of resistance data, in low- and middle-income countries, as evidenced by reports or publications.
- Previous work by the institution or key personnel of the institution with WHO, other international organizations, or major institutions in the field of HIV drug resistance and HIV drug resistance surveillance, as evidenced by reports, publications, or references.
- Experience providing technical support to low- and middle-income countries on HIVDR surveillance, including engagement with ministries of health, as evidenced by references, publications or documented outputs.
- Experience developing technical guidance documents, surveillance protocols, and implementation tools.
- Experience coordinating multi-country or global public health initiatives, including technical networks or platforms (e.g., surveillance coordination mechanisms).
- Experience developing and delivering training and capacity-building activities on HIVDR surveillance and data use.
More information on the call's background, requirements, instructions to bidders, evaluation, general conditions and submission forms can be found in the Terms of Reference.
Proposal submission
Proposals should include:
- background of the institution or consortium;
- proposed approach and methodology;
- workplan and timeline;
- description of key deliverables;
- qualifications of proposed personnel; and
- detailed budget.
Submission details
Interested and qualified institutions can submit individual proposals for one or more technical areas. Proposals should be sent electronically to HTHPDT@who.int within the given deadlines.
Deadlines:
- Intention to bid deadline: 25 June 2026
- Proposal submission deadline: 30 June 2026