Consultant, Desk Research and Technical Writing, Lead Poisoning Prevention Modules

Resolve to Save Lives (RTSL) is a global health organization that partners locally and globally to create and scale solutions to the world's deadliest health threats. Millions of people die from preventable health threats. We collaborate to close the gap between proven, life-saving solutions and the people who need them. Since 2017, we've worked with governments and other partners in more than 60 countries to save millions of lives. We work toward a future where people live longer, healthier lives, communities flourish, and economies thrive. This is an ambitious vision, and it inspires us and our partners to make progress every day.

Resolve to Save Lives' Cardiovascular Health (CVH) unit works closely with Ministries of Health and other partners to save as many lives as possible from cardiovascular disease. Recently, RTSL has expanded our cardiovascular health work to incorporate lead poisoning prevention.

Position Summary

Lead poisoning negatively affects children and can cause severe and irreversible health effects, including cognitive impairment, behavioral problems, and developmental delays. Recent studies have estimated an enormous burden of cardiovascular disease from lead exposures, as many as 3.5 million deaths annually. RTSL is working with the World Health Organization (WHO) on a technical package for lead poisoning prevention and plans to launch the package around the World Health Assembly in 2027.

RTSL is seeking four consultants to support the development of the four modules. We are seeking subject matter experts with deep expertise in at least ONE of the following areas. Candidates are not expected to have expertise across all domains.:

• Blood lead data, surveillance and epidemiologic/clinical response to chemical events
• Environmental source investigation and remediation
• Industrial and occupational lead use, hazards, and safety
• Lead adulteration of consumer products and supply chains

These areas of expertise will each form the content of technical package modules. Core activities of the consultancy include leading the development of modules of the technical package, including updating systematic reviews where relevant; systematically searching the literature and compiling evidence to support key actions and interventions; mapping key stakeholders and ongoing efforts in the lead sector; drafting outlines and the text of the module itself, and responding to edits and input from RTSL, peer review experts, WHO, and end users.

Core Tasks and Activities

Literature review and synthesis:

• Where existing systematic reviews align with the contents of the module and are out of date, update the systematic review using the same search criteria.
• Where standards for lead content, regulations, reporting, or other relevant criteria exist relevant to a given module, conduct a systematic, narrative, and/or scoping review to assess the landscape of standards available.
• Using a systematic approach, assess relevant peer-reviewed and gray literature databases to synthesize existing evidence to guide development of pr